The Huang Qinghao incident caused a massive uproar in Shangjing City.

Just like the previous kidnapping case, editors from major newspapers—eager to stir chaos—splashed headlines with phrases like "mayor’s daughter" and "young girl." They exaggerated how I’d rescued Xiaodie from vicious criminals and calmly walked her back from the hotel to our neighborhood.

By sheer coincidence, the hotel’s surveillance footage clearly captured me carrying Xiaodie slowly across the lobby. Our photos, highlighted on every news site’s homepage, drew thirty thousand views that day—thanks to neither of us being unattractive.

*"They look so perfect together!"*

*"Ugh, I wish I had a friend like that…"*

*"Forget men—just marry her already."*

*"Seriously, I’m a guy but can’t beat her in looks or fights. Should I just quit and farm?"*

Drawn by the "mayor’s daughter" hook, readers were soon moved by my "heroic deeds" in the report. Praise flooded the comments section, while Huang Yingdie—the original victim—was utterly forgotten.

Within eight hours of the broadcast, our home was swarmed by neighbors and well-wishers. Already cluttered with unsold fruit from our shop, it now drowned under mountains of gifts and flowers.

By Sunday, instead of fading, the story kept escalating. Netizens dug up my skipped exam that day, linked it to the earlier kidnapping, and demanded the school waive my penalties for absence and cheating.

…

"What’s up?"

That evening, Huang Yingdie called me down to our apartment complex gate.

"Can’t I just see you?"

Today, she wore a simple denim jumper dress over a plain tee—utterly unlike her first appearance in that dazzling short dress and heels. Under the bright streetlights, she looked almost ethereal.

"Here. Your reward."

She shoved a cup of grass jelly drink into my hands, smiling. "How’s your wound?"

I peeled the film off with the spoon’s notch and nodded. "Almost healed."

It wasn’t serious. Huang Qinghao had been weak then, and my clothes had blocked most of the knife’s force. Three or four days’ rest would fix it.

"Good."

"…"

We walked silently to the gate, eating our drinks.

Finally, at the roadside, Huang Yingdie blurted out, "Yi Yao, won’t you say anything?"

"Like what?"

"Well…" She scratched her cheek, frustrated. "Your midterms? Does skipping one subject matter?"

"Nah." I shrugged. "My goal’s already met. That subject doesn’t matter."

This exam cycle was the hardest of my middle school years—the lowest average scores in the grade. Back then, I’d scored 631 out of 750 across nine subjects, beating second place by over thirty points. My history grade was only 40, but even if I lost ten points per subject plus history’s 40, I’d still have 630—still first place.

*Unless history changed.*

What if Tan Lijiang, spurred by Azure Excellence’s departure, scored dozens more points?

"Seriously? I never knew you were this smart!" Huang Yingdie’s chatter suddenly flowed. "Weren’t you always skipping class with the Black Dragon Society to game online?"

"Skipping class doesn’t ruin grades."

I tossed the empty cup into a bin and took a deep breath. "So why’d you really call me? If it’s just about the drink—I got your thanks."

I didn’t believe this proud young lady would visit my neighborhood for no reason.

*Probably still about Huang Qinghao.*

"Uh… actually…" Under dappled tree shadows, she hesitated. "Yi Yao… can you pretend to be my girlfriend?"

"Pretend?"

"Yeah… to make Huang Qinghao give up. It’s the best way."

"He still dares to contact you?"

A man who’d tried drugging his girlfriend without consent—then acted like nothing happened after failing to assault her. What insult even fits that?

Besides, hadn’t the papers said he was in criminal detention?

"My dad pulled strings. He’s home now." She sighed. "I blocked his QQ and phone, but his friends keep messaging me, praising him… I don’t know what to do…"

"So you’ll fake being into girls?"

"Don’t phrase it like that! There’s a beautiful term for girls like us…"

"Yuri?"

"*Pretend!* Just pretend!" Her face flushed crimson. "I just… need time."

*Time to accept yuri? Or time to heal from the wound boys carved in you?*

"Yi Yao, didn’t you have a boyfriend before?"

"Oh. We broke up."

"How can you be so calm about everything?" She looked down. "During the kidnapping… now too. Is there nothing you truly care about?"

"No reason." I tugged my cap brim lower. "If you don’t want the pain, don’t give that much love."

Yi Yao’s wish had come true. My duty was simply to carry on her conviction.

As for happiness? Let it come naturally.

In the end, both Yi Yao and I were already lost.

"But you—"

Sensing the mood shift, I reached for Huang Yingdie’s hand. She jolted back three steps. "Wh-what are you doing?!"

"Weren’t you asking me to be your girlfriend?" I frowned. "If not, I’m heading home."

"Ah—no!" She snapped back, grabbing my hand and leaning her head on my shoulder with a coquettish pout. "Hey, Yi Yao… what do couples usually do?"

"Aren’t *you* the expert?"

"*Expert?!* I was just tricked before!"

"So you’ve wised up now?"

"Mhm."

"Honestly… I’ve been wondering something since we met."

"What?"

"First time, you didn’t say a word—you just kicked me. Same when you were drunk. I thought you were a kuudere, then a tsundere… but now? I can’t pin down your personality."

Knowing she liked anime, I used the fandom terms freely.

"I’m just bad with strangers."

"And now?"

"You’re not a stranger, Yi Yao."

"Didn’t someone swear to be my eternal rival?"

"Ugh! I came to check on you out of kindness!" She stomped ahead, rubbing her temples. "Forget it… being with you feels nothing like dating. I’m firing you as my girlfriend."

I smiled. "We’re the same gender anyway."

*And right now, you won’t truly love a girl.*

I kept that last thought silent.

—*I understand. We’re both starting to fear loss.*

When hope after hope shatters, people often backtrack to paths they never took.

Personally, I’d never choose love or marriage with a man. That alone shrouded my future in haze.

Dark. Lonely.

But Huang Yingdie was different—blessed with looks and family. I had no right to disrupt her happiness.

I could see most futures in this city… except my own. So I’d steer friends away from the worst endings, as best I could.

"My dad’s scandal broke."

After more quiet walking, Huang Yingdie suddenly spoke.

"What scandal?"

"Political stuff… I don’t get it. But he’s been transferring property deeds and money to my account all week. I’m scared…" Her voice trembled. "Yi Yao, will he be arrested?"

Cars whooshed past us on the road, wind lifting her skirt and hair.

Starlight glimmered. Wildflowers whispered.

Remembering that mayor’s fate in another world, I didn’t answer. Instead, I stepped close and lightly traced a finger down her cheek. "Do you love this home now?"

Xiaodie opened her mouth—but I silenced her with a finger to my lips.

"Don’t tell me. Tell yourself."