Clarifications:

1. Red threads or Red String symbolize destined love—a connection for life, as told in mythological stories. The threads and fate are intertwined.
2. The red threads have a mischievous side.
3. The protagonist gets the Eyes for Love or Yin-yuan ability and must work part-time helping the red threads in exchange.
4. All side characters are here to teach the protagonist how to love.

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A soft breeze heralded the end of summer and the start of autumn, carrying the faint, refreshing scent of magnolia. But the pleasant wind couldn’t ease Xu Xing’s heavy mood.

Rubbing his tired eyes, Xu Xing’s face lacked any trace of a typical senior high schooler’s enthusiasm. He looked like a wilting leaf, shriveled and drooping as if eager to be the first to signal the arrival of autumn.

A girl with shoulder-length hair suddenly caught up to him from behind, slapping him playfully on the backside.

“Morning, Xingxing!”

Her voice was bright and cheerful.

Xu Xing turned around and saw Tang Mian, her mouth busy with a lollipop. She was decked out in new gear: a red backpack, red sneakers, a shiny red lanyard for her school ID, and even her lollipop was watermelon-flavored and red.

Her vibrant outfit clashed vividly with the dark blue school uniform, drawing plenty of stares.

Tang Mian and Xu Xing had been childhood friends, having grown up in the same neighborhood. Although their families had moved to different apartment complexes after middle school, the two had always been in the same school and class. Even the middle school lottery system, which determined school placement, couldn’t split them up.

Xu Xing didn’t comment on Tang Mian’s latest fashion choices, instead wearing a look of utter resignation as he trudged up the stairs.

Tang Mian chuckled at his gloomy expression, giving him a pat on the shoulder. “What’s wrong with you? Why so down so early in the morning?”

Xu Xing sighed silently. He hadn’t just been feeling down that morning—he had been in a funk for three whole days.

The thing was, three days ago, Xu Xing woke up and suddenly got a strange new ability: he could see red threads connecting people who were in love.

A power like this should’ve been exciting, but Xu Xing was anything but thrilled. That’s because he discovered he, too, had a red thread attached to him.

And it was connected from his left hand… to his “member”.

Xu Xing: “…”

This meant that if his new ability was legit, then he was doomed to be single for life.

For a teenager on the brink of adulthood, finding out that he was destined to be alone was like the ultimate cruel joke from fate. It felt like receiving an ominous, early birthday gift wrapped in both sincerity and 90% maliciousness.

While Xu Xing was immersed in his sorrow, Tang Mian took his hand and stuffed a milk-flavored lollipop into his palm, smiling as she tried to cheer him up. “No obstacle is too big to overcome. Here, have a candy.”

Suddenly, Tang Mian’s peripheral vision caught sight of two figures at the staircase landing ahead. Her attention immediately shifted, and she didn’t notice Xu Xing’s heartbroken expression as he stared blankly at his left hand.

Tang Mian nudged him with her elbow, the lollipop in her mouth tilting upwards as she pointed with a nod. “Wanna bet on how many couples will pop up in our class this semester? I’m really curious who’ll be the first pair!”

Xu Xing glanced up. Two of their classmates, a boy and a girl, were walking together, chatting and laughing. The girl, Yu Canchun, was the biology class representative, and the boy was her deskmate, Liu Zekun.

Tang Mian whispered conspiratorially, “Liu Zekun’s definitely crushing on Yu Canchun. It’s so obvious! I just wonder if they’re dating already.”

Xu Xing casually pocketed the lollipop and said with certainty, “No way. Liu Zekun doesn’t stand a chance.”

Tang Mian shot him a skeptical look. “Why not? Don’t tell me you’ve already got something going on with Yu Canchun behind the scenes?”

Unfazed, Xu Xing replied, “Yu Canchun likes someone else.”

Intrigued, Tang Mian leaned in, pressing for details. “Who did you hear that from? Who does she like? Is it someone from our class?”

