Zhou Wenshi's voice was pitched low, like he was whispering secrets.
One by one, his dormmates passing by paused weirdly for a second, then couldn't help but circle around to his front, just to confirm that this person was really him.
Feng Yao was especially dramatic—he double-checked three times, his face written all over with the shock of "Holy shit! You're really the handsome guy?!"
Zhou Wenshi's brow bones carried nothing but cold indifference, his whole body radiating a distinct, untouchable chill. He lifted his eyelids lazily, and those lips—always cold and sharp—deigned to speak.
"Done looking?"
Feng Yao still couldn't wrap his head around it: "…No, bro, how the hell did you turn into a completely different person once you got into a relationship?"
Chen Ping beside him let out a cold scoff: "Told you already—when people chased him before and he didn't react, it just meant he wasn't interested. Now that he's met someone he actually likes, he's practically dying to throw himself at her. You still didn't believe it."
"I could tell that very night—he'd definitely fallen for her. Otherwise, who do you think could even get close to him?"
"Oh, and he even obediently handed over his WeChat," Chen Ping shot him a sideways glance. "I could tell that night he was about ready to just leave with her. Tsk."
Zhou Wenshi said nothing, just kept his face cold and let out a short, ambiguous laugh.
The look in his eyes couldn't help but ripple slightly.
Feng Yao leaned against the staircase railing, studying his expression. "Something tells me it's more than that."
Chen Ping: "Your Brother Zhou has to be the one desperately chasing."
"Look at how he squeezed in next to her, and how he deliberately cooked just to show off for her—any normal person would've cracked by now. Only the girl across from him could stay so composed, looking completely unmoved. All that effort, wasted."
Chen Ping said pityingly: "So this teaches us—don't chase too hard in relationships, even if you're Zhou Wenshi."
Under Zhou Wenshi's mocking gaze, he silently straightened his spine with pride.
The next second, he got a call from his ex-girlfriend. His face immediately changed, and he asked cautiously: "…Hey, Momo, what? You want to date someone? Wh-what type is it this time? Think I could mold myself into that… Huh? I-I don't fit? Then, then next time, will it be my turn? Not next time either? I can queue up."
Feng Yao finally understood: "…So it's not that they don't want to—it's that they never get the chance."
Zhou Wenshi let out a cold, merciless laugh, quick and clipped: "I can see that."
Feng Yao glanced at the handsome guy, then at Chen Ping, shook his head, and sighed.
Same dorm, what other traits could they possibly develop?
Either desperately chasing or giving themselves away for free. As for the even more pitiful ones—they can't even get a seat at the table.
Being single was better. Yet one after another, they all went off to taste love's bitterness.
He truly didn't understand.
After Chen Ping hung up the phone, he started crying—sobbing and wailing, begging his ex to take him back, then ran off to sing "Love Until Death" with Zhang Lu.
One more ghostly wailer added to the chorus.
Zhou Wenshi found it annoying. He pulled his earphones on and went back to writing code, occasionally glancing at his pinned chat—no movement at all.
…Will he appear in her dreams?
Before they started dating, he never believed he'd become someone even he didn't recognize.
How could he possibly be studying vocal techniques, or breathing all seductively just for her to hear?
Yet he'd done all of it, and the girl across from him remained unmoved, completely oblivious.
There was no shallow desire in her eyes.
Wasn't it said that girlfriends in the throes of passion would crave intimate contact with their boyfriends?
Why didn't she?
Because they weren't familiar enough yet?
Zhou Wenshi's fingers slowed on the keys as his mind began to drift.
What others had, he had too—and plenty of it.
He kept himself pure specifically to give it all to his girlfriend—after all, isn't it said that chastity is a man's best dowry?
When would Chu Yao come to claim her dowry?
Zhou Wenshi lowered his eyes. He'd been working out regularly lately, keeping everything in good shape.
If it really came down to it…
It wasn't out of the question.
Wasn't there a lot of people saying they wanted to *him? Then… did she want to?
Zhou Wenshi recalled their first meeting—they'd been a hair's breadth away from kissing, but she hadn't leaned in.
He suddenly felt a little warm. The code could no longer be written.
Chu Yao received a message.
【Male Lead】: I'm thinking of you [heart emoji puppy]
She: "…" Bro, you're really thinking a lot over there.
Chu Yao: Alright, got it. No gaming tonight. Remember to sleep on your own. Tomorrow… I'll talk about tomorrow after I wake up.
Chu Yao had never met a male lead who said he missed her every so often. Zhou Wenshi's directness made her a little uncomfortable.
Who knew if next time he'd say "I miss you" to her face?
