The conversation between Xu Xing and Wang Zicong should have ended there, but their classmate Tang Mian, sitting beside Wang Zicong, joined in.

Tang Mian reached under Wang Zicong’s desk, grabbed a piece of crunchy snack, and asked, “What are you guys talking about? What’s up with your girlfriend and Lu Che?”

Xu Xing: “…”

Rumors never come from nowhere, but half-truths often turn into full-blown gossip, like Tang Mian’s assumption just now.

Xu Xing quickly cleared it up, emphasizing, “It’s my desk mate’s girlfriend’s friend who’s curious about Lu Che. Don’t go twisting the facts.”

Tang Mian said, “Oh, my bad. But I did hear Lu Che has a girlfriend. Your girlfriend’s friend should probably move on.”

Wang Zicong nodded blankly, munching on snacks, “Oh, so he has a girlfriend.”

Xu Xing’s eyes lit up at this, and he asked eagerly, “Really? From our school?”

Tang Mian shrugged, “I don’t think so. Probably from his old school. I heard this story where Lu Che’s girlfriend had her phone stolen on a bus, and she called Lu Che from a friend’s phone. Lu Che then rallied a group of guys and went after the bus in sports cars. Super cool, right?”

Xu Xing asked, “And after they caught the bus, what? Were they going to frisk everyone for the phone?”

Tang Mian rolled her eyes. “That’s not the point! The point is how epic Lu Che’s response was.”

Xu Xing: “…”

He gave up arguing with Tang Mian, though he remained skeptical about the story. However, he was more inclined to believe that Lu Che had a girlfriend.

At that moment, an unexpected voice chimed in—

“What are you guys talking about? When did Che become the star of the show again? Tell me, tell me!”

Xu Xing turned around and was startled.

Ke Di had appeared behind him, holding a water cup and looking eager to hear the latest gossip about Lu Che.

“…”

Tang Mian, now a bit embarrassed in front of Lu Che’s good friend, toned down her storytelling. “Oh, we were just saying that someone in another class is curious about Lu Che. I heard he has a girlfriend from another school, and he’s really good to her.”

Before Xu Xing could correct her, Ke Di laughed and said, “Lu Che doesn’t have a girlfriend! Go tell that girl he’s single and ready. She should make her move!”

Ke Di then turned around and shouted, “Hey, Che! Class president here wants to know if you have a girlfriend. How about giving an official statement?”

“…”

Xu Xing was left speechless. This was the power of rumors—his harmless comment about Wang Zicong’s girlfriend’s friend asking about Lu Che had somehow turned into “the class president wants to know if Lu Che has a girlfriend.”

Xu Xing was utterly at a loss for words, but no one cared to hear his side of the story. What everyone was focused on wasn’t “who was asking the question,” but rather, “does Lu Che have a girlfriend?”

The surrounding classmates were all looking at Lu Che with eager anticipation.

Xu Xing, on the other hand, was stiff as a board, not daring to turn his head.

A lazy voice floated over from behind him, “No, is the class monitor trying to set me up with someone?”

“…”

Xu Xing once again became the center of attention. With no choice, he turned around and faced Lu Che’s leisurely expression. In a weak tone, he explained, “It really wasn’t me who asked. Some girl from another class was asking about you.”

Given how Tang Mian and Ke Di had twisted the facts earlier, Xu Xing glossed over the details, opting not to say that it was “Wang Zicong’s girlfriend asking on behalf of a friend.” He feared it would turn into gossip and cause trouble for the girl.

Lu Che responded with a casual “Oh,” clearly not believing him.

Fortunately, the chemistry teacher arrived right on time, cutting off their conversation. Xu Xing seized the opportunity and hurriedly stood up to lead the class in their greeting, though his voice was a bit weak.

During the chemistry lesson, Xu Xing forced himself to focus completely, cramming chemical equations into his brain in an attempt to squeeze out all other thoughts.

After class, he was still full of energy. As classmates moved about in front of him, blocking his view of the blackboard, he grabbed his book and headed to the front of the classroom to copy the example problem written there.

Halfway through copying, his pen paused.

Xu Xing, biting the pen cap, furrowed his brow. He had encountered a particularly puzzling concept. After pondering it for a while, he looked up and saw that the chemistry teacher was still in the hallway answering students’ questions. So, Xu Xing grabbed his book and headed toward the teacher.

His mind was consumed with the unresolved issue in his notes. Taking a few quick steps down from the podium, just as he was about to turn out of the classroom door, he suddenly tripped.

“Damn…”

Xu Xing flailed, grabbing onto the doorframe to avoid falling. He stared in confusion at the ground and saw a thin red string, as thick as an electrical wire, glowing dimly. It was loosely draped over his shoe. One end of the string was attached to the classroom doorframe, while the other snaked its way back into the classroom.