“Her…” Xu Xing’s eyes drifted ahead, where he saw a vibrant red thread emerge from Liu Zekun’s chest, coiling around Yu Canchun’s ankle. But from Yu Canchun’s chest, a red thread extended backward—heading in Xu Xing and Tang Mian’s direction…

By the time they reached the third floor, where their classroom was, Xu Xing saw that Yu Canchun’s red thread bypassed him, took a sharp turn, and disappeared down the stairs. His curiosity piqued, Xu Xing stepped back and peeked down the stairwell—

Just as someone coming up the stairs bumped into him head-on.

“Hey… careful!”

Tang Mian’s shrill warning nearly pierced Xu Xing’s eardrums.

Instinctively, he tried to step aside, but his foot slipped, and he stumbled forward like a clumsy bird with clipped wings—straight into a solid chest.

The person who caught Xu Xing stood on the step below, only slightly shorter than him.

He hadn’t moved at all, raising his right hand to protect the half-open cup of hot milk tea he was holding.

“Watch where you’re going.”

The boy’s voice was calm, but the rich aroma of the milk tea drifted into Xu Xing’s ears and nose.

Xu Xing suddenly locked eyes with a pair of sleepy eyes, but the cold and indifferent look in them seemed to create a distance between their closely pressed bodies. Feeling a chill run through him, Xu Xing cursed inwardly and hurriedly apologized.

Tang Mian pulled Xu Xing away, and during the brief moment when Xu Xing turned to talk to her, saying “It’s fine,” the boy had already walked up the stairs, heading to the left side of the hallway, leaving only his back in view.

Xu Xing was still thinking about Yu Canchun’s red string. He looked down the stairs but couldn’t find any trace of it. Just then, he heard Yu Canchun’s sweet voice say, “Good morning, Lu Che!”

A cold voice responded, “Not early.”

Instinctively, Xu Xing turned his head. He saw Yu Canchun standing further down the hallway, with Liu Zekun standing behind her. But all of Yu Canchun’s warm smile was directed at the boy walking toward her—Lu Che.

The red string on Yu Canchun’s chest floated and swayed, and finally, it tied itself to Lu Che’s ankle.

—To be precise, most of the red strings floating from all directions gathered around Lu Che’s ankles.

Xu Xing was dumbfounded. The bunch of red strings around Lu Che’s ankle could probably be unwound and knitted into a cardigan! Xu Xing wondered how Lu Che managed to walk around without feeling as if his legs were weighed down.

Tang Mian murmured beside him, “I have to admit, Lu Che is really handsome. No wonder he instantly became the school’s heartthrob after just one basketball game…”

Lu Che was half a head taller than Xu Xing, who was already 1.8 meters tall. His features were sharp, his skin pale, and he had a great physique. His aloofness only added to the allure, drawing the attention of countless girls. Lu Che had transferred to the school at the start of the second semester of sophomore year. He quickly made a name for himself by leading his class team to victory over a team from Class Four, which had four athletic students thought to be unbeatable. Later, he represented the school in the city’s high school basketball tournament, where he rose to fame during the round-robin games. Not only did he bring home the championship trophy, but he also won the hearts of countless boys and girls.

Although Xu Xing didn’t want to agree with Tang Mian’s praise, the mass of red strings around Lu Che’s ankles was undeniable proof. If one red string symbolized one admirer, then that bunch of red strings must represent dozens of people.

Xu Xing’s sharp eyes caught sight of one particularly bright red string extending in his direction, threading between his legs.

Besides being able to see the red strings, Xu Xing could also feel their presence. He nudged the bright red string with the tip of his shoe, curious to see where it led. But just as he turned to trace its path, Tang Mian interrupted him. “Hey, Xing Xing, did you do something to upset Yu Canchun?”

Xu Xing was baffled and asked, “What? How could I? Why do you ask?”

He had barely any interaction with Yu Canchun, so how could he have offended her?

Tang Mian shrugged, half-joking and half-serious. “Maybe she was running for class president too, and you ended up winning. Now, you’re rivals.”

Tang Mian wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but when Yu Canchun called out to Lu Che earlier, she seemed to glance at Xu Xing with a hint of hostility.

Xu Xing found her speculation plausible. “If I’ve unknowingly offended someone… well, there’s not much I can do.”

Kind of like… with Lu Che.

