"Lianbing, wait here for me. I'll go find my handkerchief and use the restroom."

After reaching the bathroom door, I pulled my hand away from Lianbing’s chest. She tilted her head innocently and asked,

"Do you really not need me to come in with you?"

I frowned deeply, utterly puzzled. "What exactly would you do in there?"

"Accompany you while you pee! Don’t you need someone to hold it for you to urinate, Master Cheng? As your girlfriend, I feel it’s my duty."

"I don’t have that weird habit!"

"But that photo… Ah! So your sister-in-law really was jerking you off? I thought it was just the Maid’s malicious edit. Turns out it was real."

"Shut up! Stop mentioning that photo!"

That photo was the darkest moment of my life. Now this worst possible person held it over me, forcing me into humiliating submission…

So frustrating! It made my whole body ache.

Just you wait—I’ll find your weakness someday. Then I’ll toy with you inside and out!

Seeing my rage building, Lianbing stopped provoking me.

"Hehehe, I’ll wait back in the classroom then."

Her innocent expression drained all my energy. I had nowhere to vent my anger.

"Why did you even follow me here?"

"To keep you from feeling lonely~"

Lianbing blinked, dodging my question. She suddenly hugged me from the front, rubbing her cheek against my chest.

"Hurry back. Every second you’re gone feels like a needle piercing my heart~"

Oh, yours must be riddled with holes by now.

I pushed her shoulders away, muttered "Got it," and entered the bathroom. Lianbing waved and headed back to class.

"Hah…"

Staring at the mirror above the sink, I sighed again.

Lately, my sighs had multiplied—pent-up frustration with no outlet.

She always controlled the conversation, teasing me in new ways every time. At this rate, I’d die without knowing how she’d ruined me.

I needed to be firmer next time.

My passive nature and lack of experience with girls made me weak. Even with my sisters, I lowered myself… That’s why I was so powerless now!

Yes!

Be stronger!

Seize the initiative!

I splashed cold water on my face, resolved to stop being passive. Time for a change.

I scanned the sink area—no handkerchief. Probably taken by someone else.

Ah… Gone, as expected. Two classes had passed; of course it’d be gone.

But it still had Lianbing’s saliva on it… Just imagining someone using it to wipe their hands…

It unsettled me.

Huh? Why did I feel this way?

Could I actually like her?

Was my heart the one riddled with needles?

Complicated feelings…

Already frustrated, this realization made it worse. Admitting I liked Jilianbing felt like losing to her on every front.

I shook my head, clearing the messy thoughts. Walking to the urinals, I unzipped my pants.

Just then, a hand clamped my shoulder. A malicious voice came from behind.

"You’re An Juncheng, right?"

He yanked my shoulder, forcing me to turn. But I was mid-stream, so…

"Damn it! What did you do?! My pants! So gross!"

Flustered, I twisted back to finish, then pulled up my pants and faced him.

"Uh… sorry—no, this isn’t my fault! Why’d you grab me while I was peeing?"

"You bastard! Got guts, huh?!"

"…"

So unreasonable… Wait, wasn’t this Meng Fa from my class?

Brown, spiky hair. Earrings, necklace, rings—all the flashy accessories. He looked utterly unserious.

"What’s that look for? You mocking me?!"

Even if he glared, I wouldn’t tremble like a scared animal. His fake intimidation was nothing compared to Lianbing’s naturally chilling smile.

Realizing that, I saw how dangerous my daily life really was.

"Daydreaming again? Look at me!"

"Oh, sorry."

Snapped back, I stared blankly at the spiky-haired guy.

His nickname was "Magic Master," right? Could he actually use magic?

"So, what do you want?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Jilianbing. You get it, don’t you?"

"Hah…"

I’d expected this cliché, but not in a bathroom—and not this cringey.

"What’s your problem?!"

He probably thought my sigh was disrespect.

I’d thought such tropes only existed in manga. Yet here he was.

Next, he’d threaten me to "stay away from Jilianbing" or "you don’t deserve her."

But he went off-script.

"Don’t think having a girlfriend makes you a winner! You’ll get dumped soon!"

"Huh?"

I frowned hard, confused by his random outburst.

"I meant to politely ask for advice, but you peed on my pants… You owe me!"

"I peed on you because you yanked me!"

"I don’t care! You’re paying!"

Like a child!

"I’ll be generous—just tell me your secret to attracting girls!"

Ah, so that’s it…

The "Magic Master" title was just mocking his virginity. He saw me with Jilianbing and assumed I had some special skill.

But I wasn’t some harem anime protagonist.

"I don’t know any popularity secrets."

Meng Fa grabbed my collar, shaking me. Spit flew onto my face.

"Stop lying! I’ve watched you since Jilianbing confessed last Friday. Multiple girls noticed you—you’ve got a harem MC’s aura! There’s a trick. Did you make a dark deal? Use forbidden methods?"

What nonsense… Multiple girls? I hadn’t noticed a thing.

Was I suddenly popular?

Ah, right—the magic circle in my head must be working.

He should ask Teacher Yang, not me.

"Teacher Yang at the library might help you."

"Don’t brush me off! What can that woman do?"

I wiped spit off my face, sighing. "If you don’t believe me, fine. I truly don’t know."

"This isn’t magic! How did you get popular?! I’m way better-looking, yet some nobody like you gets more attention. Why?!"

So full of himself? Honestly, his hairstyle alone dropped him below average. Who’d like spiky hair nowadays? Unless the girl had issues too.

"Fine. If you won’t tell me, I’ll see for myself! Don’t move!"

"Huh?"

Meng Fa slapped his palm on my head. Nothing happened.

"What are you doing?"

"Huh? You…"

The loud Meng Fa fell silent, staring at me like he’d found treasure.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing. Just… you’ve got charm."

A guy saying that made my face scrunch up. Nausea rose from my stomach.

"Even if you’re bad with girls, don’t hit on guys. I’m zero percent into men."

Meng Fa coughed, flipping me off. "Cough! Who’s into guys?! Even if you wore a dress, I wouldn’t!"

"Then why the middle finger…?"

Should I trust your words or your ‘I want to screw you’ gesture?

"Cough! It’s disrespect!"

"Heh…"

This guy was fun.

Now I understood why Lianbing loved teasing me—it was genuinely amusing.

"Ugh, you confused me! I’m a… cough, fortune-teller! I just read your fate—you’re drowning in peach blossoms."

Fortune-telling and divination aren’t the same. And since when does divination need head-touching? He was bluffing.

"They say life has three peak periods of romance. You’re in your first!"

"Peach blossoms…"

More like a peach blossom disaster. My luck had been terrible since meeting Lianbing—nothing but hardships.

"Damn, I’m so jealous! I want to cuddle with cute girls too!"

"…"

He didn’t hide his desires at all. Honestly, a straightforward guy. Scary-looking but harmless.

"Ah, whatever. I got something useful. I’ll let it slide. I’m Meng Fa, by the way. Same class."

"Oh, I’m An Juncheng…"

"I know. Gotta run—lunchtime’s almost over. Bye! Next time, spill the secret!"

Meng Fa waved and left the bathroom. Such a whirlwind.

As he turned to go, I noticed his pants were dry.

Oh ho… Magic Master, huh…