Although she didn't understand the male lead, he was clearly different from the usual ones. She really couldn't figure out his playbook.
But whatever his playbook was, once they broke up, there'd be no more follow-up.
The male lead didn't reply immediately. Chu Yao didn't ask what he was doing—instead, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Today could finally be over.
A good night's sleep.
The next day, as the sun rose and she pulled open the bed curtains, Chu Yao felt refreshed and deeply moved.
Thank goodness! She hadn't dreamed of the male lead, and certainly hadn't dreamed of any messy scenes!
It had been a peaceful sleep.
She climbed down from the bed, just as Chu Ying pushed open the dorm door, looking sleepy.
Huang Chuying mumbled groggily: "You're up?"
Chu Yao was surprised: "You… how come you look like you've been drained dry?"
Huang Chuying barely mustered her energy and yawned: "Pretty much. I only meant to go for a quick kiss, but who knew my ex-boyfriend would be so passionate. I couldn't hold back, and we ended up rekindling things for a whole night."
Chu Yao had never heard "rekindling things" used that way before. She hesitated, then finally walked over: "Want me to help support you? You look so sleepy you can't tell north from south."
Huang Chuying: "No need, no need. Go do your thing. I'll just catch up on sleep in a bit."
She wobbled over to wash her face, took a quick shower, lay down on the bed, pulled the covers over herself, and went silent.
Chu Yao admired how she could fall asleep just like that.
After washing up, Chu Yao put on a white tee, slipped into a pair of cropped pants that fell past her knees, tied her hair up, and went downstairs bare-faced, mentally planning what to eat for breakfast.
It wasn't until someone walked alongside her for a stretch without showing any sign of leaving that Chu Yao realized belatedly—this wasn't just a passerby.
"Excuse me, could I ask—Zhou, Zhou Wenshi?" After seeing who was walking beside her, Chu Yao was surprised. "What are you doing here? This early in the morning."
There were few people on the road—most had gone off for the National Day holiday. At this hour, a cool breeze drifted under the trees lining both sides of the street.
Zhou Wenshi was dressed simply, suitable for going out—far more put-together than her casual attire.
Zhou Wenshi said succinctly: "Working out."
Chu Yao noticed he hadn't broken a sweat and his face wasn't flushed. She kindly chose not to call him out on it: "Alright."
Just then, a passerby suddenly spoke up: "Hey, young man, weren't you circling around here quite a few times? Oh, so you were waiting for someone. This is your girlfriend, right? Nice, you two make a good match!"
Zhou Wenshi showed no sign of awkwardness at having his lie exposed. Composed and unruffled, he thanked the speaker and added with particular naturalness: "Yes, my girlfriend."
A few words—why did they sound so… strange when he said them?
Chu Yao looked at him, hesitating, for two seconds. "The way you talk…"
She couldn't find the right adjective for the moment.
Zhou Wenshi was clearly delighted to introduce his girlfriend to any passerby. Chu Yao could tell he wished there were a dog on the roadside, just so he could say—yes, girlfriend, his girlfriend.
Chu Yao: "…" This was a bit much, honestly.
Were you announcing it to the whole world?
In just a few days, she could barely remember the "male lead persona" anymore. He didn't bother hiding his satisfaction at all, showing a pleasant face to everyone.
Chu Yao thought of a line from an old-school novel that was often quoted: "A face as lovely as the flowers of early spring."
Her expression was subtle. She never thought she'd actually get to use that line one day.
Chu Yao couldn't get a word in edgewise as he narrated the entire tour by himself.
Facing the morning sun, the cold, aloof aura around Zhou Wenshi briefly receded, as if it had melted a little. The most obvious change was in the way he looked at her—Chu Yao could actually see the warmth the sunrise lent him.
She felt he seemed… human.
A person with life in him.
Vivid, warm.
That feeling was rather strange. Chu Yao had seen plenty of fake protagonists—every word and action carrying a predetermined label, so stiff that people complained about them.
Chu Yao: "How many more people are you going to declare it to?"
Zhou Wenshi: "You're finally willing to talk to me?"
Chu Yao: "…"
Chu Yao: ?
She asked, "When did I ever not talk to you?"
Zhou Wenshi: "From 8:15 until now."
Chu Yao: "You remember that clearly, huh? Weren't you having fun declaring it? I felt like I was getting in the way of your performance."
Zhou Wenshi immediately said, "No."
He lowered his eyes. "When you don't talk to me, and I tell them about you, you don't even make a sound."
Chu Yao crossed her arms and turned to look at him. "…How should I put it? This scene right now reminds me of a partner throwing an unreasonable tantrum."
