Once again, it was just the two of them left in the alley.

They stood facing each other in an awkward silence, the atmosphere so tense it felt as if a crow was flying overhead.

Tang You looked helplessly at the man she had angrily accused of being a pervert just a minute ago.

He seemed to have figured everything out as well and leisurely called her, “Soy Sauce Girl.”

Then, with a lazy demeanor, he leaned in closer, looking down at her as he asked, “Do I really look that much like a bad guy?”

He was standing so close that Tang You could clearly see his sharp features, his amused smile, and the embarrassed and ashamed expression of herself reflected in his eyes.

Their gazes locked, and Tang You’s face burned a bright red, unable to utter a single word.

Her skin was naturally fair, and now, with two bright red patches on her cheeks, she looked inexplicably like a cute little bunny.

Zhou Qinyao found her reaction even more amusing. “Hey, I’m asking you a question.”

Tang You lowered her head, paused for a moment, then suddenly pushed him away. Just like at noon, she ran off without looking back.

Earlier, she had been clear-headed, searching for an exit everywhere but unable to find one.

Now, with her mind in a chaotic state like a headless fly, she managed to run out of the alley in less than two minutes.

Even after returning home for a long time, Tang You couldn’t shake the memory of the intense eye contact she had shared with the man.

It was the first time she had been so close to a man. Back in Haicheng, even when a male classmate called her, Fang Lai would question her for a long time.

Fang Lai was eager to have Tang You mingle with the wealthy young masters of Haicheng. She had taken Tang You to several banquets, where they met a few sons of noble families. These young men were always polite to Tang You, never crossing any lines, and seemed very decent.

However, once, when Tang You hid in the garden to catch her breath, she overheard two people talking—

“What do you think of the Tang family’s daughter?”

“She looks pretty, but she’s too quiet. Probably won’t make much noise in bed, huh?”

“Heh, whether she’ll make noise or not, you’ll have to try to find out.”

“Why don’t you go and try?”

The two men laughed out loud. To them, women were nothing more than commodities, something to be shared and discussed.

Since that day, no matter how much Fang Lai insisted, Tang You never attended another social event. Her understanding and relationship with men ended with that banquet.

But today, she had been so close to a stranger.

Tang You could still remember the man’s slightly roguish smile and the warm scent of tobacco that lightly brushed over her, making her blush.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the man’s partly unzipped jacket and his sharp collarbone.

Tang You ruffled her hair in frustration. How did things turn out this way…

She felt troubled but couldn’t pinpoint the source of her discomfort. So, she picked up her cello, trying to practice and erase, forget what had happened.

She practiced seriously all afternoon, thinking she had moved past the day’s events. But that night, as soon as she closed her eyes, in less than ten seconds, the man’s face flashed in her mind like a spell.

Tossing and turning, Tang You finally sat up and sighed helplessly.

She had mistaken someone for a pervert, even attempting to post a big-character poster about him. Now, after learning the truth, she hadn’t even apologized. No wonder she couldn’t sleep or eat in peace.

This must be what they call a guilty conscience.

Soft, pale moonlight shone on Tang You’s face, her eyes gentle. She quietly looked across the street for a while before finally deciding—

Tomorrow, she would go find that man and apologize.

The next day was Monday, the day Tang You would report to Fifth High School.

C City’s Fifth High School is known for its emphasis on art education, featuring international classes in collaboration with foreign universities as well as regular classes. It attracts numerous good-looking, flamboyant students and is a fashion trendsetter for the entire city.

Tang You didn’t expect to become the center of attention on her first day, especially because she was wearing the school uniform.

In the style-conscious Fifth High School, Tang You’s uniform made her stand out like a relic from an ancient time.

The boys whispered among themselves:

“Did you see the beauty who just transferred to the international class? She’s so soft and obedient, damn, I want to cuddle her!”

“Yeah, right. If you’re going to the international class, you probably have money. If you don’t, just forget it.”

“Hey, don’t you think she’s prettier than Cheng Xuan?”

…