The Home You Waited For

CHAPTER 7 - No Halfway

Lunch break, school courtyard

The school bell rang, signaling lunchtime. The classroom burst into noise as students hurried toward the canteen, laughter and footsteps filling the air. Jia took her time packing her things, hoping to blend into the rush. But she froze when she saw Yuhan standing by the door, hands on his hips — clearly waiting for her.

“Jia,” he called, his tone serious.

Jia couldn't help but feel nervous. She had known her cousin's behavior for a long time. Enough to recognize that look – half protective, half suspicious. She followed him into the hallway where they were alone.

“Lately, I’ve noticed…” Yuhan began, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Chenxi seems to be around you a lot.”

Jia let out a loud sigh, trying to ease the nervousness twisting in her chest. She met her cousin’s gaze. “We’re seatmates, remember?”

“That's not what I meant,” Yuhan said softly but with emphasis. “I just don't want you to forget what happened back then. Remember that bastard in Manila? I don't want to see you cry like that again. And Chenxi? He's complicated. You know that.”

Jia tightened her grip on her bag strap. “Yuhan,” she said with a sigh. “I think he's not the same anymore. He's not like that.”

"You think I don't see the way he looks at you?" Yuhan shook his head, sighing. “I'm just saying, don't trust everyone too quickly.

He's my friend, but I know his walls. And I don't want you to get hurt."

Jia bit her lip. She was torn between embarrassment and the warmth that bloomed inside her chest. Because if Yuhan noticed... maybe there'd been a big change in Chenxi.

MEANWHILE, on the other side of the campus, Xie Hao spotted Chenxi leaning casually against a vending machine, sipping a can of iced coffee. As usual, he looked like he couldn’t care less about the world.

She walked up to him, a teasing grin on her face. “You’re really bold today, huh!” she said jokingly. “You actually walked my friend to school—and even complimented her hair clip in front of everyone. Then you opened the door for her? Tsk, tsk… that’s new, Lu Chenxi!”

Chenxi smiled slightly. “Why would you say that?”

Xie Hao leaned closer to him and whispered. “You know, half the class is already whispering, right? And Yuhan's not exactly thrilled. He might talk to you.”

“He already did.” Chenxi said casually as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“And?”

“And I don't care,” he said simply. “I've already made my choice.”

Xie Hao was stunned by this. “So, you're really going for it?”

Chenxi straightened up and finished the coffee he was drinking in one gulp. His voice was calm but firm. “Yeah. No halfway.”

WHEN lunch break started, the canteen quickly filled with chatter and clattering trays. Jia sat at the far end of a long table, her food untouched. She tried to ignore the whispers from the girls at the next table. She was absently poking at her rice with her spoon when a shadow fell across her tray.

Chenxi.

“Move over,” he said casually to her, placing a bottle of her favorite strawberry milk next to her tray.

Jia blinked. “You—how did you—?”

Chenxi just shrugged and sat down beside her. “You always buy this when you think no one's looking. I thought I'd save you the line.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly. Jia noticed a few students stealing glances at them, whispering behind their hands. Chenxi, however, looked completely unfazed—acting as if the attention was nothing new. He opened his drink and leaned back casually in his seat.

Their shoulders brushed, just barely touching, yet it was enough to make her heart skip.

“Don’t mind them,” he said, nodding slightly toward the whispering students. “Let them talk.”

Jia's heart fluttered. For the first time, she stopped worrying about what other people would think.

JIA lay quietly in bed with the lights off, only the night lamp providing soft light to the room. She held the phone, still unable to forget what had happened earlier—Chenxi greeted him at the gate, walking beside her, the strawberry milk on her lunch tray.

She had just finished scrolling through their school group chat when a new message notification popped up.

Chenxi: Are you still awake?

Jia blinked at the screen. She was a bit surprised to see that it was Chenxi who messaged her because he had never sent her a message before. She tapped the message notification even though she didn't know what to reply to.

