"Hack... hack..."

Hua Xin weakly wiped sweat from her brow. Her cold hadn’t fully cleared, and the intense exercise left her coughing. Last time she’d gone out with Xia Yan to film their assignment, she’d overdressed, lugged the camera, sprinted too hard—then rode pillion on his motorcycle, wind blasting her soaked clothes.

Predictably, she got sick. 🤧🤒

She’d missed classes all Thursday and Friday, curled under blankets in bed. Only this morning did she finally feel better.

Ever since Niu Niu vanished, her health had turned fragile.

Could it be... Niu Niu 🐮 hadn’t just taken her offspring—but her vitality too? (Wrong assumption.) 😨

Even gulping calcium and vitamin pills didn’t help! She’d downed two whole bottles in a month. Her stash was nearly gone. 😭

Drained of all strength, Hua Xin flopped onto the bed, hair spilling loose. She tugged up her shorts and scrolled her phone listlessly. Twice today was enough—any more would wreck her health...

She opened her album. It overflowed with selfies of her legs from every angle, her thighs, *those* photos... plus game screenshots and pics of her cooking. 😋

Wasn’t it normal for a pretty girl to admire her own beauty and perfect figure sometimes?

The album drowned in creamy white and blush pink 🥵—but tragically, no one but Hua Xin could see these lethal, soul-crushing shots.

Except now, a video of some skinny guy lay right there.

Hua Xin froze. Something felt off.

That day... hadn’t Xia Yan used her phone to film their interview?

😨😨😱😱

When taking photos or videos, the last shot previewed in the bottom-left corner.

If he’d seen hers, then...

Exposure. Memes. Suspicion. Social death...

Her blood ran cold. 😭 She jolted upright, frantically checking the photo before the video.

*Cookie mung bean chili fried rice.*

Phew...

Hua Xin exhaled slowly, her tense shoulders relaxing.

She tossed the freshly wrapped wontons from her bedside onto the floor and collapsed back onto the bed. Crisis averted.

But about that video...

Her thumb paused mid-scroll. Before she knew it, she’d opened Xia Yan’s WeChat chatbox.

…………

"It’s fine, Hua Xin!"

"You’re friends now!"

"Friends don’t hesitate to text!"

She pep-talked herself, though her beautiful eyes brimmed with nerves. After half a month together, she truly trusted Xia Yan—he was the only person since middle school who’d approached her without malice.

She started typing, then froze at the first character.

Uh... 🤔

What should she call him?

They’d barely spoken properly since meeting.

*Xia Yan*? Too disrespectful.

*Brother Yan*? Impossible to say.

*Huo Huo Huo*? ...I’ll 🔥 your 🐴!

A bitter memory flashed—she scowled.

Finally, she settled on *Class Rep*.

**Hua Xin:** "Class Rep... how was our assignment? Okay?"

———————

Meanwhile, in a hotpot restaurant near M City University.

*Buzz. Buzz.*

Xia Yan’s phone vibrated. He politely placed blanched beef into the bowl of the elegant woman opposite him using serving chopsticks, then checked his screen. A smile touched his lips.

Lin Qingyu gave a ladylike, playful grin. "Such a gentleman, Senior Xia..."

"I won’t hold back then."

He typed swiftly, replying with dry humor: **"Being a gentleman is required coursework for men."**

Setting his phone down, he leaned back, chopsticks untouched. "So, Senior, what’s the real reason you asked me to lunch?"

After interviews, he’d been heading to his dorm when this department head messaged him:

[*Let’s grab lunch. Some things are better said off-record.*]

Lin Qingyu tilted her head, feigning innocence, eyes glinting with mischief. "Must a senior have an agenda to treat a junior to lunch?"

Xia Yan smiled, fingers tapping the table rhythmically. Silent.

*This Senior Lin... plays a high-level game.*

He’d known her intentions from the start—even suspected she’d personally interviewed him after spotting his name on the registration form. From what he’d heard en route, no other department heads attended interviews.

Not that he was arrogant.

He was simply *that* exceptional (sigh).

No one knew the price he’d paid to become this bright, this perfect.

————————

**Xia Yan:** "Great! The teacher gave us an ‘Excellent.’ Half the class wants to meet you."

He attached a meme.

**Hua Xin:** "Ahaha... that’s just wonderful."

She typed back, sweating bullets—but her joy shone through.

"Hmph hmph hmph..."

"I *knew* I’m amazing!!"

She rolled gleefully on the bed, bursting to share how she’d made a real friend and conquered an impossible outdoor assignment!

Who to tell...?

Her precious online son, of course!!

She opened QQ. Only one contact glowed online.

**Invincible Cat Paw:** "I made a new friend! 😉"

Instant reply.

**#1 Online Good Son:** "BOY OR GIRL?! BOY OR GIRL??!!😡😡"

He clearly cared *very* much about the gender.

Hua Xin’s lips curled up, mischief deepening in her eyes. *So this creep really does care about me.*

**Invincible Cat Paw:** "Boy. Kind. Handsome. Treats me well."

**#1 Online Good Son:** "CUT CONTACT IMMEDIATELY!!😡😡 Darling, think!😥 No one approaches someone for no reason!😡 Especially a beauty like you! Where are you? I’m coming to protect you NOW!!👊🏻👊🏻"

Those words struck her like lightning.

Hua Xin froze.

*Right... Who’d willingly befriend a weird, isolated mental patient?*

Why *was* Xia Yan pretending to be her friend?

Probably just mocking her.

Her head drooped. Her vision blurred. She set her phone aside, ignoring the frantic QQ messages flooding in.

Only she’d been foolish enough to believe in friendship.

Only her.

So foolish.

————————

"Who’s got you texting so feverishly? Girlfriend?" Lin Qingyu placed a peeled oyster in Xia Yan’s bowl, eyebrows slightly furrowed as she casually probed—really checking his relationship status.

"Just a close friend."

"I’m not looking to date right now."

Xia Yan’s smile stayed calm, his answer clear.

"True... dating’s overrated anyway." She twirled her long hair around a finger, victory gleaming in her eyes. Unseen by Xia Yan, he’d already stepped into her trap. "Be at the activity hall tomorrow at 7 a.m. for rehearsal. You’ll sing a solo *and* co-host the whole show with me. I’ll train you—no worries. Hope you don’t mind me not warning you earlier?"

Xia Yan blinked, caught off guard.

*Interesting.*

"I should thank you first, Senior." He stood, genuinely gracious. "I’ll trouble you plenty going forward. How could I possibly blame you?"

"I’ve got urgent matters. Thanks for the meal, Senior."

Lin Qingyu smiled, unruffled. "See you tomorrow."

No annoyance colored her tone.

Xia Yan left his oyster untouched. He grabbed his suit jacket and strode out, fingers flying across his phone screen.

*Why isn’t she replying??*

*Damn it...* 😡

A terrifying thought struck him—

*Had some random bastard stolen his home?!* 😨😡😭