Late at night, in a city corner, a shadowy figure darted through a street alley. In its hand was an A4 hardcover notebook, open to pages crammed with dense text. Faintly visible were someone’s personal details, as meticulous as a private detective’s file.

The shadow’s gaze pierced the alley darkness, landing on a girl under a streetlight. Her face matched the photo pasted inside the notebook. After glancing down to confirm it, the shadow stepped toward the light. His eyes locked onto the girl playing on her phone under the lamp, crimson irises unwavering. Even when blocked by passersby or vehicles, he didn’t look away—as if he could see through any obstruction.

Just as the figure neared the light, he halted. Clutching the notebook to his chest, it slightly obscured his face. He retracted his foot. He glanced at the girl, then at the boy now joining her.

“Now… it’s not yet the time…”

He took one last look at her, then slowly turned away. In a voice only he could hear, he murmured helplessly:

“…I’ll wait for next time…”

Gazing at the photo inside the notebook, he walked step by step deeper into the dark alley—

“I will make you look at me… Willow Ran…”

…Worried about Willow Ran’s safety, I’d called after her text to confirm her location and rushed over. But who could explain why, after I arrived breathless, this girl just stood under the streetlight playing Temple Run?

“You bastard—”

“Ah, Gale Splendor, you’re here.”

Her tone was calm, nothing like someone being followed. I’d been tricked!

Still, this spot had plenty of people even now. It didn’t look like a “crime scene.”

“…You called me out while I was studying, just to watch you play Temple Run?”

I’d clearly arrived, but after a glance, she went back to her phone. Worse, she didn’t stop even after my words—

Until that round ended.

She pocketed her phone and gave me a light glance:

“What? I really felt followed earlier!”

“Then put on a face like you’re being followed, or I won’t fall for it.”

It was infuriating. My grades were mediocre; I lacked Willow Ran’s talent for cramming to first place overnight. Without proper review, I’d fail. Failing meant summer school—and that would wreck my writing time.

“I’m not lying!” Willow Ran raised her voice. “But since I reached this crowded spot, they didn’t follow.”

That made sense. Yet I still felt inexplicably angry.

“Forget it. Compared to this…” She waved dismissively, gaze landing on a café beside the bus stop. “That place has a limited-edition cake today…”

“Oh, really…”

“It’s delicious!”

“Oh, really.”

“It’s limited! Only today!”

“Oh, really.”

“Can you say something else!” She clenched her fists, stiff and glaring.

As expected…

“Just admit you can’t afford it! No need for the ‘being followed’ act!”

I knew it—tricking me out here meant no good. She’d probably realized she was broke on her way back. And I, fooled by such a low trick, was pitifully stupid.

Though Willow Ran muttered about not lying, she fell silent when I headed for the café. She eagerly followed, any explanation vanishing.

Inside, classical music played. The decor was luxurious—no place for high schoolers. Even the menu was in English, listing jaw-dropping prices that made my head spin.

Just treating her to cake? No big deal—I’d thought that before entering. I often relied on Willow Ran’s help, and I wasn’t shameless enough to let a girl pay. But—

“…Y-you really brought zero cash?”

“I actually thought you were cool earlier. Who knew you’d be this lame!”

“W-well, what can I do! I didn’t expect this price. I brought money, but no idea if it’s enough! Besides…” I reluctantly eyed the text-filled menu. “I can’t read this. You handle it!”

“You’re such an academic slacker… How’d you become a novelist? Didn’t you brag, ‘To write fun stories, you must know them yourself’?”

“Foreign languages are the exception! That stuff’s unlearnable!”

“By the way, I know four languages.”

Pfft—true overachiever!

Only in high school, yet she’d learned three extra languages beyond school English. Maybe her specialty really was studying.

“…So upscale… Are you and Elder Sister Liu Xin both wealthy young ladies?”

“What do you think?” She covered her mouth with one hand, smiling charmingly.

Damn, that pose—the precise curve of her lips—meticulously calculated!

She raised a slender finger to her lips, winking one eye:

“A secret makes a woman woman… Flatter me if you want to know!”

What secret? She was just an arrogant brat, yet so cocky.

“Heh, actually, I don’t care to know.”

“What the hell did you say!”

See? A little provocation, and the “young lady” act vanished.

As expected—just an ordinary arrogant fool.

After ordering, we chatted while waiting. Mostly, she boasted about her shoujo novel talent. The rest, she criticized my uselessness.

I almost snapped: “You’re so amazing, why not fly to the sky!”

When the cake arrived, her topic leaped elsewhere.

“By the way, Gale Splendor, how many copies has your novel sold?”

I didn’t know—I’d never cared. Only that shortages often forced reprints.

“I think sales aren’t mainstream-level, but it’s popular? Even average-selling novels get web drama adaptations. Have you considered that?”