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Campus life was something to reminisce about.
With just over two months left before the big exam, mock tests became a weekly ritual.
Xu Musen had always maintained decent grades, though they had slipped recently—thanks to the time he spent fawning over Yao Mingyue. But he still had a solid foundation.
In his previous life, he had been anxious, afraid his grades wouldn’t be good enough to get into the same school as Yao Mingyue. But later, he realized—even if he failed the college entrance exam, Yao Mingyue would likely apply to the same school as him anyway, just to surprise him and, of course, to keep him firmly in her grasp.
For someone like her, who had already achieved financial freedom, choosing a prestigious university wasn’t nearly as important as choosing the right husband.
In a way, she was quite sweet to him.
Unfortunately, Xu Musen simply couldn’t handle it. The only way to escape her clutches was to aim for one of the top-tier universities, ensuring their paths would never cross.
He took a deep breath.
Studying… to avoid being kept by a rich woman?
A true man must forge his own path!
During class, Yao Mingyue often stole glances back at him.
In the past, Xu Musen used to gaze dreamily at her silhouette, sometimes so lost in admiration that he nearly drooled.
Thinking of those moments, Yao Mingyue couldn’t help but feel smug.
But today—no matter how many times she turned around—he never once looked up.
He was completely absorbed in his studies.
Her grip on her pen tightened.
Seriously? Are chemical equations more interesting than me?!
“Bro, you were something else today,” He Qiang said, stretching his neck. “I called you to take a piss, and you didn’t even budge.”
Xu Musen closed his book. “Good kidneys. No urgency.”
“Get outta here!” He Qiang scoffed. “Anyway, after lunch, meet me at the garden behind the sports field.”
Xu Musen raised a brow, eyeing his friend warily. “That’s a couple’s hangout spot. What do you want?”
“Relax! I got something important to tell you.”
Xu Musen chuckled, shutting his book and standing up—just as his gaze met Yao Mingyue’s.
They used to eat lunch together every day. But today, he clapped He Qiang on the shoulder and said, “Come on, buddy, lunch is on me. Let’s grab a chicken leg.”
He Qiang felt the air grow heavier. Yao Mingyue’s expression was unreadable, but the pressure was real.
Torn between loyalty and survival, He Qiang hesitated… and then suddenly clutched his stomach.
“Uhh—nah, I can’t. I gotta hit the restroom first. You go ahead.”
Then, like a slippery catfish, he vanished.
Xu Musen: …
From the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of satisfaction on Yao Mingyue’s face.
She deliberately slowed her pace, clearly waiting for him to speak first.
But Xu Musen remained unfazed. Without hesitation, he turned and jogged straight toward the cafeteria.
Yao Mingyue’s fingers curled into fists.
“Lunchroom warfare” wasn’t just a joke—it was a reality.
At this age, teenagers had the appetites of soldiers preparing for battle. The lunch line was nothing short of a Normandy invasion.
Xu Musen got himself a grilled meat rice bowl, plus a crispy chicken leg. Finding a quiet corner, he dug in.
Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue and her friend, Liu Ruonan, entered the cafeteria.
Her presence alone commanded a certain aura, making people instinctively keep their distance—especially the boys.
They loved to talk about her in private, but in person? They turned into stammering messes, avoiding eye contact like she was royalty.
Thanks to this, Liu Ruonan never had to worry about long lines either.
The two of them grabbed bowls of tonkotsu ramen and fruit salad before scanning the room.
Yao Mingyue’s gaze immediately found Xu Musen.
And—sure enough—there was an empty seat beside him.
“Told you,” Liu Ruonan whispered with a grin. “He’s just too shy. I bet he ran off earlier to save a spot for you.”
The corners of Yao Mingyue’s lips lifted slightly.
They made their way over and sat down.
Liu Ruonan, ever the wingwoman, left an empty seat between them.
Xu Musen was mid-bite when a familiar scent wafted over. He didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
Haunting me even at lunch, huh?
Liu Ruonan, sensing an opportunity, spoke up.
“Xu Musen, stop being so stubborn. If you just apologize, you and Mingyue can still be friends. No need to be all awkward about it.”
Xu Musen chewed his chicken thoughtfully, then met Yao Mingyue’s gaze. She wore that same cool, untouchable expression.
“Why should I apologize?” he asked casually, shifting his attention to Liu Ruonan.
She faltered. “Well… you said some really hurtful things last week…”
“Did I?” Xu Musen tilted his head. “I already admitted I was just a toad dreaming of a swan. I respected her wishes and stopped chasing her. Isn’t that what she wanted?”
The cafeteria went silent.
Yao Mingyue bit her lip, her sharp eyes narrowing.
For the first time, she couldn’t quite read him.
Liu Ruonan, caught off guard, grew indignant. “Come on, don’t be petty! Just because she rejected you doesn’t mean you have to act like this. If you just apologized, you two could still—”
“Who said I saved this seat for you?” Xu Musen cut her off with a smirk. “You sat here yourselves. Don’t flatter yourselves.”
A hush fell over the room.
The clown has been revealed… and her name is Harley Quinn.
Yao Mingyue’s grip on her chopsticks tightened. Hard.
Liu Ruonan, face burning, snapped, “You call yourself a man? Just because your confession failed, you have to be this mean?”
Xu Musen found it all exhausting. The cafeteria had turned into an audience, watching this ridiculous drama unfold.
Without another word, he scarfed down the rest of his food, picked up his tray, and walked away.
“He—he just left?! Mingyue, you—”
A sharp crack.
Yao Mingyue’s chopsticks snapped in half.
Her gaze burned into Xu Musen’s retreating figure, her lips parting slightly.
“Xu. Mu. Sen.”
The spectators quickly averted their eyes.
The summer heat was stifling, yet everyone suddenly felt a chill.
Something told them…
Xu Musen was about to suffer.