Humming a cheerful tune, a girl hurriedly got ready for school, her movements swift and purposeful. It's a rare occasion, but it was the first time she had willingly woken up so early.

Rushing down the stairs, her excitement was noticeable. Even though it didn't suit her personality, she was composing a poem for the morning sky.

“In the early morning, 

before the sun ascends, 

a serene…….”

However, as she swung open the front door, her excitement faded at the sight of someone other than her father standing by the car. Her mood became irritated, and she asked sharply, 

"What are you doing here, Ethan? Where's Dad?"

Looking at the girl's expression, Ethan sighed and replied, "Dad is still sleeping. He arrived home late last night. That's why Mom asked me to drive you to school."

The girl let out a small pout, her whole face showing disappointment. Pushing aside her initial annoyance, she settled into the car beside none other than her older brother.

After they had driven some distance, Ethan glanced at his sister with a curious expression and asked, "Why are you going to school so early today?"

The girl beamed, her grin stretching from ear to ear as if all her disappointment had gone out of the car window. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, but it didn't last long when she saw her brother looking at her.

"I just felt like going in early today," Jia replied straightforwardly. However, Ethan chuckled a little and said, 

“Don't lie, Jia.” 

“Tsk.” Jia clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction before saying, “Bian is coming to the school early today. Actually, not just today, but from now on.”

Ethan flinched momentarily but immediately got back to his usual self. He wished that Jia hadn't noticed. However, another “tsk” from Jia made him realize that she had seen everything.

A few moments later, Ethan hesitantly asked Jia a question, “Are you still friends with her?”

Jia didn't look at her brother and irritably replied, “Why wouldn't I be? Don't forget our relationship got better because of her. Otherwise, I wouldn't even want to look at you.”

Ethan fell silent at her words in that moment, then said, “True.” His voice suggested a willingness to accept whatever came his way without objection.

Jia glanced at her brother with a sidelong look and became more irritated. While everyone says her brother is an easygoing person, in Jia's eyes, her older brother is a coward who never says anything in his defense, even to save face.

“I really don't like this side of yours.” After that, both siblings maintained silence for the rest of the way.

Jia's mood brightened as she spotted Bian's bus in front of the school. All the tension that had been building inside the car suddenly dissipated into thin air. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to her brother. "Okay, then, bye for..."

However, her voice trailed off as she noticed Ethan's expression shift abruptly, his usual relaxed demeanor replaced by an intense fury.

"What's wrong? Why are you..." Jia's words were cut off as Ethan abruptly leaped out of the car without waiting for her.

Jia's gaze followed her brother's sudden movement and settled on Bian as she was getting out of the bus and moving with an eerie stillness. However, Jia was startled when she saw a figure walking alongside Bian—a presence that sent shivers down her spine.

Reacting quickly, Jia also exited the car to reach Bian. Ethan had already reached her, and he extended his hand to pull Bian toward him.

As Jia approached them, her eyes widened in surprise. A gasp escaped her lips as she took in the sight of her brother. His once deep black eyes now blazed with a vivid shade of blue. But suddenly, she was having trouble breathing. 

Ethan is looking at the other person with a warning; no, it's not an ordinary warning. He is releasing a killing intent, and its intensity is so much that it is difficult for her to even stand up.

She couldn't handle it and bent down. So many questions were taking turns in her mind. Yet, she was mumbling just one thing,

"What's happening here? What is my brother doing? What about other people...?"

As Jia thought of other people, she became pale. She immediately looked up to see if the other students were alright. If she couldn't breathe properly, how are the other students......?

But to her surprise, no one was looking at them, as if they didn't exist here. While looking for others, Jia's eyes landed on Bian. Even though it was hard for her, she stood up and quickly came in front of her brother and tried to calm him, “Brother, wait…..”

*Groan*

In this tense situation, a sound drew all of their attention to Bian, who was embraced by Ethan. Bian's eyes, which had seemed so lost just moments before, slowly began to regain their light. A few more faint groans escaped her lips as she blinked and tried to focus.

