Carrying four large bags of groceries, Nangong Shiyu and Xia Zixin returned to their residential compound's entrance.

It was already 10:30 AM after shopping, but that was expected. With an extra person to feed now, they’d bought twice the usual groceries, stretching the trip a little longer.

"Ugh, I’m so tired…" Xia Zixin sighed.

"We’ll be home soon to rest. Just hang in there a bit longer," Nangong Shiyu replied.

"Shiyu, can’t you help your sister carry a bag?"

"No way. We agreed to split it evenly—one bag each from the start."

Both held one bag per hand, stuffed with this week’s food.

Soon, they entered Nangong Shiyu’s building and took the elevator to the sixth floor. But as the doors opened, an unexpected figure stood outside his apartment door, holding a tote bag.

Her chestnut-brown hair stood out in the hallway. Her bangs swayed slightly as she turned. The rest was tied in a high ponytail down her back, radiating vibrant energy.

"Shen Yining?" Nangong Shiyu blinked, doubting he’d entered the wrong building. He glanced at his door—familiar color, familiar pattern. The number matched too. This was his home.

"Why are you here?" He struggled to handle this person waiting at his doorstep.

"Good morning, Shiyu," Shen Yining greeted with an adorably mischievous smile, waving. "Just back from grocery shopping?"

"Yeah." Nangong Shiyu nodded, walking over and pulling out his keys.

"What brings you here?" He kept his tone polite, though he’d rather avoid her.

Yesterday, he’d sacrificed his first kiss to Xia Zixin just to make Shen Yining give up. He’d thought she’d be too embarrassed to approach him again. Yet here she was. What was her game? He had no clue.

"I have something," Shen Yining said, lifting her tote bag. "I want to make a deal."

"What?" A deal? Some shady backroom trade or pure lip service?

"A deal for what?" Nangong Shiyu was confused.

"Well…" Shen Yining hesitated, words stuck.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." She took a deep breath. "This afternoon… please go on a date with me!"

"What?" Nangong Shiyu’s eyes widened. Had he misheard?

"Wait, say that again. Let me confirm."

"This afternoon… please go on a date with me." The second time, same words.

So he hadn’t misheard? Was his hearing that bad?

"No… sorry." He couldn’t do this. Thirteen chapters of homework waited at home.

"I have tons of unfinished homework. I’m busy all day." Using homework as an excuse should work—no one could argue against studying hard.

"That’s why I brought your homework," Shen Yining pointed to her bag. Oh no…

"I guarantee over 90% accuracy." Right. Nangong Shiyu had almost forgotten.

Shen Yining held her class rep position thanks to unshakable academic prowess. She rarely studied hard, yet finished exams and assignments quickly with high accuracy. Her terrifying skill was no joke—class number one, top three in grade since enrollment. She was also a member of Heavenly Eye Fourth Middle School’s revered "Seven Scholar Gods."

So… he could copy her homework? That sounded great.

But he didn’t want to date her. What to do?

As Nangong Shiyu hesitated, Xia Zixin’s voice cut through.

"Why not go? I don’t mind at all," she said.

"Sister?" Shen Yining tilted her head.

"Ah, no… it’s just how she likes to refer to herself," Nangong Shiyu explained fast, fearing Shen Yining might realize they weren’t really a couple.

"Oh, so you like the ‘older sister’ type, Shiyu?"

No, he had no idea what that meant. Probably… a sister complex?

On that—"I deny that."

"Really? I thought you preferred that type."

"Don’t pry into my preferences—for people or things."

"So cold."

Nangong Shiyu didn’t want to be cold, but her deal was… too much.

"I’m not really keen on—"

"Don’t be like that, Shiyu," Xia Zixin interrupted. "I think it’s fine. It’s rare for you to be so popular. Having another girl won’t bother me—in fact, I’d be happy. Then I’d have a good friend to chat with, right?"

"Don’t make me sound like a two-timing jerk…" Nangong Shiyu rubbed his forehead.

"No, isn’t having two partners natural? Why a jerk?"

"Since when is that natural?"

"Well… isn’t this country’s system ‘one husband, one wife’? Doesn’t that mean one wife and one mistress?"

"No, no, you’ve got it wrong…" Nangong Shiyu corrected hastily. "‘One husband, one wife’ means exactly one husband and one wife! Not one wife and one mistress!"

"Then no problem. I’ll be your husband, and little Yining can be your wife. No conflict."

This person was definitely doing this on purpose. Nangong Shiyu was sure.

"Then it’s settled," Xia Zixin said before he could speak. She took the tote bag from Shen Yining and carried it inside. "Deal! Shiyu will go on a date with you this afternoon. I’ll take the homework answers for him."

"Thank you," Shen Yining said, bowing slightly. "Today at 2:30 PM, at the east entrance of Lingyang Lake Park. I’ll wait for you there."

"Wait, hold on!" Nangong Shiyu called.

But Shen Yining dashed down the stairs before he could finish.

"You have to come this afternoon! I’ll wait for you! I’ll wait and wait!" She ran down, ignoring his shouts, and vanished around the corner in a flash.

Big trouble. Nangong Shiyu watched her disappear down the hallway, shook his head, and sighed deeply.