That day felt like any other — nothing special. The group had signed up for social work, assigned to help clear out a house that had stood untouched for 42 years. Recently, the owner of the house had passed away, leaving no relatives or heirs to claim the property.
The old manor was grand, even luxurious, its furniture and artifacts silently collecting the dust of decades. With the housemaster gone, everything inside was cataloged and slated to be sold, the proceeds directed to the municipal corporation or a government fund.
"This is way too luxurious..." someone muttered, eyeing a faded but intricate painting. Although the volunteers had permission to clear out the items, they'd been warned: cameras were installed throughout the house, and a government official had left behind an itemized list.
Everything was accounted for.
Theft would be noticed.
But to Wang Hao, the warning felt more like a formality. He'd been on jobs like this before. In his experience, old security cameras were almost always broken—likely disconnected from any power source long ago. There was no sign of hidden, functioning surveillance.
With that in mind, they stepped deeper into the manor — its air heavy with silence, the scent of old wood and forgotten time lingering. Inside, they found another team already at work. A young woman in her twenties, radiant and smiling, looked up as they entered.
"Hello! Are you guys also volunteers? Thank you for coming."
Wang Hao lit up, always quick to warm to a friendly face. He returned her greeting enthusiastically, followed by Lin Wei, who offered a polite smile in return.
With her striking silver hair and vivid red eyes, Lisa stood out easily—an elegant presence commanding the center of the volunteer team.
She coordinated assignments efficiently, ensuring that no one was overburdened. Her calm authority drew everyone's attention—including Wang Hao's.
Wang Hao, who had appointed himself the group's eager errand boy, kept reporting back to Lisa far more often than necessary. While some might have taken it as enthusiasm, Li Xueyin saw through it instantly.
She knew Wang Hao too well—his flirtatious history, his weakness for beauty. From the way his eyes lingered on Lisa, she could already guess his intentions.
And it wasn't the first time. Xueyin, watching from a short distance, grew increasingly annoyed. He was supposed to be making up for his past behavior, trying to be a better boyfriend. But instead, here he was—already drifting toward someone else, as though nothing had changed.
"Perfect," Lin Wei muttered with a faint grin as he observed the group dynamic.
Later, once their team reassembled, Lin Wei made a subtle but thoughtful gesture—offering cold drinks to those who had felt carsick earlier. It wasn't anything over the top, just enough to show consideration without drawing too much attention.
He made sure his timing and tone were casual. Even Chen Yuxi, who had been keeping a quiet watch on him all day, found herself slowly letting her guard down.
She began to talk more freely with him, her skepticism softening.
But then Lin Wei's eyes flicked toward Wang Hao again, who was still buzzing around Lisa like a moth to a flame. His expression soured slightly. "That guy's doing it again..." he muttered under his breath.
"You said that out loud," Yuxi replied with a raised brow, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Lin Wei blinked. "Did I?"
She nodded.
They shared a brief, knowing glance before both looked back toward Wang Hao. Despite his energetic pretense of helping, it was obvious where his attention was focused.
Even Yuxi, who hadn't known him as long, began to question what a sweet girl like Xueyin was doing with someone like him.
"I think... he's just like that," Yuxi murmured, almost to herself.
Lin Wei didn't respond. He didn't need to. The mutual sigh they both gave said enough.
Although Lin Wei's original aim had been to win her over through seduction—an act of quiet revenge or self-serving ambition—seeing Li Xueyin's expression now made something twist inside him.
She wasn't just disappointed. She looked quietly broken, holding back the weight of her emotions behind a practiced smile. She had worked so hard, tried so sincerely, just to earn a little attention from a guy who was too busy chasing someone else.
And for what?
To be ignored?
Lin Wei had promised to be her friend. But somewhere along the line, he realized it wasn't just a tactic anymore. Watching her grind herself down, constantly accommodating, constantly hoping, something shifted in him.
Maybe it was guilt.
Maybe it was empathy.
