“I’m only doing this for you!” Ye Qingyang felt exhausted. It’s not like she’s my wife—why would I care so much?
He sighed inwardly, helpless. “No, I was just saying it casually.”
“Casually?”
“Yeah.” Ye Qingyang smiled at him, looking obedient and harmless.
Lu Jingcheng snorted. “Stop worrying about pointless stuff.”
Eating from your own bowl while eyeing someone else’s pot—liking guys isn’t enough, now you’re even thinking about some girl? What kind of hidden scumbag behavior is this?
Dissatisfied, Lu Jingcheng lectured him, “Do you know what kind of person is the most annoying?”
“What?”
“A two-timing scumbag,” Lu Jingcheng said. “Especially the kind that toys with a young girl’s feelings.”
Ye Qingyang: ????
Why bring this up out of nowhere? What does that have to do with him? He hadn’t played with any girl’s feelings!
He hadn’t even played with a boy’s!
He was upright, pure-hearted—he hadn’t even been in a relationship, okay?!
Ye Qingyang didn’t understand, but in a situation like this, agreeing was the safest move. Besides, what Lu Jingcheng said wasn’t wrong.
“You’re right,” he nodded.
“So stay away from Yu Wan.”
Ye Qingyang got it!
So this was a warning! Afraid he’d be interested in Yu Wan? Come on, that was underestimating him. You don’t go after your friend’s girl—was he that kind of person?
Obviously not.
“Don’t worry, Lu-ge. I’ll stay far away from her.”
He made a cheering gesture. “I’m on your side. I support you—you’re the best.”
Lu Jingcheng was satisfied.
He lifted his chin proudly again, thinking: as expected, Ye Qingyang’s true love is still him. Someone like Yu Wan was probably just a fallback since Ye Qingyang couldn’t have what he really wanted.
Look—just one word from him, and Ye Qingyang immediately pledged loyalty.
Lu Jingcheng felt pleased again, convinced his little admirer was still completely devoted to him.
Still, Ye Qingyang had bent himself into a pretzel trying to settle for second best—not even another boy, but a girl. That needed correcting. Otherwise, one day he might end up seeing Ye Qingyang’s name in some marriage fraud headline!
So he continued his lecture. “Not just Yu Wan—other girls too. No early relationships. And absolutely no playing with girls’ feelings. No marriage fraud!”
Ye Qingyang: …Bro, how did you jump from teenage dating to marriage fraud?
Did your Chinese teacher know your imagination ran this wild?
He could only nod. “I’m not a scumbag. Playing with feelings? Marriage fraud? Can’t you think a little better of me?”
Lu Jingcheng snorted, thinking: you’re not? You’re just being watched by me—bold thoughts, no courage. If I didn’t keep an eye on you, you’d probably be walking to school with Yu Wan tomorrow, and the day after she’d already be secretly in love with you!
Then you’d be sneaking around holding hands, hugging in secret, kissing behind people’s backs—dating before even graduating!
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed—and the more irritated he became.
Ye Qingyang watched his expression shift from critical to dissatisfied to outright angry, completely baffled.
Big bro… what did you just imagine now? Care to share?
But clearly, Lu Jingcheng had no intention of explaining.
He let out a “hmph,” then before Ye Qingyang could react, slung an arm around his shoulders. “Come on, let’s eat.”
Curious, Ye Qingyang asked, “What were you just thinking? Your expression changed three times in a minute.”
Lu Jingcheng looked down at him, thinking: and you have the nerve to ask? Don’t you have any self-awareness?
“Nothing,” he said. “Just realized you’re pretty capable.”
Trying to charm girls too, huh? Impressive.
Ye Qingyang: …
Well, he also thought he was pretty impressive, but how did Lu Jingcheng figure that out?
“How so?” he asked.
From you trying to line up a backup option.
But Lu Jingcheng didn’t say it. With him around, Ye Qingyang wouldn’t get far anyway. All he had to do was sacrifice himself a little and keep a close watch.
Sigh… what a selfless, fearless person he was!
“Anyway, no dating early. And no messing with girls’ feelings.”
Ye Qingyang: …
He’d already said he wouldn’t!
Why was he being forcefully labeled like this?!
“Do you want me to swear to the heavens or something?” he asked helplessly.
Lu Jingcheng kept his arm around him, calm. “No need. From today on, I’ll keep an eye on you. Even if you want to, you won’t be able to.”
Ye Qingyang laughed. “What if you’re the one who starts dating early?”
You and Yu Wan—falling in love before graduation, working hard for love, walking a tightrope for love!
And you still have the nerve to say I want that? You’re the one who wants it!
He teased, “What if I don’t date, but you do? That’d be awkward.”
“What nonsense are you thinking?” Lu Jingcheng flicked his forehead. Still dreaming about him dating early—this guy must be obsessed with the idea of dating him.
Lu Jingcheng could practically picture it—nine out of ten nights, Ye Qingyang probably dreamed of hugging, kissing, lifting him up.
Sneaky hand-holding, secret hugs, hidden kisses.
Heh. Wishful thinking. He wasn’t going to indulge him.
“Cut the nonsense. I’m not dating early.”
Ye Qingyang chuckled. “You know what a flag is?”
“What, you think I’ll go back on my word?”
“You won’t?”
Lu Jingcheng pinched his cheek. “Definitely not.”
