Xu Xing had become immune to Lu Che’s verbal teasing, so he just shot him a glance and didn’t bother responding further.

Distracted, Xu Xing rummaged under his desk for the books and notes he would need for the third period, while continuously pondering the rules regarding the appearance of the red threads:

Last time, when Xiao Shun bumped into Jiang Jize in the cafeteria, the red thread between them had vanished on the spot. From the following day onward, Xu Xing could occasionally see the red threads. The first day, the red threads appeared for about an hour, and the next day, they only showed up for half a class.

Following that, the red threads for Liu Peilian, Lin Peisang, and Huang Mengjiao appeared.

This time, because Xu Xing had helped Liu Peilian untangle her red thread from Lin Peisang’s ankle, the three red threads had temporarily disappeared. As expected, Xu Xing could see everyone’s red threads again today—although the time he could see them was very brief, only about five minutes.

Xu Xing absentmindedly marked a few things on the paper with the pen in his hand. The times when Xiao Shun and Liu Peilian’s red threads appeared separately were about a week apart, and each time the red threads changed, Xu Xing briefly regained the ability to see everyone’s red threads.

Xu Xing also considered that the first time, he had been “pulled” by Xiao Shun’s red thread to push him a little, and the second time, he had actively helped Liu Peilian untangle the red thread around Lin Peisang’s ankle. Whether active or passive, his external influence was involved in both cases.

Xu Xing rested his chin on his hand, shaking the pen in his fingers as he frowned slightly at the numbers and circles on the draft paper. Perhaps he could understand it this way: the separately appearing red threads represented a task. As long as he completed the task, he could temporarily gain the ability to see the red threads for a day or two afterward.

Xu Xing pressed his lips together, feeling that this line of reasoning was understandable for the time being. He interpreted the first few days when he could see the red threads as the threads enticing him, aiming to draw him into the situation.

After all, new products in supermarkets often have three days of free tasting.

But he didn’t know how the duration of the intermittent appearance of the red threads was allocated; only appearing for five minutes today felt too disappointing.

Xu Xing complained a little, and couldn’t help but start thinking about another question: was it that he just couldn’t touch the red thread wrapped around his ankle by Hou Ranmei, or was it that he couldn’t touch all the red threads visible in the crowd?

Xu Xing leaned toward the latter hypothesis.

At first glance, being able to see the red threads didn’t seem to have much practical effect, but the red thread represented someone’s fate or romantic connections. If Xu Xing could see and touch the red threads, it meant he could manipulate other people’s emotions at will…

If he were to lose control and want to take revenge on society, disregarding the heartache of others, he could forcibly pull out the red threads from people’s hearts, disrupting their romantic fates, or create mismatched couples. Others would be unable to resist.

Xu Xing pushed aside his wild thoughts; right now, he had only one wish: he hoped one day he would have the opportunity to untie Lu Che’s bow tie and rescue this neurotic boy who had been led astray by the red threads.

Xu Xing was certain that even if Lu Che were to bend like a mosquito coil now, once he untied the bow tie, Lu Che’s abnormal feelings for him would completely sever.

For now… he would just treat it as caring for a mentally challenged youth.

Xu Xing let out a long sigh.

At that moment, the teacher walked into the classroom, and Xu Xing finally pushed aside his tangled thoughts, preparing for class.

After the third period ended, the biology teacher handed out a paper to be done as homework.

Xu Xing received the practice paper passed down from the student in front, folded it in half carelessly, and glanced at the fill-in-the-blank questions: Red blood cells transport _ and _.

He picked up a ballpoint pen and casually filled in “oxygen” and “a portion of carbon dioxide.”

Just as he wrote the last word, he heard Lu Che’s light laugh from behind, “Class monitor, do you know why my red blood cells are quite busy?”

Xu Xing completely didn’t want to deal with Lu Che and continued looking at the questions.

Suddenly, he felt a weight on his shoulder, and then he heard Lu Che whispering in his ear, “Because, you see, my red blood cells not only transport oxygen and some carbon dioxide, but they also have to transport a special substance called ‘Xu Xing.’ I’m addicted to it like I’m on drugs.”

You can’t live without oxygen, and you can’t live without Xu Xing either.

Xu Xing felt his ears heat up from Lu Che’s breath, and he shrank his neck, moving toward the window. He pushed Lu Che’s face away and said irritably, “Shut up.”

Lu Che laughed triumphantly and returned to his seat.

That afternoon, Tang Mian had to accompany Liu Peilian for lunch, and Wang Zicong said that his girlfriend’s friend invited him out for a meal, so he wouldn’t be going to the cafeteria with Xu Xing.

Xu Xing didn’t mind eating alone; he just found Wang Zicong’s statement a bit strange: his girlfriend’s friend invited him out for a meal?

Xu Xing couldn’t help but ask, “Then what about your girlfriend?”

Wang Zicong said, “She doesn’t like Japanese food~ I’m off then.”

Xu Xing replied, “Go ahead.”

Just as Wang Zicong left, Xu Xing overheard a conversation from a few people at the back of the classroom.

“Ah Che, off to eat.”

“I’ll wait for the class monitor to go with me. You guys go ahead.”

Xu Xing: “……”

He turned around just in time to see Lu Che turning his head, their eyes meeting. Lu Che smiled as if it were a given, asking, “Class monitor, are you leaving?”

