A social phobic can also fall in love.

Qi Xing rushed up to the third floor with a surge of energy and abruptly pushed open the door to dorm room 302. Yan Tingmo and his new boyfriend weren’t there, leaving only Zhou Wen, who was making his bed, staring at him in surprise.

Zhou Wen: “……”

Qi Xing, still catching his breath, propped himself against the door and asked, “Where’s Yan Tingmo?”

“He just left,” Zhou Wen paused for a moment before continuing, “I think he went toward the cafeteria.”

Qi Xing nodded and said, “Thanks,” before turning to dash downstairs.

Zhou Wen, baffled, jumped off the bed and went to the balcony to look.

Qi Xing ran quickly, and his figure disappeared from view beneath the dormitory building in no time.

“Ah, the bitter wine of love, cup after cup,” Zhou Wen shook his head as he wandered back into the dorm.

Meanwhile, Yan Tingmo had dropped off his belongings in the dorm and was now showing Pei Min around the campus.

“This is the library,” he introduced matter-of-factly, “a place for reading.”

Pei Min raised an eyebrow and glanced at the library. “Are you going to take me in for a look?”

After thinking for a moment, Yan Tingmo said, “Sure.”

Pei Min followed him as he slowly recounted his dull and uneventful campus life.

Recalling the peculiar looks they received when they entered the school, Pei Min casually asked, “Mo Mo, how’s life here for you?”

Yan Tingmo, confused, replied honestly, “Pretty good. My classmates are very kind to me.”

“Really?” Pei Min pulled a book from the shelf and remarked casually, “But it seems to me they’re not very friendly.”

Yan Tingmo paused for a moment, then said seriously, “They misunderstand me. They’re not really targeting me.”

Pei Min was a bit surprised. With Yan Tingmo’s well-behaved personality, how could he have upset his classmates?

Seeing his surprised expression, Yan Tingmo took out his phone, logged into his forum account, and showed him a post. “It’s probably because of this.”

Pei Min glanced at the content: baseless rumors and slander.

The poster, clearly someone Yan Tingmo knew, had written about his childhood life and accused him of having a chaotic private life, claiming he often frequented red-light districts.

To top it off, there was an attached photo.

The blurry photo only vaguely showed a profile, but the side of the face near the ear bore a red mole identical to Yan Tingmo’s, portraying the subject as the campus’s popular “untouchable flower” who flitted among various men and women.

Pei Min frowned and asked, “And they believed it?”

Yan Tingmo nodded. “Yeah, the photo does look like me.”

“Did you explain?” Pei Min asked.

“I did,” Yan Tingmo replied, “but it didn’t help.”

It made sense—empty words couldn’t beat a seemingly damning photo posted by an anonymous source. Modern young people, quick with malice, cared little for the truth. A single sentence or photo was enough for them to judge their peers.

He had considered posting a clarification but knew it was futile. For every word he said, there would be a thousand words countering him.

Since explaining didn’t help, he decided to let it go. After all, it didn’t cause any real harm, just some verbal smears.

Yan Tingmo was at peace with it. Why care about others’ opinions? As long as he was happy, that was enough. Besides, his roommates were kind to him—he wasn’t completely alone.

Oh, and Qi Xing was great, too.

He knew Qi Xing had helped him a lot, but he had hurt him.

He pursed his lips as his thoughts drifted far away.

“It’s okay,” Pei Min reported the post. “This kind of defamatory post won’t have the upper hand for long. Those who slandered you will apologize eventually.”

Yan Tingmo looked up at him. “I don’t really mind. There are only two years left until graduation. After that, we’ll all go our separate ways.”

“That’s true,” Pei Min chuckled suddenly. “It’s good you think that way. Being happy is what matters most.”

Yan Tingmo smiled, putting his phone away and logging out of the forum.

“Brother, let me treat you to lunch. The food at our cafeteria is really good, especially the crispy fried fish.”

Pei Min fondly ruffled his hair. “Let’s go.”

Yan Tingmo brought him to the third cafeteria. Each grabbed a tray and lined up at window seven.

When Qi Xing arrived, Yan Tingmo and Pei Min were chatting and laughing over their meal.

Damn it, his home had been invaded.

With a dark expression, he grabbed a few meat dishes and plopped down in the empty seat next to Yan Tingmo.

“Oh, what a coincidence,”he  said with a sudden cheerful smile. “Mo Mo.”

