Zhou Wan understood his underlying meaning, her whole body stiffening.

Lu Xixiao moved closer and closer. Zhou Wan wanted to back away, but her chin was held in his hand, and her body was frozen to the spot by immense shock, only able to widen her eyes in vain.

Lu Xixiao unhurriedly observed her reaction. Just as their lips were about to touch, Zhou Wan abruptly turned her head aside, dodging him.

The movement was too large, and her hand accidentally knocked over a glass cup on the coffee table.

With a "dong," it fell onto the rug.

Lu Xixiao's movement paused, and he maintained his original posture and distance.

Zhou Wan leaned back a little further and lowered her head, her chest heaving from the fright.

It's over.

He's definitely going to be angry...

But who would have thought, the next second, Lu Xixiao started to laugh.

He leaned back on the sofa, laughing with his head tilted. His voice, thick with a nasal tone due to his cold, came from the bottom of his throat, magnetic, deep, and raspy, like a subwoofer.

"I thought you could pretend to be obedient until the end," he said. "Looks like this is all there is to it."

...

Zhou Wan wondered how this person could be so malicious.

He had seen through her long ago, knowing she wasn't as meek and obedient as she appeared on the surface. He didn't ask why, nor did he care which side of her she showed him; he just wanted to see her flustered and blushing.

Zhou Wan's face grew redder.

Lu Xixiao admired her for a moment, then said with a smile, "Go back."

Zhou Wan was taken aback.

He raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have class?"

When Zhou Wan returned to school, she made it just in time for the competition class.

Only she and Jiang Yan had qualified for the national physics competition, so the teacher found a small classroom for the two of them.

When Jiang Yan saw her, he asked in a low voice, "Didn't you say you weren't coming?"

Zhou Wan: "Something came up."

Although Jiang Yan found it a bit strange, he didn't ask any more questions.

After the competition class ended, Zhou Wan packed her schoolbag and walked out.

Gu Meng linked arms with her, chatting idly as they went down the stairs.

Gu Meng had recently fallen in love at first sight with a third-year boy, but she didn't dare ask for his number or do anything proactive. She only dared to keep telling Zhou Wan how good-looking the boy was.

Zhou Wan had no impression of the appearance she described and asked, "Do you have a photo?"

"How would I dare to take a picture of him?" Gu Meng said. "Anyway, you just need to know that he's super, super handsome!"

Zhou Wan thought for a moment and asked, "Compared to Lu Xixiao?"

"Of course Lu Xixiao is better looking," Gu Meng laughed. "He's the universally acknowledged school prince, you know. But too many people like him. Having a crush on him is too painful. Only a fool would like him."

Zhou Wan didn't say anything.

"Zhou Wan!" Jiang Yan ran up from behind.

"What's wrong?"

"Tomorrow is Saturday. Do you want to go to the library to study together?"

"Tomorrow," Zhou Wan thought for a moment. "I'm not sure if I have other things to do tomorrow. I'll message you then."

Jiang Yan nodded. "Alright."

As they reached the school gate, Zhou Wan's steps suddenly faltered.

Lu Xixiao was standing under the crooked-neck tree at the school gate, leaning his back against the trunk, looking languid. The golden sunset shone on him, making everything around him bright.

Many girls were sizing him up.

Suddenly, he looked up and saw Zhou Wan.

Then he saw Jiang Yan standing beside her, and his brow furrowed imperceptibly.

He started walking over.

Zhou Wan's heart suddenly tightened.

Gu Meng also noticed Lu Xixiao but didn't pay much attention until he walked closer and closer, finally stopping in front of Zhou Wan.

"The hospital or the Arcade," he said coolly, his eyes lowered.

Gu Meng's mouth was open wide enough to fit an egg.

Zhou Wan tightly gripped the hem of her school uniform. "The Arcade."

"Let's go, then."

As he spoke, he turned around, not bothering to explain his actions, nor caring in the slightest about the gazes of the many people around them.

Zhou Wan hesitated for two seconds, whispered to Gu Meng, "I'm leaving first," and followed Lu Xixiao without another word.

"Zhou Wan," Jiang Yan suddenly called out to her in a solemn voice.

Zhou Wan's steps halted, and she turned back.

Jiang Yan's brow was tightly furrowed. "Are you really going to hang out with him?"

The moment his words fell, Zhou Wan heard Lu Xixiao's sarcastic scoff.

Afraid they would start fighting like last time, Zhou Wan immediately glanced at his expression. She couldn't see many signs of anger, just pure displeasure.

He couldn't be bothered to waste words on Jiang Yan, nor did he want to become a laughingstock under everyone's watchful eyes.

He picked up Zhou Wan's schoolbag, sliding the two straps off her shoulders and holding it in his hand.

"I'll give you one minute to sort it out." After saying this, Lu Xixiao walked ahead, carrying her schoolbag.

Zhou Wan didn't use up the full minute, because she had no idea how to explain her relationship with Lu Xixiao. She just glanced at Jiang Yan and said softly, "He's not what you think he is."

Regardless of the entanglement their mothers had, regardless of who the real victim was, Lu Xixiao was innocent.

And now she could also be sure that Lu Xixiao was not a bad person.

Perhaps he was selfish, perhaps overly casual, or perhaps fickle in love, but fundamentally, he wasn't a bad person.

Jiang Yan's gaze on her was very complicated. "You're taking his side."

"I'm not taking anyone's side." Zhou Wan shook her head. "Jiang Yan, you are an important friend to me, but you can't restrict who I get close to."

Lu Xixiao deliberately took large strides.

Zhou Wan was panting when she caught up to him. While catching her breath, she asked, "Why did you come over?"

He said coolly, "It was on the way."

"Is your cold better?"

"More or less."

He shortened his strides a little, and Zhou Wan could finally slow down. "Your voice still sounds a bit hoarse. You should take the medicine again tonight before bed. I left it on the coffee table."

"Mm."

His voice remained very faint, sparing with his words as if they were gold. He was still annoyed.

Zhou Wan walked quietly beside him, not knowing how to coax him, so she could only try to minimize her presence, hoping that out of sight would be out of mind for him.

Lu Xixiao didn't say another word to her all the way to the Arcade.

As usual, Zhou Wan went to the counter, watching the store while doing her homework. Lu Xixiao, on the other hand, casually found a game machine to play. At his feet, the ticket dispenser continuously spat out stacks of tickets with a whirring sound.

Zhou Wan hadn't been doing her homework for long when her phone started vibrating incessantly.

A classmate she was on good terms with sent her a string of messages.