Washing underwear…

Absolutely not happening.

Lu Huai didn’t even dare glance at it—how could he possibly touch it?

Did he think that because Su Xiangrong said it, he could actually go ahead? Harbor some sleazy thought like, *Well, she said it, so it’s fine, right?*

Thinking… was permissible.

Lu Huai had to admit—he might’ve entertained a tiny, minuscule, utterly insignificant flicker of curiosity.

After all, teenage boys… with zero experience, not even a single “first time” under their belt… naturally felt an instinctive… interest. Or rather, curiosity… toward a girl’s intimate belongings.

But thoughts stayed thoughts. Acting on them with creepy intent wasn’t boyishness—it was a psychological issue.

Su Xiangrong, who’d tormented Lu Huai to the verge of tears, finally let him off the hook.

Though she claimed she was admitting fault for not turning on the bathroom light… Lu Huai really didn’t want to accept *this* as her apology.

“No… I can’t possibly…”

Su Xiangrong smiled sweetly at Lu Huai, so flustered he looked like he’d vanish into the nearest crack in the floor.

“Isn’t this what you’ve been hoping for? Don’t be shy—it’s a golden opportunity.”

“P-please… stop teasing me…”

In this painfully awkward moment,

the boy kept his head bowed, posture submissive as if awaiting judgment—

an invitation to be toyed with—yet his words carried quiet resistance.

Su Xiangrong’s smile slowly faded.

“What did you say?”

Lu Huai murmured, voice low and weary, “Just… don’t do this.”

He had no real defense against her unpredictable moods. He didn’t see her as “genuinely flawed”—just someone whose messy side surfaced *because* of him.

This tempting proposition… was just another trap to make him look even more pathetic.

He truly hadn’t meant anything.

It was all accidental.

So many things were like that—

completely unrelated to him, pure coincidence of being in the wrong place at the wrong time… yet somehow, the blame always landed on his shoulders.

Unfamiliar stares. Whispered gossip behind his back…

*Why…? I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just… there.*

Watching the bowed-headed boy—

no outburst, voice barely a whisper—

even his quiet hurt felt gentle.

Gentleness wasn’t a standout trait. For many, it was merely “better than nothing.”

For girls, comforting… yet not memorable enough. Good friend material, maybe—but lacking that spark for romance. To some, just free emotional warmth. Or a tire jack.

A tool.

And on a boy? Often mistaken for weakness. For having no spine.

Su Xiangrong observed him. She’d sensed he was different—but this raw sensitivity surpassed her expectations.

Her gaze softened.

“…Guess I went a little too far.”

“…Huh?”

The shift in her tone made him lift his head. He caught her eyes glancing away.

“Go back to sleep. It’s fine now.”

“O-oh…”

Lu Huai cautiously opened the bathroom door. Su Xiangrong gave no reaction.

Seemed safe to leave.

*She probably thinks I’m some terrifying villainess,* Su Xiangrong mused, watching his careful retreat. A faint smile tugged her lips.

She’d only meant to tease. Waking up groggy, avoiding bright light… then *he* barged in. Understandable irritation—her most private moment possibly exposed.

He wasn’t at fault. But that *too-easy-to-bully* aura… made her push just a little harder.

Just as she decided to drop it, his figure reappeared at the doorway.

Confused, she watched him peek back—eyes laced with quiet worry.

“Are… you not mad?”

*Pfft.*

The faint chuckle dissolved her lingering irritation completely.

Reaching out, she pinched his cheek lightly under his bewildered gaze.

“All good. Go on. Or I might tease you again~ Do you *want* your big sister to bully you, little brother Lu Huai?”

“Goodnight!”

Lu Huai bolted—like a runaway bride.

*Hmm… things might be more interesting than I thought.*

Su Xiangrong shook her head with a quiet laugh.

The entire night felt surreal.

Lu Huai couldn’t sleep either. Wishing Saturday would hurry past—but no school tomorrow.

So he sat up and started typing.

*“Writing like this is straight-up scamming money! Disgusting! Never seen such a trash author!”*

*“Go write romance on Jiangnan if you must! Don’t pollute this space! Zero originality—just flaunting prose while the plot reads like a diary!”*

Yep. The boy was fuming again.

He deleted the comments.

Only after listening to music could he calm down and keep writing.

By dawn, a few thousand words uploaded. He checked the comments section.

No sign they noticed the deletion. A small, simple joy bloomed.

*As long as I stay up late, no one can scold me!*

Skipping breakfast, exhaustion finally dragged him to sleep. He woke near noon.

He’d wanted to sleep longer—vacation meant little to do—but teenage bodies were unpredictable. School days? Never enough sleep. Holidays? Wake up buzzing with energy after a few hours.

When Lu Huai stepped out, Su Xiangrong was gone.

Probably off to work—her rapper gig.

A quiet relief. After last night’s awkwardness…

As he pondered ordering takeout, the doorbell rang.

He opened it. Yan Ningning stood there.

“Hmm? Heading out?”

Her outfit radiated youthful brilliance.

A delicate floral dress gave her a gentle, girl-next-door charm. Thin straps rested on translucent shoulders—slender, seemingly muscle-less, yet framed by elegantly shaped bones. Below, long legs vanished into no-show socks and canvas sneakers.

*She’s probably going out.*

None of his business. Girls like her had endless social circles. Countless guys must’ve asked her out.

As for him… he’d long lost the courage. Or the right.

He just tried not to let disappointment show.

No point. No standing. No meaningless possessiveness.

Don’t feel bitter when a girl you barely know has a boyfriend.

“It’s *we’re* going out.”

Her smile bloomed like standing in a sunflower field.

Lu Huai blinked.

“*We*…?”

That word always stirred something strange inside him. Maybe just her tone?

Yan Ningning nodded. “Yes. *We*.”

“W-wait… where? I…"

“To get your hair cut! It’s so long. What, just looted a Level 3 helmet?”

The slight hope in Lu Huai’s chest vanished. Full alert mode.

He stumbled back two steps.

“Cut… my hair?!”

This hard-earned, self-deceiving “safe” hairstyle—gone?!

Expose his insecure forehead?

Those habitually evasive eyes?!

No! His hair was his protective shield!

What if someone sniped him with a Kar98k?!

“What are you doing? It’s just a haircut! Your homeroom teacher’ll scold you at school—boys can’t have hair this long!”

Yan Ningning stepped forward to persuade him.

Lu Huai instinctively retreated.

A silent, rhythmic dance of advance and retreat.

“C-can we… talk about it later? Please… not now…”

Perfect excuse: *Deal with it when it’s unavoidable.*

Social anxiety meant never acting until forced.

But Yan Ningning wasn’t that type.

“Be good~ It’s simple. Just a trim—not shaving it bald! Your parents asked me to handle this. What if they blame me?”

Her gentle coaxing felt like a soft hand reaching into the mud to pull him out.

But…

“…How about next week?”

At disappointing others, Lu Huai never disappointed.

Especially girls.

Yan Ningning tilted her head slightly, flashing a sweet, honey-dripping smile.

“Really?”

“…Uh.”

Something felt off.

That smile was *too* sweet—like pouring syrup straight into his eyes.

Then—

“If sweet talk doesn’t work… I have no choice.”

With confident, decisive steps, she closed the distance.

Stopped right before him.

“You leave me no choice.”

Lu Huai’s eyes widened.

Because the suddenly dominant girl seized his wrist.

His mind went blank. Puppet-like, he let Yan Ningning effortlessly pull him out the door.

The weight of reality often stole breath away.

But in this fleeting, almost-happy moment—

cherry blossoms bloomed. Light pierced a prism, scattering into a spectrum of colors.