Yan Tingmo almost choked on his food at the nickname, staring wide-eyed at him with his mouth full.

Qi Xing, unfazed, asked with feigned confusion, “Mo Mo, who’s this?”

Before Yan Tingmo could explain, Pei Min cut in, “I’m Pei Min, Mo Mo’s friend.”

Mo Mo… Hearing that nickname made Qi Xing’s teeth itch. What kind of relationship called for such intimacy?

Despite his internal frustration, he maintained his calm facade and replied with a friendly smile, “Nice to meet you. I’m Qi Xing, Mo Mo’s…”

“Uh…” he suddenly realized he didn’t have a defined role. No matter—he could make one up: “Mo Mo’s best friend!”

He had to keep it vague. If he acted too close, Yan Tingmo might avoid him. This way, Yan Tingmo couldn’t deny it.

Sure enough, Yan Tingmo, after swallowing his rice, nodded in agreement. “Right, best friend.”

Qi Xing didn’t like that. Why was he so eager to distance himself from him in front of his new boyfriend?

Qi Xing exuded a chill, forgetting it was he who had given himself that label.

And just as things seemed to settle, another wave of chaos erupted.

Gu Beinan, who had been persistently chasing after Yan Tingmo’s friendship, chose this moment to show up, looking overjoyed.

“Yan Senior!” Gu Beinan, having just entered the cafeteria, ran over before even getting his meal.

Yan Tingmo wanted to facepalm but, with Pei Min and Qi Xing present, forced a dry smile. “Gu Beinan.”

“What are you eating, Senior?” Gu Beinan asked with sparkling eyes. “I was just wondering what to have for dinner.”

“Ahem,” Qi Xing interjected, putting a piece of braised pork on Yan Tingmo’s plate. “Today’s braised pork is good. You should eat more.”

Caught off guard, Yan Tingmo watched the pork land on his plate.

With no choice, he muttered, “Thanks.”

“No need to be polite,” Qi Xing instinctively reached out to tap his nose lightly.

Yan Tingmo didn’t think much of it. Qi Xing had always liked doing that when they were together.

But besides Qi Xing and himself, there were also Gu Beinan and Pei Min.

Gu Beinan might not count, but Pei Min watched the interaction with great interest, like he was enjoying a good show.

“I…” Yan Tingmo felt an odd urge to explain. “That’s just… uh… how close friends interact…”

Pei Min raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Oh, is that so?”

As soon as he spoke, Gu Beinan finally noticed him. “Senior, who’s this?”

Before Qi Xing could say he was just a friend, Yan Tingmo said, “This is my brother, Pei Min.”

Pei Min nodded slightly. “Hello.”

“Hello, Brother!” Gu Beinan greeted warmly. “I’m Senior’s close friend, Gu Beinan!”

“Oh?” Pei Min asked with a hint of amusement, “Close friend?”

Gu Beinan pretended not to hear. “Yes! Close friend!”

“Good to know,” Pei Min replied, casting a meaningful glance at Yan Tingmo. “Didn’t realize he had so many close friends.”

Gu Beinan puffed up with pride, thinking he’d left a good impression on his crush’s brother.

Only Qi Xing fell silent, internally berating himself for his earlier declaration of friendship.

Luckily, Yan Tingmo, slow on the uptake, didn’t notice the tension or awkwardness in the air.

The meal ended in a dull haze, leaving Qi Xing desperate to run back to the dorm and beat up his roommates.

This misunderstanding had fallen squarely on his head, filling him with both regret and frustration.

If he was determined to pursue someone, he’d need a patient and gentle approach. He didn’t want a repeat of their brief two-month relationship.

If they were going to date, it had to be for life.

He silently cheered himself on. Looking up at Pei Min again, he flashed his signature friendly smile. “Pei brother, which school did you attend?”

Pei Min responded warmly, “I graduated a long time ago. I’m planning to work in Jinnan.”

Qi Xing perked up. “Then you’re probably not familiar with Jinnan. How about I show you around?”

Pei Min feigned hesitation. “Is it convenient?”

“Of course,” Qi Xing said. “I don’t have many classes this semester.”

Pei Min accepted with a smile. “Alright, sounds good.”

After finishing his words, he casually asked Yan Tingmo:
“Mo Mo, are you coming along too?”

“Huh?” Yan Tingmo was confused. “Why would I go?”

