"My name is Chen Yaoyi. I'm 21, unmarried, a college student living in the old district northeast of downtown. I'm always home by eleven. I don't smoke, drink occasionally, sleep at one AM, get six hours' rest, skip water before bed, scroll my phone for half an hour, then sleep."
"W-What are you even saying...?" Sweat beaded on May’s forehead. She couldn’t fathom why Chen Yaoyi suddenly launched into this.
"I’m explaining—why the hell must I sit here listening to your pointless complaints?!" Chen Yaoyi jabbed a finger at May’s tear-streaked face and shouted.
They were at a well-reviewed Northeastern-style dumpling spot. Finding one this far south was lucky enough—no one nitpicked authenticity.
Earlier, sobbing roadside, May had clung to Chen Yaoyi, refusing to let go. She clearly needed someone to vent to. Plus, a new task directive had dropped: *help May*. Or he’d have left hours ago.
They sat at the window seat nearest the glass door—right behind May.
"B-But... mmph..." Words failed her. Fresh tears welled at the corners of her eyes.
"Alright, alright! Stop repeating how *he’s* so gentle and sees you without bias. Any guy says that to a pretty girl—it’s not special."
"Don’t you dare disrespect Xiao Luo!" May puffed her cheeks, retorting with righteous indignation.
"B-But it’s been four whole hours... only *one* message... *sob*..."
"Hey! Don’t cry! If you do, I’m the villain again!"
"You *are* the villain! A creepy guy hitting on girls!" She muttered, lips pursed in adorably petulant defiance.
May was the story’s heroine: flaxen hair, bright watery eyes—not stunning, but pleasant. The popular "innocent-yet-secretly-mischievous" schoolgirl archetype, alluring in contrast, yet utterly clueless about romance.
"Hitting on someone’s human nature! My job—never mind. I swear I won’t lay a finger on you again!" Chen Yaoyi caught himself mid-slip, resigned to bad luck.
No matter. Today’s date failed, but as long as the leads kept mutual affection, this was fixable.
"But he... I..."
"He never said your... what’s-his-name... Xiao Luo, right? Doesn’t like you anymore?" Chen Yaoyi covered his mouth, glancing out the window.
The pharmacy’s automatic door slid open. A boy and girl—students—stepped out, chatting, heading this way. Something familiar. He squinted.
"Really? Xiao Luo still likes me?" May remained dejected.
"Obviously! He’s probably busy! See?" Chen Yaoyi’s unease grew. He snatched his phone, opened the chat app, cross-checked photos repeatedly—
Confirmed.
The guy was Zhao Xiaoluo, wearing that innocent, kind-hearted male lead expression. Beside him, the tired-looking girl forcing a smile? The clubmate from the files.
"What’s wrong?" May pouted. *Talking to me, yet staring at his phone and outside?* A flicker of irritation stirred.
"Hey!" She rapped the table.
"Hold on. I know you’re anxious, but don’t panic—" Chen Yaoyi didn’t glance at her. Fingers flew across the keyboard. Outside, male lead Xiao Luo and who-knows-which-number side girl crossed the zebra crossing, heading straight for the window—
"What *are* you looking at?!" May twisted to see—but two large hands gently restrained her.
Chen Yaoyi stood, palms cradling her jaw—only pinky and ring fingers brushed her skin. The most restrained hold possible.
Stunned by the suddenness, May froze.
"Don’t move."
Her clear eyes shifted: shock → disdain → disgust. *Swore he wouldn’t touch me... and this? Disgusting.*
Brow furrowed, she hesitated a split second—then snatched the orange juice and splashed it hard across his face.
"Disgusting."
May’s glare held zero restraint, locked on his dripping face. She hated unsolicited touch. Strong self-discipline. Especially from flippant guys—no courtesy, let alone liking.
Honestly? His touch made her stomach turn.
Her heart belonged to only one: Zhao Xiaoluo—gentle, thoughtful, unmoved by her looks or rumors.
"I can’t explain now. Just look at me." Drenched, Chen Yaoyi blinked, exhaled slowly.
His gaze held hers—then flicked past her shoulder.
Zhao Xiaoluo and the clubmate strolled in, laughing, passed behind May, and settled at the two-seater diagonally behind her.
"Pervert."
"Sorry."
"Creep."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Let go."
"No problem."
Chen Yaoyi released her instantly. May fumbled in her crossbody bag, yanking out a handkerchief to scrub her cheeks.
He grabbed napkins, wiping juice from his face and soaked shirt—then peeled it off, revealing a black undershirt.
"You’re the worst guy I’ve ever met... Xiao Luo would never..." Her voice cracked, tears threatening.
*If only Zhao Xiaoluo sat across from me...* She’d thought it countless times.