Or maybe, for once, he actually cared.
His original motive—to steal her away and earn something from it—now felt cheap, even pathetic. Because someone like her didn't deserve to be used as a stepping stone for some shallow sense of gain. She deserved to be genuinely cared for.
And so, he made a quiet decision.
Even if it meant he wouldn't get the experience points or rewards. Even if it cost him the twisted satisfaction of "winning" her over. He would still make sure she didn't get hurt again.
Because a girl who tried so hard to keep her boyfriend happy—who only wanted to be seen, even just for a moment—deserved better than a guy like Wang Hao.
"Classmate Li," Lin Wei said gently, stepping closer to her. "Why don't we go help out a bit?"
Li Xueyin, who had been anxiously chewing at her fingernail, turned her head toward him slowly. Her gaze was different this time—deeper, as if trying to understand him fully for the first time. It wasn't the first time he'd approached her like this, exactly when she was most upset. It felt intentional. Timed. Like he understood her mood better than anyone else ever tried to.
"You always show up... right when I need it," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've got a scary sense for emotion."
"Maybe," Lin Wei replied with a small smile. "Or maybe I just know how to value a friend."
His words landed somewhere quiet in her heart. She paused, then took a slow breath. Without a word, she reached for his hand—softly, without hesitation—and used it to pull herself up. She didn't look back at Wang Hao even once.
"Will you come with me?" she asked simply.
"Of course."
And just like that, they walked off together—shoulder to shoulder, stepping into the work ahead. Behind them, Chen Yuxi watched in silence, her gaze lingering on their backs, unreadable.
"Thanks for coming…" Xueyin said softly after a few minutes of quiet walking.
"Why wouldn't I?" Lin Wei replied with a gentle tone, not pushing the conversation. "I told you—I'd be there whenever you needed help."
He didn't comment on the heaviness in her voice. He understood it wasn't the time for cheerful banter. She wasn't in the mood, and he respected that. The silence that followed stretched on—but it wasn't uncomfortable. Lin Wei simply walked beside her, matching her pace, steady and patient.
Once they got to the room, the two of them quickly got to work. The task wasn't complicated—mostly just organizing and carrying things—but the activity seemed to help Xueyin pull herself together. Focus replaced anxiety, and by the time they were done, she looked visibly more at ease.
"It's done," Lin Wei said as he set the last box aside.
Xueyin gave him a small smile. It didn't quite reach her eyes, but the effort was there.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, though he could already tell the answer. Still, he wanted her to know he noticed—he cared.
She hesitated for a moment, then looked away. "I will be," she said.
And Lin Wei didn't press further. He simply nodded, walking beside her again, giving her the comfort of presence without expectation.
With most of the day's work behind them, dusk began to fall, and the scattered volunteers trickled away—mostly high school grads, only tasked with a day's help. The remaining work would fall to Lin Wei's group, but he didn't mind. From the looks of it, they could wrap things up within the next day or two.
As the group gathered their things, Lin Wei glanced around and asked, "What should we do now? Head back?"
It was a valid question—the hotel was an hour away by foot, and they'd all trekked under the blazing sun that morning. Walking back now would be draining, especially for the girls.
"That sounds exhausting," Stella groaned, wiping sweat from her brow.
"Agreed," Chen Yuxi added, looking equally worn out.
Even Li Xueyin, who had held up better thanks to Lin Wei's support earlier, looked too tired to argue. She simply nodded in quiet agreement.
Just then, Lisa—still composed and elegant as ever—stepped forward with a light smile. "Why not just stay here? We've got a few nice rooms left. I'm staying too. Plus, the manor on the right side still has all the facilities running. We could relax—or even have a little party."
Her offer hung in the air, tempting. It made sense, practically and socially. Staying meant rest, better preparation for tomorrow, and… opportunities. Opportunities to deepen bonds, shift dynamics, or, in some cases, push hidden agendas forward.
Lin Wei's mind ticked quietly behind his calm expression.