Pei Min replied helplessly:
“Just to keep your brother company.”

Yan Tingmo obediently agreed. “Okay.”

When Gu Beinan returned with his meal, he felt like he’d missed out on something big.
“Senior, what were you guys talking about?”

Qi Xing replied nonchalantly, “Nothing. Eat your food.”

Gu Beinan pouted and ignored him, walking straight past him to look pleadingly at Yan Tingmo.

Yan Tingmo didn’t notice and continued focusing on eating his braised pork.

Pei Min shook his head, smiling to himself. Ah, the energy of youth.

Taking the initiative, Qi Xing made use of his family connections and arranged for Pei Min to stay at a nearby five-star hotel close to University A.

Although Pei Min repeatedly refused, Qi Xing’s fervent enthusiasm ultimately won out.

Qi Xing and Yan Tingmo escorted him to the hotel and then strolled slowly back to campus together.

At first, the two were silent, walking separately. But somehow, their steps naturally drew closer, until their shoulders occasionally brushed. The air grew thick with an innocent tension.

“Mo Mo,” Qi Xing suddenly spoke. “Is it okay if I call you that?”

Yan Tingmo softly responded, “You’ve already called me that.”

“True,” Qi Xing said gently. “But I want to hear you say it’s okay.”

Yan Tingmo glanced at him through his eyelashes and stayed silent.

“Mo Mo,” Qi Xing persisted, “say it’s okay.”

Thinking he was unusually stubborn, Yan Tingmo relented, “Fine, it’s okay.”

Qi Xing reached out and lightly tapped the soft fringe covering his forehead. “Good boy.”

Yan Tingmo’s cheeks flushed. He turned his head to avoid looking at him.

Back in the dorm room, the first thing Qi Xing did was grab his roommate and give him a playful beating.

“Fake intel!” He pinned down Qian Song. “You nearly got me into trouble. Now, how are you going to make up for my wounded heart?”

With his face buried in the blanket, Qian Song whimpered incoherently.

Guan awkwardly rubbed his hands together and chuckled. “Well, it all turned out fine, didn’t it? We didn’t know the full story either…”

Qi Xing abruptly turned around, pointing a finger at him. “If you don’t know the truth, why spread rumors? You’re next after him.”

Guan winced. “Come on, Qi bro…”

“Don’t call me Qi bro,” Qi Xing said. “Too late.”

Yan Tingmo had been targeted by classmates precisely because there were too many people like you—those who spread baseless rumors without understanding the full picture.

Though few actively participate in such acts, most remain silent bystanders.

And when an avalanche falls, no single snowflake is innocent.

Two days later.

Qi Xing drove Pei Min around the city center since Yan Tingmo couldn’t join due to his classes.

“I haven’t gone out for fun in ages,” Qi Xing said while driving. “I guess I owe it to Pei brother this time.”

“Is that so,” Pei Min replied. “You’re young—you have all the time in the world for fun.”

“Age has nothing to do with it,” Qi Xing said, disagreeing. “You can’t be that much older than me, Pei brother.”

“I’m 25,” Pei Min said. “Practically halfway to fifty.”

Qi Xing was briefly stunned. “you’re kidding, right?”

Pei Min only smiled and said nothing.

There wasn’t much to do in Jinnan, so Qi Xing drove around the city before parking at a bar.

“Tonight, I’ll show you something different,” Qi Xing said, snapping his fingers. “I bet you’ve never tried this before.”

He spoke cryptically but successfully piqued Pei Min’s interest.

“Alright,” Pei Min said. “I’m in your hands.”

What Qi Xing referred to was an event at the bar that evening. The concept was simple: the live performer, blindfolded with a black ribbon, would sing and then choose their “favorite” from the crowd to be their “queen” for the night.

The “queen” could then make any request of the performer, including—but not limited to—booking a hotel room.

The event, bold and risqué, had sparked a frenzy, thanks to the performer’s strikingly attractive appearance.

Qi Xing and Pei Min found a prime spot near the stage, perfect for close contact with the performer and most likely to be chosen.

Qi Xing scanned the stage nonchalantly. Attractive or not, the performer didn’t interest him. He ordered a drink called “Inferno” and sipped it quietly.

Meanwhile, Pei Min watched the stage with focused curiosity.

As the song reached its climax, the performer discarded the microphone and began choosing their “queen” blindfolded.