Jia: Yes, I’m still awake. Why?

A full minute passed before the typing bubble appeared.

Chenxi: Nothing. I just wanted to say thank you for letting me walk with you to school and eat lunch with you.

She bit her lip before replying to his message. She's feeling that strange heartbeat again.

Jia: Ah, it’s okay. I should be the one thanking you for the drink.

Chenxi: I remembered you like strawberry milk, so I bought some for you.

Jia stared at the message for longer than necessary. There's something different about its simplicity—no emojis, no overthinking—but it feels... personal. It seems like she's just quietly listening all the time. Before she could even reply, a message from him popped up immediately.

Chenxi: Good night, Jia. Sweet dreams.

Her heart raced even faster. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to reply to his message.

Jia: Good night and sweet dreams too, Chenxi.

When she put his cell phone down on her bedside table, she couldn't help but smile. She'll definitely sleep soundly tonight.

JIA arrived at school early again, just as she had the past few days. It had become a habit for her to avoid the crowded gate and the noise of the first bell. But this morning, she felt different – a mix of nervousness and excitement she couldn't explain.

As she turned at the school gate, she stopped in her tracks because Chenxi was there again. He was sitting near the flower pot close to the gate. He had earphones plugged into his ears and was looking up at the sky again. Beside him, sat a bottle of strawberry milk and a food container filled with steamed buns.

Upon seeing her, Chenxi immediately took off his earphones and stood up. "Good morning," he greeted her, handing over strawberry milk and steamed buns.

Jia blinked, flustered. “Why are you giving me something like this?”

He just shrugged. “So you don’t skip breakfast… and Yuhan won’t scold you anymore for it.” A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Jia couldn’t help but accept it. Heat rushed to her face. “Thank you.”

CHENXI secretly smiled, his heart threatening to burst with the joy he felt. Jia and he walked into the building together.

This time, Chenxi didn’t keep the usual space he always maintained before – he matched her pace, their shoulders occasionally brushing. He was just looking ahead, but there was silence that wasn’t awkward; it was comfortable, like they had both silently agreed something had changed.

WHEN they arrived at the classroom, Chenxi opened the door for Jia once more, and they stepped inside almost at the same time.

Zhang Rui and a few classmates immediately noticed them.

“Hey, it’s only the second day, and you two are still at it!” he teased. “Are you going to be allies for the entrance exam… or for love?”

Jia bowed her head and went straight to her desk. She held the bottle of strawberry milk and the food container tightly. She's still hesitant about whether to hide them or not.

Chenxi, on the other hand, was unfazed by her classmates' teasing and sat comfortably beside Jia with one elbow resting on the table.

Without any interest, he glanced at Zhang Rui and their classmates.

“Do you have a problem with Jia and me always going to school together?” he asked, sounding bored.

The entire classroom fell silent at what Chenxi said. A few muffled giggles erupted from the back. He didn't raise his voice, but the tone of his voice seemed challenging – as if he were daring anyone to push further.

Jia's heart rate quickened. She could feel their eyes on her, and they started whispering again.

Chenxi turned to her and tapped her notebook with his pen, just like he did yesterday to get her attention.

“History homework. Do you have it already?” he asked casually.

Jia nodded immediately. “Yeah, I already have it.”

“Good.” He leaned back in his seat and casually rested one arm on the back of her chair. As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Jia bit her lip. She didn't know whether she should move or just stay still in her seat. But deep down, she didn't mind at all.

YUHAN stopped when he entered their classroom. His gaze immediately turned to Chenxi, who was practically glued to Jia. The flicker of surprise on his face quickly turned into something unreadable. Jia felt him looking at her and met his eyes. He just sighed and went to his seat without saying a word.

JIA could really feel that something was different about the atmosphere in their classroom. The whispers of classmates, Yuhan's quiet observation of her and Chenxi, and the latter's silent but unmistakable claim of space beside her.

Something had definitely changed.