Lin Shu pedaled Su Nuan to the bike racks just as the class bell rang. Students sprinted toward the gate.

Su Nuan hopped off, clutching her backside. "Ow ow ow—my butt’s got marks from that seat."

"Told you to walk."

"Cycling barely got us here on time. Walking? I’d miss first period. I’ve never been late in my life."

Lin Shu locked his bike slowly. "Yeah, yeah..."

"I gave you my precious first time, and *that’s* your reaction?"

Her voice wasn’t loud, but nearby students heard every word. Eyes locked onto them. Su Nuan ducked behind Lin Shu, clutching his shirt, urging him forward. "You’re making it worse by skipping details."

"Good. Let everyone know how close we are."

No deans or homeroom teachers guarded the gate tonight. The security guard ignored the flood of students.

Late spring bled into early summer. Daytime heat faded fast after dark. A chill wind swept across the campus. Lin Shu, in just a tank top and shorts, shivered. Lean muscle didn’t keep out the cold without movement.

"I’ll change in the restroom. Go ahead to class," Lin Shu said over his shoulder.

"Change here? It’s dark. I’ll block the view." Su Nuan spread her arms.

"I’m not a creep. What could you possibly block?"

"I’m waiting. Let the whole class see we’re together. We’re already late—what’s a few more minutes?"

Alone in the restroom, Lin Shu finally caught his breath.

*What even is this?* His school life had flipped upside down in hours.

A girlfriend. Fake, though. Su Nuan was using him. A transaction. Don’t get played.

He used the stall anyway. Splashed water on his face. Shook off the droplets. Clearer-headed now.

Outside, Su Nuan kicked at grass between pavement bricks, arms behind her back. Cheeks puffed in a pout. "So slow! How long must your cute girlfriend wait? I almost barged in to find you."

She had the *girlfriend* act down cold.

"Don’t. You’ll get pinkeye from unclean sights."

Only two figures crossed the empty field—Su Nuan walking sideways beside him.

"Feels like we’re doing something naughty."

"Normal for me."

"Ugh. PE student immunity is so unfair."

"You’re the model student. Teachers believe any excuse from you. I’d still get scolded."

English recitation drifted from the building. The first twenty minutes of evening self-study were reading time.

Class Six sat in the far-right corner of the third floor. Teacher offices lined the hallway’s center. Staff patrolled often. Homeroom teachers frequently lurked by windows—a campus classic.

Su Nuan dashed up the stairs, cutting ahead of Lin Shu. On the landing, she turned, back to him, and waved her right hand. "Hold hands."

"Shake hands."

Lin Shu placed his left palm against hers. She flipped her grip, fingers curling over his knuckles.

"Now you sound like a dog."

"Won’t this draw too much attention?"

"Exactly. Let everyone know we’re together. Crush the class monitor’s hopes."

"What if teachers find out?"

"Too late to worry now. I’ll say it won’t affect grades. Phones and games distract more than crushes anyway."

"What about me?"

"Relax. I’ll protect you."

Su Nuan pressed against the wall, peeking down the corridor. "Clear. No teachers."

They strolled boldly past Classes Four and Five. Su Nuan stared straight ahead. Lin Shu flinched under curious stares from classrooms, gaze darting to the dark field. Su Nuan tugged him toward the back door.

The supervising teacher hadn’t arrived yet. Only English teachers roamed during reading time. Lin Shu’s tardiness drew no notice—he often slipped in late. But Su Nuan? The perfect student? Holding hands with him?

The classroom fell silent. Only the multimedia system’s robotic voice droned vocabulary. Every eye fixed on them.

Lin Shu met the class monitor’s murderous glare—his handsome face twisted with rage.

Only after Su Nuan reached her seat did she release Lin Shu’s hand. She poked his cheek. "Study hard for me."

The moment she left, his front-row classmate spun around. "Lin Shu! How’d you snag the goddess?"

Guys crowded around.

"Uh... I skipped math homework. Caught her eye?"

"*Seriously?* Skipping homework works?"

Curses flew. Fists thumped his shoulders. Some muttered about their own chances; others toasted his inevitable breakup.

Girls swarmed Su Nuan too.

"I thought you and the monitor were a sure thing!"

"I like simple boys. Easier to handle. The monitor’s too perfect—I don’t deserve him. Besides..." Su Nuan covered her face, blushing. "Lin Shu’s body is *so* firm."

Shrieks erupted.

Only the unserious students gossiped. The diligent buried themselves in textbooks.

*She’s just human. Her grades will drop now. I’ll surpass her next exam.*

The monitor wanted to restore order but feared scolding girls would ruin his image. Boys ignored him. He’d report this to the homeroom teacher later.

Silence returned only when the math teacher arrived for supervision.

But the bell rang minutes later. Before the teacher left, Su Nuan marched to Lin Shu, grabbed his hand, and led him out—right under the teacher’s nose.

"Ugh. Can’t focus with all the noise," Lin Shu grumbled.

"They’ll get used to it. Working well so far." Su Nuan swung their linked arms. "We’re getting used to holding hands—*shaking* hands. But we need more couple stuff."

"Like what?"

"Nicknames. Call me Warm Warm or Little Warm—my parents do. What should I call you? Shu-Shu? Sounds insulting. Little Shu?"

