After enduring countless hardships, Cheng Hao finally made it back to his dorm.

Being favored by the campus beauty might thrill others, but Cheng Hao felt no joy at all.

Instead, he saw it as a terrible punishment.

As Donghai University’s top beauty, Ye Xinran drew endless attention. Her army of bootlickers was massive. If he really got tangled with her, graduating smoothly would be impossible. Surviving the next four years might not even happen.

Besides, he and Ye Zihan weren’t dating. They’d stayed in that fuzzy zone—more than friends, less than lovers.

She clearly liked him back. But now, with rumors linking him to Ye Xinran? If Ye Zihan found out, the fallout could be disastrous.

Best case: she’d sulk for ages.

Worst case: she might break their reunion promise and vanish from his life forever.

Even after years apart, Cheng Hao knew his feelings for Ye Zihan ran deep. She’d become irreplaceable to him.

So he had to keep his distance from Ye Xinran. No risking his easily jealous one’s anger.

“Sigh… what a mess,” Cheng Hao muttered, shaking his head.

He pulled out his phone, ready to confess everything to Ye Zihan. He’d even trash-talk the campus beauty live, proving he had zero interest in her.

But one glance at his screen nearly shattered him.

Donghai University’s Baidu Tieba flooded with posts: “Campus Beauty’s Secret Romance Exposed!” “Ye Xinran’s Underground Boyfriend!” “Campus Beauty Falls to Flower-Crushing Demon’s Claws!”

“I fucking… this is bullshit!” Cheng Hao roared, fists clenched tight.

Okay, “secret romance” and “underground boyfriend”—fine. But calling him a “flower-crushing demon”? That crossed the line!

He clicked a post. Someone was smearing him deliberately. They painted him as a sleazy playboy, a veteran of love games. Meanwhile, Ye Xinran was portrayed as an innocent girl tricked and manipulated by him.

After reading it, Cheng Hao felt sick.

Damn, this was next level!

The plot felt eerily familiar. He squinted… wasn’t this straight from *The Return of the Condor Heroes*? The part where Yin Zhiping assaults Xiaolongnü?

Some bastard had just swapped in his and Ye Xinran’s names.

“Slander! Blatant slander!” Cheng Hao realized the danger instantly. If this spread, Ye Zihan would find out. He might not even survive tomorrow.

He rushed to post a rebuttal, proving his relationship with Ye Xinran wasn’t what they thought.

But how to write it?

He couldn’t claim Ye Xinran chased him. Truth or not, no one would believe it. She was seen as pure and untouchable.

Stuck, he had a flash of genius: lie about being relatives.

That’d clear the rumors. Plus, senior students might even fawn over him. Two birds with one stone!

He posted immediately: he was Ye Xinran’s distant cousin—her third aunt’s sixth grandmother’s grandson. They’d just discovered the family tie. Her elders had asked her to look after him.

Still nervous, he created alt accounts to reply:

“Huh, I thought the campus beauty was joking. So this freshman really is her cousin?”

“Whoa, the campus beauty’s cousin is right here in my dorm!”

“It has to be true. She’s always so aloof—no way she’d hide a boyfriend.”

Mission accomplished. This should fix everything.

Cheng Hao refreshed his phone anxiously, waiting to see if it worked.

Soon, the post trended. Replies poured in:

“I knew it… the campus beauty wouldn’t have a boyfriend.”

“Yeah, rumors are lies.”

“Oh, we totally misunderstood them.”

Seeing these comments, Cheng Hao’s furrowed brow finally relaxed.

The misunderstanding was cleared. If Ye Xinran left him alone now, he could survive college peacefully. He’d finally be with Ye Zihan.

Relief washed over him. He nodded, smiling faintly.

Just then, his roommates burst in.

Shi Zhenxiang, Fan Jian, and Qin Shou crowded around him.

“Bro Hao, you okay?”

“Any injuries? Did anyone beat you up outside?”

“We ditched our Bronze-tier promotion match to check on you. That’s loyalty, right?”

Their concern soured Cheng Hao’s good mood.

He rolled his eyes, forcing a grin. “I’m fine, you damn sons. Why curse your dad’s death?”

“Role reversal, huh?”

“Never mind that… spill it. What’s really going on with the campus beauty?”

“Everyone’s saying you’re her secret boyfriend.”

Touched by their worry, Cheng Hao felt a pang of warmth.

They’d only known each other briefly, but their bond was solid. Guys’ friendships were straightforward—no scheming, no secret group chats. Just raw honesty.

Though he hated discussing it, he gave them a vague summary.

Of course, he skipped Ye Xinran’s advances. They’d spit in his face, calling it a wet dream.

“No way… you really didn’t know her before?”

“We thought you were already together.”

“But that doesn’t add up. I heard she’s ice-cold. Why’s she all over you?”

The trio eyed him suspiciously, convinced he was hiding something.

Cheng Hao laughed helplessly. “We’re not involved. Why lie? We just met today. How could she be my girlfriend?”

No matter how he explained, Shi Zhenxiang’s group refused to believe him.

“Got it. Secret romance. You’re scared to admit it.”

“But secrets don’t last. Better confess now.”

“We’ve got your back. Don’t sweat her suitors. Donghai students are civilized—they won’t beat you up. If trouble comes, we’ll take the hit.”

They clapped his shoulders, trying to encourage him.

Cheng Hao sighed. “I swear—I have zero ties to the campus beauty. If I’m lying, I’ll bark like a dog in front of the whole school. Happy now?”

Such a fierce oath finally convinced them.

After endless twists, Cheng Hao cleared his name on Tieba. All posts about him and Ye Xinran vanished.

“Damn… crisis over. Hope no more surprises. My heart can’t take it.”

He exhaled deeply, finally at ease.

Shower. Sleep.

Tomorrow’s grueling military training awaited.