Cheng Hao was utterly bewildered. He’d heard of intermittent mania, but intermittent coquettishness?

This campus beauty senior was trouble. One wrong word and she’d pout—was this a trap to make me fall for her?

But first, he had to deal with this mess. If she kept causing scenes, rumors would become fact. No amount of explanation would clear his name then.

"Senior, that’s a bit much," Cheng Hao said awkwardly, nodding apologetically. "Remember what you asked back on the sports field? I can’t agree. My childhood sweetheart—she’d misunderstand."

Ye Xinran bristled at his refusal, but his next words made her heart skip.

*Hmph! This oblivious blockhead actually remembered me.*

*Fine. I’ll forgive him… this once.*

Wait—that’s not the point! What if other foxes threw themselves at him later? She couldn’t always swoop in to save him.

No. This pigheaded boy needed to grasp the seriousness.

She refused to use something "secondhand."

"I meant…" Ye Xinran fixed her gaze on his flustered face, enunciating slowly, "Boys face dangers too. Protect yourself. Never talk to strangers." She paused. "Unless absolutely necessary. But if someone tries what happened earlier—tries to… *you know*—you must refuse."

Cheng Hao’s confusion deepened.

Did she think he was a naive three-year-old? Did he look that easy?

Still, this condition he could accept. He’d reject strangers inviting him to hotel rooms anyway—not out of purity, but disdain for loose girls and the risk of catching something unspeakable.

"Oh! *That’s* what you meant." Cheng Hao chuckled lightly. "Even without your warning, I’d never agree. My heart and body belong to my childhood sweetheart. No one else interests me. Not even…" he met her eyes squarely, "you, Senior."

"W-Who wants your interest anyway!" Ye Xinran snapped, flustered and furious.

Logically, it made no sense. *She* was both the senior *and* the childhood sweetheart. Why did his words sting?

Was her present self… inferior to a version he hadn’t seen in ten years?

Strangely, she began to envy herself.

"I only meant to affirm my loyalty," Cheng Hao insisted, holding her gaze. *I won’t be swayed. Not even by a campus beauty.*

"Hmph! Smooth talker." Ye Xinran huffed, though her voice dripped with unintended sweetness.

*Why does my tone sound like pouting?*

Watching her flushed face, Cheng Hao frowned. *I wasn’t talking about you. Why blush?*

"Ahem…" He cleared his throat. "That’s why I hope you’ll keep your distance. I don’t want her misunderstanding us."

"And if I refuse?" Ye Xinran glared, but her eyes softened despite her effort to look stern.

"Then I…" Cheng Hao faltered. What could he do? Slap her?

*Sigh.* A man of his pride, powerless against one girl. When would this end?

He prayed silently: *Xinran, please come soon. I can’t hold on much longer.*

"And if I refuse?" she pressed, chin lifted, lips pouting as she stared him down.

Cheng Hao stayed silent.

Suddenly, Ye Xinran reached out. "You’re sweating like a child. Look at your dirty clothes." She tilted her head, studying his profile with tender warmth, then pulled out a tissue to wipe his brow.

"Senior, what are you—?" Cheng Hao flinched back.

*Persistent as a burr. The more I push her away, the closer she clings.*

*Does she have some hidden… trait?*

"Disgusted by me?" Ye Xinran pouted, tiny fists clenched, radiating adorable fury.

Cheng Hao instantly looked down. His steady heart wavered.

Girls were bewitching—sweet smiles melting into natural, seamless anger.

"I’d never dare!" he stammered. "It’s just… improper."

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. *Trap! This is a campus beauty’s trap!*

Ignoring his panic, Ye Xinran hummed softly. Ignoring the stunned onlookers, she leaned close, gently dabbing his sweat.

This wasn’t just about sweat. She wanted all of Donghai University to know: Cheng Hao was *hers*. Hands off, foxes.

She’d seen girls ask for his WeChat on the sports field. The memory still rankled.

Now strangers were inviting him to spend the night? Unforgivable!

Staking her claim might curb their ambitions.

*Maybe.*

Her confidence wavered, but doing nothing was worse. After enduring so much, losing him now would break her.

"Senior, I—" Cheng Hao tried to stop her hand.

"Don’t move!" she scolded. "Be still."

"…Okay." He froze.

Ye Xinran’s eyes flickered. Staring at her own slender legs, she bit her lip and whispered, barely above a whisper: "Do you… truly love your childhood sweetheart?"

"Yes."

Warm light fell across his face. His familiar, forest-like aura enveloped her.

Ye Xinran’s heart hammered like a trapped fawn—then stopped dead.

*What’s wrong with me? How could I almost…?*

"Senior… were you just about to kiss me?"

"Pfft! In your dreams!"

"Must’ve been a hallucination. My head’s spinning."

"Hmph! Daydreaming in broad daylight. No wonder you’re single."

"Well… technically, I’m not single."

"I don’t care! I say you’re single, so you’re single!"

Sunlight warmed the air. A reunion drew near.