"Phew, the fever’s finally gone down," Yiyingnan sighed in relief. "Looks like no injections needed then."

"Mmm…" Yixinxue grumbled softly while hugging her plush cat Xin Xin, her face showing little happiness.

"What’s wrong?" Yiyingnan stretched out with a long yawn. Seeing her sister still upset, she asked gently, "Could it be you want to go to school to see classmate Lingyuan?"

"Mmm…"

"That won’t work. You need proper rest," Yiyingnan frowned, threatening, "If you don’t obey your big sister, Xue’er won’t see Lingyuan today."

"Ugh!"

"Hmm~ If you take your medicine obediently, I’ll invite classmate Lingyuan over tonight~"

This was an irresistible temptation for Yixinxue.

"Really?" Yixinxue remained skeptical. After all, she’d invited him many times before, and Lingyuan always refused. Her sister wasn’t even close to him—how could she possibly bring him over?

"Yes." Yiyingnan picked up a bowl of medicine that had cooled slightly on the bed tray. "Drink up obediently. Leave the rest to your big sister."

"Thank you, big sister! I knew you’re the best to me!"

Her sister always kept promises, instantly lifting Yixinxue’s mood. Even the bitterest medicine didn’t taste bad anymore.

"Hmm, another dose at noon and one at night. You should recover by tomorrow," Yiyingnan mused, tapping her lips with a finger. "If not, we’ll visit the hospital."

"No! No needles!" Yixinxue protested.

Yixinxue once feared no injections, but after a blood draw where she watched a thick needle pierce her skin, she developed a deep phobia. The sight of needles alone terrified her.

"Hehe, I’d love to see Xue’er getting a shot. She’d look so cute~" Yiyingnan chuckled.

"Hmph, pervert. You just enjoy seeing me embarrassed," Yixinxue muttered under her breath. "And you deliberately make me jealous."

"Hehe, capturing those expressions on camera would be perfect~ Then compiling them into an album~ Truly a masterpiece," Yiyingnan clasped her hands, delighted by the fantasy.

"Pervert."

"How can you call your big sister a pervert? That hurts me deeply~"

Yixinxue turned away, grumbling inwardly.

*This isn’t sadness at all—she’s clearly gloating.*

…

Lingyuan rubbed his eyes. He hadn’t slept this soundly in class for ages. With his sister out last night, he’d gamed until six AM, slept only an hour, then rushed here.

Though late, the homeroom teacher was absent today—and strangely, Yixinxue wasn’t here either.

Weird…

Lingyuan stared at the empty seat ahead, then noticed Yiyingnan missing too. What were those sisters up to?

He glanced at Lanfeng beside him. The boy sat upright, listening intently.

"Whoa, since when did you turn studious?" Lingyuan gaped. Lanfeng wasn’t as lazy as him, but this was biology—their agreed-upon slacking-off class. Yet he focused like a scholar.

"No." Lanfeng shook his head gravely. "Twenty-five times."

"Huh? Twenty-five times what?"

"My girlfriend and the back-row guy chatted twenty-five times this period. Oh, twenty-six now."

"Sss—"

Lingyuan sucked in a breath. Arms crossed, he observed Lanfeng and the vice monitor: one isolated, the other chatting animatedly with a boy. The vice monitor even shot Lanfeng a deliberate glance, as if flaunting it.

*Are they even a couple?*

Lingyuan pressed his lips. He wouldn’t judge—if Lanfeng called it love, fine. But dating like this seemed exhausting for his friend.

"Wanna game?" Lingyuan whispered.

"Nah." Lanfeng forced a smile, clearly masking pain.

"If you ask me—"

Before "break up" left Lingyuan’s mouth, Lanfeng waved him silent.

*A simp, simping till he’s got nothing left.*

Lingyuan rolled his eyes, pulling out his phone to solo-queue until class ended.

"Thirty-nine times total."

"Whoa, you counted the whole lesson?" Lingyuan stared dumbfounded. That meant near-minute chats—with a guy—during class.

"Mhm." Lanfeng stood, walking toward the vice monitor’s seat.

"Tsk… Pathetic. So pathetic…" Lingyuan clicked his tongue.

"Lingyuan! A junior’s looking for you outside!"

His heart skipped a beat. He already knew who it was.

"Hi~ Senior! I tracked you down~" Chun Qimeng waved enthusiastically.

"What are you doing here?" Lingyuan froze. Thank goodness Yixinxue was absent—but he still nervously scanned the stairwell, dreading her sudden appearance.

"Why can’t I come?" Chun Qimeng puffed her cheeks. "I searched all morning just to find you, and you’re giving me that face? Is that human?"

*How can I smile!?* Lingyuan screamed inwardly. *I don’t even want to see you—no, I’m just terrified to.*

"Here." Despite her pout, Chun Qimeng pulled a huge snack bag from her shoulder strap. "Didn’t know your favorites, so I grabbed a bit of everything."

"This…" Lingyuan hesitated.

"Don’t worry! You spent a thousand yuan last night saving me from thugs!" She shoved the bag into his arms, ignoring his protests. "It’s just a small thank-you."

"Ah… okay…"

"Hey! Smile! It’s not poisoned! Why look like you’re dying?!"

The petite girl’s indignant shout drew every eye in the corridor.

"I’m not," Lingyuan scratched his head innocently. His fear of Yixinxue must’ve leaked onto his face.

"What a despicable man. Oh—heard them call you Lingyuan? Is that your name?"

"Ah, yes. Ling as in ‘Ling Boshi Bu’, Yuan as in ‘soaring high and far’."

"OK, Senior Lingyuan, lunch together at noon?"

"Huh?"

The bizarre request turned him to stone.

*What karma did I earn lately?*

He mentally listed every wrong he’d ever done—still no clue.

"No thanks. It’s improper. Hurry back—the freshman building’s across. Don’t be late."

"What a cold-blooded man," Chun Qimeng muttered, pouting as she watched him retreat. "Is he even into women?"

Back in class, buddies swarmed Lingyuan.

"Lingyuan, what’s happening?"

"Why’s Yixinxue into you lately? And that freshman school beauty too?"

"Heard Yanxi from Block B, Class 11, has ties with you?"

…

A bitter smile crossed Lingyuan’s face. "All coincidences—I swear. Believe me? And no relationships. Stop spreading nonsense."