After hearing Ye Xinran’s words, Cheng Hao stared at her, utterly stunned.

Before he could process what she’d said, Ye Xinran stepped closer. A girl’s unique fragrance filled his nose, seeping deep into his mind.

She locked eyes with him, voice earnest:

“Senior won’t steer you wrong. Remember this: never give your WeChat to any girl who asks. Got it?”

“I’m sorry, senior. I can’t promise that.”

Cheng Hao flushed, stumbling back two steps to put distance between them. His face twisted with apology.

“How can you say that? Planning to collect a harem on campus?” Ye Xinran glared, fuming.

“It’s not like that. Promises like this… should be for girlfriends. We’ve only met twice. Asking me to swear this feels… weird.”

“You—fine. I won’t push. Just be careful. Donghai University girls aren’t pushovers. Freshmen like you? Old wolves’ll pick your bones clean. These waters run deep. Stay sharp.”

Her warning dripped with concern.

“…I know that well,” Cheng Hao muttered, stealing a glance at her.

They resumed walking around the track.

Cheng Hao stayed silent, but his peripheral vision clung to Ye Xinran. He braced for her next impossible demand.

All he wanted was to escape, rush back to his dorm, and vent to Ye Zihan about this crazy campus belle—maybe even get her to curse along with him.

“Oh, junior,” Ye Xinran suddenly asked, “your girlfriend… is she from our school?”

“I’m… not sure. Maybe yes, maybe no.”

“Huh? You don’t even know your girlfriend’s school? Terrible boyfriend.”

“It’s not what you think. ‘Girlfriend’… not yet. But she will be. Besides… we haven’t seen each other in ten years.”

“Ten years apart? Why call her your future girlfriend? Doesn’t that feel strange?”

“It sounds strange, yeah. But feelings don’t need face time. Our situation’s… complicated. Hard to explain. But this I know—I really like her.” Cheng Hao met her gaze, dead serious.

Ye Xinran’s breath hitched. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

“What if… she’s ugly? Would you still like her?”

The question mattered. She’d gambled everything—transferring to Donghai, waiting a year for him. Was it a mistake?

“Yes.” Cheng Hao nodded firmly, tilting his head toward the sky.

“Liking someone has nothing to do with looks. Ten years apart, but I know she’s the one. Pretty or plain—I’ll still like her.”

Ye Xinran froze.

She never imagined she held such weight in his heart.

Before coming here, she’d feared she was fooling herself. That he’d been joking.

But now… he hadn’t changed. Her choice had been right.

“Senior? What’s wrong?” Cheng Hao peered at her dazed face.

“Nothing. Just… remembering things.” She shook her head, flashing a bright smile.

“So… whatever your goal is, senior, please keep your distance. If she hears rumors, I’m doomed.”

“Scared before she’s even your girlfriend? Once she is, your life’ll be hell.” Ye Xinran teased, grinning.

“Not scared. Because I like her… I can’t bear to hurt her.” Cheng Hao smiled back.

Ye Xinran blinked, then turned her head away so he wouldn’t see her face. “Hmph. Oil-mouthed slick-talker. But… since you’re so devoted, I’ll spare you. For now.”

Just then, three girls from her dorm approached, eyes sharp as they sized up Cheng Hao.

“Wow. Freshmen these days have guts. Chasing seniors on day one?”

“And our campus belle? Kid, you wanna get beaten to death?”

“Spill it—what’s your deal?”

Cheng Hao flinched back under their piercing stares.

“Enough! Stop scaring him.” Ye Xinran rolled her eyes. *Classic gossip mode.*

“Xinran, you’ve changed! Taking his side? I—I can’t live like this!”

“Pfft. He’s practically your boyfriend now. *We’re* the outsiders.”

The trio covered their mouths, giggling. They’d expected some smooth-talking scammer—not this flustered freshman.

“Seniors, you’re mistaken. We’re not like that.” Cheng Hao’s eye twitched as he protested.

“We don’t believe you. Xinran? We know her. If you weren’t involved, why’d she invite you to walk the track?”

“Don’t be shy, junior. Once you’re Xinran’s boyfriend, you’re family. But you’d better sweet-talk us… or we’ll spread nasty rumors.”

They ignored his denials, treating him as her official boyfriend.

“You guys, stop. We’re really not involved.” Ye Xinran sighed, stepping in. “I’m just helping a new junior. Don’t overthink it. Besides… he has a girlfriend.”

*Helping a junior?*

*Yeah, right!*

*Wait—girlfriend?*

*Did we imagine things?*

“So… really nothing between you two?” The trio eyed them suspiciously.

Cheng Hao almost laughed. He forced patience into his voice:

“Seriously… we met today. How could we be dating?”

The girls nodded slowly.

“Ohhh. Then we’ll let you off the hook. For now.”

“Right. Any guy near Xinran must pass our test first.”

Cheng Hao wanted to cry. He’d just come to jog. Now this?

No doubt rumors would spread by dawn.

*Please… let Ye Zihan not hear about this. Or I’m dead.*

“Seniors, if that’s all, I’ll go. Military training tomorrow.”

He just wanted to flee this mess.

But Ye Xinran caught his sleeve before he turned. He looked back, puzzled.

“Senior? Something else?”

“You’re just leaving? Forgot something.” Her eyes held his.

“Uh… do I need to perform to get out of here?”

“No! Your WeChat. You haven’t given it to me.”

Cheng Hao hesitated. *Weren’t you just warning me about girls here?*

“Senior, I—”

Before he could refuse, she snatched his phone. No chance to say no.

“Here’s mine. Delete me? You’re dead.”

“I… got it. Bye.” Cheng Hao didn’t linger. Staying longer meant more chaos.

The dorm trio stared at Ye Xinran, dumbfounded.

“Xinran… you just *asked* for a guy’s WeChat?”

“And strong-armed him? That’s not you at all.”

“What even was today? Am I dreaming?”

Ye Xinran shrugged, casual. “He’s just… fun.”

“But that makes us *more* suspicious,” they whispered, exchanging glances.

“Xinran, supermarket run?” one asked.

As Cheng Hao vanished, Ye Xinran’s warmth vanished too. Her icy mask snapped back—a lightning-fast shift that left her friends speechless.

“Nah. Heading back.” She waved them off, walking alone toward the dorm.

Inside her room—

Ye Xinran slammed the door shut. She dove onto her bed, kicked off her shoes, and buried her face in the quilt. Muffled squeals escaped.

Then she hugged the quilt, wriggling like a maggot across the sheets.

Exhausted, she lay still. The quilt covered half her face. Her dewy eyes shimmered with bashful joy.

The once-neat bedsheets were a battlefield of wrinkles.