G-G-G-G-Gao… Gao Liang?

Lin Lin’s mind went blank. The person before her was *that* familiar.

She stared at his flawless profile—deep, serene, achingly recognizable. Her jaw hung open slightly.

This…

Yes. Absolutely no mistake. This face—the one she’d thought of day and night… no, wait! The face she’d never forget even if turned to ash, the very sight of which made her grind her teeth in fury!

How could she possibly misidentify him?!

It was *him*—that unfairly handsome "dog" blessed by heaven itself!

This guy…

*Exactly* him. The one who, years ago, with just a pretty face and not a single word, stole away Xiao Ling and a whole group of young girls!

That yellow-haired dog!

Frozen in place, Lin Lin glared at him with simmering resentment. Guttural sounds slipped from her throat: “Aow… aow… mew…”

Unclear what she meant.

Seemingly cute, but closer to primal regression—it caught Gao Liang’s attention. He turned, adjusting his glasses.

“Lin Lin? Is something wrong?”

“N-nothing!” she blurted loudly, then jabbed a finger at him. “Y-you… how are you sitting next to *me*?! My deskmate was supposed to be a *girl*?!”

“Huh?”

Gao Liang blinked, utterly lost. Seeing her flustered state, he could only assume her brain had short-circuited.

“Well… seats were rearranged last week. There’s a chart on the podium. Maybe… check it?”

His gentle tone made Lin Lin flush with embarrassment.

Huh?

There’s… a seating chart?

She glanced around—classmates stared curiously.

Blushing, she tiptoed toward the podium.

Logically, no one would randomly claim another’s seat…

Yet Lin Lin approached the desk with the solemn dread of visiting a grave. She peeked at the chart taped there:

Hallway | Lin Lin | Gao Liang | Window.

Ahahaha…

Of course it couldn’t be…

…

Ugh—

It was real.

Lin Lin lifted her head dazedly. Gao Liang read quietly; girls’ gazes converged on him. Their sightlines intersecting…

Like crosshairs locking onto a target in an FPS game.

*He* looked trapped.

But…

Now…

*She* was the one trapped.

Lin Lin clenched her jaw, fighting back tears.

Wha—

What kind of joke is this?!

Desk partners with *him*?!

No. Absolutely not!

What did “desk partners” mean?

His silhouette haunting her peripheral vision all day, without effort.

Forced daily exchanges, no need to “approach” him.

Unavoidable brushes of hands, shoulders—no escape.

So…

NO!

He was her trauma! She’d definitely wake up sweating from nightmares!

Imagining it now: jolting awake at midnight, cold sweat drenching her back…

Worse—sleep paralysis? Ghost oppression? *Human* oppression?! Couldn’t even struggle!

So horrifying…

Wait, why “human oppression”?

Doesn’t matter—it’s terrifying!

Lin Lin shuddered. Her eyes flicked to Gao Liang; lips twitched. Vision nearly went black.

What do I do…

Tears welled. Strange—same classroom, same classmates…

But in the *previous* world, Gao Liang wasn’t even *here*!

He was in the next class over.

Why did the world line shift?! Now not only same class…

*Desk partners*?!

No… let me breathe. Just breathe.

How to survive school? Feels like Day One targeted by my arch-nemesis… sniff…

Trudging down from the podium, she froze.

Huh?!

A blonde girl now sat in *her* seat, book in hand, leaning deliberately close to Gao Liang—fabricating intimacy.

The blonde flipped her hair, pointed at her textbook, voice dripping sweetness:

“Gao Liang~ Could you *please* explain this problem? I’m so confused~”

“Uh…”

Gao Liang looked torn—reluctant, yet hesitant to refuse. Just as he seemed to cave—

Lin Lin stomped back. Eyes blazing at the “shameless pair.”

Too far! Sitting in *my* seat, cozying up to *my* nemesis?!

Torture?! Show mercy to the girl traumatized by this handsome dog!

I’ll *die* seeing pretty girls fawn over him!

*SLAM!* She smacked the desk. Cold stare locked on the blonde.

“Excuse me. This is *my* seat. Morning reading starts soon. Ask later?”

“You!”

The blonde glared. Lin Lin flinched back two steps—

Wait. *My* seat.

Spine straightened. Ugh, it’s Week Three! Who’s scared of who?!

Just a spicy girl?

Push me again—I’ll stir-fry you into chili flakes!

Stunned by Lin Lin’s glare, the blonde hesitated—bully-the-weak instinct clashing with image control. Silent.

Gao Liang smoothly stepped in: “Morning reading’s starting. Maybe ask after class?”

Given an out, the blonde rose with a resentful huff, shot Lin Lin one last glare, and left.

Lin Lin sank into her seat, chin high.

Whoa…

That felt *so* good~

Confronting someone? Amazing~

Especially shooing that clingy girl *right* in front of Gao Liang, this handsome dog—hahaha~

Double joy!

Her earlier gloom vanished. She sat tall, humming a cheerful tune.

Gao Liang watched, intrigued.

This deskmate…

Usually quiet, a little odd.

Why so different today?

…Though she kinda looks like a feisty little kitten?

Tsk.

Catching his gaze, Lin Lin huffed and turned away.

Stare all you want, you shameless guy!