This was the first time since Cheng Yu’s rebirth that he deeply regretted following the system’s recommendation.

The once-packed cafeteria had cleared a perfect circle around him—a one-meter radius utterly devoid of bystanders.

The reason? The two beauties flanking him.

To his left, Linsw Lin savored her meal in tiny bites: stir-fried bamboo shoots with bean sprouts, boiled straw mushrooms with cabbage. No meat, yet the flavors burst with freshness. Each mouthful released a crisp vegetable aroma, followed by a sip of sweet osmanthus wine soup with glutinous rice balls. Pure contentment glowed in her eyes.

To his right sat Jiangyx Jiang. She speared a piece of Yellow River carp braised in chili bean sauce, then dug into spicy mapo tofu. The heat flushed her lips crimson. Beads of sweat traced her cheekbones, dripping onto the swell of her chest, leaving damp trails that sparked the imagination.

This feast for the eyes only killed Cheng Yu’s appetite. He lifted a chopstick of rice—just as a figure dashed toward the seat opposite him.

“Hey, Bro Cheng! You’re late—I already ate. Next time, let me save you a spot, I’m Zhao—”

“Hmph?”

Both girls set down their chopsticks, fixing Zhao with razor-sharp stares.

Zhao froze mid-sit, as if pinned by two demon gods of slaughter. After a long pause, he slowly stood, forcing three awkward laughs. “You eat well. I’ll… go!” He bolted without looking back.

Before leaving, he stole a glance at Linsw Lin, sighing with a hint of reluctance—but mostly relief.

The girls snorted in unison and resumed eating.

Cheng Yu set down his chopsticks with a long sigh.

They’d fought fiercely over who’d sit opposite him. Jiangyx Jiang had insisted, seemingly to chat easily. Linsw Lin refused outright. Their clash had cleared the seats beside him. Now, anyone daring to approach that spot fled under their glares. An oppressive tension choked the air between them, like natural-born enemies.

After hesitation, Cheng Yu met their eyes squarely. “Ladies… if you have something to say, just tell me. I’d like to eat in peace afterward.”

“Something to say? Hmm… no.” Linsw Lin’s smile bloomed like a flower. “I just wanted company for lunch. You seemed free, Cheng Yu.”

*This was a lie.* The thought echoed in Cheng Yu’s mind, but he couldn’t call her out. He had no clue why she’d targeted him.

“And you, Monitor?” he turned to Jiangyx Jiang. “What did you want to say?”

“Eh!?” Startled, chili shot down her throat. She coughed violently, clutching her chest.

Cheng Yu winced—remembering how he’d scolded her last weekend—and slid his milk tea toward her.

A blade-cold gaze stabbed his back, as if slicing him and Jiangyx Jiang to pieces. He whipped around. Only Linsw Lin’s sweet smile greeted him.

Jiangyx Jiang finally calmed, eyeing the milk tea. “Helping me again… When did you get so kind?” she muttered.

“What? Can’t hear you! Whispering won’t launch a battleship!”

“Shut up! I’m done talking! Hmph!” She pouted, leaving Cheng Yu torn between laughter and confusion.

Before he could reply, Linsw Lin’s voice cut in, laced with false sweetness. “Oh dear, Monitor—is it that you won’t speak, or just… uncomfortable with others here?”

“…If some people know they’re in the way,” Jiangyx Jiang shot back, “they should leave tactfully. Right, Lin-classmate?”

“Not necessarily. I think someone like that’s better than a rule-breaker who dyes her hair, flirts with boys, drags the class to bars, then stays silent when trouble hits. Don’t you agree, Cheng Yu?”

“Hmph. Cheng Yu—would you call a girl like that ‘good’?”

“SPEAK UP!”

Their simultaneous shout froze the cafeteria for three seconds. Every eye locked onto their table.

Cheng Yu covered his face, wishing he could leap out the window.

In that dead silence, light footsteps approached. A flushed-faced girl plopped down opposite him.

“Hey! I found you again!” Suzhan Yue beamed, warm as a cat basking in spring sun. Gentle. Healing. Utterly harmless—even under the girls’ murderous glares.

She tilted her head at Linsw Lin, then gasped. “Wow!!! You’re stunning! Like a model… Are you his girlfriend!?”

Linsw Lin froze, hostility evaporating. She turned away, hiding the sneaky smile blooming on her lips.

“Hmph. He’s an idiot. Who’d date an idiot? You’re overthinking,” Jiangyx Jiang scoffed.

Suzhan Yue pondered, then nodded. “Mmm… I kinda agree.”

“You two say that right in front of me? Rude much?” Cheng Yu groaned.

“But even if he’s grumpy,” Suzhan Yue declared, fists clenched, “I want to be his friend! I’ll fix his personality—turn him cute! Then he’ll make his friends cute too! If it spreads… everyone becomes kind and cute! Isn’t that wonderful?”

Her earnestness stunned Jiangyx Jiang. She pointed at Suzhan Yue, then at Cheng Yu, eyes wide. “…An angel?”

*No. Just a clumsy airhead who trips climbing human ladders.*

“So!” Suzhan Yue slammed her palms on the table, glaring at Cheng Yu. “Be my friend this time. Okay?”

Cheng Yu shook his head.

“Eh?! Why not?!”

*Because you’re not my friend.*

*You’re the mom who saved my life.*

He glanced warmly at Linsw Lin and Jiangyx Jiang, the thought silent in his heart.

As expected, natural airheadedness conquers all.