Chapter 1

In September, the heat in Shenglin City remained relentless, with temperatures nearing forty degrees for several consecutive days.

The dormitory air conditioner had been running non-stop, leading to an overload. The school issued a notice, encouraging each college to stagger their electricity usage.

Huang Youyi^[1]FL’s friend, holding an advertising fan in one hand, sat in front of a fan, desperately fanning her neck.

At this hour, the air conditioner couldn’t be turned on, making her whole body sticky with sweat.

“Youyou, I’m so envious of you,” Huang Youyi said, her hand nearly worn out from waving the fan. She wished she had a refrigerator to crawl into.

“I wish I could live outside like you and enjoy air-conditioning freedom.”

They were in their junior year, and right at the start of the term, Youyi^[2]The FL moved out. She had submitted a request to the school, asking to live off-campus.

She said it was her parents’ request.

Youyi had already moved out of the dormitory for half a month.

Today was a dormitory dinner gathering, and after the meal, Youyi came to help her roommates with their assignments.

“Actually, it’s not that great,” Youyi said, saving her files and closing her laptop. Even her pale neck had a light sheen of sweat. “Before, Du Li would at least block me downstairs in the dormitory. Now he’s been blocking me right at my doorstep.”

Huang Youyi unscrewed the bottle cap and gulped down cold water.

Hearing what Youyi said, she angrily responded, “That idiot, he knows you moved out?”

This topic didn’t make Youyi happy.

She had only moved out half a month ago, yet Du Li already found out where she lived. Besides her roommates, no one else should know this.

It was terrifying.

Throughout her life, she had encountered too many people like this, leaving her with terrible, haunting memories. These people clung to her like leeches, becoming a nightmare she couldn’t shake.

She was truly, truly—

Terrified.

Huang Youyi’s heart ached for her, and she sighed, “Our Youyi is just too beautiful.”

Huang Youyi preferred beautiful women over handsome men. She was a fan of one of the famous four beauties in the entertainment industry, and when she first saw Ding Youyi on their dorm move-in day, she instantly liked her.

Ding Youyi was a classic Jiangnan beauty, with a gentle appearance, fair skin, and a small face, even her hair was lovely. Her voice was soft, and when she smiled, it could melt anyone’s heart.

Only someone as beautiful as Ding Youyi could secure the title of Shenglin University’s campus queen for two consecutive years.

But because she looked so gentle and delicate, it made scummy men think she was easy to bully.

Du Li was a prime example.

“I saw him downstairs yesterday. I ran away secretly, so he probably didn’t see me.”

Youyi recalled the incident, still shaken.

“But since he’s found the place, it’s only a matter of time before he starts lurking outside my door.”

Indeed, in today’s society, women living alone are always at a higher risk.

Even though Youyi’s residence had a security system and good protection, and she was extremely cautious, Du Li still managed to find his way to her building.

Since moving out, Youyi had been incredibly careful. She used fake names for receiving deliveries, didn’t open the door unless necessary, and even installed an electronic peephole to monitor the hallway.

Listening to Youyi, Huang Youyi suddenly felt that the freedom of having air conditioning was far less appealing compared to the fear and anxiety she had to endure.

“Why do your parents insist on you living off-campus? At least in the dorm, I could protect you,” Huang Youyi questioned again.

The situation was a bit complicated.

Youyi explained, “Since I was a child, whatever they said went. If I didn’t listen, they would criticize me.”

She had always followed their decisions—what to wear, what to use. They forced her to choose science in high school and then pressured her to study medicine in college. If she ever dared to say “no,” they would respond with—

“Why are you acting like this now? You used to be so obedient.”

What could Youyi do?

They were her parents, after all.

Huang Youyi felt a pang of sympathy.

Being a beauty wasn’t easy either.

“How about finding a boyfriend? That might make Du Li give up,” Huang Youyi suggested thoughtfully.

But then she dismissed the idea herself, “Never mind.”

It wasn’t realistic.

Too many people were chasing after Youyi, and she didn’t fancy any of them.

Besides, Du Li’s twisted mind was so stubborn that even if Youyi had a boyfriend, he might not give up.

The dormitory group chat was constantly buzzing. Youyi opened it and saw that someone had posted a photo in the chat.

It was the back view of a man.

He was tall, likely over six feet, with long, lean legs. His muscular frame was evident under a black T-shirt, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist forming a perfect V-shape. He wore military boots, and his presence exuded an intense aura.

The photo was taken secretly, and his face wasn’t captured.

Sheng Sheng: [This is the Chief Instructor. I heard he was an officer before, only twenty-eight years old, and already a major.]

[You have no idea how scared I was when I took that photo, terrified he’d turn around and catch me.]

The Chief Instructor for this year’s freshman military training is named Fu Cheng. Rumor has it that he’s incredibly handsome, with a strong build, a tough and rugged man. When he appeared, even the campus heartthrob was overshadowed.

Sheng Sheng happened to pass by the field today and was lucky enough to see him.

Even from a distance, you could feel his powerful aura. His facial features were sharp and defined. Just standing there, he made everyone below hold their military postures perfectly.

This man quickly became the talk of the school.

He graduated from the National Defense University, enlisted after graduation, and rose to the rank of major within a few short years. For some unknown reason, he later left the military. The school went through a lot of effort to bring him in as the Chief Instructor this time.

