Early morning class. An Han deliberately sat beside Long Xing, resting his head on the desk with a tired look. His eyes were half-open toward the podium, but his focus locked onto the murmured conversation beside him.
"Bro Long, how was last night’s date?"
"Don’t even mention it. I’m already out of the running," Long Xing replied dejectedly.
This guy had snuck off-campus to drink, stumbling back to the dorm dead drunk past 2 a.m. He still looked hungover.
A flicker of guilt stirred in An Han. He loved pranking dormmates, sure—but never like this. Never hurting one this deeply.
*Poor Bro Long…*
*Ugh, if only it were that bastard Wu Dongming instead.*
Chen Junjie, seated on Long Xing’s other side, pressed on: "Wait—wasn’t that girl actually An Han cross-dressing?"
*That bastard Chen Junjie needs a lesson too.*
An Han shot him a cold, narrow-eyed glare.
"It’s *not* him!" Long Xing snapped, unusually heated. "Even if you and Xiao Han don’t get along, why drag him into my mess? Are you insane?!"
Chen Junjie stiffened, rubbing his nose awkwardly. "I just… the photo looked *so* much like An Han."
"If it’s not him, you’ve still got a shot!"
"To chase girls these days? You gotta be shameless. All my exes fell for me ’cause I had zero shame!"
"Trust me—I’ve got experience. I’ll get her for you."
Long Xing’s mood plummeted. He buried his face in the desk. "She has a boyfriend."
"Then steal her! No wall’s unbreakable if you try hard enough!"
An Han let out a disdainful *tsk*. *This guy’s moral compass is seriously broken.*
"But her boyfriend is Su Peng."
An Han and Chen Junjie froze, twisting around in disbelief. Behind them sat Su Peng—oblivious, neat, quietly focused on the lecture.
*Wait… since when is Su Peng MY boyfriend? I don’t even HAVE one!*
"Su Peng… yeah, that’s tricky," Chen Junjie sighed, shaking his head. "Poach a classmate’s girl? If found out, you’re toast in this class."
"Yeah."
Su Peng noticed their stares and shot An Han a questioning look. An Han just shook his head and slumped back down.
*Rumor says Su Peng’s loaded—uses a 20k-yuan laptop. Decent-looking, cleaner than me, nice personality… even got chased by girls before.*
*So how the heck did HE become "my boyfriend"?*
An Han shook it off. *Whatever. I’ll never cross-dress again. Let them talk.*
"What was her name again?"
"How would I know? She refused to tell me."
"Then you’re doomed. Won’t even share her name?"
"She deleted me on WeChat."
Long Xing and Chen Junjie kept chatting. Confident he was safe, An Han tuned out. *Must’ve been seeing me leave the field with Su Peng last night… caused the mix-up.*
*Actually… good thing. Without this misunderstanding, Long Xing would’ve launched a shameless pursuit by now.*
Relief lifted his mood. Even before dismissal, he browsed food apps to treat himself.
*Ugh. Campus eats? Mostly 10-yuan set meals. Grilled fish at the BBQ spot is the "fancy" option.*
Suddenly—an itch on his arm.
He turned. Long Xing was leaning close, sniffing near his sleeve.
"Bro Long… you’re not a pervert, are you?" An Han teased, dimples flashing in a sweet, lighthearted smile.
"Nah," Long Xing turned to Chen Junjie. "Xiao Han’s got that milky scent too."
"What milky scent?"
"Smells kinda like that girl."
"Spilled milk on himself this morning?" Chen Junjie yawned dismissively.
An Han’s smile vanished. Face darkened.
*No way! I don’t smell like anything!*
*I drank SOY MILK, for goodness’ sake!*
He lifted his arm, sniffed hard—only skin-warmth. Nothing.
When Long Xing glanced back, An Han wore a blank mask, eyes fixed on the teacher.
*Trouble.*
*I’ve been dodging this girl’s shadow… now another clue?*
He tugged his collar, sniffed inward.
*…Huh. Maybe there IS something?*
*Imagination? Real? Either way—if Long Xing connects this…*
"Will this ever end~" he groaned.
*Ring!* The bell cut through the air.
Professors rarely ran overtime. "Class dismissed!" Students erupted, chattering and scrambling out.
An Han moved to leave—but froze. Long Xing was hesitating toward Su Peng.
He pivoted instantly, falling in step behind him.
"Su Peng, wait!" Long Xing blocked his path.
"What’s up?" Su Peng blinked, confused. *They’ve been staring all class…*
Long Xing scratched his head, awkward. "Uh… you got a girlfriend?"
*He’s still checking. If he’s wrong… hope remains.*
"Girlfriend? I—"
Su Peng caught An Han behind Long Xing—eyes blazing.
*But the glare meant nothing. They weren’t that in sync.*
"No."
An Han nearly hurled his textbook at Su Peng’s skull.
"No?!" Long Xing beamed.
Su Peng stared between Long Xing’s joy and An Han’s murder-glare. "What’s *actually* going on?"
"Nothing! Nothing!" Long Xing chirped, scurrying off to Chen Junjie.
"???" Su Peng turned helpless eyes to An Han.
An Han kicked his shin. "MY EYES! Read my cues! Can’t you?!"
"I… couldn’t…"
"Go! Tell him you *do* have a girlfriend!"
"He’ll believe that?"
"Bro Long’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. Go!"
