"Hey, Shen"

"Xiaoyang"

"Your homework is done"

"Here's your English homework" Xiaoting handed Y/n over her activity notebook. Y/n is really not into English subject although she needs it in her future studies. She can understand English but it's hard to give meaning to a sentence if it's her turn to write. Xiaoting on the other side is majoring in English. She needs to study it for her international competitions.

"Are you coming with me to Paris? The school needs a talented photographer with us" this was the sixth time Xiaoting will compete internationally. The first was when she was 14 and now, she's 17. She didn't place last year so she's aiming to rank this time.

"I'm going anywhere you go. I'm like your personal manager, baobei" calling each other baobei wasn't a big deal because the both of them are best friends for a long time (they weren't together yet at this time). But for Xiaoting, it makes her heart flutter every time.

"Be sure to bring your camera with you~"

"Don't want to miss any pretty shots of you"

"I think you're just saying that because you want a strawberry milk," Xiaoting thought Y/n was complimenting her with a return. Y/n was being honest, well, all the time. She would compliment Xiaoting whenever and wherever she can but looks like Xiaoting never believed her words.

"What? You look pretty, for real. Am I making your heart flutter?" This time, she decided to tease Xiaoting who's now very flustered. Y/n could be flirty sometimes, thankfully it's just Xiaoting she's flirting with.

"You can tell me you're in love with me, don't be shy" Y/n left a pat on Xiaoting's head then left for class. The two were classmates but Xiaoting was still in her thoughts.

"If I confess to her, will it be okay?" She asked herself. Xiaoting has been liking the older girl for 4 years already. Every time they would spend time together, it makes her feelings grow more and more. She's satisfied that Y/n will never like anyone because she doesn't talk to other people but thinking about it makes Xiaoting scared. 'What if somebody takes courage and confess to her first?'

Y/n doesn't like to talk to anyone else but there's a sea of people looking at her every time she walks in the hallways. She is pretty famous for her visuals but they were afraid because there's a rumor that her family is very rich and got high standards, which are true. Somebody might have followed her on the way home and seen how big her house is.

"Ms. Shen?" Xiaoting's thoughts got caught off when someone called for her. It was a recognizable voice from her homeroom teacher, Mrs. Yi. "O-Oh, hello Mrs. Yi" she greeted then left. There are no students in the hallways making her think how long she was standing there.Her thoughts then again went back to Y/n. 'Should I confess first?'

"Hey, you're late" Xiaoting jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She abruptly looked at who it is and sighed after seeing Y/n.

"Why is your reaction like that? Is somebody following you? You can tell me, I'll protect you"

'Nice, another way to make my heart beat fast' Xiaoting's mind told her.

"And why are your cheeks red? Did someone ask you out? You cant go out with them"

"Why not?"

"Because I said so. Your mom said so too. You cant date" Right, Xiaoting's mom trusts Y/n more than her while Y/n's mom trusts Xiaoting more. Xiaoting's mom already told Xiaoting not to date anyone without her permission and she once heard about her parent's conversation about the 'arrange relationship' thingy. She wanted to tell Y/n about those but her goal, for now, is to at least confess to Y/n and when the feelings are reciprocated, she can date Y/n for a while. And if she's brave enough, she will fight for the relationship and disobey her parent's decision.

"Don't worry, I won't date" Xiaoting awkwardly chuckled then walk ahead of the older girl.

"Hey... about the trip, Teacher Zheng said I can stay at the same hotel room with you"

"Of course you are. Mom's going to pay for it, also, we can go around France all by ourselves. They said France is free. No one will kidnap us" she whispered the last part that made Y/n laugh silently. "Even when there's a kidnaper there, I will protect you from them"

"Protect me? With your height? Small kid"

"Watch me grow taller than you in the future, Shen"

Y/n's POV

The fan meeting went smoothly yesterday. In 2 hours of talking to our C-fans, I've met a lot of people who genuinely appreciate me. My old friends from TopClass were also there, Shengxi was the only one who got a chance to come up the stage for a fan signing.

