Shen Nanxing shook his head and smiled, saying, “Mom, just do it however you want, I have no objections.” He then continued, “Mom, Dad, I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll go rest for a while.”

Hearing that he was tired, Shen’s mother didn’t ask further. “Alright, alright, good boy, go upstairs and rest.”

Watching Shen Nanxing’s figure disappear upstairs, Shen’s mother looked worried and said, “Old Shen, I feel like something’s off with Good Boy’s mood.”

Shen’s father patted her shoulder comfortingly. “Ah Mei, you’re overthinking. Good Boy has been much livelier and more cheerful than before. There’s nothing wrong at all!”

Shen’s mother sighed. “I hope it’s just me overthinking…” She only wished for Good Boy’s peace and health.

After returning to his room, Shen Nanxing found himself sinking into self-doubt. Could it really be this coincidental? Sharing the same birthday as the original owner, having the same face, and even similar habits and interests. So, where did the original owner go? Did he really travel into a novel, or was this a parallel world? Or maybe it was all just a dream?

But… everything happening here felt incredibly real. The Shen family’s love for him, Fu Zhiyuan’s pampering, the care from his classmates… these people made him feel warmth. If all of this was fake, then could anything real exist?

Shen Nanxing lowered his head, feeling deeply melancholic.

As he noticed the red thread on his wrist, he gained a bit of a sense of reality. This red string was a gift from Fu Zhiyuan not long ago, said to bring safety. Shen Nanxing touched the red string on his wrist, trying to stop the wild thoughts swirling in his mind. No, he couldn’t keep thinking like this. He needed to find something to do.

Just then, his phone rang.

“Nanxing, yi yi yi~” Xia Zimu’s voice, sounding raspy, wailed from the other end.

Shen Nanxing shuddered in surprise. “Xia Zimu, speak properly!”

It had been a few days since they last spoke, and now Xia Zimu was acting crazy again. And he was pretending to cry, which was very scary!

After coughing a few times, Xia Zimu returned to his normal voice. “Nanxing, can you believe it? Zhou He actually rejected me?”

Shen Nanxing was completely confused. Was it the kind of rejection he thought it was? Could it be that Xia Zimu didn’t like Lin Bai because he had developed feelings for Zhou He? What? This was so intense—rivals turning into lovers?

“Little Nanxing, are you listening to me?” Xia Zimu asked again, dissatisfied by Shen Nanxing’s silence.

Shen Nanxing cleared his throat, trying not to laugh. “Why did Zhou He reject you? What did you say to him?”

After asking, Shen Nanxing perked up his ears, afraid of missing any details.

Xia Zimu thought for a moment and then organized his thoughts. “Well, I asked him for help, and he refused. I treated him like a brother, but he turned me down. It’s too much!”

He couldn’t exactly tell Nanxing that it was because he was trying to prepare a surprise for him, asking Zhou He for help, only to be rejected. If he said that, how would he prepare the surprise for Nanxing?

Shen Nanxing was expecting to hear something scandalous, but this was it???

“That’s it? Is there more?” Shen Nanxing asked again, unwilling to let it go.

“What do you mean, ‘that’s it’? Nanxing, this is a serious matter!” Xia Zimu could tell from his tone that Shen Nanxing was brushing him off, so he emphasized it more.

“Nanxing, I don’t want to live at his place anymore. Can I come stay with you?”

“No, you’re too noisy,” Shen Nanxing firmly refused.

“Then I’ll be a mute,” Xia Zimu shamelessly continued.

Shen Nanxing was momentarily speechless. He knew that Xia Zimu was not someone who would give up so easily. Xia Zimu couldn’t help but act cute, “So, can I or not?”

“You’re just leaving like this? Zhou He will be so sad!” Shen Nanxing had only recently learned that Xia Zimu had been staying at Zhou He’s apartment for some time, apparently because of a fight at home. But these two were always inseparable. If Xia Zimu really left, Zhou He would definitely not get used to it. So, Shen Nanxing decided to speak up for Zhou He and try to change Xia Zimu’s mind.

Xia Zimu shot a cold glare towards the bedroom and snorted, “Who cares if he’s sad!” Then, his eyes lit up with a sudden idea, “Nanxing, if you don’t want me to stay at your place, that’s fine. But I’ve got a few questions for you, and you have to answer truthfully.”

Shen Nanxing sighed helplessly, “Fine, ask away.”

Xia Zimu cleared his throat strategically, flipped open a thread he had found online, and started reading aloud, “If someone is preparing a surprise for you, what would your reaction be?”

Shen Nanxing furrowed his brows slightly, “I’d be happy.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Zimu’s heart jumped with joy. Didn’t that mean his confession had a high chance of success?

“Nanxing, is there a specific birthday gift you really want?” Xia Zimu decided to focus on Shen Nanxing’s preferences, ensuring the gift hit his sweet spot.

“No.”

Xia Zimu’s voice dropped in disappointment, “How can you not want anything? Think again.”

Shen Nanxing, hearing his tone, assumed Xia Zimu was just asking about a gift and reassured him, “As long as it’s something thoughtful, any gift would be fine.”

Xia Zimu jumped up from the sofa, excited, “Really? Little Nanxing, don’t lie to me~” He felt like happiness was within his grasp.

Shen Nanxing hummed, “Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now?”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Xia Zimu was grinning so widely his mouth almost reached his ears. He happily hummed a tune as he walked into Zhou He’s bedroom, eager to share the joy.

“Zhou He~”

Zhou He had just come out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel around his waist. He wore a cold expression and ignored Xia Zimu, bypassing him to grab some clothes from the wardrobe.

Xia Zimu couldn’t stand being ignored. He reached out and grabbed Zhou He’s arm. “Zhou He, I’m talking to you!”

Zhou He glanced at him coldly. “What’s up?”

Seeing his indifference, Xia Zimu was instantly irritated. “What? Can’t I call your name if there’s nothing urgent? Is your Young Master Zhou’s name so precious?”

Zhou He was pissed by Xia Zimu’s sharp words but didn’t want to lose his temper. He helplessly asked, “What do you want?”

“Nothing!” Xia Zimu shoved him lightly and stormed out of the bedroom.

Zhou He rubbed his sore shoulder from being pushed and sighed helplessly. “What a fiery temper, just a little spark and he explodes!” He thought about changing his clothes and didn’t hurry to chase after him. By the time he was done and came out, Xia Zimu had already disappeared from the living room.