Lin Shu was indeed pretending to sleep. He hadn’t expected Liang Caiyi to be so unpredictable. She forgot he was still in the room and started changing clothes right there. Nothing was even exposed, yet she screamed loudly, startling him. He was faking sleep to avoid mutual awkwardness.

Lin Shu could fall asleep fast, but only in his own bed. In someone else’s house, with an adopted sister he’d known less than a week? No way he’d be that careless.

He regretted following Liang Caiyi upstairs. But he’d worried she might not come back down, leaving him hanging.

Hearing her footsteps approach, Lin Shu figured she’d head to the bathroom to change. Instead, rustling fabric sounds reached his ears—close and clear. Was she undressing right here? Why wasn’t she using the bathroom?

How could he hear so well? Was it because his eyes were closed?

Lin Shu never imagined Liang Caiyi would change clothes right beside him. She’d planned to trap him into helping her, but didn’t want him actually seeing anything. So she just fiddled with her jacket on the spot. When Lin Shu didn’t react at all, she knew her trick failed. She took two steps away, glanced back at him, then finally slipped into the bathroom to change properly into her school uniform.

Lin Shu hadn’t expected her to take so long. He kept pretending until he actually drifted off, even snoring softly. It was his usual nap time anyway.

"Hey, wake up, Lin Shu. I’m in my uniform now," Liang Caiyi whispered, poking his cheek.

Her gentle call couldn’t rouse him. If she’d pinched his nose or slapped his face, he’d have woken instantly.

*A guy and a girl alone in a room—how could you sleep?!*

Watching Lin Shu sleep so peacefully, Liang Caiyi yawned. She’d stayed up all night, yet felt drowsy despite enough rest. But she’d just changed into her uniform—lying on the bed would wrinkle her blazer and skirt, earning Mom’s scolding again.

The only sofa was hogged by Lin Shu. Liang Caiyi had no choice but to kneel on the floor, arms folded on the empty space beside him, a pillow under her knees.

"Ah!"

Lin Shu jolted awake, sitting up dazed. He checked the bright window, then his phone: almost 2 PM. Not overslept, thankfully. But why was Liang Caiyi napping beside him? She’d changed into her uniform and even wore his hat.

He shook her shoulders hard. "Liang Caiyi! Time for school, or we’ll be late!"

"Huh?" She lifted her head, rubbing sleepy eyes, and stretched with a big yawn. "What time is it?"

"Two o’clock."

"Two?! We’ve only got minutes left—let’s go!"

Fully alert now, Liang Caiyi scrambled up. Blood rushed to her head, dizziness hit, and her legs—numb from kneeling—gave way. She stumbled straight into Lin Shu’s chest, her hat brim jabbing him painfully.

"You okay?" Lin Shu steadied her shoulders.

"Not at all! Why didn’t you wake me sooner?" she snapped, shaking her slightly twitching calf.

She was blaming him now.

"I just woke up too," Lin Shu said innocently.

"It’s your fault—you slept so soundly, you infected me with sleepiness."

"Can you blame me for that? Can you even walk?"

"My legs are numb."

"I’ll massage them. I’m a pro."

"You just want to take advantage."

"Fine, I won’t. Recover slowly then."

"I’m sorry! Please help me."

Lin Shu crouched down. Liang Caiyi gripped his shoulders to balance as he briskly patted her calves through the black stockings. Her leg muscles jiggled, blood flowing back.

"Wiggle your arms and rotate your ankles. Take a few steps."

She obeyed.

"Much better. Thanks..."

"Told you I’m a pro. You didn’t believe me."

"No time to chat—we need to go!" Liang Caiyi dashed to the entrance, slipping on her loafers. "Hurry! I’m locking the door."

"Where’s your bag?" Lin Shu shouldered his own.

"I don’t need one. I keep my books at school."

Luckily, the elevator was nearby. Liang Caiyi jabbed the down buttons for both lifts. One was ascending from below—who knew if others had called it? Taking that risk would waste time. The other descended from above, safer.

She paced impatiently.

"You skip class all the time. What’s a little lateness?"

"Different. I decided to attend today—I can’t be late. Teachers already dislike me. I won’t give them an excuse."

*You’ve got plenty of excuses already,* Lin Shu thought. *Weird logic.*

"Must be tough being your girlfriend."

"Why bring that up?"

"No reason."

The elevator doors opened, packed with people—including two students in Experimental Middle School uniforms. Liang Caiyi ducked behind Lin Shu, hat pulled low, pushing him inside. She clearly didn’t want to be recognized.

Those Experimental students rode off on electric scooters, breaking rules but avoiding capture.

Experimental Middle was near Lin Shu’s home, but still a distance from Wanda Plaza. Their delay upstairs and the slow elevator left almost no time. Liang Caiyi couldn’t run fast in a skirt—she’d never make it.

"You can’t bike in a skirt. I can’t even lend you mine. How about I give you a ride?" Lin Shu suggested. He’d promised Aunt Liang to escort her today—at least keep that vow.

"Your selfish bike has no passenger seat!"

"Sit on the front bar. My girlfriend’s done it loads of times."

Lin Shu wondered if he should weld a rear seat or get an e-bike.

"Is this even human-friendly? But no choice—I’ll try."

Liang Caiyi straddled the front bar, arms tight around Lin Shu’s waist to avoid falling. She pressed her knees together, holding her skirt down to prevent flashing.

Lin Shu wanted to say, *Just hold the handlebars—they’re steadier than my waist.* But no time. He pedaled off hard.

The warning bell had rung. Scattered students sprinted toward school, clearing the roads. Lin Shu sped freely.

He stopped at Experimental Middle’s gate, sweating heavily. Liang Caiyi hopped off, rubbing her sore bottom. "Never riding your junk bike again. But thanks today. You’d better hurry too—don’t be late. Bye."

Lin Shu was already late, but he smiled. "Bye."

Liang Caiyi dashed inside, tucking her ponytail deeper into her hat. *Afraid of being spotted.*

No PE student privileges at noon—late was late. Walking through the main gate would get Lin Shu registered. Luckily, he had a backup: climbing the school wall.

His first afternoon class was with the strictest physics teacher. He’d missed half the lesson—showing up now meant a brutal scolding. Better skip until break. He lounged on the sports field grass, posing as a PE student, secretly checking his phone.

Su Nuan had messaged: *Why skipping class?*

Lin Shu replied truthfully. No response—she was probably in class. He waited for the bell before heading back.

Slipping in through the back door, he found Su Nuan napping at his desk. Their eyes met. She puffed her cheeks angrily. "Little Shu! You’re getting outrageous. Skipping class without inviting me?"

"Eh..."

*Is that really the point?*