The buzz of classroom chatter faded into the background as Yun Fei sat at his desk, notebook open but untouched. His pen hovered over the page, unmoving. His mind wasn't in this room—it was five days ahead.
June 17th.
The day he missed the most important moment of his youth.
The day Lin Xiya waited under the sycamore tree, clutching a letter in her hand, looking toward the horizon with trembling hope.
She waited.
And waited.
He never showed.
Back then, he convinced himself it was mercy—he wasn't good enough for her. But now, with the weight of time crushing him, he knew the truth.
He was just afraid.
Too afraid to answer the love he thought he didn't deserve.
Too afraid to risk being known.
But that moment became a scar on both their lives. Lin Xiya left the country soon after graduation. They never spoke again. No message, no closure. Just silence.
Now, she sat three seats away from him, her hair tied neatly, glasses slightly sliding down her nose as she annotated a poem in her book.
She looked calm, thoughtful.
But she was already preparing to give up on him.
He'd seen it before—in that final moment when she smiled and turned away forever.
Not this time.
He would earn the right to stand beside her—not just by saying yes, but by proving that he'd changed.
But first… he had to understand her again.
---
Lunch Break – Under the Banyan Tree
"Lin Xiya," Yun Fei called out softly as she stepped out of the classroom.
She blinked, surprised. "Yun Fei?"
"I was wondering… would you like to eat lunch together?"
A pause.
A heartbeat.
Then, to his surprise, she gave a small nod.
"…Okay."
They found a quiet spot beneath the old banyan tree behind the library. Few students came here—it was too far, too quiet. Perfect for someone who didn't want to be seen.
She unwrapped her lunch: homemade rice balls and sliced apples. He had a simple sandwich from the cafeteria.
"You usually sit with your friends," she said.
"Used to," he replied, offering a half-smile. "I guess I'm… re-evaluating who I am."
She looked at him. "That's a strange answer."
"I'm a strange person these days."
A soft silence settled between them.
Then she said, "You've been different lately."
He looked up. "Different?"
"More… direct. You used to just sit quietly, never involving yourself in anything. But now you're stepping in for others. Like with Ruo Lan."
"I should've done that before," he said quietly.
She looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. "She looked like she was going to cry yesterday. After everything."
"I saw too many people cry in the future," he murmured, then blinked and added quickly, "I mean… I've been thinking about how much pain silence causes."
She tilted her head. "Have you been reading poetry again?"
He laughed.
"Something like that."
She handed him an apple slice. "You're not as unreadable as you think, Yun Fei. You just hide behind a wall."
He took the slice, touched by the gesture. "And if I told you I want to break that wall down?"
She didn't smile, but her eyes warmed.
"I'd say start with one brick at a time."
---
Regret Shard Fluctuation
That night, Yun Fei sat in his room, his regret interface glowing faintly against the ceiling shadows.
> Regret Shard #005 – Missed Love Confession (Pending Activation)
Update: Emotional Progress Detected.
Affinity Score with Lin Xiya: 27% → 43%
Current Status: Hope Renewing
Warning: Confession failure still imminent unless key triggers are completed.
> Optional Trigger Paths Available:
– Path A: Reconnect through shared academic interest
– Path B: Resolve Lin Xiya's hidden family pressure
– Path C: Encourage emotional expression through creative outlet
Completing two paths may unlock Confession Success State.
Yun Fei stared at the options, heart pounding.
This wasn't just about walking up to her and blurting out "I like you."
It was about understanding her life, her fears.
In the past… he'd only seen her surface.
This time, he would dive deep.
---
Path A: Academic Interest – Poetry Club Invitation
The next morning, Yun Fei arrived early and waited outside the Literature department office.
Inside, a club recruitment board displayed a single faded poster:
"Dream Writers Club – Seeking New Members"
He tore off a form and filled it out.
Then he waited.
As students passed, he spotted Lin Xiya approaching with a stack of books in hand.
"Hey," he called.
She raised a brow. "You're here early."
"I joined the poetry club."
That got her attention. "Really?"
"Yeah. I thought… maybe I could learn to express myself better. I figured you'd already be in it?"
"I'm the vice president," she admitted, smiling faintly. "We only have three members now."
"Well," he said, offering her the form, "make that four."
She took it, eyes unreadable.
"I look forward to hearing what kind of poems you write."
"Be warned," he said, chuckling. "They'll probably be full of bad metaphors and existential crises."
She laughed—a soft, musical sound he hadn't heard in over a decade.
---
Regret Index Update
> Path A Completed: Shared Interest Bond Established
Affinity Score: 43% → 59%
Trait Activated: Emotional Perception (Lv. 1)
You can now faintly sense the emotional undercurrents in people's responses.
> Warning: Regret Shard #005 activation in 3 days.
---
Closing Thoughts – The Clock Keeps Ticking
As Yun Fei walked home that evening, breeze brushing against his collar, he felt something shift inside him.
Not just hope.
But purpose.
This second life wasn't just a do-over—it was a test of character, of love, of courage.
And for the first time in both lives, he wasn't running away.
He was walking toward his regrets—head high, heart open.