Xu Xing emphasized, “I just want to go eat by myself.”

Lu Che immediately said, “Don’t! It’s too pitiful for me to eat alone.”

Xu Xing glanced toward the back door of the classroom, where Fu Dai’s figure had just disappeared from view.

Without hesitation, Xu Xing called out, “Fu—”

Lu Che quickly covered Xu Xing’s mouth, the name he failed to call out becoming a warm breath in Lu Che’s palm, hot and ticklish.

Xu Xing broke free from Lu Che’s hand, his expression displeased.

Lu Che balled his fist, lingering over the warmth and softness of his hand, smiling: “Class monitor, come eat with me. I’ll treat!”

Xu Xing, whose irritation had been worn down by Lu Che, walked ahead in silence, holding a small pack of tissue, while Lu Che followed closely behind him.

Suddenly, Xu Xing remembered that in middle school, he had also been pursued by a clingy girl, and they had walked like this, one in front and one behind. Xu Xing, with his long legs, walked quickly, while the girl chased after him every day until she was exhausted, ultimately having to give up.

But now, Lu Che’s legs were even longer than his…

Xu Xing inwardly cursed, slowing his hurried pace and tacitly allowing Lu Che to walk alongside him.

The two stood in line at the cafeteria’s second counter, the two handsome guys over six feet tall standing together drew extra attention, especially the tall, handsome guy in the back, who was well-known throughout the school as the cold, aloof school heartthrob.

The hype around the title of “school heartthrob” was extremely high. Additionally, everyone who had seen Lu Che in person unanimously agreed that the title suited him well.

However, the description of “cold” was somewhat controversial; bystanders felt it didn’t quite fit. If anyone were to be called cold, it was clearly the other handsome guy standing next to the school heartthrob.

After Xu Xing finished ordering at the counter, he turned his back and said, “Swipe the meal card.”

Without a single complaint, Lu Che swiped his card and said, “You don’t have to save money for me, class monitor. Order a few more dishes!”

Xu Xing ignored him, holding his tray as he walked to the utensil rack, picking up clean chopsticks and a spoon. He casually scanned the bustling cafeteria for a seat and started walking as soon as Lu Che finished getting his food.

The two found a seat and sat down. Xu Xing handed Lu Che his utensils, but Lu Che took both Xu Xing’s and his own utensils, saying, “Wait a second.”

Xu Xing watched as Lu Che turned back, walking to the hot water dispenser to rinse off the utensils with boiling water for disinfection.

Xu Xing: “……”

How could this person drink from a cup he just rinsed?

There was no other explanation than being possessed.

Xu Xing was quiet while eating, and fortunately, Lu Che was also quiet. The only conversation was when Lu Che asked him, “Why do you like fish so much? Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

Xu Xing replied dismissively, thinking to himself: Then why do you like sweet milk tea so much? Don’t you ever get tired of that?

After lunch, Lu Che followed Xu Xing back to the classroom. Xu Xing was doing homework while Lu Che lay on the desk, stretching his left hand to press against Xu Xing’s back, claiming he was giving him a back massage.

Xu Xing, impatient, brushed Lu Che’s hand away with his left hand while working on a math problem.

Xu Xing was very focused as he wrote, and after spending more than ten minutes solving the last big problem on the exam paper, he put down his pen and stretched, only then realizing—

His left hand had been in the position of being on his back, held by Lu Che.

Xu Xing: “……”

Had he really become stupid from doing problems?

He initially wanted to shake Lu Che’s hand off vigorously, but when he turned his head and saw Lu Che sleeping with his earphones in, resting on his arm, he had to suppress his anger.

Lu Che looked peaceful as he slept, but when Xu Xing slightly turned, he accidentally drew back the curtain nearby, allowing a bit of sunlight to fall on Lu Che’s eyelashes, disturbing his sleep and causing him to frown slightly.

“……”

Looking at Lu Che’s sleeping face, Xu Xing thought, he couldn’t possibly get mad and wake him up, right?

With mixed feelings, Xu Xing sighed and carefully pulled his left hand from Lu Che’s grip, then closed the curtains tightly to block the mischievous sunlight from outside.

He pinched his left hand that had maintained the awkward position for more than ten minutes; his arm was slightly sore. Feeling uncomfortable, he couldn’t help but complain about Lu Che: If he wanted to take a nap, couldn’t he go back to the dorm? Why did he have to show off by following him back to the classroom and sleeping on the desk, which was uncomfortable? Xu Xing really didn’t understand what Lu Che was thinking.

Getting up to get hot water, Xu Xing quietly moved his chair, and as he turned back, he caught sight of the earphone wire sliding down onto Lu Che’s face, caught at his nose, hanging just below it.

Xu Xing wrinkled his nose slightly, feeling the earphone wire was blocking his breathing, which must be uncomfortable.

After hesitating for a while and feeling a bit guilty, he glanced around the classroom to confirm no one was paying attention to him, and then gently brushed the earphone wire away from Lu Che’s face, letting it drape down along the collar of Lu Che’s school uniform.

Xu Xing felt silly for doing this, and an immediate wave of self-disgust surged within him—

What’s it to you? Can a single earphone wire block someone’s breathing? It’s your brain that’s blocked!

Xu Xing angrily grimaced and picked up his thermos, heading to the front of the classroom to get some water.