A mid-air roundhouse kick sent the man clutching May flying. In one fluid motion, the attacker swept the girl into his arms—smooth as a tokusatsu hero’s signature move.

Except the one who’d just leaped from a wheelchair and sprinted a hundred meters to pull it off was a casually dressed, blond-haired passerby.

Chen Yaoyi.

Truth was, he’d come to check his little experiment. He’d staged the whole “blond thug attacks heroine” scene himself, handing Zhao Xiaoluo a golden chance to play hero. Surely things had progressed by now?

Gently, Chen Yaoyi drew May into his embrace, turned toward the chubby man he’d kicked—but after that flurry of movement, his back seized. He couldn’t straighten up.

The kicked man scrambled to gather his scattered gear and fled in panic.

“Ow, ow… hiss…”

Clutching his lower back, Chen Yaoyi winced. Sure, he’d shown agile movement at the hospital—but pulling off such high-difficulty moves right off the bat? Still rough.

His left arm circled May’s slender waist; his right held her hand. May stood frozen like a startled rabbit while Chen Yaoyi leaned slightly, catching his breath.

Only when May steadied herself did he release her.

“Huh…?”

Pale-faced and disoriented, May’s heart jolted at the familiar voice, the familiar touch—flashing back to their first meeting. A sting pricked her nose. She turned away quickly, refusing to let him see her flustered state.

May hadn’t truly been broken by Chen Yaoyi’s past “assault.” She’d carried on normally—except her family now forbade solo outings. More time at home meant a few extra pounds.

Even her best friend An Ge was baffled: *“Wait—you were nearly assaulted? How are you acting like nothing happened?”*

Others called her resilient. An Ge just thought she’d lost her mind.

So whenever asked, May would laugh: “Hmph? Chen Yaoyi? I’ll make sure he regrets the day he crossed me!”

Yet she’d never imagined actually facing him again. Too awkward. Never expected it to happen so suddenly—

“Y-You… pervert…”

May’s whisper brushed Chen Yaoyi’s ear, sinking deep.

She’d never used such a delicate, flustered tone—not that forced “cute voice,” but a genuinely shy, sweetly scolding murmur. And honestly? It sounded more like coquettish teasing than anger.

“Y-You’ve… mistaken me for someone else—”

His palm warmed her waist, soothing her anxiety yet stirring frustration. Like a girlfriend confronting a cheating boyfriend, May snapped, “Where have you been?”

She ignored his feeble excuse.

“Just… lying low…”

Grinning sheepishly, Chen Yaoyi tried to pull away—but May’s icy fingers caught his wrist, pressing his hand firmly back against her waist.

*It’s just to stop him from escaping…*

But no one had ever touched her waist like this.

Naturally, her face flushed crimson.

*M-Me?! What’s wrong with me?! Why am I so flustered?!*

“So you’re into this, huh?” Chen Yaoyi teased.

May, cheeks red as a ripe apple, turned her head, hiding her burning face with her hand—but her crimson ears gave her away.

“N-No, it’s not like that…”

Slowly, reluctantly, she released his hand. Chen Yaoyi straightened with effort and stayed beside her.

“Just… stay with me a little longer…”

May didn’t know what to say. Only a pure, quiet impulse remained: *Just for a moment.*

Nearly two weeks apart. Simply standing shoulder to shoulder felt like enough.

Yet guilt swelled. The joy from her half-day outing with Zhao Xiaoluo paled beside the warmth of Chen Yaoyi complaining about his sore back. Not to mention being held—and that accidental pinch on her waist. (*Purely accidental.*)

“And another thing! I’ve only gained a tiny bit! My weight’s still perfectly healthy! Don’t you dare call me fat!”

Too self-conscious about her bare face, May kept her head turned, avoiding his gaze.

*Wait—since when is this pervert this handsome? Am I blind? Is he wearing a filter?!*

Just then, Chen Yaoyi, master of hitting sore spots, spoke up:

“What’s with you today? No makeup, zero energy. Wasn’t this your date with Zhao Xiaoluo? Weren’t you excited?”

“I…”

May shivered. A whirl of emotions churned. *Please… don’t say his name. Just focus on me.*

Her old feelings for Zhao Xiaoluo, her disdain for Chen Yaoyi—reset. A crushing guilt rose. *Do I even like Zhao Xiaoluo? Why did I go on that date? Would Chen Yaoyi even be here… without him?*

Questions swirled, voiceless.

“Hm? Why so quiet?”

Chen Yaoyi’s eyes were on two bodyguards waving in the distance—he missed how May’s gaze dimmed.

Su Ziqing sat in a black sedan behind them.

Zhao Xiaoluo was back.

“Hey… Chen Yaoyi. If Zhao Xiaoluo and I really got together… would you have never come?”

“Hm? Ah… yeah. Probably not.”

May’s lips went cold. Her eyes turned hollow.