Xu Xing thought back to two days ago, when he first realized he had the “yin-yuan eye.”^[1]Ability to see Red Thread that connect two destined lovers. He spent the entire day feeling anxious and, after much internal debate, decided to confess to his older sister, hoping for some advice and comfort.

His sister listened carefully, then sternly told him, “Keep this a secret from everyone for now. Don’t overthink it… just go with the flow.” Afterward, she left him alone to “think things through.”

Xu Xing, overwhelmed, returned to his room. His mind was a jumble of thoughts, and he soon gave up trying to make sense of anything.

Twenty minutes later, his sister opened the door to his room. Xu Xing assumed she had come back to comfort him. Instead, she said something completely off-topic: “Lu Che… is he the guy who transferred to your class last semester?”

Xu Xing: “…”

In that moment, Xu Xing’s mood soured even more. Though they had no real connection before, his sister’s comment made Xu Xing declare, at least in his own mind, that he and Lu Che were now sworn enemies.

·

Xu Xing and Tang Mian walked to the end of the hallway and found the door to Class 3-7.

Tang Mian stood in the hallway, looking around and muttering, “Oh no! Our classroom is on the outermost part of the building, with no shade. Come next May and June, we’ll probably melt in the heat. Ugh, I miss our old Class 2-7.”

They had moved from Class 2-7 in Building B to Class 3-7 in Building A, just across a ten-meter-long bridge. But the relocation also signified their transition from “almost seniors” to full-fledged seniors, pushing them into the relentless life of 12th graders.

Xu Xing walked into the classroom, which was as noisy as ever. The one-month summer session hadn’t managed to impose the discipline and seriousness expected of seniors, and the five-day break had undone whatever progress they’d made, reverting them to their usual rowdy selves.

The only difference was that Xu Xing now saw many crisscrossing red strings floating around the classroom. However, unlike Tang Mian, he wasn’t particularly interested in the gossip, nor did he have the energy to track down which string connected to which couple. He glanced around indifferently and returned to his seat.

Xu Xing’s deskmate had already built a wall of books on the desk, two tall stacks with a small space in the middle hiding an open box of Pocky sticks. His deskmate, holding a small bag of chocolate-covered peanuts, was happily munching away. When he saw Xu Xing, he offered, “Want some?”

The hand reaching out to Xu Xing was chubby and pale, with two chocolate peanuts rolling around in the palm.

Xu Xing’s deskmate was Wang Zicong, a chubby boy with a constant smile on his face, his peach blossom eyes always squinting with mirth. He looked like a lucky mascot but was actually a classic “short and wealthy” type. Wang Zicong’s family was in real estate, and when the school built its gymnasium, his father had donated a large sum of money.

Xu Xing pulled the entire bag of chocolate peanuts from the hidden compartment, confiscating them all. “Eating again? All you think and do is Eat, —didn’t you say you were dieting? Get on a scale and see if you’ll still feel like eating.”

Wang Zicong’s bright smile instantly deflated, and he nodded pitifully. “I’m eating, of course I’m eating. I already weigh over 200 pounds, and the base number is so big that one day’s eating won’t make a noticeable difference.”

Xu Xing: “…”

Tang Mian grabbed a handful of the chocolate peanuts from Xu Xing’s hand, popped a couple into her mouth, then pinched Wang Zicong’s chubby cheeks, saying, “Our little prince already has a girlfriend, so what’s there to worry about?”

Xu Xing felt a sharp pang at that.

Not only did Wang Zicong have a girlfriend, but she was also incredibly beautiful! Fair-skinned, stunning, with a slim waist and perfect curves!

When they stood together, they looked like a beautiful mom holding her chubby son—not at all a good match. Yet here was Xu Xing, tall, handsome, and alone, with only the company of his “five sisters” (his fingers).

As Xu Xing stared at the red string rooted in Wang Zicong’s chest, the sight only made him more irritated, and his mood plummeted further.

Tang Mian’s seat was right next to Wang Zicong’s, and the two of them were chatting and laughing. Xu Xing, however, had no interest in joining their meaningless conversation. Feeling melancholy, he propped his head on one hand and absentmindedly chewed on a Pocky stick.

