At school.

Lu Chengzhou took his seat.

Just as he shoved his backpack toward the desk compartment, something blocked the way.

He paused.

Reaching inside, his fingers brushed against a small box—a white chocolate bar.

A note was taped to the front.

Unmistakably Su Qiaoman’s handwriting, the original story’s heroine:

*"Dad brought this back from his business trip. I’m sharing part of my gift with you. You have to accept it, okay~"*

Su Qiaoman sat directly ahead of him, eyes fixed on her textbook.

Completely absorbed.

As if the chocolate in Lu Chengzhou’s desk had zero connection to her.

Beside her, the seat reserved for the male lead stayed empty.

Lin Chen was still grounded at home.

*"No way I’m keeping this,"* Lu Chengzhou thought calmly. *"Accepting the female lead’s chocolate always costs more later."*

Not paranoia—he’d seen proof in the story.

Once, Su Qiaoman’s bike broke on the way to school. An upperclassman fixed it. She thanked him with a single chocolate truffle.

Lin Chen saw it.

Misunderstanding exploded. The main couple fought. The side character paid the price—forced to transfer schools shortly after.

Back then, Lu Chengzhou hadn’t blinked. Now? Utterly absurd.

Wasn’t that upperclassman completely innocent?

Absolutely.

Lin Chen: stubbornly single-minded. Su Qiaoman: the so-called "pure and innocent" heroine who cried, apologized, and pleaded—but never actually helped anyone.

Hmm…

In a twisted way, they *were* a perfect match.

Both deeply annoying.

"Su Qiaoman."

She turned.

A glance. Eyes wide with practiced innocence.

"What is it?"

"This is yours."

Lu Chengzhou stood slightly and placed the unopened box squarely on her desk.

Su Qiaoman’s face tightened.

No one had ever returned her gift.

*Especially not him.* Shouldn’t he be preserving it in the fridge forever?!

She swallowed her pride.

"A-Zhou… do you look down on my gift? I know… my family’s not rich. This isn’t some fancy foreign brand…"

Her eyelids dipped. Lips pressed tight.

Lu Chengzhou’s temples throbbed.

"A-Zhou, I’m sorry. I was presumptuous. If you truly don’t want it… just toss it."

She nudged the box back, dabbing the corner of her eye—a tear that never existed.

He almost bought it.

Just then, Meng Wanyu strolled in through the back door, sipping milk tea.

Her gaze locked onto the chocolate.

Eyebrows lifted. A smug curve touched her lips.

*Interesting.*

She plucked the note and read aloud, voice dripping with faux sweetness:

*"Oooh~ ‘You *must~* accept~ it~ okay~’?"* She dragged out the ending. *"Weird. Why give chocolate to *my* A-Zhou instead of your precious Brother Lin?"*

Su Qiaoman flushed crimson, then pale.

Fists clenched under the desk.

But she held still.

Couldn’t react. *Wouldn’t.*

This was Meng Wanyu—Jingzhou Meng family’s youngest daughter. A girl born on life’s peak.

Before her, Su Qiaoman was nobody. Even Lin Chen meant nothing.

Lips trembling, she forced a fragile smile. "M-Meng classmate… please… return the note?"

Meng Wanyu tilted her head, feigning confusion.

"Eh? Return *A-Zhou*? Silly. He’s a person, not an object. How do I ‘give him back’?"

Lin Chen’s buddies nearby shot Su Qiaoman looks of quiet disdain.

She felt the room spin. *I want to strangle her.*

But all she could do was fume helplessly.

Lu Chengzhou kept his head down. *Not my war.* He lacked Meng Wanyu’s privilege to openly defy the heroine.

The bell rang—ending the silent battle, saving Su Qiaoman.

Meng Wanyu snorted, snatched the box, and tossed it onto Su Qiaoman’s desk.

"Fake logo. Cheap counterfeit. Thirty yuan max. Tsk."

Su Qiaoman froze.

"Real ones cost nearly five hundred yuan. If you’ve never tasted it, I’ll send a whole case. Don’t buy fakes next time—they’re bad for you. Got it?"

Another precise strike.

Lu Chengzhou rubbed his forehead. *Pure-and-innocent act vs. blunt princess… She’s gonna combust.*

He felt zero guilt enjoying the show.

…

Morning classes ended in icy silence.

Lu Chengzhou stood immediately—off to buy milk tea and lunch, keeping his promise.

After he left, Meng Wanyu stretched with a yawn, slung her makeup bag over her shoulder, and headed to the restroom.

Time to revert to her "ugly flower girl" disguise. Let’s see A-Zhou’s reaction.

But as she rose—

"Meng classmate… may I ask something?" Su Qiaoman’s voice was tight.

"Hmm?" Meng Wanyu smiled sweetly.

Su Qiaoman exhaled. "Have I… offended you? You seem to dislike me deeply."

Meng Wanyu wagged a finger, voice velvet-soft:

"No. You overestimate yourself. Honestly? I don’t even see you."

*All I dislike… is you eyeing my prey.*

A silent chuckle lingered behind her smile.