"Senior, could you keep what just happened between me and Senior Su Nuan a secret?" Gu Chuchu pressed her palms together pleadingly.

"Holding secrets with other girls right in front of me? Are you forgetting I’m your girlfriend?" Su Nuan tilted her head, shooting back.

"No way. I might’ve considered hiding your other embarrassments, but this clearly involves me and Xiao Nuan."

From last week’s confession wall comments, Su Nuan was mostly seen as the golden girl, while Gu Chuchu was labeled the third wheel. Truthfully, it wasn’t quite that bad—but some comments were vicious.

Naturally, Lin Shu took the worst of the backlash.

He smoothed out the crumpled paper, showed it to Su Nuan, then crushed it again.

"That’s really uncivilized."

"What’s written there isn’t wrong. I *am* that kind of person. Senior Su Nuan and Senior just happen to be too kind to someone as clingy as me."

"Of course. I refuse to stoop to shouting matches or physical fights—it’s beneath me. I’ll make you realize you stand no chance and give up. As for this gentle, slow-witted sweetheart?" Su Nuan poked Lin Shu’s temple through his sleeve. "Don’t even count on him. I’d rather handle it myself."

"How am I slow-witted?"

"Hush. Lie down. Aren’t we doing your relaxation session today?"

"Senior Su Nuan, I was about to step on Senior’s back, but he insisted on waiting for you."

"Obviously. If you’re gonna steal a march on me, at least do it where I can see."

Lin Shu obediently lay on the grass. Honestly? Being stepped on felt pretty great. Just lying there, motionless.

"Where were we? Right—the note. Any idea who posted it?"

"No clue."

"There must be suspects. Who in your class dislikes you? Don’t tell me you have no idea. And this isn’t some joke—it’s serious. Why do they care if you willingly play someone’s lapdog? Sounds like they’re just gloating." Su Nuan fired off questions like rapid shots.

"Gu Chuchu got a guaranteed university spot. She’s a good student, yet she’s dating—it’s made some people resentful," Lin Shu guessed.

"Is that *really* all? There must be a trigger."

Gu Chuchu stayed silent, pressing harder on Lin Shu’s calf.

"You’ll never solve anything this way. Xiao Shu and I are nice to you only because you’re a devoted kid. Clueless, but otherwise decent."

Lin Shu nodded along. "Today it’s just mocking notes, painting you as a clown. But it could escalate to real trouble. By then, it’ll be too late. Are you really planning to skip school until graduation?"

Petite Gu Chuchu looked easy to bully.

"I can’t skip. My mom would kill me."

Her mother’s discipline seemed strict—she’d once been called home for dinner mid-conversation. Couldn’t she just say she was hanging out with friends?

After a deep breath, Gu Chuchu finally looked up, a self-mocking smile on her lips. "I’m not devoted at all. I’m a big fat liar. After you hear this, Senior… you’ll probably hate me."

"Liu Benyu. Do you know him, Senior? He plays ball too."

"Ben? Sure. He’s on the junior high team. We’ve teamed up before."

Their relationship had never been close—and now it was outright hostile.

"Last month, he confessed to me. I refused clearly—I said I didn’t want a relationship, ever. But he didn’t give up. He kept showing off in class… I got scared. He’s tall and strong like you, Senior, but you… you feel safe."

"Flattering Xiao Shu won’t help," Su Nuan cut in sharply.

"Liu Benyu’s the most popular guy in class. Lots of girls like him. When I rejected him, they called me ungrateful, blind to my own luck… So I thought of a way out. Since he kept hoping I was single, I’d just get a boyfriend."

"Why me?"

It all clicked. No wonder Ben hated him. The love letter, the confession—it was all a shield. Her feelings, the girlfriend act—fake. All fake. Kind of pathetic, actually.

But there was good news too: solving Gu Chuchu’s problem might end his fake relationship with Su Nuan.

Though… could his messy school life really go back to normal? He might’ve lost his pursuer, but Su Nuan still had hers…

"Because you were the first guy to ever carry me like that," Gu Chuchu murmured, fidgeting shyly.

"Huh? What kind of ‘carry’?" Su Nuan narrowed her eyes, her smile turning sweet as she pressed down harder on Lin Shu’s leg.

"Just… carrying me to the infirmary to clean my wound and apply medicine."

"Actually, I fell because someone pushed me. I thought it was an accident back then… but now I wonder if it was deliberate. To humiliate me."

"Probably Ben’s doing," Su Nuan analyzed. "Trying to play hero and win your heart. Too bad Lin Shu stole the spotlight."

"Come on. You’ve read too many novels."

"Don’t be naive. Why do novels use these tropes? Because they *work*."

"So when I confessed to Senior, you were also eyeing him as your prime target? Using him to ditch your own pursuers?"

"Maybe at first. But now? We’re deeply in love."

Su Nuan straddled Lin Shu’s waist, draped herself over his back, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She nuzzled his cheek affectionately.

"I don’t see any ‘deep love.’ It all feels forced."

"We’re first-time daters—clumsy, learning as we go. How would you know? You’ve never even had a boyfriend."

"I’ve watched plenty of romance movies and dramas."

"Armchair theorizing."

As Su Nuan and Gu Chuchu seemed ready to clash again, Lin Shu spoke up. "Priority one: making sure no one bullies you in class. Note-posters are cowards. Here—exchange contacts with me. If trouble starts, call me. My presence alone might scare them off. Worst case, I’ll bring friends."

But sports students ganging up would look bad. Lin Shu hated fights anyway. Better to settle things on the court.

"Then I’ll walk you back to class. If Ben sees us together, he might finally back off. Your classmates will think twice if they know you’re protected."

Gu Chuchu eagerly pulled out her phone. "Yes! I’ve waited so long for your number, Senior!"

"Don’t I have your contact?" Su Nuan muttered darkly, clearly displeased.

"Emergencies might catch me offline. I rarely check messages. Call only for real crises—no pranks, or it’ll be like crying wolf."

Lin Shu gave his number—same for WeChat.

"Got it," Gu Chuchu nodded obediently.

"I have another plan to make Liu Benyu give up for good. Will you help me, Senior?"

"Let’s hear it. If it makes sense, I’ll consider it."

"We just act like a real couple in front of him. Simple."

"Absolutely not. That’s completely inappropriate." Su Nuan’s voice turned icy.