Just as Xu Xing was drowning in his own sorrows, a classmate walked by, entering Xu Xing’s line of sight and instantly brightening his mood—

A hazy red string vanished into the boy’s hand, and the other end disappeared into his pants!

Xu Xing could barely contain his excitement.

Upon discovering another “lifelong solo,” Xu Xing suddenly felt a sense of camaraderie and joy at finding someone in the same boat.

Beaming, Xu Xing called out, “Hey, Xiao Shun…”

Xu Xing was about to casually greet his classmate when a loud shout came from the back door: “Hey, Lu Che!”

The deep male voice drowned out Xu Xing’s greeting, and both he and Xiao Shun looked toward the door.

At the back door stood a tall boy, leaning lazily against the doorframe. Xu Xing took one glance and could clearly see that a red string was attached to the boy’s crotch. As soon as Xu Xing’s gaze landed on it, the string seemed to glow brighter.

Originally loose and dragging on the ground, the red string suddenly became vibrant.

Instinctively, Xu Xing followed the string with his eyes. As Xiao Shun turned around after throwing away the trash, the red string attached to the boy at the door tightened, and its other end slid along the seam of Xiao Shun’s pants…

…and disappeared inside.

“???”

Xu Xing froze, his expression blank, and the biscuit stick in his mouth dropped to the floor, breaking into several pieces.

This situation with Xiao Shun was beyond Xu Xing’s comprehension. He stared at Xiao Shun’s pants seam, wishing his gaze could follow the string in to investigate.

Xiao Shun and the boy at the door had no interaction, not even eye contact, yet after seeing the boy, Xiao Shun hurriedly lowered his gaze and quietly returned to his seat.

His expression remained calm, but Xu Xing felt that every move Xiao Shun made was deliberate.

Xu Xing’s heart pounded wildly.

The joy he felt earlier, eager to bond with Xiao Shun, had completely evaporated. Now, dark clouds gathered in his mind, and an overwhelming sense of unease swept over him like a storm.

Driven by some instinct, Xu Xing turned his head to look behind him, and what he saw instantly froze his racing heart! There was clearly… a red string under his seat.

Xu Xing’s eyes widened in disbelief. He shot up from his seat, spread his legs apart, and bent down to see—sure enough, the red string was nestled right between his legs.

—Exactly like Xiao Shun’s situation.

Xu Xing: Excuse me???

His mind went blank, and in a daze, he bent down several more times to double-check.

The result? He had no choice but to accept it.

Tang Mian, who was leaning against Wang Zicong’s desk, lazily glanced at the floor near Xu Xing’s feet and asked casually, “What’s wrong? Did something fall?”

The sound of crunching biscuits filled the air as Tang Mian chewed away.

Xu Xing didn’t respond.

He numbly reached out, grabbed the red string, and gave it a pull.

The red string quivered and suddenly tightened, while the other strings tangled around it seemed to retreat, as if clearing a path for Xu Xing’s red string to claim territory.

Xu Xing followed the now taut string, his gaze trailing it until the end where it disappeared into the crotch of the person sitting behind him—a certain boldly tied bow.

“…”

Xu Xing’s eyes nervously crawled upward, his trembling hand gripping the red string, which quivered slightly with his movement. That slight tug caused Lu Che—who had been engrossed in his phone—subconsciously to glance in Xu Xing’s direction.

Lu Che’s side profile was bathed in the golden morning light, softening the sharp angles of his face and adding a touch of warmth. Unfortunately, this was just an illusion brought on by the bright sunshine. In reality, Lu Che was far from approachable.

Their eyes met.

Xu Xing was stunned.

Lu Che was expressionless.

Xu Xing: “…”

Suddenly, Xu Xing felt the thing in his hand slip out of his grasp. Reflexively, he reached to grab it—but the vivid red string had already dissolved into a phantom, slipping through his fingers like air.

He couldn’t touch the string anymore!?

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The author has something to say: Here is Xue Gong Risheng. It’s nice to meet you (again)~ [bows]

The long-delayed new chapter… I finally opened the pit before Xu Xing’s “matchmaking eye” goes blind! [covers face]