Kiki-jie was there in the crowd with her friends that I can't recognize because they were wearing a disguise. Ma Yuling was in front with some of her members and the twins surprisingly made it too.

While doing the fan sign, there was this fan who gave me a present. It was an envelope and she told me to open it. Surprisingly, all my old, missing high school photos were there.

"Sorry if it's a bit awkward, my sister was the one who took those" the fan said. "Ah~ she said sorry for taking it without your permission"

--

"Hey, your photo is missing... again" Xiaoting pointed to the huge bulletin board where some student's achievements were posted. Y/n had her photo in there for writing an article about dance sports competitions. Together with the article was a small photo of her but every month or week, it'll go missing so she has to take another one. "The one in the class rank went missing too... who's taking it? It's making me uncomfortable" Xiaoting put her hands on her chin, thinking deeply about some possible thief that might take her friend's photos. Or crush's photo.

"It's getting weirder, let's ask the security about it"

"No, no. Let's just shrug it off" Y/n tried to convince her but Xiaoting still went to the guard's post to check the CCTV around that area. It has so many videos so it's hard to review.

"Told you, it's not worth of our time, Xiaoting"

"But they're taking your photos! That's very weird and scary. You got stalkers, Y/n"

"Maybe it's just the teachers or it fell on the floor- let it slide, Xiaoting. They will return it someday"

"I'm not okay when people are crushing on you secretly"

"Who's going to have a crush on me, I'm not attractive. Let's just go" Y/n grabbed the taller girl's (Xiaoting was taller before) wrist then dragged her out of the guard's office.

Y/n doesn't have to find who the person was because she already knew who it was. She saw one of her classmate's desk compartments and her photos were glued on the side. At first, she was weirded about it but later on, she got used to that person who she thinks might have a crush on her. Y/n doesn't like anyone at the moment that time but that classmate was cute.

--

"Ah, Lin Shuqing. She's your sister? You looked a lot like her" I chuckled as I remembered those times. Lin Shuqing, a much younger classmate, is the one who's sending me letters on my locker.

"You know her?"

"Of course, she's my classmate. How is she doing?" I asked while I sign their albums. It's a surprise to me to see how many fans in China bought our albums. They can't buy a lot of amounts but the fans were already a lot.

"Runs a small business in the street and then work every other day... she's still your fan, can you right her short message? If it's okay" Their voices were also similar, tiny.

"Of course, I can..."

'Lin Shuqing, thank you for the support even when we're still in high school. Let's meet again someday'

That classmate might be acting suspicious but it's all high school romance. You're pretty obsessed with your crushes and stuff. Lin Shuqing was one of those brave students who made a move or hinted at me during high school. I don't talk to other students but I don't know what attracted them.

"Small business you said? Can I have the address?"

It's nice to meet an old classmate again so here I am, standing outside the said store. It's not a grocery store or something, it's a tattoo shop. Her sister has a lot of tattoos too, I noticed earlier.

"Wait here," I told Mr. Win, Shiyu was on the back seat with Xiaoyang. I went inside the shop and the first one I noticed was this little person with short hair. That's her.

"Yang Y/n?"

"Hey... Lin Shuqing"

"What are you doing here? I mean, what's a big celebrity doing in my small shop?" She was all flustered as she went closer to me. I see her height never changed still small. "Oh, I want to get some tattoo and I asked that one fan that led me here?"

"That was my sister, right?"

"Y...eah" both of us chuckled. I noticed Lin Shuqing not because she liked me in high school, I paid attention to her because, during our senior years when I forgot to bring my calculator, she secretly put hers on my table then went out to borrow from her friends from the other room. It's not a secret anymore because I caught her on spot. That time, she saved me from our Calculus test so I'm grateful. O wanted to be friends with her but mom said that I cant talk to other people that aren't Xiaoting in school.

"What design?" She led me over a seat then fixed her material. I'm not allowed to have a tattoo actually but my mom and dad will never know about it if it's hidden. "Can you draw a simple lavender flower design behind my ear?" I usually have my hair untied at home. "Sure, will do"

"You know, Shen Xiaoting also visited this shop and got one" she what,

"Are you two still together?"

