My Boyfriend is the Heartthrob, and I’m Just a Passerby.

“Have you heard? There’s going to be a transfer student.”

“At this time of the year? Would someone really transfer now…?”

It was already the second semester of their second year in high school.

People always said that the final year was the most crucial for college entrance exams, but in reality, the second year was already a dividing line.

If it were the first semester of their second year, it wouldn’t be so surprising, but by the second semester, most of the coursework had already been completed.

Even though this small county town wasn’t as competitive as other places, everyone was still a high school student and understood how important the college entrance exam was for their future. So, they were naturally curious about someone choosing to transfer at this point.

“I heard their family is really rich.”

“Oh, and they’re good-looking too?”

“But there aren’t really any open seats in the classroom. Where are they going to sit?”

The scorching sunlight streamed through the windows, heating up the wooden desks until they were almost too hot to touch.

A few students, tired from sitting in class, stood up and leaned against their desks, chatting loudly in the hallway. Their voices carried over to another student’s ears.

[So noisy.]

The person lying on the desk stirred slightly.

Even though he was naturally hard of hearing, he still couldn’t escape the noise.

Ye Jishu lifted his head from his arms, straightened up a little, and glanced at the clock hanging near the podium. The minute hand was just three minutes away from the hour, which meant there were three minutes left until the next class started.

[Hurry up and start already. I want to sleep.]

Once class started, everyone would be focused on the lesson.

Since people knew he had a hearing problem from birth and that his family refused to buy him a hearing aid, the teachers had long since given up on disciplining him. They wouldn’t bother him about what he was doing, and they kept their voices lower, making class the perfect time for him to nap without being disturbed.

A new game update had been released yesterday, and he’d ended up staying up all night playing it. So now, even though he was seated by the window with the sound of cicadas shrilling from the thick branches outside, he was already drifting off.

“You go ahead and sleep. I’ll keep an eye out for the teacher for you,” the person beside him whispered.

He almost forgot he had a deskmate.

“Oh. Mm. Thanks.”

Ye Jishu took off his school jacket and laid it on the sun-heated desk as a cushion. Then, he lay down again.

Before he knew it, the excited chatter in the classroom faded away.

His consciousness seemed to sink into warm water.

Until suddenly, someone forcefully knocked on his desk.

Ye Jishu’s eyes snapped open, and he sat up straight, meeting the exasperated gaze of his homeroom teacher.

“Why are you still sleeping? Can’t you set a good example for the new student?!”

[A good example…]

[Why do I have to be a good example?]

Noticing his drowsy yet confused expression, the teacher immediately raised their voice. “We’ve already discussed the seating arrangements. From today onwards, the new student will be sitting next to you.”

Before Ye Jishu could say anything, the person sitting beside him looked shocked and blurted out, “What?! But I sit here! Why can’t you just find another empty seat for them? Why do I have to move—?!”

“Follow the arrangement. This is the teachers’ decision,” the homeroom teacher said with a frown. “Besides, the seat I’m assigning you is even better—it’s closer to the podium and the blackboard. What’s so bad about that?”

“But still, I want to sit with Ye Jishu—”

“Enough. Stop making a fuss. Do you realize your grades have been slipping lately? That seat in the center, right in front of the podium, is perfect for you. Compared to making friends, your studies are more important. Think about what’s more valuable.”

After saying that, the homeroom teacher turned and left, not giving the other person a chance to argue further.

Ye Jishu wasn’t entirely sure what they had been arguing about.

Most sounds reached his ears like they were muffled behind a thick layer of fog, as if he were listening through glass.

He lifted his head again and glanced at the clock hanging near the podium.

Ah…

An entire class had already passed.

Next was PE.

The person beside him was still grumbling in frustration, their expression slightly twisted.

“…This is ridiculous. Why do I have to switch seats? I want to sit with Jishu. If I’m not here, people might make fun of him. After all, Jishu is disabled, and I don’t want him to be bullied.”

“Right? You know you can’t hear, don’t you?”

