Homework… That word was far too distant for Luo Chen.

So distant, in fact, that he had no idea what it even meant… Two seconds later, he could only answer with perfect candor. “I didn’t do it.”

Lin Yuqi leaned forward slightly, her bright eyes fixed on him. She wasn’t angry, just asking with concern. “Why didn’t you do it?”

Luo Chen shrugged. “I forgot…”

Saying the most outrageous thing in the meekest voice possible—that was pretty much what he’d just done.

Lin Yuqi froze for a moment, then leaned forward a little more. “Hm?”

“…I just forgot.” For anyone else, Lin Yuqi’s stern look might have been a little intimidating.

But for Luo Chen, it barely made a difference. After all, they’d once been so close…

A second later, Lin Yuqi straightened up, tapped the desk lightly, and called out with a touch of reproach, “You, honestly…”

In the end, she lowered her head and discreetly put a check mark in the little box for homework inspection.

“Thanks…” Luo Chen’s voice sounded a little weak.

Lin Yuqi gave him a reproachful look, her tone serious. “You can’t do that next time, okay?”

Luo Chen nodded vigorously.

Then Lin Yuqi shifted slightly and turned to An Jinchu, who’d been watching the two of them.

An Jinchu smiled faintly and met Lin Yuqi’s gaze.

“Hi, I’m Lin Yuqi, the class monitor for Class 3, Grade 10. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me.” Her expression was calm—not ingratiating, but not overly serious either. She held out her hand to An Jinchu, her slender, pale arm suspended in the air.

An Jinchu reached out and gave her soft palm a light handshake. “Hi, I’m An Jinchu.”

Her tone bore out what she’d said in her introduction at the podium: “I don’t talk much.”

Lin Yuqi nodded, then turned and walked away. Luo Chen lay sprawled across his desk, watching her black ponytail as he basked in the sunlight with narrowed eyes.

An Jinchu turned her head. “You two seem pretty close.”

“Yeah.” Luo Chen nodded, ignoring her teasing tone.

An Jinchu turned back, lost in thought.

…So this is the girlfriend you wouldn’t let me know about for three years—not even a photo?

…And what about the two of you now?

She suddenly asked softly, “Your girlfriend?”

Luo Chen shook his head. He didn’t give it much thought as he answered casually, “No. I’m not interested.”

An Jinchu froze again. “You don’t like a girl that pretty?”

“You’re pretty too. Does that mean I have to like you?” Luo Chen glanced at her.

“Sure. Maybe I’d give you a…”

“No. You wouldn’t.” Luo Chen cut her off, leaving An Jinchu momentarily speechless.

“I’m a perverted siscon, leg fetishist, foot fetishist, and short-skirt fetishist, thank you very much.”

“…” An Jinchu’s mouth twitched.

She knew Luo Chen. Really, really well.

Luo Chen was the type who usually couldn’t be bothered with other people. He was a little conceited, sure, but… he didn’t care at all about his own image.

As long as it got him what he wanted, he was willing to do anything.

Like… he seemed to be a little put off by her, so he’d said some strange things just now.

Put off by me… Why? Am I imagining it? An Jinchu pouted, suddenly feeling a little uneasy.

The next second, she edged a little closer to Luo Chen.

“Big brother… My legs are long and pale, too. If you’re not happy with the length of my skirt today, I can change it…” She deliberately softened her normally cool voice until it sounded sweet and syrupy.

Luo Chen shuddered all over. “What are you up to now?”

“Now?” An Jinchu blinked.

“Ever since you walked into the classroom, you’ve been… flirting with me.” Luo Chen thought for a moment before settling on the word “flirting.”

For a moment, An Jinchu couldn’t think of any excuse to give him.

She was just… too happy. Even though she still thought she’d accepted what had happened and could keep the situation under control.

But when she really saw him, when she sat beside him… the happiness in her heart bloomed.

And then, for no reason at all, she’d said strange things and done strange things.

Was it because… she was treating him like the Luo Chen she’d known before?

Had he… come back too?

Or… had he always been like this in high school?

Would he… end up hating me?

An Jinchu’s thoughts were a mess. She started to feel restless, and all at once, her nose prickled.

“Hm?” Luo Chen tilted his head, looking at her bewildered expression. “Big Sis An Jinchu, you’re… really interesting.”

At his words, An Jinchu’s jumbled thoughts suddenly fell quiet.

“Interesting?” she asked, even though she already knew.

“Yeah. I kind of want to… get to know you.”

“Oh?”

“Let’s be friends. I’m Luo Chen, Luo Xi’s older brother. I’m boring, lazy, and conceited.”

That was Luo Chen’s introduction.

It hadn’t changed at all since the first time she’d met him.

Luo Chen held out his hand to her. An Jinchu suddenly smiled and reached out too—but then lightly smacked his hand away.

“Trying to take advantage of me? Hmph. An Jinchu.”

…This felt kind of familiar.

…If that counts as taking advantage, I’ve even bitten your lips before. Luo Chen pursed his lips.