A photo on the confession wall went viral. It showed a guy, just his head and upper chest, looking down as if he was busy with something. The caption was simple, just asking for a way to contact him. But that was enough to send the comment section into a frenzy.

[Wait, did someone just snap a photo of a guy in the bathroom?]

[He’s really handsome! Does anyone know who he is?]

[Hey, those clothes look a bit like Daniel from the Computer Science Department. I’ve seen him around—he’s super good-looking.]

...

[Am I the only one curious about who took this picture? Their timing is spot on!]

[I just want to hold a camera to that person’s head and make them take more pictures.]

[Everyone calms down.]

I was speechless. Embarrassment was too much for me.

My best friend, Olivia, and I stared at our phones in silence. After a long pause, she finally spoke, “You’ve got a real knack for taking pictures.”

Yeah, I took that photo. I had no idea it was a bathroom!

Our university was up north, with standard public restrooms, but the dorm for the Computer Science Department was the most luxurious on campus—completely different from our rundown dorms in the School of Literature. Whose bathroom had a fancy chandelier, anyway?

Comments kept flooding in, and someone figured out who took the photo based on the time it was posted. They even described my outfit and hairstyle. Next, they’ll probably expose my name. Great!

2

Of course, I got exposed, thanks to Olivia. She snapped a picture of me in action, from a third-person perspective. In the shot, I’m intently focusing on my phone, fingers poised to zoom in. Then she posted it on Instagram with the caption, [“A fearless girl on a quest for love—her story is worth every bit of attention!”]

Before she posted it, she showed it to me. The side profile she captured wasn’t bad, so I gave her the green light. Only bold women get the love they want, right? I took that picture with pride and felt like I should be a role model. So, I let Olivia post it, thinking everyone should see what a real hero looks like.

I was feeling pretty good about it. I didn’t even notice that my phone screen was also captured perfectly. Same angle, same person.

After we posted it, we forgot all about it until someone was reminded of the picture and posted it. The word was out—Aurora from the School of Literature secretly took a photo of a guy and got exposed for it.

3

So, there I was, dragged into the comment section and criticized.

[Let me introduce you to our photographer @AuroraLoveShots.]

[Hahaha, Aurora, this is so embarrassing!]

[So, it was her taking the picture—totally not surprised.]

There’s a reason for that. My name had shown up on campus bulletin boards a few times during my first semester. Except for one time when I was just trying to get someone’s contact info, the rest of the time…

I once got tossed into a flower bed by a couple who were making out in front of the dorm. I also got thrown into a sandpit by a hot guy. And then there was the time I banged my head on a railing, called 911, fainted during a physical exam, and accidentally bit the girl in front of me on the butt…

The more I think about it, the more embarrassed I feel. While everyone else is thriving in college, I seem to be perfecting the art of social awkwardness. Olivia was with me during the railing incident. She got stuck first, and I didn’t believe her, so I stuck my head in too, just to check.

Half a second later, I was convinced. There we were, with our heads stuck side by side on the railing by the track. Even passing cats took a curious glance at us, not to mention the people snapping photos.

My name’s becoming pretty famous now, and people have started calling me the “Queen of Social Awkwardness.” With a reputation like mine, it’s no surprise that Daniel knows I’m not going to get upset about him taking a picture of me. With all this attention, there’s no way Daniel can stay under the radar.

Chapter 2 Mind Reading

4

After I finished talking, I got a new friend request on Instagram. The profile picture was just a plain gray and white avatar, and the username was “D” I didn’t know who it was, but I accepted the request anyway. Every time I post something campus forum, someone new always tries to add me.

The weirdest request I ever got said, “Welcome to the land of social mishaps. Only the true Queen of Awkwardness, Aurora, can survive this!”

I laughed about that for a month and even shared it on Instagram. But this “D” person didn’t send any message, just a period. I decided to play it cool and replied, “Who are you?”

Half a minute later, they replied: “Daniel.”

