"Today's lunch is so lavish," Yixinxue said happily, sitting across from Lingyuan with her plate. "Oh, there's steamed chicken in chili oil!"

"Class rep, aren't you bad with spicy food...?" Lingyuan asked, confused as he eyed her plate.

The chicken glistened under a thick layer of red chili oil. For someone like Yixinxue, who couldn't handle any spice, it seemed unbearable.

Yixinxue picked up a piece with her chopsticks. "Since you love spicy food, Lingyuan, I should practice too~"

"Really, it's unnecessary," Lingyuan replied. "The spice I like isn't ordinary—it's innate."

"Who said I need to reach that level~" Yixinxue shook her head, gazing tenderly at his lips. "After yesterday's hotpot and our kiss, it was so spicy. Kissing without sipping milk tea first was unbearable. To avoid that next time, I must train my spice tolerance."

She slightly opened her mouth and took a small bite.

"Mmm~ Not as spicy as I thought," Yixinxue murmured, closing her eyes contentedly. "The saltiness is perfect. Come here, baby~"

"Huh?"

Lingyuan stared dumbfounded as the half-bitten chicken hovered near his lips.

"Take a tiny bite."

"Uh..."

Yixinxue's gesture drew multiple dark, angry stares onto Lingyuan.

"Open up, ah~"

Lingyuan parted his lips just enough to nibble half the piece. Though small, the sauce-soaked chicken burst with flavor.

It wasn't spicy at all—just salty and sweet.

"Such a good boy~"

Yixinxue popped the rest into her mouth, chewing blissfully. "With your taste on it, it's even more delicious~"

Huh?

Lingyuan froze. What wild idea was this?

Facing the food window, he spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

Yanxi chatted cheerfully with classmates. As she scanned for seats, her eyes locked with Lingyuan's.

Brother? Wait—why was Yixinxue sitting opposite him?

Her smile vanished. A gloomy fire flared in her brown eyes as she glared at Lingyuan's awkward grin.

Lingyuan could only sit there, grinning foolishly.

*Oh no, oh no—why is Yanxi eating here? What rotten luck!*

Yanxi turned to whisper to her friends. They scattered to other tables; she strode straight toward him.

*Oh no! Oh no! This is totally ruined!*

"Good afternoon, Yixinxue," Yanxi said coldly, brimming with hostility. She deliberately sat beside Lingyuan, as if flaunting their bond.

"Ah, good afternoon," Yixinxue replied, her brows knitting tight. Yanxi's arrival crushed her cheerful mood.

The sudden tension left Lingyuan utterly lost. These two were among the school's top five beauties—now he looked like a villain stealing both.

*Why does he get two beauties?*

"Brother, only one dish for lunch?" Yanxi asked sweetly.

"My meal card's empty..." Lingyuan rubbed his forehead, pained.

"Here, eat mine." Yanxi tilted her tray, scooping meat onto his plate.

"Not at all," Yixinxue cut in with a cold smile. "Lingyuan wants to share dishes to deepen our bond."

Deepen our bond?

A vein throbbed on Yanxi's forehead. Her lips twitched; chopsticks clenched in her fist.

"Big deal," Yanxi breathed, feigning indifference. "I've kissed Brother before."

"?"

Both Yixinxue and Lingyuan stared in shock.

"Don't lie! When did we kiss?" Lingyuan gaped, swearing he'd never touched her lips.

Yanxi smoothed her collar, slowly tying her long hair. "I always sleep with Brother," she drawled.

*Yanxi, shut up!*

"Is that true, Lingyuan?" Yixinxue's fiery eyes turned icy. The warm cafeteria felt freezing.

"S-she's lying..." Lingyuan waved his hands frantically. An invisible knife pressed against his throat.

"Huh? Brother, why deny it?" Yanxi blinked in mock surprise. "You even grope my boobs while sleeping."

"!?"

*This is pure nonsense!*

Lingyuan was defenseless. Yixinxue's expression confirmed she believed every word. He couldn't clear his name no matter what.

"Alright, I'm off. Bye-bye, dear Brother~" Yanxi winked, victorious, and sauntered away.

"So Lingyuan is this kind of person," Yixinxue muttered, biting her spoon hard.

"Don't believe her! Class rep, you're not actually mad, right? With your smarts, you know she's provoking you!" Lingyuan pleaded desperately.

"Is that so?" Yixinxue sneered. "Prove it."

"P-prove it?" Lingyuan stammered.

Yeah—how?

"Stay at my place one night. That'll prove it," Yixinxue suggested smoothly.

"Huh?"

"Yes. Let me study you closely—see if you've really done those things." A strange smile curled her lips.

Her words hurled Lingyuan back to last Saturday. In seconds, he relived every moment.

Yixinxue was this bold at school—what about at home? His mind spiraled with wild, anime-inspired fantasies.

"But school the next day..." Yixinxue tilted her head thoughtfully. "Stay Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'll supervise your holiday homework~"

The excuse sounded perfectly reasonable...

"Class rep... what homework takes three days...?" Lingyuan asked nervously. "I think... one night suffices..."

"One night isn't enough~" Yixinxue leaned forward. "You've been naughty, Lingyuan. You need more punishment."

"Uh..." Lingyuan's eyes widened.

Yixinxue lightly licked her lips.

"Why does Yanxi get your affection? I deserve it too. It makes me so... unwilling to accept."