This is way too coincidental!

“No.”

Li Mo shot back a curt reply, then slunk sideways to slip away unnoticed—straight home.

She didn’t actually mind Tang Zhe much; after all, he’d saved her life. But right now, she was in full girl-mode. Getting spotted meant instant social death.

So she wasn’t about to ask why he was skipping Saturday classes to wander outside. Bouncing was priority one.

But…

Why was he hanging out with Zhang Wanting?

While dodging past, she couldn’t help glancing at the photo. Sure enough, Tang Zhe’s tall figure stood there.

Beside him was someone she’d never expect.

Zhang Wanting—just the name sounded elegant. Class beauty queen, artsy and refined. Worlds apart from rowdy troublemakers like Li Mo. They’d never even spoken.

Seeing Tang Zhe laughing and chatting with her? Li Mo froze mid-thought.

*So he’s into this type?*

*Huh. Not bad. Zhang Wanting’s gorgeous, killer figure—tons of guys chase her. And he’s actually making headway?*

*Thwack!*

“Ah… s-sorry…”

Too busy overthinking, Li Mo bumped straight into a passerby. Her inner chaos clashed with her outer panic—she flinched back like a startled rabbit, bowing deeply even though it was just a light tap.

*Damn Tang Zhe.*

The stranger waved it off and left. After that scare, Li Mo wanted out—now.

But…

The image of Tang Zhe strolling and laughing with *that* girl…

*Not that I care! Just curious if he actually snagged a girlfriend! If he ditched the squad while I was sick, I’ll wreck him!*

“Ugh…”

She glanced back.

Gone.

They must’ve already entered the mall.

“Whatever. Get me yogurt. That brand they only sell here—you know the one.”

She actually hated yogurt.

But the chilled-foods section was closest to the exit. Crowded aisles, easy to hide.

“…Oh.”

“And go NOW! It’ll sell out!”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“I don’t care! Go this second! I’ll pay you extra!”

“Uh… fine.”

Tang Zhe had offered to grab stuff himself—now he was dragging his feet. Li Mo puffed her cheeks in annoyance and hurried into the mall, beelining for the fifth-floor supermarket.

Inside, fewer crowds eased her nerves slightly.

“Hey kid. What’re you skulking around for?”

Except one thing: she looked like a total thief. Before she even reached the supermarket lockers, a security guard blocked her path. No explanation needed.

“I’m… not stealing…”

The guard showed zero mercy. His glare sharpened, already suspicious. Li Mo shrank back.

“If you’re not stealing, why act like a criminal?”

He’d seen rookie thieves crack under pressure for years. Didn’t buy it.

“I really—”

A scowling middle-aged man loomed closer. Li Mo stepped back, pitifully holding up her empty hands—pulled from her crop top—to prove innocence: “I just got here…”

“Huh.”

…She really didn’t look the thief type.

Most newbies were jumpy, but this girl’s nerves were shot.

*Alright, fine. That face got to me.* At forty-something, he hadn’t seen such a dewy, clueless girl in ages. Her pleading eyes softened him.

“Ugh, forget it. My bad, kid. Go on in.”

He rubbed his temples and stepped aside. Li Mo bolted past without hesitation, vanishing into the aisles.

*Headache. Since when do I cut slack to suspects…?*

…

…

“Should be this flavor.”

Tang Zhe grabbed a blue yogurt box, scratching his head. Half the brands here were exclusive.

“Why not ask him?”

Zhang Wanting smiled beside him.

“But this guy… hates yogurt. Like, gags after one sip.”

Confused, he snapped a photo to text anyway.

“Tastes change. I used to hate cilantro—now I’m obsessed.”

“NO WAY! SAME!”

“Also fish mint and bitter melon… stuff I swore off but now love.”

“DUDE! SOUL SISTER! ME TOO!”

Tang Zhe’s confusion melted into grins. “But Li Mo’s different. He—”

*Those two… getting along way too well…*

Oblivious, they chatted away. Behind two freezer aisles over, a brown blur spied on them. Too far to hear—just saw them laughing brighter than sunshine. A trace of jealousy pricked her chest.

As Tang Zhe put his phone away, hers buzzed. He’d texted: *This brand?*

“Mhm.”

*Like hell!* She hated yogurt! Why ask so stupidly? If he bought it, she’d have to fake-eat it or waste it. *Idiot straight boy!*

“This one? Got it.”

Tang Zhe pocketed his phone, grabbed the yogurt, and walked off laughing with Zhang Wanting. Li Mo’s blood boiled.

*Only one box?! Is your skull filled with just a pituitary gland?! Buy more if you’re buying!*

“Hold up.”

Fuming, she typed back: “I also want durian. Whole one. Spiky. Hard spikes.”

“DURIAN?!”

“Oh, one’s not enough. Get two. I’ll reimburse you. And carry it bare-handed—I hate durian that’s been in a bag.”

“ARE YOU MENTALLY ILL?!”