Following yesterday’s memories, I weaved through the skyscrapers and finally reached the neighborhood I’d walked through just yesterday. Guided by Xia Mo’s instructions, I retraced my steps from that same route.

Man, I really am pathetic! Just yesterday, I swore solemnly I’d never get lost. Now I need outside help? Seriously!

Just recalling how confidently I’d boasted yesterday made me cringe.

“I’m at the compound gate. Hurry down! We’ll be late if you don’t move it!” I said into the phone, then hung up. Leaning against the wall at the entrance, I gazed up at the sky at my usual 45-degree angle. Last time I did this, I met Xia Mo. This time—?!

Something highly inappropriate was happening on the opposite office building. I quickly looked away. That was supposed to be a business tower, yet people were doing unthinkable things on the balcony. Honestly, the younger generation these days is so bold!

I tore my eyes away after nearly three minutes of staring and focused on an old man exiting the compound’s passage. His eyesight was still sharp—5.1 and 4.9—and his memory decent, so I recognized him instantly.

“Young man—you look unfamiliar... yet somehow familiar. Have we met before?” the old man asked with a smile. I did know him; we’d met yesterday afternoon near Xia Mo’s apartment building.

“We really have met—you haven’t forgotten, have you? Yesterday afternoon, you teased Xia Mo and me!” I remembered clearly: the moment I’d dropped Xia Mo off, this old man had appeared with that same grin, mistakenly assuming we were a couple. Xia Mo had been thrilled, but I’d been utterly annoyed.

“Oh right! I recall now. But students should focus on studying! Otherwise, you’d betray your parents’ sacrifices,” he said meaningfully, still smiling.

“Uncle, you’ve got it wrong! We’re just classmates walking the same way. I actually have a question for you,” I blurted out unnaturally to dodge the awkwardness.

“What is it? Probably about little Mo? It’s rude to pry into others’ privacy, but since you seem like a good kid, ask away,” he replied, his smile unchanged but its warmth shifted.

“About Xia Mo—you live in the same building, right? I want to know where her parents are...” I felt it unfair that she knew my details while I didn’t understand why she’d come to me first about the stalking, not her parents.

“Well... her parents bought an apartment here two years ago. Work kept them away, visiting only once or twice a year. But since last year, they haven’t come back at all. Every month, a courier delivers packages at month’s end. I asked Xia Mo once—she said it’s child support. That girl’s pitiful...” He sighed with a helpless smile. Pitiful? She should pity me! Her daily pranks were one-sided torture!

He opened his mouth to add more, but a girl’s voice cut in from behind me:

“Uncle Zhang? Having fun chatting? What’s so interesting? Can I listen too?” Xia Mo was smiling, but it held a hidden dagger. She’d clearly overheard us and was waiting for me to explain.

“Uh—that! If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late for school! Let’s go!”

“Y-yes! Don’t let small talk ruin your studies!” I and the old man chimed in perfectly. I immediately bid him goodbye and stiffly stepped away, ready to escape.

“Where are you running off to?!” Xia Mo suddenly appeared at my left side as we walked back along my earlier path.

“Nothing! Nothing at all! I swear, we didn’t talk about anything!”

“I haven’t even asked yet! Why panic so easily, you?”

“You should know what I’m thinking by now, right?!” I’d braced for her mind-reading, yet still craved hearing my thoughts voiced—that was her uncanny charm.

Though that charm stemmed from tapeworm-level genes.

“Why are you prying like this?” Her voice carried a hint of helplessness. She’d made it clear last time she didn’t want me knowing her home situation.

“Digging into a high school girl living alone? You’ll be labeled a creep! Planning some perverted act on this perfect beauty?!” Her expression flashed surprise. Hey—don’t widen the gap! You’ve already ducked behind a lamppost! Come back!

“Why does everyone say that?! What bad luck am I having today?!”

“Everyone?! Did the pervert just say ‘everyone’?! Oh ho—you must’ve done something to your sister!”

Sister? I didn’t recall mentioning I had one. Oh right—Chuwei had called me that afternoon. She must’ve overheard then.

“Sister-con lover... did you sniff her freshly discarded panties? Or keep them as treasures?! Did you even... savor them?!”

“Don’t joke about that!” I snapped loudly. Xia Mo looked startled—probably unused to me yelling—but then burst out laughing.

“Sorry, sorry! I didn’t expect you’d get so mad. I went too far! Hahaha—my bad!”

I ignored her half-hearted apology and walked ahead. Turning the familiar corner, I reached the convenience store where I’d met Mengxiang yesterday—and spotted a familiar figure of that height.

Mengxiang spotted me, jogged over, and whacked my thigh hard with the backpack she was hugging. Seriously, that bag’s full of knowledge—doing that’ll make it spill out!

“Hey—Xiaoyuan, why haven’t you visited me lately?! If it’s because I rejected you, I don’t mind! I want us to be like before!”

Mengxiang! You’re an angel! You voiced what I’d bottled up all week! Though we’d technically made up, learning her reason was just to outdo Xia Mo left me utterly disillusioned.

Now I realized why today felt off—I’d always walked to school with Mengxiang before.

“Of course he came for me, runt! My dear prefers me—that’s why he’s here!” Xia Mo seized my left arm first, pressing my hand against her chest as I tried to pull away.

God of the new world! I felt heaven calling! My god!

“Oh ho—I smelled a fish-stealing cat this morning! Turns out it’s you again, shameless cow!”

“Oh~ As an iPad, shouldn’t you know your place?!”

“Oh ho?! Want a fight?!”

You two really start arguing the moment you meet...