"Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh???"

I was stunned by this earth-shattering twist, like a tractor tumbling down a mountain.

I stared at the girl confessing with eerie calm, and my brother looking utterly bewildered—well, my face mirrored Bai Su's dumbfounded expression.

What kind of move is this? Confessing right in front of me? Why that unflappable, poker face? Why... why are you so damn skilled at this?!

I ranted furiously in my head.

But a trace of complex emotion lingered, indescribable and ineffable.

I’d just joked about finding Bai Su this idiot a girlfriend—and boom, one appeared. I’d only half-seriously thought it.

Unease gnawed at my heart. Panic crept in.

It wasn’t just Xiao Yu’s confession.

Another historical turning point—completely different from my last timeline—had surfaced right beside me, threatening my fate.

No. If Bai Su accepted Xiao Yu... the history I knew would shatter completely.

Dead silence wrapped around me. My heart turned icy. A nameless fear surged like a flood, dragging me toward an uncertain, landless horizon.

I bit my lip, watching Bai Su—would he reject Xiao Yu and reach for me?

Probably just wishful thinking.

He didn’t grasp the stakes. Didn’t see how his choice could rewrite my world.

Before him lay a perfect romance.

Few single guys refuse a cute girl’s confession. Eighty out of a hundred would say yes instantly.

Of the rest, nineteen already have crushes. Only one truly knows what love they want.

I don’t expect this Bai Su to be that one percent. But please—be in the twenty percent.

At least... don’t accept!

I shot Xiao Yu a guilty glance. Unfair to her, but... don’t you dare accept!

Bai Su stood frozen between us, lost. He glanced at Xiao Yu, then me, words dying on his lips.

"Brother Bai Su," Xiao Yu said softly, "I’ve always liked you. Since I first visited Su Su and saw you... love at first sight."

Her eyes were calm yet fierce, glowing with a light we single folks couldn’t fathom. Her smile was gentle as winter sun.

Whoa! That look’s cheating!!!

Keep talking like that, and idiot Bai Su will cave! He’s obsessed with gentle, soft girls!

And why so good at faking that soft-girl act? Drop the fake emotionless persona already!

Crisis mode activated.

Sure enough, Bai Su’s eyes shifted when he saw her expression.

He’ll crack and accept if this continues!

I took a deep breath, glancing at Xiao Yu—sorry, but your confession fails today.

"Brother!" I called.

Bai Su and Xiao Yu turned.

"You must con-sider your reply to Xiao Yu very care-fully," I said. "A girl’s feelings are the most pre-cious thing not to be be-trayed—so, con-sider! Con-sider! Hard!"

I stressed "con-sider" and "be-trayed," sounding perfectly supportive. But that idiot Bai Su would get my real message:

"If! You! Ac-cept! You’re! Dead! Meat! Idiot! Bai! Su!"

Exactly what my heart screamed.

His body flinched almost imperceptibly. His expression crumbled.

He understood. Sibling telepathy, huh?

He nodded, then gave a bitter smile under Xiao Yu’s burning gaze.

"Xiao Yu, sorry. You’re lovely, but... I like someone else. I truly can’t accept your feelings."

His eyes were clear and earnest, shining with that same incomprehensible light Xiao Yu had.

I couldn’t tell—was he sincere, or just brushing her off?

The girl he liked... probably her.

Memories flooded back: endless high school days. Time drifted slow. The broken flowerbed bloomed with roses, their scent clinging to the air like it still did now.

She was like those roses—fresh, elegant, dew-kissed. In my gray world, she was the only color.

Classrooms. Library. Playground... scenes faded into time’s river.

But beauty can’t beat time.

My nose tingled slightly.

She was trapped in my last timeline, worlds away. Living her own life now.

We were intersecting lines—perfect at first meeting, then racing toward separate tomorrows. Drifting apart.

No intersection left.

So... if Bai Su’s like my past self, is his "her"... her?

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yu didn’t flinch at rejection. She nodded, smiling—part relief, part bitterness.

"Brother Bai Su, you still like her... Why not confess? Why leave regrets?" she whispered.

"Your indecision, refusing reality... put me in this awkward spot."

Bai Su gaped, hands trembling. "How... how do you know I like her?"

Xiao Yu raised a finger to her lips, winking slyly like a fox. "Secret. Let it stay quiet there."

???

What the hell?!

My curiosity exploded.

Xiao Yu grabbed her bag. Gave me a weird smile. Then lunged at Bai Su.

Under our dumbfounded stares, she stood on tiptoe, gripped Bai Su’s head—and kissed his lips!!!

"That bitch! Daring to seduce my brother! I’ll @#$%&!!!"

Su Su’s rage roared in my soul.

Seconds stretched like centuries.

Xiao Yu pulled back. Bai Su stood frozen, shell-shocked. She licked her lips, calm yet domineering: "But you’re still mine."

She turned. Glanced at me. Opened the door. Left.

Only a carefree silhouette remained.

[To be continued]