The crowd roared with excitement, shouting and calling out to the performer.

After a moment of listening carefully, the performer smirked and confidently leapt backward off the stage into the crowd.

A gasp swept through the audience, followed by a brief silence. Then, seeing the performer and the man he was holding, the crowd erupted into laughter and cheers.

“Kiss! Kiss!”

Qi Xing sipped his drink, annoyed by the noise. Forgetting to watch the selection process, he realized the “queen” had been chosen.

Curious about the outcome, he followed the crowd’s gaze—then froze.

Uh-oh.

It looked like Yan Tingmo’s older brother was having an unexpected romantic encounter.

Compared to the other rowdy and shouting guests, Pei Min appeared much calmer as he held the boy in his arms.

The boy couldn’t see Pei Min’s face and reached up to touch it, his hand trailing from his chest upward.

“Don’t move,” Pei Min said softly, stopping him.

The boy quickly withdrew his hand, nervously biting his crimson lips.

Qi Xing, sensing trouble, hurriedly stood up and attempted to pull the boy out of Pei Min’s embrace. “Pei brother, are you okay?”

The boy, however, clung tightly to Pei Min and refused to let go, no matter how hard Qi Xing tried to pull him away.

Pei Min glanced down at the boy, his voice calm as he addressed Qi Xing, “I’m fine.”

“Uh…” Qi Xing reluctantly sat back down, sneaking glances at the ambiguous scene between the two.

He had wanted to stir up some excitement for Pei Min, but this was too much excitement.

The crowd was still egging them on. “Kiss! Kiss!”

Qi Xing, expressionless, thought to himself, You guys must be starving for entertainment.

But in the next moment, the boy timidly lifted his head and planted a hasty kiss on Pei Min’s face, drawing even louder cheers.

Qi Xing covered his face with one hand. This is bad. This is really bad.

While Pei Min wasn’t paying attention to him, Qi Xing quietly slipped away and hid in the restroom to call Yan Tingmo.

Yan Tingmo seemed to be busy, as the first two calls went unanswered.

Qi Xing frowned and dialed again. Finally, Yan Tingmo picked up.

“Hello, Mo Mo,” he unconsciously softened his tone. “Are you asleep?”

Yan Tingmo, just out of the shower with damp hair, spoke softly, “Not yet.”

“Why aren’t you asleep? It’s almost ten o’clock.” Qi Xing momentarily forgot why he’d called.

“I’m going to bed soon. Did you need something?” Yan Tingmo asked.

“Uh…” Qi Xing’s affectionate mood dissipated instantly, and he stammered, “Your brother…uh, might be having a fling…”

Yan Tingmo blinked in confusion. “What?”

“Your brother was… um… taken by another guy!” Qi Xing blurted out.

“Huh?” Yan Tingmo was puzzled. “My brother? A fling?”

“Yes,” Qi Xing replied ambiguously. “Pei brother seems to like that boy a lot.”

Yan Tingmo found this hard to believe and even felt a little worried. “Where are you now?”

After Qi Xing gave him the location, Yan Tingmo said, “I’ll be right there,” then hung up, got dressed, and headed for the bar.

The cold winter air hit him hard as soon as he stepped outside. First, his nose picked up on the chill, then his nerves did, causing him to cough uncontrollably.

He tightened his thin coat around himself, but the icy wind still seeped into his bones.

His hair, still wet and exposed to the freezing air, quickly turned cold and stiff.

By 11 p.m., the bar was in full swing. Qi Xing had been waiting outside the bar, keeping an eye on the street while ignoring the odd looks from passersby.

He needed to intercept Yan Tingmo to ensure he wouldn’t be left to fend for himself in such a chaotic place.

Soon, a figure jogged toward him. Qi Xing immediately straightened up, his expression softening as he smiled. “Mo Mo.”

Yan Tingmo panted, his words broken up by gasps for breath. “Where… is my brother?”

Qi Xing ignored the question, instead chastising, “Why are you dressed so lightly?”

Noticing his damp, messy hair, Qi Xing frowned and touched it lightly. “You came out with wet hair?”

“Mm,” Yan Tingmo replied absentmindedly, then repeated, “Where’s my brother?”

“He’s fine,” Qi Xing said, taking off his own coat and draping it over him. “You were too hasty.”

His tone turned reproachful. “What if you catch a cold?”

