“Buzz… buzz…”

Mu Feng: Rolled over.

“Buzz… buzz…”

Mu Feng: Scratched his head.

“Buzz… buzz…”

Mu Feng: Annoyed, he kicked at the air.

“Buzz…”

Face flushed with anger, he snatched the phone beside his pillow. Eyes blazing, he glared at the screen—who dared shatter his sweet dream? He’d make them regret messing with someone who had morning grumpiness! 😡

When furious, he’d even hit himself.

“Is this never-ending?!!!!”

“Who the heck’s awake this early and—”

Mysterious Partner: “Follow Xia Yan all day. Get photos of him and Lin Qingyu in a compromising moment. Task done, we’re even.”

“3”

“2”

“1”

Mu Feng: “Understood. (serious) 😊”

“I’ll expose Lin Qingyu, that scheming woman. Brother Yan… he’s too deep under her spell (regretful). As his brother, my heart aches…”

Silence.

Mu Feng sighed, set the phone down, and rubbed his eyes dazedly.

Why pick on Brother Yan…? Weren’t things usually fine…? Sure, Lin Qingyu’s a bit calculating, but she and Brother Yan *do* suit each other.

Two years at uni—zero scandals, top grades, diligent, responsible… pure white-rich-beautiful perfection…

*Sigh…*

Whose fault is it? I’ve got dirt held by that “Lao Hua.” And she doesn’t even seem socially anxious…

Hmm?

Mu Feng eyed Xiang Guan suspiciously—the burly guy also sitting up, phone in hand—and blurted:

“How’s a true-blue American like you awake?”

Xiang Guan lifted his head slowly, silent. Panda-level dark circles shadowed his eyes; a hollow desolation clung to him.

“My Ling’er just said good morning. (weary)”

“Wait…” Mu Feng twitched his lips.

He wanted to snap back, but remembered Xiang Guan’s face bathed in faint green light at 1 a.m. last night…

Forget it. A simp’s a simp—stick with it to the end…

End up with nothing.

“I’m sleeping. Don’t bother me.” He collapsed onto the bed like a corpse.

Xiang Guan didn’t reply. Gaze hazy, he stared at the two-minute-old message:

Lin Qingyu: “I need Xia Yan’s full schedule today. Not one second away from him. Success means a private meal for you two.”

“3”

“2”

“1”

Xiang Guan: “Understood. (serious)”

“Um… (timidly) …does Ling’er need anything today…”

“Complete your task.”

Icy words. Then silence.

Xiang Guan opened last night’s chat with Xiao Ling—a barrage of twenty-plus messages, mini-essays on childhood memories, friends’ mishaps, workout tips, subtle confessions.

Zero replies.

Uh…

He clutched his left pec. A sharp stab seized his chest, breath catching. Vision blurred over the sea of green texts. Palpitations hit—he collapsed, twitching as if electrocuted…

“Ugh…”

Xiao Ling: “Morning.”

*Instantly—*

Xiang Guan (snapped to attention): “Senior eaten breakfast? I’m jogging outside! What do you want? I’ll buy it NOW! 🥵”

Eyes sparkled. Chest pain gone. Dark circles vanished. Thirty minutes’ sleep? Forgotten.

Xiao Ling: “Mm… Grab xiaolongbao and soy milk for Male Dorm 3, Room 3601—Senior Lu. I owe him a favor. Please? 😊”

Xiang Guan: “…”

Simpish? Yes. But this is *blatantly* using him as an errand boy!!

He let out a cold laugh, grabbed the blanket—

Xiao Ling: “You’ll help me, right? (wink)”

—flung it aside, leaped out with earth-shaking force, slipped into slippers, and dashed off. Eyes blazing with unwavering devotion.

Mu Feng sat up, blinking at the eerily calm dorm.

“Earthquake?”

“…Should I run?”

——————————

“I’ll stab you, skewer you, kick you, I’ll—”

Hua Xin angrily plucked petals from a roadside flower, imagining how to “off” Xia Yan. Oversized sleeves bunched on her arms, looking bulky.

“Who makes out at dawn? 😭…”

“Jianfu Note… Jianfu Note!!”

“Today, I’ll expose you two… Just wait…”

After wandering circles, finally finding the path, enduring hardship to reach campus—*this* greeted her. Joy from smelling suan la fen vanished.

Afraid of “catching something unpleasant,” she marched straight into school, head high.

No way she’d let Xia Yan and *that woman* mock her.

The flower was now bare—just a stem. She stopped.

Wait.

Where *was* this??

Hua Xin stared bewildered: trees, cobblestone path, wooden pavilion.

Classroom building? 😨

Cafeteria?

Track field?

WHERE AM I?!!!!

She swallowed hard. Turned to retreat—but spotted chatting figures approaching.

…

*(Afraid.)*

Crowded streets? Fine. But this quiet grove, sparse people…

Bad memories surfaced. That phantom pain echoed in her bones.

Hua Xin tightened her backpack straps. Stepped *into* the grove.

Walking toward the pavilion, she stole glances around.

Uh.

Trees… unknown.

Grass… ordinary.

Flowers… no clue.

“Phew…”

Cobblestones felt novel underfoot—uneven. She’d only ever seen paths like this from afar in parks.

Hiding behind a pillar, she watched the group leave. Slow breath of relief. Good—they didn’t enter. Nowhere to run otherwise.

“Meow.”

“?”

Hua Xin looked down. A Li Hua cat—black-gray fur, white paws, lithe frame, golden slit pupils—pawed at her frayed, poorly tailored pants.

Her eyes widened. Then lit up with joy.

“Hachimi!!! …Uh, kitty!!!”

Unafraid, she crouched, petting it, voice bubbling with delight.

The cat rolled onto its back, purring, belly exposed.

“So cute, so cute, so cute, so cute 🥰…”

“Such soft fur…”

“Hey… what’s your name?”

Sitting, she cradled it gently.

“Meow? (Huh?)”

“**?”

Tail flicked. It snuggled deeper, lazy.

“Sang Biao?”

Silence.

She rubbed its head.

“Cola?”

“Sprite?”

“Little bro kitty?”

No reply. Eyes closed, it let her fuss.

“No name… Hmm.”

Hua Xin pondered, then lifted the kitten solemnly. “Your name is Chunqiu.”

“Since Xia Yan and Dong Miao exist—if he bullies me today, you *must* scratch him for me.”

“Got it?!”

“Meow… (Just wanna sleep.)”

She smiled, hugged Chunqiu close, whispering:

“Chunqiu… Chunqiu…”

“Will you stay with me from spring to autumn?”

“Through these last four years.”