Instinctively, Xu Xing glanced into the room, only to hear a cold voice from behind him: “Class monitor, that fall was pretty weak, huh?”

The voice dripped with sarcasm.

Xu Xing’s train of thought was interrupted. He turned around to see Lu Che casually leaning against the railing behind him, a slight smirk on his lips. “I’m standing this far away, where are you planning to fall?”

Lu Che, uncharacteristically not sporting his usual icy demeanor, was being particularly snarky.

Xu Xing couldn’t understand it. Despite his careful efforts to avoid Lu Che, why did it feel like Lu Che was always finding a chance to tease him?

Frustrated, Xu Xing was about to retort when a tall guy standing next to Lu Che curiously turned around. Xu Xing’s peripheral vision caught sight of the guy’s handsome and chiseled face, which seemed vaguely familiar. But what really caught his attention was the red string dangling near the guy’s crotch.

It was the same guy who was connected to Xiao Shun by the red string!

Xu Xing was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the red string. His eyes lingered on the string for a few seconds before he turned to look inside the classroom, where, sure enough, the red string was connected to Xiao Shun, sitting in the second row of the fourth group.

The guy glanced at Xu Xing, confused, and then, losing interest, turned back around. Casually, he asked Lu Che, “What’s up?”

After asking, the guy noticed that Lu Che’s expression had turned a little colder, and Lu Che, not in a good mood, responded, “Nothing. Get out of here. We’ll talk after school.”

The guy, bewildered, punched Lu Che lightly on the shoulder, joking, “Damn, your temper’s getting worse, huh? Am I bothering you just by standing here? Fine, I’m out.”

Xu Xing didn’t hear the rest of their conversation. When he turned back around, the guy was already walking away. His eyes instinctively followed the guy’s retreating figure, trying to discern if there was anything unusual going on between him and Xiao Shun.

Xu Xing had no idea that his actions might be misinterpreted. But Lu Che, watching from the sidelines, noticed everything. Xu Xing’s eyes had lit up like a 100-watt bulb when he saw the guy, and then he had stared at the guy’s crotch for a good while. Now that the guy was leaving, Xu Xing looked like he didn’t want to stop watching him.

— This is just too _ _, Lu Che thought, too irritated to even find the right words.

His mind in turmoil, Lu Che thought to himself that Xu Xing was just too much. It’s fine if you’re gay, but admit it. If you don’t want to admit it, okay, understandable. But you can’t go around acting like this, gay and yet so indecisive… it’s just frustrating!

Xu Xing, oblivious to Lu Che’s emotional turmoil, was only focused on the fact that he had yet to find another red string besides the one connecting Xiao Shun and the tall guy. Even the string between him and Lu Che had vanished.

Perplexed, Xu Xing wondered, Could Xiao Shun and that guy have made some kind of breakthrough in a short time, triggering the red string? Kind of like a chemical reaction that only happens under specific conditions?

Unable to make sense of it, Xu Xing figured he needed to get closer to Xiao Shun to investigate the situation.

At that moment, Lu Che’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Class monitor.”

Xu Xing turned around blankly.

Lu Che smiled and said, “You sure move on fast, don’t you?”

“…”

For once, Lu Che wasn’t speaking with a frosty tone, but his words still dripped with sarcasm.

Xu Xing didn’t blame Lu Che for misunderstanding him so badly. Helplessly, he sighed, “Dude, you really have me wrong.”

Lu Che laughed and asked, “Are you talking about the ‘you’re wrong to think I’m gay’ part, or the ‘you’re wrong to think I’m interested in your friend’ part?”

Xu Xing was stunned by the question. “What’s the difference?”

Lu Che nodded, explaining, “There’s a big difference. The first one is just literal, but the second is about whether you’re interested in me, my friend, or really just any guy.”

Thanks to Lu Che’s clarification, Xu Xing felt even more cornered. Agitated, he blurted, “I’m straight, okay? Super straight! Just like you!”

Lu Che shrugged, walked past Xu Xing, and into the classroom, tossing back a casual remark, “Who knows?”

Xu Xing glared at the back of Lu Che’s head, wishing he could pry it open and carve the words “I’m super straight” into his brain.

Is it really that hard for people to believe I’m straight?

Xu Xing was stumped by his own question: after all, no straight guy would fall into another guy’s arms three times in one day, and no straight guy would be so fixated on another guy’s crotch.

With a sigh, Xu Xing leaned his book against the wall and knocked his forehead against it several times.

This was utterly hopeless!

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Author’s note: Lu Che has to bend first, so please rest assured, everyone. [fist bump][fist bump][fist bump]

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