Zhou Wenshi suddenly stopped. Chu Yao was wondering what was wrong with him when she saw him tentatively press further: "Partner?"
Chu Yao: "You're really good at picking out words. Is that the important part here?"
Zhou Wenshi: "Yes."
Chu Yao: "…We can't even have a conversation anymore. I might as well think about what to eat."
She quickened her pace. There was no reasoning with Zhou Wenshi.
His voice chased after her from behind.
"You said it—partner, Chu Yao. You can't go back on your word."
Chu Yao didn't want to acknowledge him. Talking to him was truly pointless.
But Zhou Wenshi was clearly in a great mood, so much so that when Chu Yao happened to glance at him, there was actually a faint light in his cold, ink-black pupils. When he caught her gaze, it grew even brighter.
That face, meticulously crafted by Nüwa herself, seemed to make the entire surroundings shine.
Chu Yao was dazzled for a second, letting out a small inward gasp—beauty in a good mood was even more lethal.
Fortunately, it was only a second—easy to get lost in.
Chu Yao marveled. Zhou Wenshi really was favored. Nüwa loved him, and the light loved him too, giving him such perfect lighting.
Curiosity sparked in her. "What kind of girlfriend do you plan to find in the future?"
Zhou Wenshi: ?
He looked puzzled. "Why would I need to find someone else? Aren't you my girlfriend?"
Chu Yao rephrased the question in a casual, chatty tone: "Oh, I'm just asking about your ideal type. You must have one—there's no way you have no standards. Even I had a crush back in high school."
She earned a sudden, sharp look from Zhou Wenshi.
His tone was cold. "A crush?"
Chu Yao said openly, "Isn't that normal? Everyone likes someone good-looking, with good grades, and who fits their aesthetic."
She counted on her fingers, "If someone meets all those conditions, it's hard not to have some fondness for them. Otherwise, you'd really be a blockhead."
As a male classmate who was noticeably more refined and better-looking than the other students in the class, he was always the one the school sought out for events. Chu Yao even liked to look at him during breaks to please her eyes.
Although this was a Mission World, she had lived here for eighteen years, and A University was one she had legitimately gotten into through her exam scores.
She didn't like using time acceleration tools—that took away from the experience.
Chu Yao never rushed her missions; she preferred to experience life.
She had enjoyed a wonderful high school life.
The boy was young and shy, but only when confessing to her. At other times, he was quite poised and graceful.
Chu Yao rejected him without hesitation, and it didn't affect her continuing to look at him afterward.
She simply liked looking at handsome male classmates. As for dating—forget it.
Because she realized her fondness for male classmates was too shallow. She might stop liking them after not seeing them for a while. If she actually got together with someone, that would be doing them harm.
Chu Yao wouldn't hold anyone back.
Anyway, if the handsome guy didn't date her, he would meet a girl more sincere than her in the future.
Chu Yao said it matter-of-factly, with no intention of hiding anything.
"Didn't you have that in high school?"
Only after asking did she realize she'd asked a pointless question.
Zhou Wenshi answered quickly, without even hesitating: "No."
Chu Yao let out an "oh." "Then you worked really hard in high school. Experiencing the unique youth of adolescence is also pretty great."
Zhou Wenshi suddenly paused for a moment. "You… still keep in touch with him?"
Chu Yao: "Definitely not. I wouldn't give someone a signal with no future. Why are you asking? Want to know how good-looking he was? Don't worry, his looks don't match yours."
Zhou Wenshi had been radiating cold air, but it oddly stalled for a moment before he said casually, "I'm not that concerned about him."
Chu Yao nodded. "I figured. You wouldn't pay attention to such things."
No, he was concerned.
Zhou Wenshi thought he wasn't that magnanimous.
It was just that her attitude was too open.
There was no nostalgia in her eyes for that high school classmate.
Only a casualness in bringing it up, as if she had suddenly remembered it existed rather than it being a deeply memorable past.
Why should he deepen the impression this male classmate left in her memory?
He was originally a stranger—what if other thoughts got stirred up later…
Zhou Wenshi naturally shifted to asking what she wanted to eat after entering the cafeteria.
Chu Yao had been thinking about that question the whole way but still hadn't come to a conclusion. She said with distress, "You really know how to ask a tough question."
She let out a faint sigh.
"I examine myself three times a day: what to eat in the morning, what to eat at noon, what to eat at night."
She complained, "It's truly a century-old problem."
Zhou Wenshi said, "Take your time thinking. There's plenty of time."
Better not bring up that certain classmate again.
Anyway, she didn't care about that high school boy.