The sky was bleached of all color.

Silence hung heavy. The empty street stretched wide, yet an invisible crowd pressed in, tightening my breath.

I stared blankly at the familiar-yet-unknown scene before me.

Then—a girl’s figure materialized in the middle of the road.

"You’re…" I knew her. Her silhouette was etched into my memory, but her name slipped through my fingers like smoke.

She turned slightly, offering a smile as natural as dawn.

*BAM!*

"No—"

…

*Haaah—*

Lingyuan’s eyes snapped open. The stark white ceiling came into focus, slowing his hammering heart.

His shirt clung to him, soaked—not just with cold sweat, but with the heat of being hugged too tightly.

He glanced sideways at Yanxi, who had her arms locked around his neck, fast asleep.

Gone was the elegant young lady. She clung to him like a vine, treating him like her personal teddy bear.

*No wonder I dreamed of suffocating.*

He tried prying her arms loose, but her grip was iron.

*Hopeless.*

Dawn had broken. He strained to grab his phone from the bedside table.

9 a.m.

Yixinxue had flooded his messages: *"Up yet?" "When arriving?" "The cat’s starving—it won’t stop meowing…"*

*Of course she’s impatient,* he thought. *She’s the top student. Seeing a slacker like me must drive her crazy.*

After some struggle, Lingyuan slipped free. He rubbed his temples, watching Yanxi sprawl messily across the bed. Without her clinging, he’d have slept till 1 p.m.

"Ahhh~" He yawned, stretching hard.

*Who on earth wakes this early on a weekend?*

"Mmmph—"

Yanxi stirred, burying her face deeper into the pillow like a cat. Slowly, her dark eyes opened, clouded with sleep—then sharpened with suspicion.

"Brother’s up *this* early today?"

*The sun must be rising in the west.*

"Had to. Something important."

Yanxi narrowed her eyes. "Important enough to drag you out of bed? Even school couldn’t do that." A chill crept into her voice. "What’s really going on?"

"Uh…" Lingyuan felt icy daggers in her glare. "W-why look at me like that?"

"Answer properly. No dodging." She hugged the blanket, dead serious.

"It’s… Yixinxue. Our class rep. If I skip, she’ll beat me up." He surrendered.

"*Her?*" Yanxi tilted her head. "Yixinxue?"

"Yeah."

*That ice queen?* Of course he’d fear her. A goddess like her would never glance at someone like Brother. No threat there.

"Fine. When back?"

"Afternoon, probably." He scratched his head, relieved she wasn’t pushing further.

"Okay. I’ll wait." She snuggled back under the covers. "Your side of the bed’s not warm without you."

Lingyuan could only stare, dumbfounded.

*What nonsense is this?*

He skipped breakfast, brushed his teeth, and headed out—but not straight to Yixinxue’s. First stop: the pet store.

*How’s that kitten holding up?*

"Welcome! How can I help?" The shopkeeper beamed.

Lingyuan scanned the shelves. "What cat food’s good for a newly weaned kitten?"

"Try this one! Australian import—deer meat, premium nutrients…" The man launched into a sales pitch.

It felt like a boring lecture. Lingyuan’s eyelids grew heavy.

"Fine, I’ll take it. Price?"

"267 yuan!"

"*Two…*" He nearly choked. 1.5kg for 267? His daily food budget was 25 yuan. This was over ten days’ worth.

*But I promised…*

Gritting his teeth, he paid.

The light bag felt like lead in his hand. He stood frozen on the sidewalk, heart bleeding.

*267 yuan… That’s two game skins. Or sixteen gacha pulls…*

"Damn it," he muttered. "The class rep better owe me big time." He shrugged and trudged toward Yixinxue’s place.

…

Yixinxue sat at her dining table, idly stirring milk in her cup. She rested her chin on her palm, eyes fixed on her chat window with Lingyuan.

*Where is he? It’s been almost an hour…*

*Did he stand me up?*

Her crimson eyes dimmed, distant as stars veiled in night fog. Her thoughts were unreadable.

After a pause, she called him.

He answered, breathless. "Yeah, Class Rep?"

"Oh—nothing. Just… when will you arrive?"

"I’m at your door."

"I’ll open it! Right now!"

She hung up and yanked the door open.

"Class Rep…" Lingyuan’s eyes widened.

"Problem? Why stare like that?"

"N-nothing…" He quickly looked away.

*If she says it’s fine, it’s fine.*

Yixinxue wore a pure white off-shoulder dress. Her collarbones gleamed, drawing the eye to the delicate dip between them. Her curves weren’t as pronounced as Yanxi’s, but they were undeniably there.

"Eh?" She caught his flickering gaze. A flicker of guilt crossed his face. "What’s wrong~ Lingyuan~?"

"Nothing! Here—cat food." He thrust the bag forward.

"Inside first~"

Just like last night, the door *clicked* shut and locked behind him the moment he stepped in.

*(This time, you won’t escape so easily. I won’t go soft today.)*