Perhaps realizing that Ye Jishu wasn’t really listening, the person leaned in, closing the distance between them. Ye Jishu subtly leaned back, trying to avoid the close proximity, but the other grabbed his wrist tightly.

The grip was firm, clearly not intending to let him pull away.

“I’ve got it! You can go tell the teacher! Say that your hearing problem is acting up again and you need someone next to you to take notes. The new student definitely won’t be able to do it properly, but I can! Just tell the teacher that, okay? Jishu, you only have me—”

Ye Jishu grabbed his hand.

The other person’s face was filled with hope, a mix of expectation and desperation.

But in the next moment, with barely any effort, Ye Jishu shifted his grip to the webbing between the thumb and index finger. A sharp, searing pain shot through the other person’s hand, making them cry out and instantly let go of his wrist.

“I don’t need that,” Ye Jishu said. “I can hear.”

Even if sounds were unclear, he could still roughly understand what someone was saying just by reading their lips.

Ignoring the shocked expression on the other’s face, Ye Jishu leaned down, pulled his school jacket from the desk drawer, and didn’t bother picking up the things that fell onto the floor. He simply followed the flow of students heading downstairs toward the field.

Summer PE classes were unbearable.

Ye Jishu disliked the feeling of sweat dripping down his skin.

Seeing his half-hearted movements during warm-ups, the PE teacher simply blew the whistle in warning but didn’t bother enforcing the proper form.

Humans seemed to be creatures of habit.

At first, people were curious about him. They would get frustrated at his indifferent attitude.

But once he remained the same, never reacting, their heated emotions quickly faded. Eventually, they all got used to it—ignoring him became the new normal.

If he had to sum up his life in one word—

[Boring.]

Day after day of school, reading, and classes.

Even though he saw his classmates every day, their faces had begun to blur together.

The only thing that could capture his attention was the ever-changing gameplay on his phone.

The summer heat seeped into his uniform, creeping through his sleeves and pant legs.

Tsss—

The whistle blew, signaling break time.

Ye Jishu raised his hand and wiped away the sweat trickling down his face with the back of his hand. Slowly, he made his way toward the shade of the trees.

On the way, he absentmindedly lifted his head and glanced toward the school building.

That was when he met a pair of deep, black eyes.

The other person stood in the corridor outside the classroom, leaning against the low railing, looking down.

[They… weren’t wrong.]

The thought flashed through his mind.

It was an incredibly stunning face.

Although dressed in casual clothes of an unknown brand, the quality was clearly high, and they suited him perfectly.

A gentle breeze swept past, rustling the leaves overhead. The faint sound of shaa-shaa echoed around them.

The boy’s slightly long hair fluttered in the air.

Ye Jishu had an illusion—
As if that person was standing there just to keep watching him.

“Jishu, let’s talk about what we discussed earlier.”

Suddenly, a loud voice came from beside him, breaking their eye contact.

Ye Jishu looked to his left.

It was his deskmate.

Seeing him turn his face, the other boy’s expression lit up with joy.

“I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry… I was too impatient, that’s why I said those things. I didn’t mean it that way. I just wanted to protect you, Jishu, right?

We have similar grades, too. You’re first, I’m second—it’s a perfect match—”

“No need,” Ye Jishu said.

“…?”

“I don’t need it.”

Like a bolt of lightning, the words struck hard.

Ye Jishu saw the disbelief on his face.

“You—You don’t need me? That’s impossible! Don’t you know what I’ve done for you?!”

Tssst—

The gathering whistle suddenly blared across the field, cutting off his unfinished words.

Ye Jishu didn’t look at him again. He merged into the flow of students heading back to their respective groups.

The PE teacher wasn’t particularly strict. Considering they had just finished their monthly exams, after a simple stretch, he allowed them to move around freely.

Ye Jishu slipped away from the noisy crowd and walked toward the school building.

Even though the classrooms didn’t have air conditioning, it was still far better than staying under the scorching sun.

The stairwell was empty. Everyone was still in class.

Muffled teaching voices drifted from other rooms as Ye Jishu lightened his steps, moving slowly toward his classroom.

