Romance Starting from A Notebook

Luciana Burgess, the female gang leader of my school said that if I could get the contact information of the handsome guy in front, she would give me 500 dollars.

For the money, I went for it.

I ruffled my purposely permed wavy hair and stepped forward.

But the handsome guy asked me, "Have you finished the homework?"

1.

Homework?

What homework?

He picked up a black backpack from the bench on his right, pulled out a notebook, and handed it to me.

"This is the group project. I hope you can complete it on time."

What?

Ignoring my shocked expression, he slung the bag over his shoulder and walked away, leaving me staring at the notebook in my hand.

What was this group project?

"Did you get the contact info?"

Luciana approached, flanked by two other girls.

Luciana used to be the class beauty and now attended a vocational school, which was several streets away from the prestigious high school that I attended.

We were worlds apart, but that didn't stop her from humiliating me.

Luciana glanced at the notebook, and one of her subordinates snatched it from my hand and flipped it open. "What's this?"

The notebook was filled with neatly arranged, powerful handwriting, just like the boy himself.

"Luciana, it's a notebook." It was full of various exercises.

Luciana crossed her arms and lifted her chin. "Since you didn't get the contact info, no 500 dollars for you."

I pursed my lips and put on a flattering smile. "But at least I got the notebook."

Luciana laughed, covering her mouth. "Then maybe I'll give you half."

Half.

250.

The girls around Luciana burst into laughter.

I laughed along. "Sure."

I was so broke that even such a small amount could buy my dignity.

2.

The next morning, I woke up from a nightmare.

"Ah... " I sat up abruptly.

My best friend, startled by my scream, rolled off the bed and hit the floor. She rubbed her sore back and butt. "That hurt."

I rubbed my eyes to wake up.

It was all because of the guy I met yesterday. He made me dream that a handsome guy fell in love with me at first sight. Just when I thought he was about to confess with a gift, he pulled out a workbook instead.

It seemed that he was saying, "Here, finish this workbook."

I shook my head in horror, trying to escape the nightmare.

Turning my head, I saw the black notebook on the bedside table.

My friend, now fully awake from her fall, saw me staring at the notebook and helpfully explained, "Oh, that's the workbook a handsome guy you flirted with last night gave you."

I was speechless.

This was a nightmare, not a gift.

At the breakfast table, I sipped milk and tore bread in my hands.

I opened a job search app, found a few decent jobs, and sent out my resume.

Buzz, buzz, an unknown call popped up on the job search page.

A response already?

I answered the call respectfully, "Hello, this is Ophelia Moss."

A cold, somewhat familiar voice replied, "Have you finished the group assignment?"

What?

Did I need to do homework to find a job?

Did I stumble into a homework trap?

3.

The voice continued, "I'm downstairs."

Reflexively, I jumped up and quickly walked to the window in my slippers.

He happened to look up.

Our eyes met, locking in a gaze.

"I'll wait for you."

He hung up.

I was in a daze.

My friend came over, saw the person downstairs, and was shocked. "Isn't that the handsome guy you hit on yesterday? How does he know where you live?"

Good question.

I wanted to know too.

I tidied up and, before leaving, went back to grab the notebook.

I rented the house in a rundown area, which was hard to find. It was a remote old neighborhood with no elevator. The stairwell walls were peeling, and the ground floor was dark and damp, covered in moss. At night, the light bulbs flickered as if it was a horror movie.

My friend got lost every time she visited. I was curious how he found it.

On the ground floor, he stood there, looking like a poster from afar, tall and slender. The hoodie collar slightly covered his chin, and his dark hair fell over his forehead. His profile was still stunning.

He turned his head, meeting my gaze.

As if there was a kind of magic, his dark eyes seemed to draw me in, holding my attention with nothing else in their depths.

He walked towards me, my heartbeat quickening.

Each step echoed my racing heartbeat.

Thump, thump, thump, my heart raced.

"Have you finished the homework?"

I felt something inside me snap.

4.

He took the notebook from my hand, flipped through a few pages, and frowned at me.

"Didn't do it?"

"Who are you?"

He closed the notebook. "Class monitor."

"Class monitor? Then why haven't I seen you before?" I looked at him skeptically.

"You'd have to attend school to see me."

I was speechless.

It made sense. Since the start of high school, I had only gone to the cafeteria for meals and found a seat at the back on the first day of class.

"So why are you here?"

He looked at me calmly. "Unfortunately, we're in the same group and need to complete the group assignment together."

Understanding his purpose, I shrugged, speaking casually, "You can see I can't do homework. Why don't you help me with it?" I playfully winked.

His response was still upright. "Assignments need to be completed by yourself."

"But I don't have time."

A notification popped up on my phone.

"Ophelia, your resume has passed the first round of screening. Please come to the company for a second interview at 9:30 AM. We look forward to your visit."

I showed him the message. "I'm busy. I need to find a job."

"My task is to ensure you complete the group assignment." He reached out to stop me.

Though he was handsome, he couldn't stop me from earning money.

"Hey boy, if I don't earn money, I'll starve. Unlike you, I don't have parents to rely on."

I pushed his hand away, walked to the street, and hailed a cab. Just as I got into the back seat and was about to close the door, he squeezed in.

"Why are you getting in?"

He told the driver, "Riverside School".

I immediately countered, "Starlight Plaza".

The driver looked at me, then at him.

"Where to?"

5.

The car stopped at Riverside School. He got out, and I quickly closed the door, instructing the driver to drive.

His figure shrank into a dot in my view until it disappeared.

The car arrived at Starlight Plaza at 9:10 AM.

I took the elevator to the 9th floor for the interview.

After waiting about ten minutes, the staff finally called my name.

I stood up, ready to follow the staff for the interview, when someone called out behind me.

"Ophelia."

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

He walked up behind me. "Come back to school with me."

The staff looked me over, surprised. "You're still a student?"