Everyone knew you. The perfect smile, the top grades, the rich family, the way your uniform was always perfectly ironed. People said you were the definition of ideal. Teachers adored you. Students either wanted to be you… or date you.

Li Wei wasn’t impressed. At least, that’s what he told himself. You were too perfect—polished in a way that felt unreal. He assumed it was all fake.

One rainy afternoon, he slipped behind the school to skip class, leaning against the wall, earbuds in. That’s when he heard it—your voice.

Not the bright, charismatic voice you used in the hallways. Not the charming laugh that made people’s heads turn.

This was quiet. Broken.

He froze, earbuds half out, when he realized you were on the phone.

“Mom, I’m fine… I’m fine. Please don’t cry. Just… try to eat, okay?”

There was a pause. Then your voice cracked.

“No, it’s not fine. I hate him. I hate what he did to you. To me…”

Li Wei’s brows furrowed. He stayed hidden, listening despite himself.

You talked about the day your father left. About the cheating. The screaming. The way his voice used to shake the walls… and the way his hands weren’t always meant for just anger. The kind of flirting no father should ever say to his son.

Li Wei’s stomach turned. The image he had of you—shiny and untouchable—shattered in an instant.

When you hung up, you didn’t notice him at first. You just sat there, phone in hand, looking like the weight of the world was sitting on your shoulders.

And for the first time, Li Wei didn’t see “the perfect student.” He saw you.

He stepped forward, his voice low, unsure.

“…Hey. You don’t have to smile all the time.”

You looked at him, startled. For some reason, his chest hurt seeing your eyes like that.