"That settles it. Thank you for your trouble."

"Oh—actually, *I'm* the one who overstepped. Sorry about that! Take care on your way back..."

Chen Yaoyi nodded apologetically to Zhao Xiaoluo, then waved as he watched him return to his seat.

Just as Chen Yaoyi turned to sit down, May tightly gripped the hem of his shirt.

"Hold on. Let me check..."

Her voice was barely a whisper. Clutching his sleeve, she leaned past him, using his body as cover to watch Zhao Xiaoluo and the country girl.

"So this is... just 'ordinary friends'...?"

She pursed her lips, observing them exchange cheerful greetings. Her expression grew increasingly troubled. Naturally, Zhao Xiaoluo’s earlier words echoed in her mind—a faint, bittersweet ache blooming within.

"Alright..."

She released his shirt, turned away reluctantly, almost glancing back once more—but stopped herself.

Chen Yaoyi settled into his seat and said calmly, "You already know he and she aren’t *that* close. So why keep sulking?"

May shot him a sharp glare, then tried kicking his shin—again and again—but he dodged every time. Frustrated, she shook her arms and shot him another murderous look.

"Who said I’m your *wife*?! You’re way out of line!"

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she hunched low, muttering under her breath to avoid Zhao Xiaoluo noticing.

"This was to keep him from seeing anything! And could *you* have explained dining with a guy who hit on you?"

"Mmph..."

Words failed her. She bit fiercely into a jiaozi, reached for her juice—only to find it spilled all over Chen Yaoyi. Her frustration flared.

"Here. Untouched. No drugs, I promise—"

He slid his own cup toward her cheek.

"I don’t want yours."

She shoved it away, then tried sipping from the Chinese vinegar. May wasn’t the type to swoon over kindness like some lovesick fangirl. She wasn’t buying it.

"Tch. Trouble..."

Chen Yaoyi muttered, stood, and fetched a fresh juice from the self-serve machine—ice added. When he returned, May still glared, ungrateful... but drank it anyway.

*That hamster-like pout*, Chen Yaoyi noted silently. *Adorable*.

"I really can’t explain it clearly..." she murmured after a long pause.

"Good you realize that."

Chen Yaoyi wouldn’t push further. He was just here to play wingman. The path had twisted early on, but the misunderstanding was cleared. Zhao Xiaoluo could handle the rest Monday.

Yet *their* situation—May, the female lead, dining alone with the blond guy—was far thornier. If Zhao Xiaoluo found out... well, wasn’t *that* practically the blond guy’s role? Chen Yaoyi sighed inwardly. His goal remained: secure a happy ending for May’s romance.

"Thank you for your visit! Hope to see you again—"

A crisp electronic chime cut through the air. Chen Yaoyi’s gaze shifted to the counter: Zhao Xiaoluo and the country girl, each holding a bag of jiaozi, nodding to staff before heading their way.

"Hey. They’re leaving."

Chen Yaoyi jerked his chin behind May. The pair grabbed separate umbrellas and stepped out. Rain fell heavier now, but May pulled her clothes over her head, peeking out cautiously.

Zhao Xiaoluo paused at the window, waved cheerfully toward their table, then walked off with the country girl—side by side, yet under separate umbrellas, exiting one after the other. *Maybe... they really aren’t close?* Still uneasy, May glanced at Chen Yaoyi. He’d smiled warmly while waving Zhao Xiaoluo off—then, *in a flash*, his face went cold. He stared blankly at the window before turning back.

"So? How are you getting home?"

His mood shift left May stunned.

"Uh... call a friend?" Her voice wavered, uncertain.

*He hit on me first—wasn’t he into me?* she wondered, dazed. *And now he’s just... leaving?*

Wrapped in Chen Yaoyi’s floral shirt, she watched him stride out of the shop.

*That’s it?*

Next morning, before homeroom, only two occupied the classroom: Zhao Xiaoluo and May. She’d never been early before—but for him, she made the effort. (Zhao Xiaoluo merely thought her attendance was hanging by a thread.) Today, she was dead tired.

The moment he saw her, Zhao Xiaoluo apologized sincerely, explained everything from last night. May forgave him.

"I could’ve texted last night," he said gently, "but a face-to-face apology felt right. Please don’t be upset, May. This Saturday—let’s go out again. Consider it... compensation?"

She disliked the word "compensation," but agreed. A rare chance! No interruptions. *Especially not from that damn blond guy.*

...Huh?

*Why am I thinking of him now?*