The news that Ji Lianbing had a boyfriend spread across the entire school in just two classes. Actually, rumors had been floating around since yesterday noon. After all, Ji Lianbing was a beauty known to everyone. This unattainable goddess, who always rejected confessions, suddenly having a boyfriend? It was bound to cause a huge stir.

Especially in high school, love gossip spread like wildfire. Even if two students from the next class started dating, it would sweep the whole grade. So, imagine the buzz around Ji Lianbing’s love life.

But this time, the attention wasn’t just on Ji Lianbing. It was also on me, her ‘boyfriend’.

As soon as the third class ended, our classroom was packed solid. Everyone came to see who Ji Lianbing’s boyfriend really was. Strangely, my classmates with their bizarre nicknames showed no reaction. I seriously doubted it was because they thought this was nothing special.

These ordinary students crowded around me, all curious and judging me aloud.

“Which one is it? The guy sitting in front of Ji Lianbing?”

“Who is that guy?”

“He looks so ordinary…”

“Damn it! So Ji Lianbing likes losers like him? Why am I a tall, rich, handsome guy then?”

Sorry for being a loser! Seriously, you’re just showing off, aren’t you?

Suddenly being the center of attention wasn’t pleasant. It felt like being bound by invisible ropes of stares, really uncomfortable. Yet, this attention was my biggest ‘weapon’ now. Yes, as long as these eyes were on me, Ji Lianbing couldn’t attack me directly.

That said… I had a feeling I’d be ganged up on by these angry fans before Ji Lianbing could kill me.

Most of the onlookers were boys. Among them, eighty percent had gray name tags, ten percent black. That was fine. What worried me most was spotting a few with red tags…

Was there really someone jealous enough to want me dead?!

Super scary!

But the scariest gaze came from the seat behind and to the side!

Lan Hua glared at me with bloodshot eyes. Her stare felt lethal. And her name tag had turned pitch black!

…Had I made a wrong decision?

Come to think of it, Lan Hua’s title was [Stalker (Beginner Level)], right? Would she start targeting me now?

Please, no! I’ll give Ji Lianbing to you. Just spare me!

“Hey, Hua, stop staring at Juncheng like that. Don’t you know your gaze is terrifying?”

“Huh?”

Luckily, Gao Yingnai, Lan Hua’s best friend, patted her shoulder just in time, breaking that intimidating stare.

“Oh, so An Juncheng really agreed… See? I told you Lan Hua never had a chance.”

“Hey, hey, stop provoking her!”

Luo Yingliang and Gao Yingnai were both Lan Hua’s close friends. I often saw the three chatting together. Sometimes I wondered if they were in a love triangle… but it seemed not.

“Sigh, you must be going through a lot, Juncheng…”

“…”

Luo Yingliang patted my shoulder sympathetically.

Though I knew he wasn’t referring to being targeted by Ji Lianbing, I still felt like crying. You’re the only one sympathizing with my situation. You’re a good man, Luo Yingliang…

“Really, Luo Yingliang, what are you saying? Master Cheng dating me is absolutely blissful~”

“Uh…”

Blissful my ass!

“Well… anyway, if you have any trouble, you can tell me. Though I can’t promise I’ll solve it…”

Luo Yingliang pushed up his glasses as he said this.

This… this is it! The legendary friend declaration!

I must be right, because Luo Yingliang’s name tag turned green!

Ohhh, Grandpa, your grandson has finally made a friend!

Sob… I’m so moved. Even though you’re a peeping tom, I won’t look down on you!

Ji Lianbing smiled meaningfully but said nothing… Her smile was still so beautiful, yet so chilling…

During lunch break, I walked out of the classroom with my bento box. Ji Lianbing followed behind me.

“Not going to the cafeteria today, Master Cheng?”

“…I made my own bento.”

“That’s perfect. Let’s find a quiet spot and enjoy a sweet lunch break together~”

What a joke!

If we go somewhere deserted, she’ll definitely make her move on me!

But I really didn’t want to go to the cafeteria either…

Normally, the rooftop is the best spot for couples to have lunch. But I didn’t want to go there either. Ji Lianbing and I were fake dating, and that place was full of real couples. I didn’t want to watch all that PDA.

Just then, through the window, I saw someone in the pavilion behind the school building, in the small grove.

Oh, it must be the emotionless girl. Perfect! With her as a witness, Ji Lianbing shouldn’t do anything to me.

However…

When I reached the pavilion, Jiang Xueqing was gone!

“Oh my, bringing me to such a secluded place… What do you plan to do to me?”

Crap, crap!

Can I run away right now?

“Don’t worry, I won’t make a move on you yet. You can see this spot from the school building, right?”

True, I had chosen this spot because I saw someone here from the building. So, Ji Lianbing wouldn’t attack first…

I walked silently into the pavilion and deliberately sat facing outward. Ready to scream at the slightest physical conflict.

Ji Lianbing obediently sat beside me. She calmly opened her lunchbox and started eating… She really wasn’t planning anything.

But she might have hidden blades or something… Hmm, I should sit farther away.

“You didn’t eat my bento yesterday. Won’t you try it today?”

“Eat it and I’d go straight to hell.”

“No way~ A good person like you, Master Cheng, would definitely go to heaven~”

“I don’t want to meet either!”

I frowned and reluctantly poked a spring roll into my mouth.

“With such a cute girlfriend, show a little more happiness. Otherwise, people might notice something.”

“Notice what?”

“They’ll think you’re just a decoy I hired. Then all this attention on you will vanish instantly. And then…”

Then I’d be back to being alone again… Honestly, I’d prefer that. But not now. Not for at least these three days!

“So, what exactly should I do?”

“At least act naturally affectionate. Let’s practice here now—couple talk and behavior.”

“Hmm…”

Couple talk and behavior meant showing affection… But how exactly?

As someone who’d never had a girlfriend from birth until today, I had no clue what that meant.

If Ji Lianbing and I were a real couple, maybe I could act naturally… But our relationship was fake. If anything, it was like an employee and boss bound by contract.

“Like that feeding act just now—it’s very intimate~”

“…”

“I told you yesterday, my bento is made by my Maid. There’s no poison in it.”

As she said this, Ji Lianbing picked up a piece of fried chicken and ate it with relish.

“Alright then…”

If she ate it herself, it should be fine…

“Here~ Ah~”

After hesitating for a moment, I finally opened my mouth. The Maid’s cooking was still tempting.

Ji Lianbing smiled and brought the chopsticks with fried chicken to my mouth. Just as I was about to bite…

Clatter!

The chopsticks and food were slapped away.

Jiang Xueqing stood behind me, expressionless.

“Huh?”

I turned my gaze to Jiang Xueqing in confusion.

Jiang Xueqing shook her head and said, “Poisoned.”

“Eh?”

Thinking I hadn’t understood, Jiang Xueqing pointed at the fallen chopsticks and repeated,

“Poisoned.”

The hairs on my arms stood on end!

She really had poisoned it!