CHAPTER 37:“One Scene, A Thousand Thoughts”

As class ended, students stood and began filing out. Nian and Xuanye walked side by side through the corridor, chatting happily.

Behind them, Yichen trailed along, clearly following. Xuanye noticed first and nudged Nian.

"He's been following us since morning," she whispered. "Maybe he wants to talk to you, but you're avoiding him."

Nian sighed. "Should I ask him directly and settle this once and for all?"

Xuanye nodded, giving her a thumbs-up.

As the girls stopped walking, Yichen froze too. They turned around. He smiled awkwardly as Nian raised an eyebrow.

"What do you want, Yichen?" she asked plainly.

Walking toward her, he replied, "I just wanted to talk. Why have you been avoiding me?"

Nian looked at Xuanye, frustrated. Xuanye tapped her shoulder dramatically and said, "I feel thirsty all of a sudden. I'll just go drink some water!" Then she disappeared like a cartoon duck escaping tension.

Nian shook her head in disbelief. "Where shall we talk?"

Yichen smiled and gestured for her to walk ahead.

They strolled down a quiet path lined with trees. A breeze rustled the leaves, and one gently fell onto Nian's head. Yichen, flustered, reached out and brushed it off.

Nian turned. "What was that?"

He quickly hid his hand and mumbled, "There was a leaf on your head."

Nian gave him a polite smile. "Thanks," she said, then continued walking.

---

Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN had just wrapped up practice and were waiting for their van.

DK stepped out of the studio, checked his watch, and smiled wide.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Vernon teased. "Did Nian message you?"

DK blushed. "No… I'm going to surprise her."

The members lit up with mischief.

"He's glowing," Woozi said, pretending to write something in the air. "I think I can write a whole song based on DK's face."

DK shyly pushed Woozi and giggled, slapping Scoups on the arm to hide his flustered face.

Scoups ruffled his hair. "I'm watching you. You've been happier than ever since meeting Nian."

"She's my everything," DK replied, smiling dreamily.

Jeonghan slapped Mingyu's arm dramatically. "Butterflies."

Minghao stood nearby, silently smiling to himself, clearly lost in thoughts of Xuanye.

Boo watched him while sipping his coffee. "One of them is giving us butterflies, and the other's just smiling in a corner like he's forgotten where he is."

Hoshi added, "They're making me want to fall in love too!" He hugged himself like a sentimental hamster.

Dino, Joshua, and Wonwoo were speechless—clearly caught in the feels.

DK danced happily toward his private car, flashed a heart to the sky, and hopped in.

Mingyu clung to Jeonghan like a clingy puppy, and the rest of the members shared warm group hugs like emotional comrades.

---

When DK reached the college, he pulled his hoodie over his cap labeled "Loudie," slipped on his black mask, and looked at himself in the rear-view mirror.

"Perfect," he grinned.

As he stepped out, golden sunlight hit him dramatically, and the breeze rustled the trees. Even without showing his face, heads turned. Boys gawked, and girls squealed.

DK smiled beneath the mask and walked toward the path where Nian was.

---

Meanwhile, Nian and Yichen continued walking.

A cyclist came speeding from the opposite direction. Instinctively, Yichen grabbed Nian's hand and pulled her toward him. She stumbled, falling into his arms.

Just at that moment, DK turned the corner and saw them.

His smile froze.

His heart sank as he saw Nian in Yichen's arms, hands intertwined.

A rush of jealousy and confusion washed over him. His hand clenched at his side. Without thinking, he ducked behind a tree, peeking out like a spy.

His heart pounded.

"What… is this?"