Seeing his name made my heart skip a beat, and I almost dropped my phone. The next second, I quickly changed my profile picture from one of my crushes to something else.

“Why did you change your profile picture?”

“Piggy Hero is pretty cute.”

Daniel sent two messages in a row. What the heck? I thought. This is getting weird! He’s definitely here to settle the score with me; I’m sure of it.

“Hi, I’m Aurora from the School of Literature. Nice to meet you!” I typed carefully.

“I know.”

“You took a picture of me.”

“Let’s make a deal. I’ll treat you to dinner if you delete the photo for me.”

“How about tomorrow night at 6, at the popular steakhouse by the North Gate?”

The steakhouse by North Gate was a must-visit for anyone at our university. If you could resist it, you’d be in the minority! I was already salivating just thinking about it. The last time, Olivia and I went there, we had an incredible feast. The steaks were perfectly cooked, tender and juicy, and served with a range of mouthwatering sides. The rich, smoky flavor of the steak paired perfectly with crispy fries and creamy coleslaw. The aroma of the grill could practically waft from North Gate to the college. I was already planning where to go after dinner and how to work off that delicious meal.

I couldn’t help but think about the possibility of this being a “trap dinner” or even a “last supper” scenario. But that cat emoji totally broke down my last defense.

What a bizarre situation! Aurora, seriously, how could you judge so quickly? Daniel, using such a cute emoji, must be a good guy. After all, I was the one who invaded his privacy and made him awkward in front of everyone at school! And now, he’s asking me to delete the photo and even offering to treat me to dinner. I’m the real culprit here! A total criminal!

Feeling guilty, I wanted to respond with an emoji to show I was friendly. But when I checked my collection, all the emoji I had were Piggy Hero and Little Cat... Not exactly what I was aiming for.

5

The next day, wanting to show my respect, I went all out with my makeup and even put on false eyelashes. When I got downstairs, Daniel was already waiting under a streetlight.

He was dressed in a simple white shirt and work pants, his hair slightly curled, and as I got closer, I caught the faint scent of laundry detergent. The first word that came to mind: Youthful.

Daniel had fair skin, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes, with a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“Hi, Aurora.” Daniel stepped forward to greet me.

Then, out of nowhere, I heard a thought that seemed unreal. Wow, she’s even prettier in person! Oh no, I can feel my ears turning red!

Wait, who’s talking? I glanced around but didn’t see anyone suspicious. My eyes landed back on Daniel—more specifically, his bright red ears. I was confused. The voice definitely came from him, but I hadn’t seen him move his lips.

After a quick introduction, we walked side by side toward the north gate. As Daniel checked his phone, he casually played with his bangs. Then I heard a voice again:

Thanks to that visit to the hair salon, my perm looks great! But this outfit doesn’t do me justice. Ryan swore this look would charm any girl, but Aurora is no ordinary woman.

I was speechless.

What’s going on? Why does she keep looking at me? Is it because my outfit is bad? Or does she not like this laundry detergent cologne?

Ryan totally tricked me. He said the detergent scent gave off a youthful vibe. Liar! I want to punch him.

The voices just kept coming, one after another, without pause.

I was now pretty sure Daniel wasn’t actually speaking.

Wait a minute—can I hear what he’s thinking?

This is too wild. The deep, clear voice in my mind kept getting louder, so I blurted out, “Your shirt looks great. Where did you get it?”

“Huh? Do you mean this shirt? I bought it online. You like it?”

But in his mind, he thought: Yes! I knew I had great taste. It took me a week to pick this shirt!

The best part? The fabric turns see-through when it gets wet, showing off my six-pack. Aurora Bennett won’t be able to resist me!

My face turned red, and I couldn’t help but sneak a glance at his abs.

Wait a minute, isn’t Daniel supposed to be the star of the Computer Science Department?

Before I left, Olivia gave me the lowdown on him. Daniel, in our year, became famous in Computer Science right after school started. He’s incredibly aloof, and no girl has ever gotten his Instagram.

