"Mengxiang... how do you solve this problem?"

I’d done my best to explain everything clearly to my childhood friend, though I might have left out a few necessary details. Otherwise, things could’ve gotten even messier.

We sat on the carpeted living room floor—no need to worry about catching a chill. You had to kick off your slippers before stepping in here anyway.

"Well..." Mengxiang scooted from across me to my side. Her shoulder brushed my arm, and she leaned her weight against me without any sign of moving away. She murmured earnestly, "First plug in this formula, then solve for the value. This step’s crucial—you can’t skip it..."

But how was I supposed to focus with her casually teasing me like this? Being left-handed, I couldn’t even lift my pen with her on my left. The scent of jasmine drifting from her made my nose twitch uncontrollably—not from allergies, just an urge to breathe her in deeper. This was getting dangerously distracting.

"Got it? Hey?" She looked up while muttering. I hadn’t realized I was staring, and she hadn’t expected to meet my gaze. The instant our noses bumped, we jolted apart like we’d been shocked, eyes darting to opposite corners.

Crap, why’d we get so close all of a sudden?

Just that fleeting eye contact set my cheeks burning. I couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at her. She’d turned her back to me, blocking my view with the back of her head—but I caught a glimpse of Mengxiang’s ears, bright red.

She was actually flustered? Back when we were neighbors, walls apart and always bumping into each other, she’d never blushed like this. Guess it’s true—distance makes the heart grow fonder. The farther apart, the sweeter the view.

"Hey! You two are way too close!"

A pair of hands shoved us apart from behind, forcing someone between us. I shifted right to make space for Zixuan’s thigh pressing against my left. Even through layers of fabric, a weird jolt shot through me.

I turned left. The blush on my face had faded from the interruption. Between me and Mengxiang sat Zixuan, pouting. She looked annoyed—probably because of our earlier moment. But it was unavoidable! Just studying necessities. If Zixuan actually paid attention in class, she’d be the one sitting here instead.

"You’re way too close! And you!" Zixuan leaned her doll-like face toward me, jabbing a finger. "How could you do this? You’re supposed to be mine! Know your limits! Only I get to cling to you and do... unspeakable things!" Her damp hair was now dry in a ponytail, exposing that tempting neck I secretly loved—though real life rarely offered such sights.

"Can’t help it. Why don’t you teach me instead?"

"Exactly!" Mengxiang cut in smoothly. She’d nearly flattened herself against the table to stay visible past Zixuan’s blockade. "If little Xuan studied hard, she could replace me tutoring Xiao Yuan. But since she didn’t—just sit tight on the couch. Or better yet," she added with a grin, "join us. I’ll tutor you too."

Wait—little Xuan? Since when were they this close? I hadn’t noticed!

"Don’t just nickname me like that! I don’t know anyone soft enough to be called that!" Zixuan snapped back, but her tone melted into a grumble halfway. She clearly liked the name but hated admitting it. Classic lonely-kid behavior—craving a friend who’d call her that, yet terrified of seeming friendless. Don’t ask how I knew. Let’s just say... personal experience.

"What’s wrong with it? You’ve made a new friend besides me!" I pushed the topic aside, desperate to bury the earlier awkwardness.

"Friends? Hah... who needs something that doesn’t exist?" Zixuan scoffed, avoiding Mengxiang’s eyes. She pretended not to care, but I knew she ached for connection.

"Little Xuan..."

"Don’t call me that! I don’t know anyone named something so girly!" She twisted away, cheeks slightly flushed, dodging Mengxiang’s concerned gaze. She didn’t realize the girl on her left never backed down from a challenge—especially not my childhood friend. Mengxiang thrived on charging headfirst into trouble.

"Little Xuan..." Mengxiang’s face turned uncharacteristically serious.

"You look so cute when you’re mad..."

Huh? I’d braced for a lecture, but she just... called Zixuan cute? Not that I disagreed—Zixuan’s forced pout and averted eyes were undeniably endearing, almost doll-like.

"W-what are you even saying?!" Zixuan shot up like she’d been struck by lightning. She scrambled back to the sofa behind me, eyes wide with panic. She really couldn’t handle Mengxiang.

Among everyone I knew, Mengxiang was the easiest to fool—even my flimsy excuses sailed through. But Zixuan? She never stood a chance against her.

"I’m not lying!" Mengxiang lunged into a bear hug before finishing her sentence, clinging to Zixuan on the sofa. No matter how Zixuan shoved, Mengxiang refused to let go. Was this suddenly turning into a yuri plotline?

"Let go of me!"

"No way! I’m keeping little Xuan!"

All this chaos had derailed the original plan. I’d set aside these two days off to cram for Friday and Saturday’s back-to-back exams. Instead, my living room had become a yuri drama set.

I stood up, grabbed both girls by the shoulders, and pried them apart. Then I beamed my most patient smile and shouted at their stunned faces:

"Can you two just let me study properly?! No matter what’s in front of me—I want to learn! Studying is the priority! Do you two even get that?!!!"