"Lin Jie, lend me your phone."

Cheng Yu paused for a long moment before realizing Suzhan Yue’s "Lin Jie" meant him.

He’d forgotten again… Damn, should I clear this up with her later? Or trouble might blow up…

Fumbling through his pockets for his phone, Cheng Yu pictured bumping into Suzhan Yue with his roommates someday. She’d excitedly shout, "Lin Jie!"

Just imagining it made his heart race.

He found his phone, handed it to Suzhan Yue, and casually asked, "What do you need it for?"

"Well," Suzhan Yue pouted, aggrieved. "You broke my phone. What’s wrong with borrowing yours?"

One look at her face gave Cheng Yu a headache. He shoved the phone into her hands. "Fine, take it. Just don’t break it."

Suzhan Yue took it, her aggrieved look vanishing. She grinned slyly instead.

For some reason, she’d loved seeing Cheng Yu’s helpless expression since earlier.

She opened the phone app, skipped all icons, and dialed a number from memory.

Long ago, to show she valued them, she’d memorized every roommate’s number.

Never expected to use it like this.

After endless rings, the call connected. A familiar voice snapped impatiently, "Who is this… Know what time it is? Calling late at night—crazy?"

Suzhan Yue took a deep breath, calming herself. Her voice trembled slightly as she whispered, "Sorry, Qi Qi… It’s me."

Her good manners made her apologize. Silence followed, then rustling sounds. Qi Qi sat up in bed and yelled, "Suzhan Yue… Are you insane? We asked for dinner, and you vanished! Trying to starve us? Now you wake everyone with your ringtone at midnight! What’s wrong with—"

"I used to—" Suzhan Yue cut off Qi Qi’s rant. Her voice still shaky, she continued alone. "—think we could be friends. But I realized long ago you dislike me. I don’t know what I did wrong… I’ve never had friends my age. I thought my behavior pushed you away. I wanted to get along, so I pleased you—agreed to every demand, did anything—to show I truly wanted friendship. I even felt happy when you asked favors. When you called me ‘friend,’ I felt needed. My existence had value. Maybe you wanted friendship too. But that’s wrong. That’s not equal friendship—it’s bullying. The one who showed me this… was another idiot. That guy never wanted friendship. His actions annoyed me more than yours. I hated someone for the first time because of him. Yet in danger, he felt more trustworthy than any of you. He proved we were never friends. You were just bullies."

The other end stayed stunned silent.

Even Cheng Yu hadn’t expected this light girl on his back to speak so resolutely unplanned. She was stronger and more stubborn than he imagined.

"Wha… what are you saying! Hey, you little brat—"

Suzhan Yue took another deep breath and shouted with all her might, "You’re all idiots! I’ll never get close to you again!"

"Suzhan Yue? Hey! Yueyue—"

Suzhan Yue hung up, ignoring the shouts. Her heart still raced.

Her words might sound like a child’s tantrum to others. But as she turned off the screen, her reflection showed pure excitement and disbelief.

I actually said it. I actually did this.

She handed the phone back to Cheng Yu, disbelieving. She rested her head on his shoulder.

Softly, as if to herself or him, she murmured, "I… knew long ago. I knew they disliked me, were mean… But I lied to myself. Told myself it’d get better. If I persisted, they’d change. …I was the biggest idiot. So when you said that, I was angry. But not at you. At myself. Why couldn’t I admit what even you saw? Without your words today, I’d still lie to myself, suffer in this mess. …So—thank you."

She shifted, leaning her full weight on Cheng Yu. Whispering near his ear, she said, "Thank you."

Her soft lips brushed his earlobe like a feather, leaving an indelible mark.

Cheng Yu lowered his head, mumbling, "It’s nothing."

He coughed to hide his racing heart—faster than facing Tiger Cub or Blade Brother.

Indeed, never get too close to a woman, even a naturally airheaded girl.

To cover his embarrassment, he changed the subject. "But if I were you, I wouldn’t cut ties so fast."

"Huh… why?"

"Your luggage’s in their dorm. And if you break up now, where will you stay tonight?"

Suzhan Yue fell silent. Then she shrieked, "Oh no! What do I do, Lin Jie! Nowhere to stay! Will I freeze on the street? Sob… if I apologize, will they pretend nothing happened and let me stay…"

Her trembling words made Cheng Yu sigh, half-amused. "Have some backbone. You said it—don’t backtrack."

He thought hard. Familiar options appeared before his eyes:

[Where will you take Suzhan Yue?]

[Option A: Wander all night. Reward: ¥10,000 Walmart gift card]

[Option B: Hotel room. Reward: A bottle of Indian aphrodisiac oil]

[Option C: Ask someone else. Reward: 1 random attribute point]

"Hey System," Cheng Yu grumbled inwardly. "Explain Option B and this ‘Indian aphrodisiac oil’? So unprofessional."

Following the system’s hint, he said, "I know someone who can help. Stay with her tonight. Tomorrow, she’ll take you to the teacher to switch dorms."

"Someone you know?" Suzhan Yue asked curiously. "Who? Is she close to teachers? And… she’s not my friend. Will she help…"

Still hung up on his earlier words, Cheng Yu chuckled lightly. "That guy will definitely help. After all… she’s much more righteous than I am."