“Hmph.”

Lin Chen turned away, his face dark with displeasure. As he left, he shot Lu Chengzhou a dangerous look.

A threat from the male lead was undeniably terrifying. Even the usually composed Lu Chengzhou felt a chill run down his spine. After all, in the original story, the male lead had eliminated several love rivals. In female-oriented romance novels about domineering CEOs, no one dared hold him accountable for such acts. Thinking of those ruthless methods, Lu Chengzhou’s future suddenly felt bleak.

He glanced at Meng Wanyu beside him and sighed inwardly.

*Little Princess, Little Princess… please stay far from me. If you keep favoring me like this, the male lead will have me eliminated!*

Meng Wanyu, oblivious, simply gave him a tender, ambiguous glance. Lu Chengzhou quickly averted his eyes, not daring to meet her gaze.

*Trapped between wolves ahead and tigers behind…* he thought helplessly.

“Brother Chen, wait for me!”

Su Qiaoman, anxious, hurried after him.

With the nuisances gone, only Lu Chengzhou and Meng Wanyu remained at the table.

Meng Wanyu propped her chin on her hand, studying him. The more she looked, the more she liked him. She’d always preferred delicate, boyish types—and Lu Chengzhou fit perfectly. Gentle eyes, a straight nose, thin lips. Soft cheek contours with a hint of youthful baby fat made him adorably innocent.

“I wonder how soft his cheeks are…”

The thought slipped out before she could stop it.

Lu Chengzhou froze. He turned—just as her fingers reached out and pinched his cheek.

Being pinched by a beautiful girl…

He had to admit, it was slightly intoxicating. Her hand was cool, soft as fine mutton-fat jade. *Holding it would feel even better…*

But he dared not entertain the thought. He only wanted to escape.

“Lu Chengzhou, has a girl ever touched your face before?” Meng Wanyu asked, noticing his daze. “You seem… quite unused to it.”

Lu Chengzhou cleared his throat lightly, using a sip of water to dodge further pinching. He didn’t answer. *A trap question.* “Yes” would upset her. “No” would encourage her.

Setting down his glass, he said solemnly, “I’ve peeled the shrimp. I should get back to studying.”

Meng Wanyu glanced at the neatly peeled shrimp. *Not bad. An obedient little cutie.*

“Bye~” She waved as he left.

*Looks like I need to create more chances to keep this little cutie close,* she mused, cheerful. She speared the shrimp with her fork. *What I’ve set my sights on isn’t the shrimp… it’s him.*

…

“Phew.”

Outside the cafeteria, Lu Chengzhou stretched. Nerve-wracking as the meal was, he had to admit—it was the best he’d ever eaten.

“Time for an ice-cold cola.”

He walked to the vending machine, dropped in his last three coins, and strolled off with the chilled can, pondering his future.

*Money. I’m broke after buying those flowers. No part-time job tonight? Hunger tomorrow.*

*In the original story… wasn’t my character a restaurant waiter?*

Temporary work paid little. And despite being male, he was neither strong nor graceful—broke two plates in two days, got one complaint. *Total cannon fodder fate. Even I look down on this guy.*

*But… I’ve got system-granted high school math proficiency. Tutoring? Doable.*

Lost in thought, he found himself at the library entrance. Through the window, students studied quietly. At Yi City Private Noble High School, noon self-study stretched long.

By the floor-to-ceiling window sat a girl with a ponytail. White uniform shirt, black pleated skirt, slender legs in white knee-high socks. Frowning over a math test. Reference books piled high. Silver-rimmed glasses rested atop them. A thermos pinned down a student ID.

*Grade 11, Class 3, Xu Xi.*

Lu Chengzhou froze. *Could this be… that Xu Xi?*

The girl who once publicly scolded Lin Chen—the male lead—and left him helpless? (She was his mentor’s daughter.) The original story barely described her… except for one phrase that stuck with him: *breathtakingly beautiful.*

A gust of wind whipped the curtain—*clatter!*—knocking over her thermos.

Xu Xi jumped up, but too late. Water soaked her white shirt. School-issue fabric turned sheer when wet. Her face flushed crimson; she hugged herself tightly. The slightly tight shirt clung uncomfortably. No jacket. She grabbed a book to cover herself—front covered, sides exposed. *Please… don’t let anyone see me like this.*

She looked up.

Lu Chengzhou stood there.

From his angle… he saw far too much.

Lu Chengzhou: “….”

*Is it too late to run?*

Xu Xi: “You…!”

Trembling with anger, her chest heaving.

Before she could speak, Lu Chengzhou swiftly removed his jacket and handed it to her. Face calm. Heart racing.

He turned away instantly.

“I’ll take my leave. Goodbye.”