No one’s seen him with a girl, and his most frequent companion is his roommate, Ryan. Some even say they’re a couple.

Olivia advised me to be chatty and project a sunny, cheerful image to complement his vibe.

That was my plan, anyway.

But if it weren’t for this weird mind-reading thing, I’d never have guessed that Daniel is so subtly self-assured and cunningly strategic!!

The constant chatter in my head made it hard to think straight.

So much for my sunny, cheerful girl-next-door image.

The setting sun bathed everything in a warm glow, wrapping the world in a peaceful light. And then I heard Daniel think:

Damn, Aurora is gorgeous. Not even King Arthur could stop me from drooling over her.

I stumbled, nearly tripping over myself. Before I could fall, I felt a hand on my wrist.

Daniel’s hand was strong and gentle, his slender fingers making my wrist feel tiny in comparison.

“Careful.”

Daniel’s voice was clear, not deep or magnetic like in a novel, but clean and youthful.

“Th-thank you.”

As soon as our wrists touched, Daniel quickly let go.

When we arrived at North Gate, it was only 6:15, prime dinner time. The restaurant was packed, mostly with students from our university.

I noticed a few people watching us and whispering to each other. My heart sank with a sense of dread.

Sure enough, by that night, the school forum was buzzing with talk about us.

That night, the school forum was already buzzing with chatter about us.

[Wow, what did I just see? Aurora from the Arts College and Daniel from the Computer Science Department having dinner together!]

[Seriously? Is this for real?]

[Yep, I saw them too. They were at North Gate’s popular steakhouse, and they shared a big meal.]

[!! A handsome guy and a beautiful girl together! I’m here for it!]

“...”

Some even posted blurry photos, showing a vague outline of Daniel and me.

I quickly exited the forum.

Olivia was sitting cross-legged on her bed, absorbed in her show, laughing at whatever she was watching.

Our dorm is a four-person room, and the other two roommates were out for evening classes.

I poked my head out of my bed.

“Olivia—”

She took off her headphones and looked up at me. “What’s up?”

“I was thinking, Daniel seems a bit strange.”

“Strange in what way?”

“He seems to like me?” I recalled the thoughts I heard in my head, tilting my head as I spoke.

Olivia: “...”

“I’m not trying to be a downer, but he’s only met you once. How could he like you?”

“Maybe he likes my stunning beauty, my sparkling eyes, my smooth skin, and my witty, funny, and charming personality?”

Olivia looked exasperated, clutching her chair. “I’m feeling a bit nauseous.”

“Then it must be true!” I pulled my head back and happily settled into bed.

6

There’s a theory that says before you meet someone, you might never have noticed them. But once you do, it feels like they’re everywhere.

On Saturday, Olivia and I planned a night out at a bar.

“Have we had any luck finding people to join us?” Olivia scrolled through the chat and sighed.

We both shook our heads.

After posting on our social media, it took half an hour before just two friends showed up.

With only four of us, the place felt a bit empty, but we made do.

The bar was in a somewhat remote area, and since it was still early, the place was pretty quiet.

Counting our table, there were only about six or seven tables occupied.

The bar had just one bartender, who was busy counting bottles.

We found a spot to sit together, and Olivia habitually scanned the room.

“Whoa, Aurora, is that Daniel over there?” Olivia suddenly nudged me and pointed toward the two o’clock direction.

I followed her gaze.

In the dim light, two guys were sitting across from each other. The one directly facing us was focused on his phone, with the screen casting a faint glow on his face.

It was Daniel.

“Well, what a coincidence, it really is him.” I raised an eyebrow and looked away.

The waiter quickly brought us our drinks and a deck of cards.

“Let’s play a game—” Before I could finish, I was suddenly interrupted by a male voice.

“Sorry to bother you, may we join your table?” Daniel had somehow come over, leaning down to ask.

At the same time, Daniel’s voice once again echoed in my mind.