Complexity

Remind Me

Xinyu POV

The exam day came.

This was my first time taking an exam in a new country. I wasn't alone—Nien, Kaede, and Mayu were in the same situation—but that didn't stop the nagging worry in my chest. Could I do well here? Could I really improve?

I had been studying hard with Sohyun for the past few days. We went through practice questions, mock exams, and she even corrected my mistakes in her own handwriting. I felt confident, at least more than before. But could I actually do well?

"I can do it."

"Are you crazy?"

"Very crazy."

I could feel Nien looking over my shoulder, her gaze landing on the notebook I was studying from—the one filled with practice questions and Sohyun's neatly written corrections.

"Sohyun's writing?" she asked.

I nodded, flipping to the next page.

"Did she teach you?"

I nodded again. There was no reason to hide it.

Nien suddenly stood up and shouted,

"YOU GUYS!! XINYU WAS TAUGHT BY SOHYUN!"

What the hell, Nien?!

"Instead of shouting like that, you'd better study," I muttered, ignoring the way she laughed and plopped down into Sohyun's seat. She casually picked up one of my books, flipping through it with mild interest.

Where was Sohyun, you ask? She was in the library, studying. She said she'd come back when the bell rang. Apparently, the noise in the classroom made it hard for her to focus—even though she could've just used the headphones I gave her. But of course, she still refused.

"Me? Studying?" Nien scoffed.

"Tch! Nothing goes into my brain. How do I do it?"

"Well, at least try. Why don't you study with someone else? Kotone? Yooyeon?"

"Good idea," she said, turning towards the door.

I followed her gaze just in time to see Sohyun walk in, a small smile on her lips.

"Your girl is here. Okay, I'll go."

She walked past Sohyun, heading straight for Kotone, who was helping Yeonji and SeoAh. Meanwhile, I glanced at my phone—there was still some time before the bell rang.

"How come so soon?" I asked, looking back at Sohyun.

"I just wanted to. It's a bit strange to study alone when I usually study with you," she said, setting her books down.

"Is there anything you want to ask?"

That part—"usually study with you"—made my heart do a freaking backflip.

I opened my mouth but couldn't find the words, so instead, I pointed at a question in my notebook.

Sohyun sighed, moving closer. Before I realized what was happening, she reached out and started tidying up my hair.

Wait—what?

I hadn't even noticed it was messy.

"If you want to ask that, say it," she murmured, still fixing my hair. "Use your mouth. Can you?"

PARK. SOHYUN.

I SWEAR TO—

Sohyun POV

Exams? Not too difficult, but not easy either.

This was only a final semester exam, but for some of us, the questions were quite tricky. Personally, I had no issues—I was confident in my abilities. Not perfect, of course, but at least above average.

The tall figure sitting beside me, though... well, her scores were already above average. But she still pushed herself harder, wanting to make Handong proud.

A good idea.

"We've studied this last night. It's a bit difficult. Confused where?" I asked, glancing at Xinyu's paper.

"The use of the formula. I still confuse it with another formula."

"It's not wrong. I often confuse it too. Bring me your notebook."

Without hesitation, she handed it over. The same notebook where I had secretly written little encouragements for her. At first, I thought she hadn't noticed.

I was wrong.

She cherished every word.

"Silly Xinyu," I muttered under my breath, flipping through the pages.

"Hmm?"

"It's okay," I said quickly, writing down the correct formula for her.

Academically, studying with her wasn't a problem. My teaching method worked well with her learning style. We got along just fine.

But my heart?

MY HEART WAS NOT SAFE.

Especially when Xinyu wasn't paying attention and suddenly leaned down toward me.If she ever heard how my heart pounded every time I was with her, I would actually die.

This didn't just start recently.

It had been happening since the first day she introduced herself in class.

Silly Zhou Xinyu.