Qi Xing immediately regretted calling him. If he hadn’t, he would probably already be asleep, not rushing out into the freezing night in a thin coat.

“I’m fine,” Yan Tingmo said. “I’m not cold.”

Qi Xing fell silent, grabbed his hand without another word, and led him into the bar.

Inside, Pei Min and the boy were seated side by side at the bar, each with a drink in front of them, seemingly deep in conversation.

“What’s your name?” Pei Min asked.

“Ye Hao,” the boy replied.

“How old are you?” Pei Min’s tone was indifferent.

“Twenty-two,” Ye Hao murmured.

Pei Min’s expression didn’t change. “Tell the truth.”

Ye Hao shrank back, stammering, “Nineteen.”

“Nineteen?” Pei Min sounded unconvinced.

“Um,” Ye Hao hesitated before admitting, “Eighteen?”

Pei Min chuckled. “You don’t even know your own age?”

Ye Hao lowered his head and repeated, “Eighteen.”

“Why are you doing this?” Pei Min asked.

Ye Hao remained silent.

“What’s the matter? Something you can’t talk about?” He pressed.

“No,” Ye Hao said softly. “I just need the money.”

Pei Min stopped questioning him, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. He gestured toward the drink. “Finish this.”

Ye Hao hesitated for a couple of seconds before picking up the glass and downing its contents in one go.

“And this one,” Pei Min said, pointing to his own glass.

Ye Hao coughed and teared up from drinking too quickly.

Pei Min watched him quietly, showing no intention of letting him off the hook.

After a moment, Ye Hao managed to stop coughing, wiped the tears from his eyes, and grabbed Pei Min’s glass to finish it.

“Good drinking skills,” Pei Min said with a faint smile. “Can you keep going?”

“I can!” Ye Hao said through gritted teeth.

“Okay,” Pei Min said, calling over the bartender and whispering a few instructions.

When the bartender returned with three more drinks, Pei Min said, “Finish these, and tonight’s matter will be settled.”

Ye Hao, his face flushed, stared at the drinks in regret. The handsome man in front of him was far too cunning.

“Drink up,” Pei Min said, leaning back in his chair, his hands clasped over his knee.

When Yan Tingmo and Qi Xing arrived, Ye Hao was staring at the drinks with a conflicted and defeated look.

“Brother!” Yan Tingmo ran over, looking Pei Min up and down. “Are you okay?”

Pei Min’s expression softened when he saw him. “Why are you here?”

Yan Tingmo didn’t answer, but Qi Xing confessed, “I called him. I was worried someone might bully you.”

Pei Min raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ye Hao with amusement. “Me? Getting bullied?”

Qi Xing nodded firmly.

But Yan Tingmo could clearly see that his brother was sitting there relaxed, while the boy next to him seemed anxious and uneasy.

Could there have been some misunderstanding?

Ye Hao glanced at the glass hesitantly, then took a sip. His eyes widened slightly—this didn’t taste like alcohol.

Pei Min’s expression remained indifferent, but Ye Hao realized the drinks were actually sweet and fragrant, more like fruit tea.

Pei Min might be cold on the surface, but he’s unexpectedly thoughtful, he thought to himself.

The atmosphere between Pei Min and Ye Hao was thick and palpable, leaving Qi Xing with a strong sense that neither he nor Yan Tingmo could squeeze themselves in. So, Qi Xing took him to sit at a separate table.

Yan Tingmo hesitated, then couldn’t hold back and asked, “Why are you guys here?”

Qi Xing’s eyelids twitched, and he evaded, “What would you like to drink? Juice?”

Yan Tingmo nodded. “Sure.”

Qi Xing stood up and went to the bar, instructing the bartender to make a fruity soda for him.

Yan Tingmo took a sip, savoring the delicate, sweet, and refreshing taste. He licked his lips and continued to press, “Why are you guys here?”

Ugh, no escape. Qi Xing’s gaze wavered. “I saw online that this bar was hosting an event, so I thought Pei would like it, and we came…”

Yan Tingmo frowned and retorted, “My brother doesn’t like this sort of thing.”

Qi Xing fell silent, his expression momentarily frozen, before apologizing. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed and brought your brother to this kind of place.”

Yan Tingmo froze, softly murmuring, “That’s not what I meant.”

But Qi Xing didn’t try to explain further. He sipped his drink quietly, letting his gaze wander to the dancers in the crowd.

