“What’s your relationship?”

The moment the question left her lips, Lu Li and An Baili nearly answered in unison:

“No relation.”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend.”

Lu Li shot An Baili a sharp glare. Facing Chu Jingyi’s suspicious gaze, he decided to admit part of the truth: “She’s my ex-girlfriend.” *An ex-wife still counts as an ex, right?*

“So you two really did know each other all along,” Chu Jingyi murmured, pieces clicking into place. “I always felt something was off about you.”

Lu Li felt a bead of sweat form. *That obvious? Even she noticed?* Maybe he’d overthought it—was it because he’d been dwelling on An Baili? No. Absolutely not. Lu Li would rather jump off a cliff than admit even a shred of lingering feeling for her.

Progressing from “no relation” to “ex-girlfriend” was still progress. An Baili silently cheered herself on while watching Chu Jingyi’s downcast expression. Her heart skipped a beat. “Jingyi… are you upset?”

“Of course I’m upset,” Chu Jingyi frowned. “You kept something this important from me? Do you think I’m unreasonable?”

Relief washed over both An Baili and Lu Li.

Chu Jingyi was known at school for strict fairness—though Lu Li disagreed. She seemed like the type to break up couples and gossip behind backs. But was she really? Of course not.

To Chu Jingyi, their secrecy meant they feared her judgment. Being misunderstood by friends hurt.

“Dating young isn’t ideal… but I’m not completely unreasonable,” her voice dropped. “Since we’re friends… I can turn a blind eye.”

*Where are your principles, Class Monitor?* Lu Li sighed inwardly. Chu Jingyi had always been the center of attention—frankly, self-centered. If a tree fell hundreds of miles away, she’d think it concerned her.

He cut off her prattling: “Class Monitor, An Baili and I are done. I swear.”

“Really?” Chu Jingyi turned to An Baili.

“False,” An Baili stated firmly. “We worried you’d think we were bad students… so we stayed silent. I’m sorry.”

*You’re really selling it, An Baili,* Lu Li thought. *Reincarnation upgraded your acting—and your talent for seizing opportunities.*

He didn’t bother explaining. Actions spoke louder.

Pulling out the external hard drive, he nodded to Old Chen and turned to leave.

“Lu the Son of Heaven!” Old Chen called. “Hear this: messing with underage girls is a crime. Don’t stray!”

Lu Li tugged his sparse hair. “Are you that bored?”

“I worry! I don’t want you in prison.”

“Get lost.”

*Do I look like that kind of guy?* Lu Li frowned. He wasn’t a scumbag—he prided himself on being a man of unwavering integrity. Yet everyone seemed to misunderstand him.

He quickened his pace, putting distance between himself and the two girls trailing like shadows.

Hand in hand, An Baili and Chu Jingyi whispered about relationships. Innocent Chu Jingyi’s head steamed like a boiling kettle.

“Is… is Lu Li really that lecherous?” she stammered.

“Mm-hmm,” An Baili chirped, stirring trouble. “He’s practically desperate. Stay far away. Jingyi… you don’t like him, do you?”

“No!” she objected hastily. “He’s just a friend! And—and we’re in high school! Isn’t dating too… too early?” Her stutter betrayed her fluster.

*Good.* An Baili patted Chu Jingyi’s hand like soothing a puppy. “Class Monitor, be careful with boys. They wear smiles but hide intentions. Their heads? Full of *those* thoughts.”

“Is… is that true?” Chu Jingyi’s head spun.

She stole a glance at Lu Li’s clean, almost ethereal back—less a classmate, more a terrifying beast.

*

Back in class, Chu Jingyi remained dazed, An Baili’s words echoing like a curse. She shrank from Lu Li, fearing he might suddenly give in to beastly urges and strip her down to a snow-white lamb.

Explaining felt like talking to a wall—any words would only lose him. So he kept a stern face, as if the world owed him a fortune, prompting the teacher to ask if he was unwell.

Chu Jingyi finally edged closer, trembling: “Lu Li… um… are you free this weekend?”

*Date?* The thought flashed in both Lu Li’s and An Baili’s minds.

“Nothing like that!” Chu Jingyi rushed to clarify. “Mom’s back from vacation. She heard I made new friends and wants to meet you. Baili, you too!”

“Your mom?” An Baili blinked. *A pampered miss? New friend = parental interrogation?* No wonder you’ve few friends, Class Monitor—your family shares the blame.

Lu Li agreed silently: overprotective.

Timid by nature, An Baili shrank like a startled rabbit at “meet parents.” Hearing the father would be home too, she shook her head like a rattle drum.

“Lu Li… will you come?” Chu Jingyi pleaded, eyes hopeful. *My friends matter. My parents matter. Meeting should be happy.*

Lu Li stammered inwardly. *I’m friends with you, not your parents. Do you get that?* Ordinary family? Fine. But your dad?

He’d checked: Chu Xiaodong, Chief Minister of Chuanhai’s municipal cabinet—ranked below mayor but wielding greater power. Transferred from central government two years ago to this bustling city. What did that imply?

Worse: zero online traces of his family background.

He stared at Chu Jingyi, awaiting his nod like a silly goose—not a classmate, but a golden ticket to skip fifty years of struggle.

“Lu Li… will you come?” the silly goose asked again.

*Can I refuse?*

The word that escaped was bitter: “Yes.”

Her eyes crinkled into crescent moons—a sweet, radiant smile.