He walked An Qianmeng all the way to the school gate.

Time to part ways.

With Qiu Muzhe nearby, An Qianmeng stayed gloomy and silent.

She couldn’t let Qiu Muzhe discover that her relationship with Gu Chuan wasn’t real—it was a rented-couple arrangement.

Clutching that ridiculous shred of pride, she was determined to one-up Qiu Muzhe.

So she didn’t act coquettish with Gu Chuan, nor ask him for little favors…

Because she was genuinely afraid.

That guy Gu Chuan would ruthlessly expose everything:

*"Young Miss, our deal’s over. Even for a new one, you can’t force a transaction, can you?"*

Then Qiu Muzhe would smirk playfully:

*"Oh my, so I misunderstood, Senior. Your status isn’t so different from mine. Maybe I—the underclassman who’s followed Senior for years—am actually closer?"*

Girls were creatures who could work themselves into a fury with imagination alone.

Gu Chuan, at least, couldn’t grasp how An Qianmeng, bright just moments ago, now wore a murderous scowl.

"Qian… An Qianmeng?"

"Ugh…!" Jolted back, she stared at Gu Chuan’s flawless face, flustered.

"I saw your driver. Why didn’t you talk to me the whole way?"

"You’re asking *me*?!" She shot Qiu Muzhe—a calm, unshaken Qiu Muzhe—a look both wronged and defiant.

"I really envy you, Senior, having a driver for school runs."

Hard to tell if Qiu Muzhe meant it or was being sarcastic.

"Unlike me, stuck riding the subway with Senior… sigh…"

Yep. Definitely sarcastic.

An Qianmeng’s chest heaved. She was terrible at arguing—left alone with Qiu Muzhe, she’d be driven to despair.

Gu Chuan gently took her slightly trembling hand.

The tremor stilled. In his palm, her hand lay docile and obedient as a little beast.

He leaned close to her ear and whispered.

Instantly, her anger melted. Blushing shyly, she murmured soft "Mm, okay…" replies—demure, delicate.

The breeze was light, yet Qiu Muzhe caught nothing. She let out a cold snort.

*All talk never wins true victory.*

Gu Chuan lifted his gaze, tenderly tracing An Qianmeng’s temples, brows, pink eyes.

"Be good. Take care of yourself at home."

"…I will." Such an obedient voice.

"Bye."

"Bye, Gu Chuan…"

Hugging her bag, she ran happily toward her family’s luxury car in its designated spot, long pink twin tails swaying cheerfully.

Gu Chuan watched until she vanished inside.

He turned—to meet Qiu Muzhe’s half-lidded eyes. Chaos swirled within them, unsettling the longer you looked.

"If I recall correctly…"

"Qiu Muzhe, your home isn’t around here, is it?"

Their middle school had been far away. Back then, Gu Chuan lived on campus, had real friends—now scattered.

He’d fought to enter this high school, yet gained no benefit from his adoptive parents’ school-district housing.

Instead, he moved alone to a remote, cheap-rent area. Luckily near the subway—keeping him tethered to the city.

"I’m renting."

Qiu Muzhe offered a faint smile.

Her family wasn’t well-off. They likely covered only tuition and basics; rent fell to her part-time work.

"Oh." Gu Chuan nodded softly.

They walked to the nearby subway entrance, masked up, cleared security, scanned in.

Waited on the platform.

Shockingly, Qiu Muzhe stood on the *same* side as Gu Chuan.

A quiet unease settled in him.

"Breaking rules right after enrollment? Skipping class just to wait for me? What were you thinking?"

*"Ladies and gentlemen, the subway from… to… is arriving. Please let passengers off before boarding."*

"My grades are great! I told the teacher I had a stomachache."

"And didn’t return until dismissal."

"No problem! My grades are great!"

"…Truly a flawless answer."

Gu Chuan clicked his tongue.

Doors opened. Office workers, mothers with children stepped off.

They squeezed aboard.

No seats. Gu Chuan gripped the handrail. Qiu Muzhe swayed close—bumping his chest.

Soft. Springy.

Nine stops to his rental district. No transfers.

Without the subway? He couldn’t imagine the commute.

First stop—Qiu Muzhe stayed.

Second—still there.

Third…

…

Ninth stop. Gu Chuan locked eyes with a smiling Qiu Muzhe.

They exited together through the left doors.

Gu Chuan sighed. A chill ran down his spine—premonition confirmed.

"What’s wrong, Senior? Do you dislike being with me?"

She wore a wounded expression. *He’s soft-hearted*, she knew.

"Do you know… distance makes the heart grow fonder?"

"I only know: strike first, gain the advantage."

Up the elevator, back to the noisy sidewalk. His apartment was just down the street.

Where Gu Chuan walked, Qiu Muzhe followed.

She was becoming a mildly annoying stalker.

Or…

Gu Chuan raised an eyebrow. A speechless possibility dawned.

Then reality answered.

In a two-unit stairwell, Gu Chuan faced Qiu Muzhe—*his across-the-hall neighbor*.

She shook her keys with triumphant flair. His own keys were still in his pocket.

"Please look after me well from now on, my dear Senior… and neighbor."

Without waiting for reply, she hummed cheerfully, unlocked the door, swapped shoes at the entryway, placed them neatly on the cabinet, and stepped onto flooring identical to his—cheap solid wood.

*Slam.* The door shut.

Qiu Muzhe was once again the *less*-annoying stalker.

But in Gu Chuan’s mind?

Her trouble level had skyrocketed.

"She really is… an incomprehensible woman."

He shook his head, refusing to dwell.

He unlocked his door twice as fast as usual—fueled by unprecedented longing.

Nothing would stop him from petting his cat now.

Gu Chuan’s word.