Yan Tingmo, realizing he might’ve said something wrong, debated whether to apologize when Pei Min arrived with Ye Hao in tow.

“Tingmo, let’s go,” he said, extending a hand toward him.

Yan Tingmo stared at Pei Min’s hand for a moment, about to reach out, but Qi Xing intercepted.

“I drank too much. My head hurts,” Qi Xing said, rubbing his temples as he smiled at Pei Min. “Thanks, Pei brother.”

Then, he turned to Yan Tingmo. “Tingmo, are you feeling dizzy? Let me help you up.”

Yan Tingmo shook his head. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

Behind Pei Min, Ye Hao peeked out, observing the interaction and accidentally locking eyes with Yan Tingmo’s bright, clear gaze.

Curiosity filled both their eyes. Yan Tingmo calmly met his gaze, while Ye Hao found it amusing and playfully winked at him.

Startled, Yan Tingmo’s almond-shaped eyes widened, and he only snapped back to his senses when Qi Xing took hold of his hand.

Pei Min noticed the exchange and turned to glance coolly at Ye Hao.

Ye Hao blinked innocently, feigning complete cluelessness.

Neither Yan Tingmo nor Qi Xing ever found out how Pei Min dealt with Ye Hao that night.

One week later, Pei Min officially started his new job, while Yan Tingmo’s life remained focused on three key places: the classroom, the library, and the cafeteria.

On Friday morning, Zhang Miao suddenly decided to confess to his senior on Saturday. Feeling unsure, he invited his three roommates to join him for moral support.

Qi Xing had originally planned to ask Yan Tingmo out for a movie on Saturday, but upon learning about Zhang Miao’s plans, he decided to join the group instead, saying, “The more, the merrier.”

Yan Tingmo passed on Qi Xing’s request to Zhang Miao, who hesitated briefly before agreeing.

Saturday morning.

Qi Xing woke up early to dress up. The weather in March was neither cold nor hot, so he wore a thin white hoodie under a black and gold baseball jacket.

While Lu Ze was still snoozing, Qi Xing sneaked into the bathroom to style his hair.

Half-asleep, Lu Ze stumbled into the bathroom to find him fussing over his reflection. Startled, he exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

“Posing in the mirror at the crack of dawn.”

Qi Xing ignored him, tousled his hair, and applied some hair spray.

Lu Ze waved a hand in front of his nose. “I can’t take this anymore.”

Qi Xing, satisfied with his styling, glanced at Lu Ze’s bedhead through the mirror. “What do you think?”

Lu Ze’s lips twitched. Too tired to argue, he mumbled, “Handsome. Very handsome. So handsome it’s embarrassing.”

“Great.” Qi Xing smirked. “I’m off. The bathroom’s all yours.”

Lu Ze, in his shorts, stood dumbfounded. Did this guy have issues or what?

For Zhang Miao’s big day, the other three roommates didn’t bother too much with their outfits. They just threw on jackets and headed out.

Zhang Miao was brimming with excitement. His foot injury had mostly healed, though he still had to tread lightly.

But his joy couldn’t be contained. He bounced down the stairs, earning a nervous warning from Yan Tingmo. “Stop jumping; your foot just healed…”

Zhang Miao didn’t hear him, continuing to hop.

He Shiyang smirked coldly, delivering a slap to Zhang Miao’s back. “Forgot the pain already, huh? Walk properly!”

Feeling wronged, Zhang Miao obediently walked down the stairs.

Zhou Wen, hands in his pockets, asked him, “Who’s all coming to the amusement park today?”

Zhang Miao thought for a moment, counting on his fingers. “My senior, her best friend, and Qi Xing.”

“Qi Xing too?” Zhou Wen raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Zhang Miao replied. “The more, the merrier.”

At that moment, Qi Xing stood by the dormitory entrance, playing on his phone. When he saw them, he waved with a cheerful smile.

“What’s he doing here?” He Shiyang muttered. “Wasn’t he at odds with us last semester?”

Zhou Wen clicked his tongue. “Enough, let it go.”

Yan Tingmo looked up at Qi Xing, who was dressed sharply and seemed to bask in the light’s favor.

After greeting the group, Qi Xing naturally positioned himself to Yan Tingmo’s left.

“We’re heading to the school gate first,” Zhang Miao said while messaging his senior. “She and her friend will join us later.”

