Yumo sometimes pulled off absurd stunts—Ling Xue had almost gotten used to it. So when he abruptly went winter swimming in public, she wasn’t as shocked as she should’ve been.

Sure, plenty of onlookers filmed him on their phones. Ling Xue chasing after him with his clothes bundled in her arms might’ve ended up in those clips too. At most, it’d rack up a few ten-thousand views on short-video sites before fading into oblivion.

But she never imagined this mess would be weaponized by his "original wife" auntie to torment her.

"Ling Xue? Is that you in this video?"

"...Seems like it."

"And this boy flailing in the pool—you know him?"

"..."

Ling Xue fell silent.

*"We’re just classmates who happened to bump into each other at this ridiculous moment"*—that excuse sounded utterly ridiculous even in her head. So she clamped her mouth shut.

Yet Lu Yiping pressed harder.

"You two seem awfully close?"

"..."

"That’s really not appropriate. Getting so intimate with a male classmate."

"..."

"And this boy... he doesn’t seem quite right in the head, does he?"

"...!"

Mocking her was one thing. Mocking Yumo? Unacceptable.

"Enough! What’s he got to do with this?"

Ling Xue knew she’d walked right into the trap—but she snapped back anyway. Lu Yiping’s triumphant smirk confirmed it.

"Ling Xue, you—"

Tang Shuhan also turned to her daughter with hesitant eyes. She’d always turned a blind eye to Ling Xue’s rebellious streak. But dating a boy who seemed mentally unstable? This was too much.

"You’re all so annoying..."

Just as Ling Xue weighed slamming the door and walking out—

"Thinking about me?"

"“““““!?”””””"

The private room door burst open. A high school boy strode in.

He wore a fitted casual suit, his black hair slicked back with just enough wax. An aura of maturity far beyond his years radiated from him. His eyes, like frosted obsidian, caught the light; a teardrop mole at the corner of one eye drew immediate attention. His features were sharp yet elegant—anyone would’ve called him a gentleman of exceptional grace.

"Who are you??"

Tang Shuhan and Lu Yiping didn’t recall inviting this stranger.

"Yumo!?"

Only Ling Xue recognized him—but even she hadn’t spotted him instantly beneath this polished look.

"I’m Tang Lingxue’s friend. Didn’t you tell her she could bring friends along? My apologies for being late."

"Well, yes, but—she never mentioned you."

"She probably worried you’d form unnecessary biases against her friends because of her."

He smiled politely while shooting the parents a pointed glance—respectful words laced with reproach.

"May I sit beside Tang Xue?"

"Oh. Yes."

Ling Xue immediately signaled a waiter for an extra chair. Yumo shed his coat with effortless grace, hung it up, and settled in. Every movement was smooth, as if he owned the place.

——————————

Three hours earlier—

Linqinglan, clueless and abruptly summoned.

Yumo, dragging a small suitcase, clearly scheming something.

They met on a street ten kilometers from campus.

"Ms. Lin, sorry for calling you out suddenly."

"I was free anyway. What’s this about? Chemistry questions? Why meet somewhere so remote?"

After their last talk, she’d warmed up to him—so she hadn’t suspected a thing.

"It’s something else. Will you follow me?"

"Where to?"

"Just come."

Yumo weaved through alleys with his suitcase. Linqinglan trailed behind, baffled. Minutes later, they stopped.

"We’re here."

He pointed at the building. Linqinglan squinted—

《L O V E R S' G E T A W A Y H O T E L》

"HAAAAH?!"

"Why are you screaming?"

"Wait—this—hotel?! Why bring me to a hotel? And this place..."

Linqinglan fidgeted, glancing around. The lobby oozed saccharine romance; couples filled the space. This was clearly a love hotel. What was Yumo thinking?!

"Let’s go. Don’t waste time."

"Wait! Are you insane? We’re teacher and student—"

"Negligence of duty."

"Eh?"

"Gross safety violation."

"Eh?!"

"Sexual harassment of a student. Forcing kisses."

"Stop it! You promised not to use those threats again!"

"I lied."

"You—"

"Your options are limited. Hurry up. Use your ID to check in."

"..."

"Linqinglan?"

"............" (She turned away)

Linqinglan fell silent, jaw clenched, fists tight.

"Hey. I’m talking to you."

"Rather than be defiled like this... just expose everything and ruin me!"

"Huh?! What are you imagining?! Do I look like a beast to you?!"

"Aren’t you?!"

"I’ve said it before—I’m not interested in your body! The hell I’d want your virginity!"

"T-then... do you have some weird fetish where you want me to—"

"I won’t touch you! Get in! People are staring!"

...

...

...

"...Say that again?"

"I said I don’t wear contacts. I don’t use hair wax. I don’t coordinate outfits. And I definitely can’t trim bangs or tidy sideburns. Will you help me get ready?"

".................."

Linqinglan slumped onto the hotel bed’s floor, drained.

Scissors, combs, hair wax, and clothes lay on the nightstand—contents of Yumo’s suitcase. No bizarre props. Just grooming tools.

"That’s all...? Why book a hotel room just for this?"

"I didn’t want to do it at home. And you wouldn’t want me at yours."

"A net café booth would’ve worked..."

"You’re a teacher encouraging students to go to internet cafés?"

"Why not ask your family to help..."

"Can’t ask them."

"Why dress so formally all of a sudden..."

"You don’t need to know."

"But—"

"I can only trust you. I believe the most beautiful, most stylish teacher in school must be an expert at this."

"............Your flattery is terrible."

"Science students state facts."

"Fine, fine... Ugh. Put a towel under your collar. Sit on the chair. Bow your head toward me..."

Though utterly confused, Linqinglan agreed. As she worked, her chest hovered right in Yumo’s line of sight. She burned with shame—but he said nothing.

——————————

Back to the present—

The impeccably groomed Yumo held court at the dining table.

*(Heh heh heh. Anyone would think I’m a model student. Let’s see this silly Douyin video try to ruin me now!)*

Meanwhile, Ling Xue’s thoughts churned:

*(He definitely got some other woman to style him...)*