Does she know?

"Huh?"

"You two are together together, right? I've noticed that during the senior year" ah, so that's why she stopped sending letters to me. How did she know?

"Sorry, am I making you feel uncomfortable? I'm not stalking you but I saw you two going home together every day. My house was just across Xiaoting's building so..." ah, she was the one who Xiaoting suspected as my stalker.

"Ah, yeah we are. Let's keep it a secret, okay?" Never knew one of my classmates knows about my and Xiaoting's relationship. Most of them viewed us as good friends only.

"Your secrets are safe with me"

"Anyway, Xiaoting went here? Last month?"

"Yes, she got a small tattoo on her nape. Didn't she tell you?" But Xiaoting's mom doesn't want her to get one, well, I got one too so we're even. "You still want to get yours? You know if a person gets a tattoo, they can't donate or transfer blood anymore" wait what,

"Can I cancel? Draw me a temporary one then. The one that lasts for days"

"Sure..."

"Oh, and put it on my wrist too. It's just temporary and I want to prank my mom" she giggled silently then started drawing the flower. "Can I ask why you like lavender a lot?" Don't tell me she noticed that too.

"Your bag was colored lavender, you smell like lavender now and you got a dried lavender flower as a bookmark in school"

"Lavender represents France, my comfort place. I found a lot of lavender farms there"

"Did you confess to her there?"

--

"Happy birthday!" Xiaoting back hugged her best friend who's cooking breakfast for them. Y/n just turned 18 and they were in France at the time for Xiaoting's competition. The competition was already done and Xiaoting placed 18th. Big jump.

Day 3 in France and they have the day to go around the said place. Xiaoting planned on taking out Y/n today as a birthday present.

"Did you get me a present?"

"Of course, later" Xiaoting kissed her cheeks for the first time in their friendship. It made Y/n's heart skip a beat because she was liking Xiaoting that time already. She would call Xiaoting baobei to give her hints but it didn't work.

"Why did you do that?"

"What? Kiss?"

"Yeah"

"That means I love you, thank you for being with me for the past 11 years" Xiaoting reasoned but she wanted to kiss Y/n for a long time already. This day, she's confident, so she did it.

"Your achievement made you playful and giddy, huh?" Y/n chuckled. "Oh, and after breakfast, let's go out. My treat" Xiaoting went to the bathroom to shower.

The two went to some famous destinations and Y/n, being one of the school's photographers, became Xiaoting's camera. All-day, they've been walking around hand in hand in order not to get lost in a crowded city.

Both of them, in their mind, thought of it as a date. First date. First outdoor date.

At night, they went to this restaurant where they serve huge loads of food. Both of them are rich rich but don't like to eat foods that are just a size or make-up foam or something that won't make them full.

"Don't eat too much chicken, eat something healthy" Xiaoting told Y/n as she gave her some salad. To be honest, Y/n doesn't eat vegetables except for potatoes and some green vegetables but for Xiaoting, she'll try. Xiaoting doesn't like salads too but her instructor told her to eat something healthy.

"This is... good" she lied, she doesn't like the taste of raw vegetables. "Told you, you should serve salad someday, you cook so well"

After eating, they went to the Seine River to walk around. There are not that many people because all of them are in the Eiffel Tower to watch the show. While walking silently, Y/n excused herself to go to the bathroom first but actually, she went to buy some lavender flowers on the flower shop she saw while passing by. Xiaoting was left there beside the river, sitting on a bench alone. She was looking around and almost everyone was with their partners.

"Should I confess to her now?" She asked herself for the hundredth time in the year already. "What if she dumps me? It'll be awkward and I will lose a friend"

"Shen Xiaoting" Y/n finally came back with both of her hands behind her back. Xiaoting knew she was holding something behind her but didn't dare to ask about it.