The group had no objections, walking to the gate as planned.

“I’ll book a car,” Zhang Miao said.

“I’ve got a car,” Qi Xing interjected. “We can split into two groups.”

Zhang Miao thought for a moment and agreed. “Alright, I’ll share a cab with my senior and her friend.”

“Good,” Qi Xing nodded. “The rest can ride with me.”

“Let’s go set up the scene first,” Zhou Wen suggested.

“Thanks so much!” Zhang Miao said gratefully.

Qi Xing’s car was parked in an alley to the right of the school. The group walked over, spotting a black Range Rover parked alone in the corner.

He Shiyang took a deep breath. “This car… must’ve cost a fortune, huh?”

“Not too bad,” Qi Xing said. “Just over a million.”

Yan Tingmo was stunned. He knew Qi Xing’s family was well-off but hadn’t expected this well-off.

Zhou Wen, equally surprised, asked, “With such an expensive car, why are you doing part-time jobs?”

Qi Xing shrugged. “Hobby.”

Yan Tingmo: “…”

Zhou Wen: “…”

He Shiyang: “…”

A rich kid working as a barista—apparently just to experience life.

Comparisons were truly maddening.

Unfazed, Qi Xing added, “This is my parents’ money. It doesn’t conflict with my part-time work, right?”

“Yeah, sure,” He Shiyang and Zhou Wen internally grumbled. Why don’t you share some of that money? Then we can explore hobbies too.

Unlocking the car, Qi Xing casually slid into the driver’s seat and leaned out to Yan Tingmo. “Tingmo, sit in the front.”

Yan Tingmo paused at the back door, and his two roommates quickly pushed him forward. “Yes, yes, you take the front. We love the backseat!”

He felt something was off about the trio, but he had no evidence.

Zhang Miao and the others arrived late. Meanwhile, Yan Tingmo and Qi Xing had prepared everything needed for the evening’s confession in the plaza.

Finally, the group headed to the amusement park, choosing the most thrilling rides. Yan Tingmo, being more timid, hesitated. Qi Xing, concerned he might get scared, claimed he was afraid of heights and suggested they explore other activities together.

The others didn’t mind; it wasn’t fair to force everyone onto the same rides.

Yan Tingmo saw through his excuse but thanked him sincerely, “Thank you.”

“Why do you always say thank you?” Qi Xing sighed. “Wait, no—you also love to apologize.”

Yan Tingmo’s fingers fiddled with the seam of his pants. Isn’t that just common courtesy?

Qi Xing knew he was stubborn and didn’t bother lecturing him. “Fine, do what you like. Let’s see what else there is to play.”

Yan Tingmo, slightly dazed, let Qi Xing lead him.

The two strolled through the amusement park at a leisurely pace. Spotting a carousel, Qi Xing asked, “Have you ever ridden one?”

He looked at the carousel, “No.”

“Let’s ride it, then,” Qi Xing grinned. “I haven’t either.”

“It’s for kids,” Yan Tingmo hesitated.

“So what?” Qi Xing replied. “We’re kids too.”

The two “kids” found themselves on the carousel, with Qi Xing sitting behind Yan Tingmo. He pulled out his phone and opened the camera app, aiming it at the oblivious Yan Tingmo ahead.

“Yan Tingmo,” he called softly.

Yan Tingmo instinctively turned around, and Qi Xing pointed his phone at him, gently asking, “Can I pursue you?”

If you say no, I’ll just ask again next time.

Predictably, Yan Tingmo turned away in a panic, gripping the handles tightly.

Qi Xing felt a pang of disappointment but quickly cheered himself up. It’s fine. My dear hasn’t come around yet. I’ll just take my time until you agree.

The group played until four in the afternoon. Zhang Miao took Li Yinong to a bubble tea shop, while the others snuck off to the plaza to set up the scene.

Soon, Zhang Miao casually led her to the heart-shaped candles. Amid the flickering lights, he knelt on one knee to confess, holding a bouquet of roses that Qi Xing had given him at the last minute.

Qi Xing stood on the sidelines. As dusk fell, Yan Tingmo never looked his way, but Qi Xing’s eyes never left him.

Zhang Miao’s confession went smoothly. Li Yinong, who already had a soft spot for him, agreed without hesitation.

Qi Xing, moved by the moment, leaned closer to Yan Tingmo and asked softly, “If I pursued you, would you say yes?”