The anger that had filled Ethan's eyes earlier now turned into worry and concern. Without realizing it, he held Bian even closer. Bian was struggling to stay awake, but after a few moments, her body went limp.

Jia felt a mix of fear and confusion, yet her concern for Bian was greater than anything. As she was about to touch Bian's face, Ethan urgently interrupted, "Where is the infirmary? Bian has a fever."

Realizing the situation, Jia nodded quickly and said, "It's this way." With that, she began leading the way, and Ethan swiftly lifted Bian into his arms, following closely behind.

Jia glanced back a little. That person still stood there, observing them. However, he was smiling. Jia turned away and mumbled to herself, “He somehow reminds me of a certain someone.”

In the infirmary, the teacher examined Bian's condition. After a brief check-up, she turned to Ethan and Jia and said to them, "Bian does have a fever, but it's not concerning. It might be that the journey took a toll on her body, and that's why she fainted. Let her rest for now."

With those words, she returned to her desk. Both Ethan and Jia stayed by Bian's side in heavy silence. Jia's mind was a whirlwind of questions and unresolved emotions. After a long silence, she finally mustered the courage to speak.

"Ethan, how..."

“Please don't ask anything, Jia.” Her words trailed off when Ethan started speaking. “Even I don't understand anything right now,” he continued.

Jia looked at her brother's face. His features were covered with a depth of pain as if he had carried it for years. His eyes were now a mixture of sorrow, regret, and a haunting sense of loss as he looked at Bian.

It's the same expression she saw a few years ago. At that time, and even now, she still couldn't comprehend the emotions that her brother showed.

When she struggled to make sense of her brother's emotions, Jia laughed at herself. Her own conflicting feelings of disappointment, anger, guilt, regret, and even a hint of hatred toward her brother were bothering her at the same time. Jia found herself at a loss trying to decipher her brother's silent agony when she could not understand her own.

After a brief moment, the infirmary teacher returned and said, “I've informed Bian's mother. She is on her way. Jianna, please return to your classroom. And..."

“Can I stay with her until her mother arrives?” Ethan's unexpected question cut off the teacher. However, the teacher firmly replied,

"I'm sorry. You are not a student of this school, so I can't allow you to stay here."

Ethan wanted to say something. However, when Jia tugged at his sleeves, he remained silent. Before leaving the infirmary, Ethan looked at Bian one last time, and Jia closely followed him.

In the quiet stillness of the infirmary, the teacher checked Bian's temperature once more. After she ensured that Bian's condition remained stable, she returned to her desk.

After a while, the teacher received a call. She excused herself, and hurried out of the infirmary, leaving the room momentarily vacant.

In that fleeting moment, when she shut the door behind her, the door quietly creaked open once more, as if someone had been waiting for this precise moment. In that instant, two figures glided into the infirmary with an eerie presence, their movements noiseless as they approached Bian's bedside.

One of the figures gently settled beside Bian, tenderly gathering a few strands of her hair and giving them a soft kiss.

The figure's face radiated with joy and affection as they looked at Bian. No one can describe the pure happiness they are feeling right now.

Beside them, the second figure observed this scene with disgust, their voice tinged with irritation as they questioned, "You really like her so much, don't you?"

The first figure's adoring gaze remained fixed on Bian. Without averting their eyes, they replied, "Absolutely." They gave another kiss to Bian's hair and rose from her side. The first figure looked at the second figure and asked,

"Don't tell me you don't feel the same?”

A silence passed between the two figures as they exchanged a knowing look. Both of them smiled and said,

“She is, after all, our key. Why wouldn't I like her?”

{She is, after all, our key. Why wouldn't I like her?}

Both their words lingered in the air, echoing through the infirmary, even though that didn't wake Bian up. As if her ears were shielded from hearing anything, Bian remained in a peaceful, undisturbed sleep, oblivious to the conversations that were happening beside her.

The infirmary fell into silence once more, with the soft rustle of the curtains as they took a step to leave. Their departure was as quiet as their entrance. As the two figures made their exit, only a single shadow followed their movements. The shadow of the other figure began to fade and merge into the remaining shadow.