"Are you bored? We can go home now if you like" Y/n told her but Xiaoting shook her head. "Let's go see the tower"

"But we went there earlier"

"It's different at night" Y/n couldn't refuse and let Xiaoting drag her along. They made it to the tower and then rode the elevator to get into the top. It took them forever and once they reached the top, Y/n finally reveal what she's been hiding.

"For you" she bit her lip, feeling shy about it. She hasn't given anyone flowers yet except her parents. "Do you know what does it mean"

"No, what is it"

"Purity, calmness, serenity, devotion and grace"

Xiaoting was all flushed but the yellow lights made invisible. "Why give me flowers all of the sudden? It's your birthday, I'm supposedly the one who gives you these"

"No, no. It's a thank you for taking me out today for my birthday. I treasure you so I give you my favorite flowers" she took it and smelt it. "Smells like you too" both of them chuckled.

"You know, I learned these words earlier," Xiaoting told Y/n.

"What is it?"

"je t'aime bien" silence. Everything around them paused. Xiaoting doesn't know what to feel, it looks like Y/n is going to reject her.

"That means 'I like you' right?" Xiaoting couldn't move at all but she was staring at Y/n's eyes.

"I like you too, Shen Xiaoting" Xiaoting finally released the trapped air in her lungs by sighing hard. The weight on her shoulders is finally lifted off. She confessed.

"For real?" She asked.

"It's been a while now, I like you. More than friends"

"I've liked you since 13" Xiaoting confessed. "What? Really? That long? I'm not even attractive"

"You are. Always think you're pretty, okay?" Xiaoting fished something in her pocket. "Oh, I've bought this too" she took out a padlock. The one you put names on it then lock it in the tower. "Let's do what other couples do at the bridge, come on" Xiaoting dragged her towards the elevator, then walked again towards the bridge.

"So are we a couple now?" Y/n asked shyly.

"Yes. Yes, we are"

"You know, tonight, I gave my favorite flowers to my favorite person," Y/n said. "So I am your favorite person, Yang?"

"Of course. My favorite person outside of the family"

"You're my favorite person too"

--

"Yeah, in France, when she went to her last dance contest. I decided to confess there"

"Lucky her" Shuqing said as she did the finishing touches on my temporary tattoo. "I have to confess something now too. But don't take this personally" I nodded my head. I'm sure she's going to confess her old feelings for me.

"I've liked you since we were 15"

"Feeling's now gone?" I joked.

"Of course, you're with Xiaoting now. There's no reason to wait for you... and I never thought you liked girls before too"

"Me too, you looked like a kid before"

"I'm just baby-faced... it's done now" Shuqing removed some things then showed me the outcome. Just like how I wanted it to be. "Thanks..." I was about to pay her but she refused. "It's free if I'm friends with the customer"

"Sure... thanks, Shuqing" I patted her head then went to the door. "Hey, you know what Xiaoting's tattoo is? The meaning?" She asked. "What is her tattoo anyways? I never saw it" I asked.

"It says 'je t'aime bien'"

fun fact:

chapter 5 recap when doah suspected Y/n of having a boyfriend.

Xiaoting never knew who's Y/n's real crushes are but the line "she liked a girl in our school", got it right.

Before Shen Xiaoting, Y/n has been crushing on Lin Shuqing for a short time.

Y/n's crush list are female celebrities, that antagonist guy in karate kid, teen Justin Bieber (because of karate kid too, he's famous there before too), lin shuqing then shen xiaoting.

The reason why she liked Lin Shuqing: she thought Lin Shuqing is the only person who is interested in her. Lin Shuqing was too obvious on having a crush on her

She was still confused about her feelings with Xiaoting at that time, she thought Xiaoting was just treating her as a friend.

Xiaoting thought that she, female celebrities, and that movie character were the only crushes Y/n had.

+

Lin Shuqing started liking Y/n when she was 15, and waited for Y/n (also waited if Xiaoting left her) but after reading the news that she debuted as an idol, she lost her hope and stopped. (It's impossible to date an idol)

- If Lin Shuqing confessed first, possibly Y/n and Xiaoting won't happen