"Anyway, I’m not handing you over," Yanxi pressed herself closer to Lingyuan. "A normal guy should prefer bigger ones, right?"

"Hey, hey, hey…" Lingyuan quickly put distance between them. He could tolerate accidental closeness, but this deliberate clinging made him deeply uncomfortable.

"Hmph, hmph."

Seeing his reaction, the girl grumbled in dissatisfaction.

"Brother dislikes me…"

"No, don’t talk nonsense!" Lingyuan pinched Yanxi’s cheek helplessly. "You’re truly impossible to handle."

As he spoke, his phone vibrated nonstop in his pocket. A bad feeling crept into his heart.

"Uh, Yanxi… I’m heading back first…"

"Okay." Yanxi recalled her own tasks—she’d called him just to hug him, and since they were at school, she didn’t hold him back. "Then Brother can go. I still have things to do."

"Okay, okay." Lingyuan slipped out of the student council office like he’d grabbed a lifeline. He pulled out his phone and saw several missed voice calls.

[My sister will pick you up from school soon. Don’t you dare run.]

Lingyuan paled at the message. He checked the time—only fifteen minutes until dismissal. His terrified expression looked like he’d face a death sentence in moments.

Lanfeng saw him return through the back door and frowned. "What’s wrong? Your face looks like you ate shit."

"Exactly how I feel." Lingyuan covered his face in pain, sitting down. Why did his soul feel shackled?

Yixinxue was the school beauty—a blessing for any normal guy. Lingyuan shook his head to clear his mind.

[What blessing? Only masochists would call this happiness! I’m normal!]

If he wore a hat and kept his head down later, Yiyingnan wouldn’t spot him. He could sneak away.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure behind him. Lingyuan instinctively turned toward the back door.

Their eyes met. Yiyingnan gave a soft, gentle smile and waved.

[Holy shit!]

Lingyuan snapped back to stare at the pure white wall beside him.

"Why are you blankly staring at the wall?" Lanfeng and the others gaped at his odd behavior.

"This wall… it’s really white…" His voice was hoarse, thick with unspeakable grievance and despair.

He kept staring until dismissal, until Yiyingnan sat before him.

"Huh? Your morals are high, huh? Only for Xinxue?" Yiyingnan rested her chin on her hand, watching him with interest.

"Not really… I just think the wall’s very white…"

"Tch, stubborn like Xue’er." Yiyingnan placed a bag on the table, smiling warmly. "Xue’er told you, right? I’m to take you to her."

"Did she…" Lingyuan feigned ignorance.

Yiyingnan pouted slightly, seeing through him. "Sigh~ Xue’er’s seriously ill. She hasn’t slept since 2 AM, waiting for you. She refuses medicine and food—lost all appetite. Is this love? Won’t your conscience hurt if you don’t visit her?"

[Moral blackmail?]

Lingyuan stared blankly, but condemning gazes from classmates forced his words back down.

"So, truly not seeing Xinxue? She’s weak and needs medicine. Without you… her illness will worsen…" Yiyingnan covered her face, sobbing.

"Lingyuan, just go!"

"Yeah! The class rep adores you—how can you refuse her?"

"You’re such a newbie! Go now! Damn it, I can’t watch this!"

"Of course I’ll go," Lingyuan covered his face in agony. He’d sparked outrage for no reason—refusal was impossible. "I never said I wouldn’t."

"Wonderful!" Yiyingnan clapped her hands. "Xinxue truly didn’t misjudge you!"

Lingyuan followed her bitterly, bag in hand, while Yiyingnan walked ahead cheerfully.

"Reluctant like this… do you dislike Xue’er, classmate Lingyuan?"

"It’s fine. I wouldn’t say I like her…"

"Oh~ No wonder Xue’er wants to devour you~" Yiyingnan nodded thoughtfully. "You’re terribly suspenseful~"

Lingyuan shrank his neck. He hated seeing girls cry—Yiyingnan’s flowery words convinced him Yixinxue would sob if he skipped this.

So he’d risk his "life" to visit her.

"What’s in this bag?" Lingyuan shook it. If it were medicine, the luxurious Russian-labeled box seemed excessive. He knew no Russian.

"Bringing gifts when visiting is custom, right?" Yiyingnan didn’t turn—her mischievous smile would ruin tonight’s fun plan.

"It’s Xue’er’s favorite chocolate. You know she loves sweets?"

"I do. Thanks for thinking of it." Lingyuan scratched his head, suddenly seeing her as a devoted sister.

Yixinxue would cheer up with chocolate—maybe forget the punishment… Lingyuan had learned "no desires" from her rewards and punishments.

"We’re here~" Yiyingnan opened the door, pointing to the bedroom. "Xue’er’s waited long in there~ Go on. I’ll make tea~"

"I… after giving the chocolate, can I leave?" Lingyuan sensed something off. Yiyingnan’s smile had shifted from motherly warmth to something else—just like Yixinxue’s once.

"Oh~" Yiyingnan’s gaze drifted. "Maybe? Depends on Xue’er."

"I—"

The door slammed shut before he finished.

Click—

The lock’s sound struck him like a blow.

[This is a trap! I’ve been totally tricked!]