At this moment, Ye Xingran’s entire aura underwent a seismic shift.

She stood perfectly still, spine straight, expression serene. Her gaze turned frosty and distant, the faintest hint of a smile playing at her lips.

Look closer, and she resembled a snow-capped peak piercing the clouds—utterly untouchable.

“I… I was just joking,” the girl stammered, unable to hold Ye Xingran’s razor-sharp stare for more than a second. That chilling aura around her wasn’t mere coldness—it was the quiet menace of a tiger, freezing everyone in place.

Beside her, Cheng Hao’s palms grew clammy. He had zero relationship with this campus belle. She wasn’t his girlfriend. Yet… an inexplicable urge to explain himself clawed at his throat.

“No more jokes like that. I dislike them.”

Ye Xingran’s voice remained glacial. Her eyes held no warmth, no color—like frozen glass. Cheng Hao had never seen this side of her before. Gone was the playful, clingy senior. Now, an icy, domineering presence radiated from her, regal as a princess on a throne.

“S-sorry! I understand!” The flirtatious senior’s legs trembled slightly. Her earlier boldness vanished; she looked like a mouse desperate to flee a cat.

Around them, the crowd’s whispers erupted.

“What’s happening?”

“This feels… off.”

“Haven’t you heard? She tried to hook up with the campus belle’s rumored boyfriend. Then the belle showed up out of nowhere.”

“Holy crap! Walked in on them?!”

“Shut up! We don’t even know if she’s dating anyone!”

Curiosity crackled through the air—but something else lingered beneath it.

The aloof, untouchable campus belle had returned.

And the sharp tang of jealousy hung thick in the atmosphere.

“Why’s the belle so angry?”

“Is she… jealous?”

“Feels like that ‘legitimate girlfriend’ aura from anime.”

Every eye stayed glued to the scene. Reluctantly, they admitted it: Ye Xingran looked exactly like a wife catching her husband cheating.

Shaken by guilt—or perhaps overwhelmed by Ye Xingran’s crushing presence—the flirtatious senior bowed hastily and fled.

“Senior… why did you come suddenly?” Cheng Hao asked awkwardly.

“Why shouldn’t I come?” Ye Xingran tilted her head, puffing her cheeks as she glared at him. “Afraid I’d ruin your fun? Or just don’t want to see me?”

Just like that, the icy queen melted back into the adorably clingy senior Cheng Hao knew. His head spun.

*How does she switch faces this fast?*

One second: an iceberg. The next: a flustered, pouting girl.

*Who could handle this?!*

Cheng Hao’s heart hammered. He forced a stiff smile. “Don’t joke, Senior. I don’t even know her.”

“Liar! If you didn’t know her, why’d she give you her room key?”

Ye Xingran clenched tiny fists, leaning closer until her eyes locked onto his. A subtle, girlish fragrance washed over him.

*Hah…* Cheng Hao sucked in a sharp breath. He hated to admit it—but this version of her was dangerously cute. His heart fluttered like a trapped bird.

*Stay calm! Don’t betray Zihan!*

He chanted the warning inwardly, terrified of falling into her trap.

“I… I really…” Cheng Hao fumbled for words, staring at her helplessly.

“Silly!” Ye Xingran covered her mouth, giggling softly. “I was teasing. I know you don’t know her.”

Cheng Hao exhaled in relief. “Good…” Then confusion flickered. “Wait—why *are* you here? To help out too?”

He had no idea Ye Xingran was student council president. Or that the “jerk” targeting him was her. He assumed she’d been called to assist like the others.

“Sort of…” A blush bloomed across her porcelain cheeks like peach petals. “But mostly… I wanted to see you.”

Panic flashed across Cheng Hao’s face. Her earlier hints had been subtle. Now? She wore her intentions like a banner—broadcasting to the world that she wanted him.

“Senior, you’re joking again, haha…” He edged backward. “If nothing’s wrong, I should get back to work.”

He turned to escape before the “aloof” belle pulled another stunt.

But Ye Xingran darted in front of him, chin lifted, scrutinizing him like a judge. “Where are you going? You haven’t explained yourself yet.”

“Explained what?” Cheng Hao’s mind went blank.

“Why didn’t you reject that girl outright?” Her tone dripped with displeasure—pure girlfriend interrogation mode.

“I… I did!”

“You didn’t! She was so bold, and you just stood there! If I hadn’t come… were you really going to go with her? To… *that*?”

*Whoa. Are you overacting?*

*Even if you want me, don’t just claim the girlfriend role! That spot’s for Zihan! Did you ask me?!*

“Senior, I’d never! You know me! Besides…” His voice shrank. “Aren’t *you* being bold too?”

“I don’t care!” Ye Xingran stamped her foot, flushed and flustered. “Next time some shady girl flirts with you? Ignore her. Got it?”

Her words hung in the air.

The entire crowd froze, brains short-circuiting.