Su Nuan had been plotting how to coax Gu Chuchu into saying something like that, but never expected her to jump right in and provoke her with such arrogance. She wasn’t even his fake girlfriend yet—how dare she get so full of herself?

"Senior Su Nuan, no need to bluff," Gu Chuchu sneered. "I know you confessed to Senior around the same time I did, and I know you’re terrified that if he chooses me, your admirers will swarm you by the dozens. But don’t worry—I’ll keep you as his *fake* girlfriend even after we become a real couple. Isn’t that considerate?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Su Nuan shot back, voice icy. "I was the one generous enough to *leave* you a spot as his fake girlfriend. I even lent you my boyfriend to fend off suitors. And we haven’t even settled the matter of you stealing a kiss from him."

"Senior Su Nuan, are you deflecting?" Gu Chuchu pressed, eyes narrowing. "Afraid to kiss Senior after all?"

"I just don’t want to flaunt affection in front of you," Su Nuan said coolly. "But since you’re begging for it—I’ll oblige. Lin Shu, roll over." She gently nudged his side with her foot.

"Am I barbecued meat to you?" Lin Shu grumbled but obediently flipped onto his back, arms and legs splayed. Above him, storm clouds bled orange-red under the setting sun. Golden light spilled over the school gate, painting the building walls in warm hues.

Su Nuan straddled his waist, palms pressing firmly on his shoulders.

*What’s she doing? Is she actually going to kiss me? Seriously? Is this a joke? Does she have some fake-kissing trick up her sleeve?*

Lin Shu froze, muscles locked tight. He couldn’t ask—not with Gu Chuchu watching. One wrong move would blow their cover. He could only wait, breath held.

"So firm…" Su Nuan murmured unexpectedly, shifting her hips forward. Her soft backside brushed against his abs through layers of fabric. He felt every ounce of her weight, every subtle movement.

"W-What are you doing?!" Gu Chuchu stammered, face flushing crimson. She flung her arms out like a human shield, glancing around nervously—but her short frame blocked little. "This is so… indecent! In public!"

"I was just complimenting how solid Xiao Shu’s body is," Su Nuan countered, tilting her head innocently. Her hands slid down from his shoulders, fingertips tracing slow paths across his chest.

She leaned closer. A stray lock of hair fell from her temple, tickling Lin Shu’s nose. Her cheeks flushed pink. Her breath hitched—warm, rapid—mingling with his until they were breathing the same air. She didn’t stop. Noses brushed. Lips hovered a finger’s width apart.

The world faded. Only their ragged breaths remained. Lin Shu stared into her pupils, seeing only his own reflection.

*First I kissed Gu Chuchu to make Da Ben give up on her. Now I’m kissing Su Nuan to make Gu Chuchu back off. Is this karma?*

This wasn’t how fake couples were supposed to operate.

Gu Chuchu gaped. *Senior Su Nuan’s just a fake girlfriend… right? Then why go this far? Is she scared Senior would reject her for real?*

After all—he genuinely adored his little sister. No act.

*Ah!* Gu Chuchu’s mind raced. *She’s using the fake girlfriend role to get close to him. Doing couple things under that guise until he’s too attached to back out. Then she’ll cure his sister complex… and marry him!*

*Damn it! Why didn’t I think of that? All because she cut in front of me during confessions…*

Reality crashed down. Her aggressive moves had only played into Su Nuan’s hands. If they actually kissed now, she’d be shooting herself in the foot. *If I don’t see it, it didn’t happen.* She turned on her heel.

"Senior! Senior Su Nuan! I—I have to go home for dinner! My mom will be mad! See you tomorrow!" She fled without looking back.

"We can stop now. Gu Chuchu’s gone."

"No," Su Nuan whispered, still hovering. "What if she glances back? If we pull apart too fast, it’ll look staged. Real couples don’t cool off this quickly."

Kissing Gu Chuchu had been a split-second blur—over before he could process it. But this… this near-kiss with Su Nuan stretched endlessly, charged with every shaky breath. Finally, Su Nuan’s arms gave out. She collapsed against him, rolling onto the grass. Their lips grazed—barely a whisper of contact.

Was it a kiss? An accident?

"Huff… huff…"

They lay panting under the darkening sky. The sunset’s glow now clung only to the very tips of the rooftops.

Lin Shu sat up first. Su Nuan’s blush had faded, but her hair was tangled with grass. He offered his hand. She reached for both of his. He pulled her up.

"Being your fake girlfriend is getting harder and harder."

"I’m sorry…"

"It’s not your fault. Blame your admirers." She smoothed her hair, a wry smile playing on her lips. "You got Tian Peng to transfer schools for me. The least I can do is handle Gu Chuchu."

They brushed grass off each other’s clothes and walked toward the snack street for dinner. Silence hung heavy. Usually, Su Nuan filled the quiet. Tonight, she picked at her food, chopsticks swirling rice untouched. Her gaze drifted often.

Lin Shu ate mechanically. *What do I say? Definitely not about the almost-kiss…*

Just as he floundered, Su Nuan spoke.

"This won’t work. We barely fooled Gu Chuchu today—she ran off on her own. Next time, we won’t be so lucky. She’s kissed you already. If our kisses stay this stiff and slow, she’ll see right through us. She’ll push harder. After offering a kiss freely today…" Su Nuan’s voice dropped. "Next, she might force you to take responsibility."

"What should we do?"

"Get better at it. Kissing."

"Eh?"

"We *did* touch lips earlier. Accidentally…"

"Yeah. An accident."

"One accident or a hundred—it’s the same now. Actors kiss on set all the time. This is just for Gu Chuchu’s sake. No feelings involved."

Lin Shu’s jaw dropped.