Xuye Cheng turned to see He Xiaohan standing nearby. Instinctively, he tucked away his phone, his expression instantly turning slightly awkward.

He Xiaohan sat down beside him with his tray. "Mind if I join?" He was already settled before adding, "This seat’s free, right?"

Xuye Cheng hummed softly, then chuckled. "You’re already sitting, aren’t you?"

He Xiaohan cleared his throat lightly. "Just didn’t want to interrupt if you’d reserved it."

As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.

Xuye Cheng’s gaze flickered over his face, still feeling a trace of guilt.

He couldn’t have seen me browsing women’s clothes just now, right??

Xuye Cheng thought this, but kept his expression perfectly calm.

"Why aren’t you with Ji Qingying?" Xuye Cheng teased with a smile. "Ditched by your girlfriend?"

He Xiaohan seemed surprised Xuye Cheng brought it up. He looked up, meeting his smile. "She’s on her period. Feeling unwell, so she went back to her dorm. I’m eating alone."

Xuye Cheng listened to his casual tone, trying to catch any hint of disappointment.

But there was none. He Xiaohan’s eyes held a faint amusement, as if genuinely relaxed.

"Girls can be high-maintenance sometimes," He Xiaohan added. "Hanging with bros is way easier."

Xuye Cheng let out a "Huh." "Then why chase girls at all?"

He Xiaohan shrugged, a touch of helplessness in his expression. "Can’t flirt with bros. How about you act shy for me?"

Xuye Cheng nearly choked on his rice.

"Get serious. Didn’t peg you for a pervert too." He shot He Xiaohan a deadpan look.

He Xiaohan wore an innocent expression.

"Your reactions are pretty entertaining, Senior Cheng."

A chill ran down Xuye Cheng’s spine. "Stop joking. It’s gross."

"If you know it’s a joke, why feel gross?" He Xiaohan countered.

Xuye Cheng wasn’t against banter—he traded raunchy lines with Liu Xianlin and Zheng Wenxuan daily.

But He Xiaohan had always seemed so proper, never teasing him before.

Lately, Xuye Cheng felt He Xiaohan was getting overly friendly.

Their relationship wasn’t bad, but after learning about He Xiaohan and Ji Qingying, Xuye Cheng just couldn’t stand him.

"Something on your mind, Senior Cheng?" He Xiaohan asked, concern in his voice.

Xuye Cheng’s mood was low, tangled with too many things.

But who could he confide in? Zheng Wenxuan was clueless; Liu Xianlin was even blunter.

Xuye Cheng knew he overthought everything.

Like his breakup with Ji Qingying—he wished he could bounce back in three days like Zheng Wenxuan.

"My phone broke," Xuye Cheng sighed. "Fell off the bed this afternoon. Shattered completely."

"And this one? Zheng Wenxuan’s spare?"

"Yeah. No choice but to borrow it."

He Xiaohan took another bite. "Planning to buy a new one? Need a loan?"

Xuye Cheng hesitated but refused.

He didn’t want ties with He Xiaohan right now.

"No thanks. I’ll work a few days, save up. No trouble."

He Xiaohan gave a quiet "Mm," then smiled again.

"You could do installments. Pay a little each month. Less pressure."

Xuye Cheng’s eyes widened in realization. Right—he’d forgotten about that.

"Totally blanked on installments." He pulled out the phone to browse new models.

The screen lit up, revealing his last tab: women’s clothing.

His hand froze, then smoothly switched apps.

He Xiaohan blinked, teasing. "Didn’t know you were into that, Senior Cheng."

Xuye Cheng didn’t look up, voice steady. "A friend’s birthday. Not sure what to gift her."

He Xiaohan sensed the unease.

If he wasn’t nervous, why avoid eye contact?

Amusement flickered in He Xiaohan’s eyes.

Xuye Cheng was refreshingly simple.

Kind of fun.

"Get her lip gloss. The Hello Kitty set’s on sale—79 for a bundle. Cheap. She’ll love it."

"Hmm." Xuye Cheng nodded, a small smile forming. "How do you know so much about this stuff?"

He Xiaohan popped a piece of meat into his mouth. "Gotta stay updated to win girls over."

Xuye Cheng almost laughed.

"Girls," huh.

"Guess you’re the expert here."

"You can learn too," He Xiaohan replied. "Most girls think they’re precious these days. Gotta play along to get anywhere."

Xuye Cheng gave him a complex look, tinged with resignation.

He Xiaohan’s face stayed neutral, focused on his meal.

"True enough," Xuye Cheng murmured.

Girls were hard to read.

He Xiaohan was harder.

Xuye Cheng couldn’t figure him out.

But it didn’t matter—they were just friends. He had helped before, after all.

Xuye Cheng’s eyes dropped to his phone.

He’d get a Redmi on twelve-month installments. Best value. Pathetic, buying a budget phone in payments.

Birthday... Zheng Wenxuan’s was in two days. He still hadn’t bought a gift.

He looked up at He Xiaohan. "Zheng Wenxuan’s birthday’s coming. What’re you getting him?"

He Xiaohan inhaled deeply, finishing his last bite.

"An electric... toothbrush."

Xuye Cheng admitted his mind was filthy—he’d pictured something inappropriate during that pause.