Logically, the classroom should be completely empty.

But—

As he stepped through the doorway, he saw someone sitting at a desk.

The ceiling fan above creaked noisily.

Under its spinning blades, the boy sat by the window, gazing outside.

Noticing the movement, he turned his head.

Up close, his eyes looked even deeper.

The two of them locked gazes in silence.

The old fan let out its relentless creak, creak—the oppressive silence between them growing heavier.

Time seemed to stretch.

But in reality, only a few seconds had passed.

[Ah… It makes sense. If the transfer student has arrived, moving desks would be easier during PE.]

Ye Jishu was the first to break eye contact. Expressionless, he walked toward his seat.

It was too hot. He needed to take off his jacket.

He bunched up the fabric in his hands, bent down, and stuffed it back into his desk drawer.

As he straightened up, something suddenly entered his line of sight, blocking it.

Ye Jishu paused.

[It’s… my pen.]

He must have accidentally taken it out when grabbing his jacket earlier.

He had a habit of keeping his pen inside the drawer, so whenever he rested his head on the desk, he could reach in and grab it without searching. It was convenient.

“Is this yours?”

Hearing the voice, Ye Jishu lifted his head.

The transfer student rested his chin on one hand, tilting his face slightly as he looked at him.

His breathtaking face held a relaxed smile.

But the look in his eyes was the complete opposite of his gentle gesture.

A sharp gaze wrapped around Ye Jishu, pinning him in place.

Despite sitting directly under the fan, heat surged up his body. The air itself felt stifling.

—It was the feeling of being watched.

Ye Jishu didn’t take the pen.

Now, at this lower angle, their eyes met once more.

Unlike before, when they were on opposite sides of the schoolyard, the distance between them was now alarmingly close—so close that he could feel the rise and fall of the other’s breath.

The transfer student carried a pleasant scent.

It was almost intoxicating, reminiscent of ocean tides and citrus.

“Do you remember me?” the boy asked softly.

Because of the proximity, even if Ye Jishu usually had trouble hearing, he caught every word.

“Where have we met before?”

[…Where, indeed?]

As his voice fell, a distant rumble of summer thunder seemed to echo in the air.

Uncontrollable, unpredictable—

A memory surfaced in Ye Jishu’s mind.

That night.

Now that he was in his second year, evening self-study sessions had become routine.

Unlike most students who lived in the dorms, Ye Jishu was a commuter.

So, at 9 PM, when self-study ended, he had to walk home.

After packing his things and slinging his bag over his shoulder, he stepped out of the school building—only to find that it was raining.

Beyond the rain curtain falling from the eaves, he saw the school gate crowded with students and parents. Even those who usually walked home had someone picking them up today because of the awful weather.

Ye Jishu reached for the side pocket of his bag—only to grasp at empty air.

[…Forgot my umbrella.]

He glanced down at his shoes. Sneakers.

The old rubber coating of the track had eroded, leaving uneven puddles.

If he walked through them, his shoes would definitely get soaked. His pant legs might not escape either.

The thought of being drenched from head to toe was exhausting.

The only silver lining was that the heavy rain had washed away the stifling heat that had been lingering in his chest all day.

Ye Jishu held his schoolbag over his head and dashed into the rain.
…

He finally arrived at his aunt’s house.

However, to his surprise, she wasn’t home. So, he had no choice but to wait outside for a while.

His gaze landed on a café and a bookstore.

The café had umbrellas placed by customers. He had never been there.

As for the bookstore, he had bought some study guides there before, so the owner was somewhat familiar with him and wouldn’t directly drive him away.

[My phone is dead.]

He still had ten yuan in his pocket.

After thinking for a few seconds, Ye Jishu walked toward the bookstore.

The floor beneath the eaves was smooth.

Dripping wet, he stepped inside and stood still for a moment, waiting for the rainwater on him to stop dripping before placing his schoolbag into the umbrella rack and slowly making his way further into the bookstore.

Even on a rainy day, the air conditioning inside remained on.

The moment he entered, the cold air hit him, sending a shiver down his spine.

