"Holy crap!"

I woke up drenched in sweat. Beneath me was my bed. Outside the window, the midday sun blazed fiercely. Sparrows on the telephone pole chirped nonstop. My body trembled slightly from lingering fear.

Clearly, I’d had a nightmare. Blame last night’s overthinking for dredging up those painful memories. I wiped my sweat and sighed in slight relief. Thank goodness I woke up in time. Reliving those cringy moments would’ve made me want to dig a hole and bury myself.

As I grabbed my phone to check the time, fifteen missed calls stared back—all from Nan Dongye. Damn it! I’d promised to have lunch at her place on Sunday. How could I forget...

My stomach growled with hunger. I quickly washed up, changed into clean clothes, and rushed out on my bike.

Following childhood memories of ivy-covered old buildings, I found Nan Dongye’s home. It was a quaint, elegant row house. Pressing the doorbell, I smiled fondly, recalling old times.

Back then, many kids trained at the Martial Arts Hall. Thanks to my father’s strict teaching, I was naturally the best—like that bully kid Gian from Doraemon. Carefree days spent leading half-grown kids around. I always dragged sniffling little Jiang Xiaoyu to visit neighbors. Nan Dongye was my closest friend. Back then, I had to jump to reach this doorbell...

Slow! So slow! Way too slow!

After a long wait with no reply under the scorching sun, I yelled up at the skylight.

"Yuzuru Sensei!"

The attic skylight slid open with a whoosh. A flushed, bespectacled face popped out sneakily, scanning around. The popular author of Hime Monogatari seemed genuinely shocked to be visited.

"Huh? Jiang Lan, what are you doing here?"

I rolled my eyes. "Didn’t we agree? Why else would you call me?"

Nan Dongye hesitated. She glanced around to ensure no curious onlookers were watching. Then she waved her small hand. "Long story. Come in first!"

She shut the window. Inside, thumping footsteps rushed downstairs. The front door swung open.

Nan Dongye’s house was as tidy as ever. The blue-and-white porcelain in the living room and the ink-wash landscape painting on the wall sat exactly where I remembered—unchanged.

"Where are Uncle and Aunt?"

"They had a last-minute school thing and went for research." Nan Dongye closed the door carefully, as if hiding something shady. Frowning, she said, "So that’s it. I called to tell you my dad wants you to come another day. Didn’t Xiaoyu come?"

"She... went on an autumn outing."

"Huh? Autumn outing? Whatever. I’m swamped here. Why didn’t you call ahead?"

She seemed unwelcoming. How would I get lunch? Pouting, I said, "If you’re so annoyed, fine, I’ll leave."

Nan Dongye blocked the door with her petite frame. "No way! Since you’re here, you must help me!"

"But I’m starving."

"I ordered pizza! Let’s eat together!"

"Okay, fine. What help?" I drooled over the pizza, but her sudden eagerness felt off. I eyed her suspiciously. She’d swapped her school uniform for a blue tracksuit, black-rimmed glasses, and a practical ponytail. She looked like she was... working?

"What else? Rushing my manuscript!"

Being a bestselling author isn’t easy. I followed her up to the attic. The room overflowed with messy books of all kinds. I picked one up randomly and flipped it open. Two naked, cute boys instantly burned my eyes—it was a doujinshi. No wonder, with such a literary family. So, would Black Prince end with a forbidden Jiang brothers romance? Utterly unwatchable.

"You’re nearsighted?"

Nan Dongye sat at her skylit desk—now Yuzuru Sensei’s workstation—viciously chewing a pen to brainstorm. "Huh? Yeah. I wear contacts at school."

I sat by the tea table, turned on the TV, and stuffed a whole slice of durian pizza into my mouth. Someone was too busy to eat. Tastes great. Yuzuru Sensei, who hates cilantro and loves durian, is as picky as I am.

"Stop eating! Help me brainstorm!" Nan Dongye groaned, covering her head and banging it on the desk like a chicken pecking rice. "I’m done for. Zero inspiration. My brain’s blank. I’m a dried fish already..."

"That urgent? Deadline?"

"T-tomorrow."

"Progress?"

"Zero..."

"...’

"N-no problem. Half a day left. Plenty of time, heh heh."

"You know," I sighed, swallowing pizza and settling comfortably, "when people say that, it’s usually too late." Casually, I added, "One thing bothers me, Yuzuru Sensei. Why’s Black Prince’s male lead named Jiang Wuque?"

Nan Dongye trembled slightly. She shot me a quick glance, then shrank back to her desk. "Y-you really read it."

Thanks to Xiaoyu...

"And why’s his brother named Jiang Xiaoyu? I doubt it’s just a Gu Long tribute. Plus, the airheaded heroine looks exactly like someone else."

Her body shook like a leaf, trembling harder. She stayed silent.

"Yuzuru Sensei!"

"Y-yes! I’m here!"

I stared intently into her eyes. "You don’t think I’m..."

Nan Dongye avoided my gaze, her face flushed crimson. "W-what?"

"You don’t think I’m gay, do you?"

Her expression froze. She gave me a deep look. "Go die."