Before Xinyu could finish cleaning up, Chen Yuzhe and Jiang Xiaoyao emerged from the dining hall, having finished their meal. They’d slipped out quietly without even saying goodbye to the girl.

Mission accomplished, dust off and vanish without a trace.

Otherwise, if that girl really asked why he called her "Xiaoyu," how awkward would that be?

Anyway, after their pleasant escape, since the boys’ dorm happened to be on the way past the girls’ dorm, the two continued walking together along the campus path.

"Hey, Yuzhe."

"How many times do I have to say it? Don’t call me Yuzhe. It’s disgusting—I might puke, you know."

"Do you… really not mind walking with me?" Jiang Xiaoyao asked, blinking her big eyes.

"Not at all. Why?"

"Why not? Don’t you care about your reputation? Don’t you care what others think of you?"

Chen Yuzhe’s steps faltered slightly.

Jiang Xiaoyao tilted her head curiously.

"Well…" Chen Yuzhe’s voice turned wistful. "Saying I don’t care at all would be a lie."

"But if I truly cared about everyone’s opinions… I probably wouldn’t have made it to college."

A hidden memory suddenly surfaced.

A crowd pointing and whispering. A boy before him, eyes burning with rage and hatred, sobbing as he screamed insults:

"You damn bastard! Demon! Orphan with no parents!"

"Why don’t you just die already!"

"Why don’t you just die!"

"Die!"

*Heh.* Chen Yuzhe closed his eyes and chuckled softly.

"Huh? What’s so funny?"

"I just remembered something happy."

"Get lost. I’m not in the mood for your memes right now," Jiang Xiaoyao waved dismissively.

Chen Yuzhe stretched lazily, letting out a contented groan.

"Mmm… Honestly? I really don’t care much about others’ opinions."

"Whether they like or hate me, get close or stay distant—it won’t change my life’s path."

"Let them talk," he said flatly.

Jiang Xiaoyao stared at his face for a long moment before lowering her head with a hint of regret. "Must be nice."

She kicked at fallen leaves underfoot as they walked.

"I wish I could be like you."

"Not caring what others think. Just living exactly as I want."

Her eyes shimmered faintly as she murmured, "That would be wonderful."

Chen Yuzhe glanced at her almost imperceptibly before looking away.

People always live under others’ judgments.

Even for the rare goals pursued just to prove something to oneself, most actions are shaped by others’ gazes.

Worrying if this outfit looks good to them. If that gesture made them uncomfortable.

Overthinking which words upset someone. Obsessing over what kind of person they think you are.

Straining to seem better, more excellent in their eyes—just chasing meaningless superiority.

Chen Yuzhe understood this well, but that didn’t mean he was immune. Girls like Jiang Xiaoyao likely cared even more.

As they walked, he’d already noticed people along the path pointing and whispering about them.

Voices ranged from faint murmurs to blatant commentary:

"Hey, look! Another sucker falling for Jiang Xiaoyao’s tricks!"

"Poor guy. Plain-faced—probably just another thirsty simp. What does he even get from licking her boots?"

"Jiang Xiaoyao’s such a green tea bitch. Getting desperate now, targeting non-hot guys?"

"Pfft, clueless. When there’s no good target, she’ll use suckers as backups. They buy her makeup, clothes, bags… Who isn’t a dumb, rich simp these days?"

"Exactly. And they all grovel at her feet. Terrible taste."

The vulgar words grew unbearable.

Jiang Xiaoyao’s expression had shifted long ago. She quickened her pace, head down, hair shielding her face and ears as if desperate to escape.

Chen Yuzhe walked on, expressionless, hands in pockets, whistling a tune.

*Hah. Worse than I imagined. They’re practically spitting on her.*

Though honestly, half were just salty no one licked *them*.

*If you’ve got time to be jealous, go solve two more grad-school practice problems.*

Usually, "green tea" girls weren’t victims of campus bullying—they were often the bullies, forming cliques to torment others.

Jiang Xiaoyao was an odd exception. Taking this abuse without a fight.

But again, none of Chen Yuzhe’s business. Her life, her choices.

The girls’ dorm appeared as night fully fell. Streetlights glowed near the entrance, but the small plaza across the road lay pitch-black.

Couples often lingered there after walks, stealing moments before saying goodnight.

"We’re here. Go up."

Jiang Xiaoyao stopped but didn’t move.

"Now what?" Chen Yuzhe asked.

After a long silence, she lifted her head, eyes locked on his with startling seriousness.

"Chen Yuzhe. I want to ask you something. Answer honestly."

"Never been in love. Broke. Not interested."

"I’m not joking! Stop meme-ing at random times!"

Seeing her irritation, Chen Yuzhe cleared his throat. "Ahem. Ask away."

"I want to know…"

She stepped toward the dark plaza, hands behind her back, gazing at the starless sky.

"For you…"

"What’s the most important thing in life?"

*Huh? Existential crisis?*

*This would make sense coming from Xinyu the philosophy major. From you? Weird.*

Chen Yuzhe hesitated. "Well… My answer might surprise you."

"What?"

"Money."

"Huh?!"

Jiang Xiaoyao whirled around, staring in disbelief.

Chen Yuzhe shrugged. "Shocking? Too vulgar for my ‘style’?"

"Well… no. I just never thought you were greedy. Or that your family struggled…"

"You’re right. I’m not short on cash. My family’s even comfortably off." He shook his head. "But that money… isn’t mine."

"Personally? I’m poor. Really poor."

The Yan family wasn’t lacking.

Not wealthy, but solidly middle-class—raising two kids was no burden.

Especially since his sister Yan Qiuran now had a prestigious, enviable career. If he wanted, Chen Yuzhe could spend freely like Han Cheng, eating out daily without worry.

Yet deep down, he couldn’t cross that line.

He didn’t share their surname. Their blood. He couldn’t ask them for money as family.

Every yuan spent felt like a debt to repay someday.

So Chen Yuzhe lived completely independently. Not taking a single cent from the Yans, even buying gifts monthly for Uncle Yan, Aunt Lin, and Grandpa.

In that sense, he carried debts he might never clear. Truly broke.

But it was fine. He’d prepared to spend his whole life repaying them.

Of course, he wouldn’t tell Jiang Xiaoyao this. He stayed silent against her probing questions.

After failing to get answers, Jiang Xiaoyao sighed regretfully—then suddenly giggled.

"What’s funny?"

"Nothing." She smiled, eyes scanning his face. "Just… after hearing that, you suddenly seem less cold-hearted."

"…So in your eyes, I’ve always been heartless?"

"At least not likable," she teased, sticking out her tongue.

*Never planned to be.* Chen Yuzhe turned away, muttering silently.

Night wind lifted her hair and pleated skirt. Her profile looked oddly serene, sweet.

"Really? Not heading back? Just staring at each other in this plaza?"

Chen Yuzhe teased, "This is couple territory. Two single dogs here—doesn’t it feel awkward?"

"Oh? Do you *want* me to do something couple-like?" Her eyes glinted playfully.

"Not interested," he scoffed. "Just tired. Need sleep."

"Hey, Chen Yuzhe."

"Yeah?"

"How many eyes do you think are watching us right now?"

"No idea. Plenty, probably. Why?"

"I just thought of something fun."

Seeing the mischief in her eyes, Chen Yuzhe sensed danger.

"What are you planning?"

"You said you don’t care about others’ opinions, right?"

She circled him once, then hopped right in front, wearing a sly smile.

"Then let me see—"

"If you really mean it."

On her tiptoes, she darted toward his face in a flash.

Chen Yuzhe’s pupils widened slightly.