Ye Jishu didn’t go deeper into the store but stopped at the entrance and looked toward the wall.

There were several white bookshelves there.

Behind the metal mesh racks were the latest manga magazines, novels, and picture books.

Ye Jishu pulled out a gaming magazine. First, he checked the price—five yuan—before flipping it open.

“Rustle.”

Suddenly, the sound of rain became louder in his ears.

He didn’t turn to look.

It was likely someone else had entered, causing the door to open and letting the rain sound seep in again.

He thought it had nothing to do with him.

However, he soon sensed movement beside him.

The newcomer, like him, didn’t go deeper into the store but instead chose to stand in front of the same row of magazines.

They were right beside him on his right.

“Drip, drip.”

That was the sound of raindrops falling.

But the other person didn’t seem wet.

The sound likely came from the umbrella he glimpsed in his peripheral vision.

The person stood quietly beside him for a few seconds before turning toward the entrance and tossing their umbrella into the rack—right next to Ye Jishu’s schoolbag.

Then, they walked back over, this time standing behind him.

From the corner of his eye, Ye Jishu saw the person’s hand reach out—long fingers, distinct knuckles—stretching past his shoulder to pull out a fashion magazine and flip it open.

For some reason, Ye Jishu instinctively held his breath.

Only when he heard the sound of pages turning did he remember to relax and exhale.

[What’s going on?]

Even so, his shoulders remained tense.

His heart pounded rapidly.

There was an indescribable feeling—like the person was watching him.

Soft music played in the bookstore.

Because of the rain, there were only a few customers. Even the cashier seemed to be dozing off.

“Are you a student at No. 2 High School?”

“…”

[They spoke.]

“I’ll be studying there soon, too.”

The voice seeped through the rain and reached his ears.

Even Ye Jishu felt like he should say something at this moment.

After all, the other person was waiting for his response.

Normally, he wouldn’t reply, but—

For the first time, he felt at a loss.

Not knowing what to say, he only managed a simple response.

“Ah. Mm. Okay.”

He thought the other person might find it perfunctory.

But surprisingly, that simple response seemed enough to satisfy them.

They remained in the same position—one in front, one behind.

Ye Jishu never once turned around, and before long, his focus returned to the magazine.

There were many new games featured.

Most required a computer, but some were available on mobile.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed.

The person behind him eventually put the magazine back and walked toward the entrance.

“The umbrella is for you. Don’t forget it.”

Hearing this, Ye Jishu froze.

His gaze finally left the magazine, but all he caught was the person’s retreating back as they stepped out the door.

In the end, he never saw their face.

Like a fleeting interlude in a downpour.

A long time passed.

His calves ached from standing so long, yet the heavy rain outside showed no signs of stopping.

Through the glass, Ye Jishu finally spotted his aunt returning.

He went to the cashier and bought the magazine.

Before leaving, he passed by the blue rack holding the umbrella. He hesitated.

[Normally… people wouldn’t take it, right?]

It felt strange.

A gift from a complete stranger.

If he took it now, it would feel… off.

But…

He could still recall the faint fragrance that had lingered behind him.

On impulse, Ye Jishu bent down, picked up the umbrella, and left the bookstore.
…

His new classmate kept staring at him.

Even though Ye Jishu maintained his usual blank expression, the other seemed to deduce something from his brief pause.

“You took good care of the umbrella, right, Jishu?”

The person spoke softly, looking straight at him. Every word landed in his ears with undeniable clarity.

[Too close.]

Ye Jishu felt an itch deep in his chest.

At this proximity, the face before him was unavoidable.
It was as if all his attention had been seized in that moment.

Yet, an inexplicable sense of danger crackled through him, like an electric shock coursing through his entire body.

[Wait. I never… told him my name.]

The realization crept up on him belatedly, numbing his already captivated mind.

The confusion that should have risen never did.

Instead, a strangely sweet fear seeped through his being at the person’s next words.

“My name is Yan Mei.”

The person leaned in, their voice brushing against his ear.

“Remember it well… Jishu.”