“Yeah, Fu Cheng,” Huang Youyi said, remembering how Youyi had mentioned that she and Fu Cheng were neighbors.

Huang Youyi suddenly came up with a good idea.

“If Du Li really finds your place, you should ask Fu Cheng for help. Du Li would definitely back off.”

After all, they are neighbors. There should be some sense of community, right?

With someone as beautiful as Youyi, no one would just stand by and watch her get bullied.

With a guy like Du Li, Fu Cheng could probably take him down with one hand.

Youyi looked at the photo in the group chat, and a strange fear welled up in her eyes. She swallowed hard, and her porcelain-white cheeks turned even paler from fright.

“I’m not really…”

Youyi paused, then quietly said, “I’m not really familiar with him.”

.

“So what if you’re not familiar? You’re neighbors, living right across from each other. A little interaction, and you’ll get to know each other,” Huang Youyi advised her.

It was already past seven when she left the dormitory. The sunset cast an orange-yellow hue over the air.

Youyi was wearing a pink knitted top and light-colored jeans, revealing her slender, fair arms and a waist so tiny it looked like it could be encircled by a single hand. She was carrying a bag and instinctively glanced around when she reached the bottom of the building.

She had seen Du Li lingering around the area earlier that morning and was worried he might suddenly appear.

After confirming that no one suspicious was around, Youyi finally unlocked the building door.

As she entered, she noticed the elevator ahead was about to close. She hurriedly ran and pressed the button to reopen it.

When she got in and was about to press the button for the 9th floor, a hand reached out and pressed “9” before she could.

The arm had defined muscle lines, and the hand was broad and strong. In the narrow elevator, a familiar scent enveloped her, making Youyi’s heart skip a beat as tension instantly gripped her.

She didn’t dare turn around to look.

She wished she had waited for the next elevator.

The man behind her remained silent, and from the elevator’s mirror, she could vaguely see his dark eyes, filled with a hidden intensity, like a fierce wolf.

Although he had been a soldier, there was an inexplicable hint of menace in his eyes.

Youyi held her breath, afraid even to exhale.

She focused on the numbers on the elevator panel.

1, 2, 3… 8, 9.

Finally… they arrived!

Youyi quickly exited the elevator, followed closely by the man.

This building had two apartments per floor. Youyi lived in 901, and across the hall was 902. She entered her passcode to unlock her door while he opened the door to 902.

Youyi recalled Huang Youyi’s words.

Get to know each other, and you’ll become familiar.

She turned around and called out to him, “Uh—”

Fu Cheng stopped in his tracks.

He turned back and looked at her coldly, lifting his eyelids slightly.

Youyi gathered her courage.

Her features were naturally soft and gentle, like a warm spring, and her eyes were like bright, clear grapes, sparkling with clarity.

“Did you hurt your hand?”

Youyi didn’t dare look into his eyes but noticed the small cut on his wrist, with tiny beads of blood still fresh.

She mustered up her courage, took out a band-aid from her bag, and handed it to him, softly saying, “Here, take this.”

Fu Cheng hadn’t even noticed the injury on his hand.

“It’s nothing,” he replied coolly.

Even the smallest cut still hurts.

Youyi would feel pain from just a paper cut.

Before she could say anything more, Fu Cheng coldly added, “I’m not as delicate as you.”

Youyi’s face turned awkward.

This was exactly why she was afraid of Fu Cheng.

Perhaps… there was some unpleasantness between them.

…Which was probably why he called her delicate.

At 1.66 meters tall and 96 pounds, Youyi formed a stark contrast with Fu Cheng. Her head barely reached his chest, and she had to strain her neck just to look at his face.

His arms were thicker than her thighs.

The vast difference in their physical sizes naturally instilled a sense of fear in her, making him intimidating.

No matter how handsome he was.

It didn’t help.

“You should put it on anyway,” Youyi gently insisted, holding out the band-aid.

Fu Cheng didn’t take it. Instead, he asked, “What’s the matter?”

It was unusual for her to start a conversation with him today.

Youyi’s fingers tightened, and after a moment of internal struggle, she shook her head.

What could she say?

Tell him she was being pursued and needed his help?

How could she say that? Besides, Du Li hadn’t actually done anything yet. Was she supposed to give him a heads-up first?

Forget it. She’d bring it up if something really happened.

“No, it’s nothing,” Youyi replied.

Fu Cheng didn’t press the issue further.

After he closed his door, Youyi also entered her apartment, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

She felt that her relationship with Fu Cheng could be described as “on edge.”

It might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it wasn’t far off.

She squeezed her fingers, which had turned white from the pressure, and the pink band-aid in her hand was now crumpled beyond recognition.

Before taking a shower, she checked the surveillance footage from earlier today on her phone. The surveillance footage only showed her and Fu Cheng throughout, with the only other person being a property cleaner. No one else appeared.

Fortunately.

You Yi sighed with relief, feeling grateful.

She hoped tomorrow would be safe as well.

**

Ayalee: Our FL and her friend share the same first name, Youyi, but have different last names. To avoid confusion, I decided to always refer to the FL’s friend by her full name, Huang Youyi, while referring to the FL simply as Youyi.

Ding Youyi → The FL

Huang Youyi → FL’ s friend.