“Xinran, what are you all doing?”

After class, Dianfeng Yang led Wei Yang into the classroom, his gaze settling on Xinran Ye.

He frowned slightly, his mood clearly sour, and shot a glance at Hao Cheng too.

*This kid… why does he look more and more familiar the longer I stare?*

*Could I have met him somewhere before?*

“Uncle Yang, what brings you here?”

Xinran recognized Dianfeng Yang, but they’d only met once. Barely acquainted, she greeted him lightly.

“I came to check on Wei, and you as well,” Dianfeng replied flatly.

“Me? Why check on me?” Xinran’s delicate eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Your father and I are business partners. You call me uncle—I’m just an elder looking after a junior. Nothing unusual about that.”

“…How thoughtful of you, Uncle Yang,” Xinran said with an awkward, forced smile.

*What’s with this old man? So shameless!*

*We’ve only met once—why’s he acting all high and mighty?*

*We’re not close. I don’t need his ‘care’.*

*No good deed goes unpunished—this reeks of trouble!*

Though Xinran seethed inwardly, her face remained calm, a polite smile never slipping.

“By the way, Xinran, Wei attends the same school as you. I’d appreciate it if you’d look out for him.”

“Wei? Who’s that?”

Dianfeng bristled but swallowed his irritation, forcing a smile. “My son. We met him at that dinner.”

“Oh, right. My memory’s terrible—I barely recall,” Xinran brushed him off.

*These two are so annoying. We’re not close—why act like we’re best friends?*

*Worst of all, they ruined my sweet moment with Hao Cheng. I finally got cozy with him, and they had to barge in. Unforgivable!*

*Besides, I genuinely don’t know any “Wei”…*

Just then, Wei Yang stepped forward.

He took a deep breath, swept his bangs aside with a confident grin, and approached Xinran.

“Sister Xinran, I’m Wei! Don’t you remember me?”

“We met at the dinner—I even asked for your contact info.”

“You were probably shy back then and didn’t give it to me, haha…”

“But now we’re at the same school. I’ll rely on you for anything from now on.”

Xinran’s brow twitched with impatience, but she kept her cool. “Sorry, I really don’t remember.”

Wei froze, convinced she was joking.

*How could anyone forget a high-quality man like me?*

“Sister Xinran, you’re such a tease,” he chuckled.

“Oh, I remember now.”

“See? Of course you’d remember me!”

Xinran glanced at Hao Cheng beside her, then back at Wei. “During last year’s military training—you were the guy standing next to Cheng Hao, right?”

Wei’s face burned crimson. He wanted to vanish into the floor.

*This is humiliating!*

*Ever since that dinner, I’ve been obsessed with her. I even transferred to Donghai University for her.*

*Yet she forgot me completely.*

*Worse—she only recalled me because I stood beside Cheng Hao?*

*What’s he got that I don’t?*

*Just because he’s handsome?*

*Good looks won’t pay bills. Only someone rich and powerful like me deserves Xinran.*

*Guys like Cheng Hao are just pretty boys—useless except for flattering women.*

*Yeah… only a top-tier man like me fits her.*

“Sister Xinran… don’t you remember anything before military training?” Wei pressed, his face pale with frustration.

“What do you want? If it’s nothing, stop bothering me and Cheng Hao,” Xinran snapped, glaring at Wei.

*He’s so annoying. I already said I didn’t remember him. I barely recalled him as “the guy next to Cheng Hao,” and he’s still pestering me?*

*Saving his feelings isn’t my job.*

*I’m not his mom—I don’t owe him comfort.*

*And Dianfeng? Even less so.*

*He claims to be Dad’s business partner, but he’s just a small supplier under our company.*

*A nouveau riche like him dares to cling to our family?*

*Ridiculous.*

Dianfeng noticed Xinran’s growing impatience but didn’t pull Wei away. Instead, he chuckled awkwardly. “Xinran, don’t tease Wei. He’s always been so fond of you…”

Though left unsaid, his meaning was clear. Xinran caught it instantly.

“What do you two actually want? Spit it out,” she said, her frown deepening, irritation bubbling over.

*We barely interact, but for Dad’s sake, I’d chat politely.*

*But they’re like leeches—impossible to shake off.*

*Can’t they hear the annoyance in my voice?*

*And what was that line about his feelings? Just because he likes me, I owe him something?*

*If that’s true, I’d have no life left.*

Even Dianfeng Yang, a man who stayed calm if Mount Tai crumbled before him, felt anger flare.

*She’s blatantly disrespecting me. My son’s outstanding—what’s wrong with him?*

*Even if she dislikes him, must she be so cold?*

“Heh… Xinran seems in a foul mood today. We’ll take our leave,” Dianfeng said, masking his fury. He dared not show it.

The Ye family’s influence dwarfed his own—a mere upstart couldn’t afford to cross them.

Dianfeng knew his place.

But Wei’s eyes widened in shock. “How can you not remember me? Don’t you know how much I’ve thought of you this past year?”

Xinran’s icy glare cut through him. Her voice turned glacial. “Who do you think you are? Why should I remember you?”

“I… I…” Wei sputtered, then pointed at Cheng Hao. “Fine, forget me! But why degrade yourself with this useless pretty boy? What’s he got that I don’t?”

Wei had lost his mind—consumed by obsession with Xinran, or jealousy of Cheng Hao.

He simply couldn’t accept Xinran dating a poor student.

At Wei’s words, Xinran’s pupils contracted slightly. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes. A cold aura radiated from her as she spoke, her tone dangerously soft.

“Apologize to him. Or face the consequences.”

The familiar yet alien Xinran made everyone shiver.

Their aloof campus goddess had returned.

But the strangeness came from her clear, bright eyes—now flickering with a trace of ferocity.