"Just... my name. I’m not cute."

Goosebumps prickled Lin Shu’s skin.

"Decided. You’re Little Shu now. Your turn."

"Su... Warm Warm... no. Too embarrassing." He stammered.

"Think of me as family. Or... call me Master?"

"Little Warm. Yeah. That works."

They returned at the pre-bell. Su Nuan released his hand. "Little Shu, list your confusing problems. I’ll explain during breaks."

"Yes, Little Warm."

She nodded, satisfied.

After second period, Su Nuan dragged her chair beside Lin Shu’s narrow desk. Textbooks and test papers spilled everywhere. Their arms brushed; thighs pressed together.

Lin Shu picked two shaky math and physics problems. He’d plugged formulas into math homework but slept through the lesson. He solved exercises mechanically but couldn’t grasp *why* the methods worked. Change the wording, add traps—he’d freeze.

"Isn’t English your worst subject?"

"Grammar’s Greek to me without vocabulary."

"Self-aware, huh? I’ll start an English bootcamp for you later. This problem’s simple—"

Su Nuan’s sweet scent drifted over. Lin Shu’s focus slipped.

She pinched his cheek. "Little Shu. Paying attention?"

"Y-yes!"

"Solve this one then."

She picked a similar problem from his homework sheet. He solved it easily—the concept wasn’t hard, and her explanation was clear.

"Brilliant! Reward time?"

"No thanks."

"I’m giving one anyway. But... keep it classroom-appropriate."

Su Nuan pressed two fingers to her lips, then tapped them lightly against his. She winked, grabbed her chair, and left.

Ignoring the jealous stares, Lin Shu buried himself in homework. He needed sleep tonight.

Finally, dismissal bell. Lin Shu stretched, bones cracking. Su Nuan stood ready, backpack straps in hand. "Let’s go home."

"Mm."

They walked to the bike racks.

"Su Nuan. See you tomorrow."

"What do you call me?"

"Little Warm."

"Won’t you walk me home? I’m your girlfriend. What if I’m in danger? Like the monitor destroying what he can’t have?"

She hugged herself, shivering dramatically.

"I’ll walk you. Bike?"

"No. I won’t sleep face-down tonight."

"You ride. I’ll run. Extra training."

*Shower and laundry anyway.*

"Genius."

Su Nuan wobbled at first, front wheel swerving. She steadied, forcing Lin Shu to sprint to keep up.

Their shadows stretched and shrank under streetlights.

She stopped at a luxury downtown complex. The gate required a card swipe.

"Home. Come up? Parents are out."

"No. Laundry and shower. We only fake-date at school, right?"

"Wrong. *Anywhere* people see us. Message before bed." She waved her phone.

Exhausted, Lin Shu flicked on his dark apartment’s light.

Empty. Dad wasn’t home—work or fooling around? He’d been out more lately. *Hope he’s not being scammed.*

He dumped training clothes and uniform into the washer, showered, and towel-dried his hair. Phone in hand, he checked messages.

Su Nuan’s notification popped up first:

*"Studying how real couples act :)"*

Attached: a romance novel cover.

*"You do that."* Lin Shu added a flexing bicep emoji.

His sister’s message followed—freshly sent. She must’ve just gotten into bed too.

*"Do you still need our photo?"*

*"Nope."*

*"Why did you need it?"*

*"Got confessed to. Said I liked someone else. Showed them our pic. They didn’t give up."*

His phone rang instantly.

Sister’s caller ID flashed.

*"Gege! What’s this about a confession?!"*

"It's a bit complicated to explain..."

Lin Shu recounted the day's surreal events from start to finish, carefully omitting his crush on his sister. Telling her he liked her would just be weird, right?

After listening, Lin Yiyi snapped, "Brother, you're an idiot! A total idiot!"

"Not that bad," he muttered.

"So you became fake boyfriend and girlfriend with that awful Su Nuan? Just to reject the loli underclassman's confession?"

"Well, I just went with the flow. Refusing would've made things messier. I still need to focus on studies—and she really did tutor me."

"I bet Brother's completely smitten, planning to turn fake into real."

"Absolutely not. I know my limits. It's purely mutual use."

"I hope you're not lying to yourself. Oh, I'm wearing a new nightgown today."

She sent a top-down selfie: one hand held the phone high, kneeling on the bed with legs hugging a panda plushie. Her damp hair draped loosely over her back and chest; the other hand wiped it with a towel. She wore a lace-trimmed camisole nightgown, revealing delicate collarbones and smooth shoulders, her full chest stretching the fabric.

"Why not dry your hair? You'll catch a cold."

"The hairdryer's too loud—I'd miss your voice."

"Then I'll hang up. Gotta finish laundry."

After ending the call, Lin Yiyi tossed her phone aside, flopped onto the bed staring at the ceiling, and hugged the panda plushie Brother gave her for Valentine's and her birthday.

"I need to get to Brother faster to protect him from bad women. Drying hair is such a hassle... It'd be easier with him here."

Back from hanging laundry, Lin Shu saw two new messages.

"Little Shu, good night. Look forward to tomorrow."

His sister had sent a panda sleeping meme.

Who to reply to first? His sister's message obviously outranked his fake girlfriend's.