“What did you take the homework for? I hadn’t even said anything yet,” Nangong Shiyu complained to Xia Zixin after getting home.

Truth be told, he really didn’t want to go on a date with Shen Yining.

Sure, she liked him—but they just didn’t click. What could he do about that?

“Sis, I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Xia Zixin said.

“At most, that’s just your opinion…”

Nangong Shiyu sighed and took the tote bag from her, carrying it to his room.

“Besides, isn’t it great having homework to copy?”

“That’s not the point…” Nangong Shiyu stared at the neatly answered test papers in his hands. A mix of emotions churned inside him—he couldn’t decide what to do.

Honestly, he wouldn’t mind copying the homework. It’d save him effort, and he wasn’t totally against it.

“The real issue is I don’t want to date her.”

What was Shen Yining thinking? She’d asked him out right in front of Xia Zixin. How reckless. It was like she was saying, “I’m stealing you—come fight me.”

He wanted to be angry, but couldn’t quite get there.

Seriously, why had she suddenly decided to deliver homework to him?

Just then, Nangong Shiyu remembered someone.

If his memory served right, Luo Qitian had mentioned yesterday he’d send homework today. What was going on?

He grabbed his phone, found Luo Qitian’s contact, and called.

The line connected quickly.

“Hey? Shiyu, what’s up?”

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

The voice on the other end sounded confused.

“You don’t know?”

“Wait—you’re not talking about… Shen Yining visiting you today?”

“So you knew!”

Nangong Shiyu nearly exploded with anger.

“Spill it. Did you say something you shouldn’t have?”

“Bro, this really isn’t my fault!” Luo Qitian rushed to explain. “I didn’t say a single thing about you!”

“Then why did the class rep show up at my place?”

“Ugh… I had no idea she’d be this stubborn.”

A sigh came through the phone.

“Last night, I called her to borrow homework.”

“What?” Nangong Shiyu’s tone turned sharp.

Hearing “borrow homework,” his first thought was that Luo Qitian had sold him out.

“Bro, calm down. Let me finish!”

“Fine, go ahead.”

“Seriously, I only asked to borrow it for myself. I never mentioned your name.”

A pause on the line.

“But then… I heard her snort coldly over the phone. She said she wouldn’t lend it to me—she’d bring it to you to copy today. I figured she must’ve talked to you later…”

“Holy crap, no way. She showed up at my door today—I never saw it coming.”

So what was really happening?

“Ugh… there’s only one explanation.”

“What?”

“She never planned to give up on you. When I mentioned borrowing homework, she took the initiative to go to you herself.”

“…”

True. As one of the Seven Scholar Gods, pulling a move like that wasn’t impossible.

Though it wasn’t exactly genius.

“Tch. This is trouble.”

“By the way, did the class rep say anything else when she came? I doubt she’d just hand over homework without an ulterior motive.”

“Oh, she had one alright.”

“What’d she say?”

“Damn, she’s crazy. She said since she’s letting me copy her homework, I have to go on a date with her this afternoon. And if I refuse, she’ll just wait for me forever.” Nangong Shiyu’s voice grew heated. “I don’t get her at all. Got any ideas?”

“…”

Silence filled the line.

Nangong Shiyu truly had no clue what to do.

Being aggressively chased by a girl out of nowhere left him torn between laughter and frustration. Any other guy would’ve jumped at the chance—but he just didn’t feel that spark with her.

“Well…” Luo Qitian finally spoke after a long pause. “Bro, brace yourself to be chased to the ends of the earth.”

“Hey, don’t ditch me like this! This mess is your fault.”

“I’d give your blame game a one out of ten. How is this my fault? Are you blaming me?”

“Who else would I blame?”

“Alright, alright. I’ll take the blame. I shouldn’t have asked her for homework. My bad—happy now?” Luo Qitian sounded exasperated. “As for advice… I’ve got nothing. Maybe just don’t touch her homework and stand her up this afternoon?”

Standing her up was an option.

“But… what if she really waits till dark? Luo Qitian, do you think she’d actually do that?”

“I’d bet my life on it—she’ll wait.”

That was terrible news.

“So what should I do?”

“You’ve already taken the homework, and you’re worried she’ll wait. Just meet her and clear things up properly.”

“I… really don’t want to.”

“Then why accept her homework? You could’ve refused at the door.”

“The problem is—I didn’t take it! Xia Zixin did!” Nangong Shiyu groaned, headache brewing.

“Your sister took it?”

“Yeah.”

“Then… you should ask your sister’s opinion. I can’t really say anything.”

“Wait!”

“Gotta go. I still haven’t borrowed homework yet—I’m busy contacting others. Bye.”

“Hey!”

—The call ended.

Abandoned.

Nangong Shiyu tossed his phone onto the bed and flopped down limply. He stared at the white ceiling, not wanting to think about anything.