Speak of the devil.

Hearing the knock, Nangong Shiyu reluctantly put down his phone and chopsticks, ready to open the door.

He glanced down to confirm his body’s gender. It was male—no mistake. After a full night’s sleep, he’d finally recovered from yesterday’s magic overuse side effects. He breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as he was male, meeting Luo Qitian directly should be fine.

Thinking this, Nangong Shiyu turned the doorknob. Just as he’d guessed from the sound, his classmate Luo Qitian stood outside—seated behind him in class.

“Morning, Shiyu.”

“Morning. Here to drop off my homework?”

“You knew?”

“I’m not blind. I just checked the group chat.” Nangong Shiyu eyed the bag in Luo Qitian’s hand. His weekend was ruined. “Come in.”

“Got it. Feeling better, Shiyu…?”

The moment he led Luo Qitian inside, Nangong Shiyu regretted it. He’d forgotten Xia Zixin entirely, too focused on his own body.

“Uh… am I interrupting you two lovebirds?” Luo Qitian scratched his head awkwardly, spotting Xia Zixin slurping noodles at the table.

“We’re not lovebirds…”

Nangong Shiyu started to deny it, but Xia Zixin cut him off.

“No way! Not at all!” Xia Zixin waved from her chair.

“Luo Qitian, Xia Zixin and I really aren’t—”

“Well, we haven’t gotten married yet.”

“Stop messing around…” Nangong Shiyu sighed, rubbing his forehead weakly. “Listen. There’s nothing between us—”

“We’re having a baby!”

“Enough!” Nangong Shiyu snapped at Xia Zixin. “Please, I’m begging you—stop making my classmates misunderstand me!”

“Hehe, so you won’t admit it?” Xia Zixin stuck out her tongue playfully.

“Why would I admit something that never happened?”

“You won’t admit we slept in the same bed?”

Seeing her deliberately stir trouble, Nangong Shiyu sighed again, shoulders slumping.

“Alright, Luo Qitian.” He placed a hand on Luo Qitian’s shoulder. “I really—”

“No need to explain, Shiyu. I get it.” Luo Qitian nodded firmly. “I won’t spread this around. Though I did tell Shen Yining already.”

“What?”

Nangong Shiyu’s jaw nearly dropped at the class rep’s name.

“Say that again?”

“I told Shen Yining you have a girlfriend.”

“Why tell her?”

Nangong Shiyu knew Shen Yining had liked him for ages. Even after he rejected her confession, she hadn’t given up.

Pity they just didn’t click. Otherwise, he might’ve accepted. How often does a guy get a girl chasing him? Some men never experience it.

“Why do you think I told her?” Luo Qitian countered.

Nangong Shiyu thought hard but drew a blank. He shook his head.

“Why?”

“She likes you so much, yet you secretly got a girlfriend. How could I not tell her?”

“She’s not my—”

“Bro, no more.” Luo Qitian patted Nangong Shiyu’s shoulder, nodding. “I’ve known you forever. I understand. We’re guys—we get it.”

Great. Luo Qitian truly believed Xia Zixin was his girlfriend now. Nangong Shiyu felt utterly helpless.

Explaining would take ages. Only Xia Zixin could clear this up.

He turned, giving her a pleading look from across the room.

But Xia Zixin ignored him completely, still slurping noodles at the table.

“I told Shen Yining because it’s wrong to keep her waiting,” Luo Qitian said meaningfully. He slipped off his shoes at the door, closed it, and plopped onto the sofa. “Better she gives up now.”

Nangong Shiyu considered it. Luo Qitian had a point. He wanted Shen Yining to move on too. Forcing love rarely brought happiness—he’d learned that from TV dramas. Since he didn’t like her, staying together was pointless.

“You’re right,” Nangong Shiyu nodded. “So… how did she react?”

“Oh, big trouble.”

Nangong Shiyu swallowed hard.

“What happened?”

“After I told her you had a girlfriend, she got even more determined. Said, ‘There’s no impossible love—only incompetent mistresses.’ I’m worried for her.” Luo Qitian grimaced. “This isn’t fair to you, Xia Zixin, or Shen Yining.”

“Yeah, it’s messy.”

Lost in discussion, Nangong Shiyu forgot his unfinished breakfast. He sat beside Luo Qitian on the sofa, frowning.

“Any ideas?”

“I’ve got one. Not sure if it’ll work.”

“What is it?”

“You think I came just to deliver exam papers?” Luo Qitian wagged a finger. He leaned forward, elbows on knees, fingers steepled before his nose like an anime commander. “Today’s comic con at Beidou Star International Convention Center. I need you and Xia Zixin to go together. Show Shen Yining some serious PDA—make her give up on you for good!”