The same door opened for some who could say: "If I never see you again, good morning, good afternoon, and good night."
For others…
They looked like an adorable girl sneakily wearing her boyfriend’s oversized clothes 😋.
↓
Hua Xin’s worn-out sneakers had faded to bone-white. Her pitch-black sweatpants and hoodie greedily soaked up sunlight, refusing to let it escape. A mask and heavy bangs hid her face completely.
The pant legs were crudely trimmed, stray threads swaying near her shoes. The oversized hoodie’s hem nearly reached her knees.
Anyone unfamiliar might mistake her for a new abstract fashion blogger rivaling Erwa’s legendary weirdness.
*What’s there to fear…? I’ve survived worse (voice trembling)…*
The memory of Niu Niu flying away still burned fresh.
Hua Xin stared silently at the stairs, gripping the railing. She squeezed her eyes shut, steeled herself, and stepped forward—
*Clack.*
Her foot met empty air.
…Her shoe had slipped off 😥.
Slinging her backpack higher, the girl gave up and shoved her foot back in. The loose heel clattered against each step like a broken drum.
Her apartment was on the second floor—empty units above and below.
That’s why she still lived despite her midnight screams and wails.
Her earlier surrender worked wonders.
Head bowed, Hua Xin shuffled forward blindly, silent as a ghost.
Beneath her bangs, tears blurred her vision, threatening to spill over any second.
After Niu Niu ran away, she’d shrunk over ten centimeters. This morning, she’d realized all her old clothes and shoes drowned her now 😭.
And Hua Xin couldn’t afford new ones… She even patched her bras with cloth strips and band-aids 😭.
Silently, she flipped the sun off with her middle finger 🖕🏻.
—Hidden deep inside her cavernous sleeve.
*"I’ve replied—hurry up and invade Earth, my Lord! Save me! Humanity can’t survive without you! I’ll surrender first when you arrive! 🥺…"*
Lost in delirious thoughts, Hua Xin drifted toward the gate (mind utterly blank).
————————
"Sir, I’m really not a food delivery rider."
Xia Yan removed his helmet, revealing handsome features and wavy, tousled hair.
He sighed at the old security guard gripping a long whip.
The old man huffed, mustache twitching: "I told you, kid! Food deliveries use the side gate! You can’t take the main entrance!"
"Sir, I’m not wearing a delivery uniform. I’m waiting for someone."
"I told you, kid! Food deliveries use the side gate! You can’t take the main entrance!"
"But… sir…"
"I told you, kid! Food deliveries use the side gate! You can’t take the main entrance!"
"?"
"I told you, kid! Food deliveries use the side gate! You can’t take the main entrance!"
Xia Yan’s eye twitched. He stepped back slowly (😨 terrified).
*Did I trigger some AI keyword?*
*Are androids real in this world?*
Seeing the youth still "defiant," the guard cracked his whip—*thwack!*—against the pavement.
"I told you, kid! Food deliveries use the side gate! You can’t take the main entrance!"
He then began a slow, dramatic whip flourish to showcase his "martial prowess."
A misstep sent the leather snapping sharply against flesh.
*That sound… weirdly familiar. Reminds me of Ace’s love scenes…* 🤔
*Wait—no.*
Xia Yan moved to help the grimacing old man—
Only to see him snap upright, bellowing:
"I told you, kid! Food deliveries use the side gate! You can’t take the—*hssk* (face contorting)—can’t… huh? Where’d he go?"
*Poof.* 💨
"You must be Hua Xin?"
Xia Yan materialized before her, smiling gently. He kept a respectful distance.
He recognized her instantly.
The girl’s ill-fitting, threadbare clothes swallowed her whole. Not an inch of skin showed; her face stayed buried.
Yet his gaze held no mockery—only quiet warmth.
At his voice, Hua Xin flinched backward, head still lowered.
*(Who—who’s talking to me???)*
*(Where’s my hammer? 🔨)*
*(I’ll smash you! Smash you! Smash you! 😭…)*
Reality crashed back.
She clutched her backpack tighter, giving a tiny nod. Her mind raced: *How fast can I pull my hammer for a one-hit KO?*
"Let me introduce myself. I’m Xia Yan, your class monitor. Shame we’re not roommates. Worried you’d get lost on day one, so I came to fetch you."
His voice softened, pace deliberate—not to startle this fragile creature.
"I’m trustworthy. Verify with Director Li if you’re scared. But hurry—we’ve got thirty minutes till class."
*(Pfft. Bad guys always claim they’re ‘good’.)*
*(Do I look stupid?!)*
*(I’ll slide-tackle you, then—)*
Hua Xin nodded again, mute.
A flicker of warmth lit Xia Yan’s eyes. *The hardest step is done.*
He’d help her.
Like helping his past self.
He placed a helmet gently on her backpack strap.
*No force. No impatience. Give space. Let her choose.*
This was Xia Yan’s rule for befriending Hua Xin.
*(Is he kidnapping me? 😭)*
*(My three-month-old sanxian dumplings 🥟—I was saving them for National Day! 😭)*
Terrified but powerless, her hands accepted the helmet.
*(She can’t say no outside 😭)*
Sleeves swallowing her hands, she stood frozen, helmet dangling (eyes swimming with tears).
Xia Yan smiled. He lifted the helmet and settled it carefully over her hood.
His fingers brushed her sleeve—just enough pressure to guide her forward.
Every motion was feather-soft.
But Hua Xin noticed nothing. Her mind was scrambled eggs in congee—utter mush.
The fierce tsundere had shrunk into a nodding, trembling shadow.
*(Save me save me save me! 🆘😫)*
Her silent sobs echoed inwardly as her feet moved on their own.
Only after the motorcycle’s roar swallowed her did she realize:
*Wait…*
*How did I get on this bike? 😨*
*Where’s my bag? My hammer? 😨*
"Hold tight," Xia Yan murmured.
*Huh?*
Acceleration slammed her forward. Instinct made her grab his jacket through thick sleeves.
*(Screaming internally)*
*(Crying silently under her hood)*
Wind and engine noise drowned her thoughts.
*Hua Xin surrendered to fate: "Rushing like this… must be selling me fast 😭😭"*
*"I’m used daily—my kidneys aren’t worth much anyway 😭😭"*