Bad students didn’t have the qualifications to date anyway. If you didn’t date, teachers already had issues with you—if you did, the office would basically become your second home.
“You should focus on studying,” he said, ruffling Ye Qingyang’s hair. “Improve your grades first, then think about anything else.”
“You should study too,” Ye Qingyang replied. “You can ask Yu Wan for help.”
“Why are you bringing her up again?” Lu Jingcheng shot him a look. “You want her to help you improve your grades?”
“You,” Ye Qingyang poked him. “She should help you.”
“I don’t need it,” Lu Jingcheng said. “You’ve got the nerve to worry about me? You’re last place. Worry about yourself first.”
“If I improve, will you improve too?” Ye Qingyang asked, looking up at him.
“Of course,” Lu Jingcheng said, not believing he could improve much anyway.
Ye Qingyang smiled. Then you’re doomed.
“Deal.”
“Deal.”
They ate, went back to the dorm, and sat back-to-back doing homework.
Ye Qingyang, as usual, slacked off for a long while before rushing to finish a few easy problems.
Lu Jingcheng wasn’t much different—he didn’t want to do anything that required thinking, so he only did the simplest questions.
When time was up, they checked each other’s work.
Ye Qingyang couldn’t stop shaking his head. With this, you still dare make a deal with me?
Lu Jingcheng sighed. With this, you still dare make a deal with me?
The two “fake underachievers” looked at each other—another day of worrying about each other’s grades.
—
The next morning, Lu Jingcheng woke up a bit late. Living closer gave him confidence—he strolled into school with only eight minutes left before morning reading.
Ye Qingyang wasn’t in a rush either, holding a jianbing and chatting as they walked.
Suddenly, someone rushed past from behind, moving too fast to stop, and slammed straight into Lu Jingcheng.
Annoyed, Lu Jingcheng turned to snap at them—only to realize it was Yu Wan.
She looked startled. At her feet was her dropped sandwich—pork had fallen out, the bread now dirty with dust.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I saw I was about to be late and rushed. I didn’t mean to bump into you.”
She looked guilty, a little pitiful.
Lu Jingcheng couldn’t bring himself to get angry at a girl. “It’s fine.”
“Thank you.” She crouched down, picked up the ruined sandwich, and headed toward a trash can.
Seeing her breakfast ruined, Ye Qingyang thought—she is the female lead. Helping her might earn some future payoff.
So after she stood up, he held out his jianbing. “Here.”
Yu Wan: ???
Lu Jingcheng: !!!
Yu Wan was surprised.
Lu Jingcheng was furious!
What was this?! Flirting with a girl right in front of him?!
Didn’t I just lecture you yesterday about not being a scumbag?!
He grabbed Ye Qingyang’s hand and pulled it back. “What are you doing?”
Ye Qingyang thought—right, she’s Lu Jingcheng’s future girlfriend. This should be his moment.
So he tried to assist. “Lu-ge, her breakfast is dirty. You should give her yours.”
Lu Jingcheng: ?
??
Was Ye Qingyang insane?! Offering his own was one thing—but telling him to do it too?!
Where did his possessiveness go?!
Didn’t he just say yesterday that I was his true love?!
Seeing Lu Jingcheng’s bad expression, Yu Wan quickly said, “No need. I was the one who bumped into him. It’s my fault. I’ll just buy some bread later.”
Lu Jingcheng glanced at her. “Good that you know. Now go.”
She left immediately, apologizing again before she went.
Watching her leave, Ye Qingyang sighed in frustration. “You’re way too straight-laced.”
“What else should I be?” Lu Jingcheng said righteously. “I’m not some lovestruck fool.”
Ye Qingyang: …
He covered his face. Being a wingman was too hard. Once these two got together, they better give him the biggest red envelope possible.
Otherwise, all this effort would be wasted!
Seeing him cover his face like he couldn’t bear to look, Lu Jingcheng got even more annoyed.
“What was that just now? Offering her breakfast—and telling me to do it too. Are you crazy? Trying to make me show kindness to someone else? Was that on purpose? A setup?”
Get me to give it first, then act pitiful so I have to comfort you?
Scheming! Too scheming!
All your brainpower goes into this, no wonder your grades suck!
Ye Qingyang sighed. “What setup? I just thought her breakfast got dirty, so I wanted to help. But you didn’t like me helping her, so I thought—you help her instead, and you wouldn’t be upset.”
“Why would I help her?” Lu Jingcheng said. “Someone drops their breakfast and you want to help—since when are you this kind?”
Because she’s the female lead! Your future wife!!
Helping her earns favor with the story, with the readers, with the author—you get good outcomes!
Clearly, Lu Jingcheng didn’t get it.
Because the next second, right in front of Ye Qingyang, he let go of his own breakfast.
Plop. The bag of buns hit the ground.
Lu Jingcheng smiled. “My breakfast fell too. It’s dirty now. Give me yours.”
Ye Qingyang: …
Ye Qingyang was stunned.
This wasn’t a proud peacock—this was a grade school kid!
So childish!
Lu Jingcheng held out his hand. “Breakfast.”
Sighing, Ye Qingyang handed over the jianbing. “Your Majesty, eat slowly. Don’t choke.”
“If I choke, my consort can hand me water,” Lu Jingcheng said smugly, taking it.
Watching his self-satisfied expression, Ye Qingyang couldn’t help but laugh.
Childish… but kind of cute.