Sterling: The cold and aloof academic genius, ranked first in his grade. Known among the girls as the “ice prince,” he keeps his distance from others. But deep down, he has a delicate heart—and an uncontrollable desire to protect Elara. Elara: A transfer student with sweet looks and a gentle, introverted personality. Because of her name, people often joke, “Elara must be like a bunny.” In truth, she’s resilient and quietly longs for love, though she’s afraid of getting hurt. On the first day of school, Elara hurries to class with a stack of notebooks and accidentally bumps into Sterling. Her books scatter. As she kneels to gather them, she looks up—only to meet his icy gaze. Sterling notices the redness in her ears, picks up the last notebook, and coolly says, “Watch where you’re going.” Elara murmurs a thank you, only to hear girls whispering behind her: “Did she just bump into Sterling? She’s gonna get the cold shoulder of the century.” The homeroom teacher assigns them as desk mates, shocking the entire class with how they interact: • Elara forgets her eraser. Sterling snaps his in half and hands her a piece: “Bring your own next time.” • It suddenly pours after school. Elara didn’t bring an umbrella. Sterling throws his jacket over her head: “Hold on. I’m not responsible if you get lost.” • Elara misses three days due to a fever. Sterling climbs the school wall to bring her notes. When her mom catches him, he stays calm: “The teacher asked me to deliver homework.” At the school sports meet, Elara trips during a relay. Sterling rushes onto the track and scoops her up. Amid gasps from the crowd, he says with a straight face: “Struggle again and I’ll drop you.” When Sterling’s ex spreads rumors that Elara is “flirting with boys,” he goes live over the school’s PA system: “I’m the one chasing her. Got a problem? Take it up with me.” Elara’s parents find out about their relationship and force her to transfer schools. The night before she leaves, Sterling hands her an MP3 player: “There’s something I want to say inside.” Two Years Apart Elara throws herself into her studies at her new school, always wearing the star-shaped earring Sterling gave her. Sterling is accepted into Blackthorn University but somehow keeps “coincidentally” showing up outside the café where she works part-time. At a class reunion, someone dares to ask, “Sterling, do you still like Elara?” He plays an unfinished recording from the MP3: “Elara… If the future doesn’t have you in it, then I don’t want it.” Proposal: After becoming a successful illustrator, Elara holds a signing event for her new book. Sterling shows up with the same half-eraser from years ago and says: “Elara, this time… can I borrow you for life?”