Ji Nian walked along the road, wondering why she was heading to that remote teaching building again.
Oh right—Xie Qingwang and his group of shady friends were planning some kind of outdoor barbecue there. After hearing about it, she shamelessly insisted on tagging along.
Ring, ring. Her phone started ringing.
Ji Nian glanced at the screen—Ruan Yu.
Her best friend. But ever since starting college, Ji Nian had become obsessed with Xie Qingwang and constantly neglected her. After graduation, they even lost contact entirely.
“Ji Nian, are you going to your afternoon class or not?”
As soon as the call connected, Ruan Yu’s cold voice came through.
Now she remembered—it was Friday, and she still had an Advanced Math class in the afternoon. But in order to spend more time with Xie Qingwang, she had planned to ask Ruan Yu to help her take a leave.
In her previous life, Ruan Yu had called her too—several times. But back then, she just said “ask for leave for me” and hung up, leaving Ruan Yu furious.
“I’m going! I’m heading there now,” Ji Nian said quickly. “I’m already on my way back, but I won’t have time to return to the dorm to grab my books. A-Yu, can you help me bring them?”
There was a brief silence on the other end before Ruan Yu curtly replied, “Got it,” and hung up.
Ji Nian finally relaxed. Class would start in twenty minutes, so she immediately broke into a run toward the classroom.
Damn it—why is this campus so huge?!
All the shared bikes had been taken. Running on two legs meant she was definitely going to be late.
Suddenly, a roaring engine sounded beside her. Ji Nian turned her head and met Xie Qingwang’s eyes.
“Get on,” he said, stopping his motorcycle in front of her. His long legs steadied the bike as he handed her a helmet.
Ji Nian didn’t want to, but before she could speak, he cut her off. “If you don’t, you’ll be late. I heard your math professor is strict—late once, minus two points.”
“…”
One minute later, Ji Nian was wearing the helmet and sitting on the back of his motorcycle—with enough space between them to open a milk tea shop.
“Hold tight. If you fall off, I’m not responsible.”
As he spoke, Xie Qingwang suddenly revved the throttle.
Instinctively, Ji Nian wrapped her arms around his waist, then snapped, “You did that on purpose?”
“Idiot.”
Hearing that, Ji Nian wanted to pinch him, but she was afraid he’d lose control and send her flying.
Heh. She really was an idiot. If it were the female lead, she’d probably be coaxing him sweetly instead.
After safely dropping her off at the teaching building, Ji Nian quickly got off, returning the helmet while glancing around nervously.
Luckily, it was almost class time, and not many people were lingering.
“Hurry up and go,” she urged him.
Xie Qingwang had been about to leave, but hearing that, he put his foot down again, displeased. “I kindly gave you a ride, and now you’re chasing me off?”
“I’m just worried people might see. It wouldn’t look good.”
As soon as Ji Nian finished speaking, she spotted someone approaching in the distance and hurriedly ran off.
Xie Qingwang was left standing there, his expression growing even darker.
If I ever do a good deed again, I’m a dog!
“What breed is that dog? It’s so cute!”
As Ji Nian entered the classroom, she scanned around and found Ruan Yu. Walking behind her, she saw her flipping through photos on her phone—a cute little black puppy.
Hearing her voice, Ruan Yu put away her phone and expressionlessly pushed a book toward her. “Your book.”
“Thanks, A-Yu. You’re the best to me,” Ji Nian said, clinging to her arm.
“The best? Can I be better than your ‘Brother Qingwang’? So good that you chase after him everywhere?”
Though her words were sharp, she didn’t push Ji Nian away.
Burying her face in Ruan Yu’s sleeve, Ji Nian muttered, “I’m not chasing him anymore.”
“What did you say?” Ruan Yu didn’t catch it.
“I’m done chasing him! Done loving him!” Ji Nian looked up at her seriously. “I’m never chasing him again.”
Ruan Yu frowned. “Did he bully you?”
Hearing that, Ji Nian’s nose stung, and she tried hard to hold back her emotions.
In her previous life, even after growing distant, Ruan Yu had still stood up for her without hesitation when she was humiliated.
Ji Nian, Ji Nian—you really were blinded by good looks!
“No. I just think it’s meaningless.”
A “simp” ends up with nothing in the end—and that described her perfectly.
Ruan Yu studied her carefully, making sure she wasn’t just saying this to appease her. “Did you run into some master outside who broke a spell on you?”
For the past few months, Ji Nian had been obsessed, chasing after Xie Qingwang like she’d lost her mind. Ruan Yu had even considered taking her to a spiritual healer.
And now she suddenly snapped out of it?
Ji Nian sighed helplessly. “Not really… I just feel like after chasing him for so long with no response, it’s really pointless.”
“It’s good that you’ve come to your senses.”
Xie Qingwang might have the looks and body, and chasing him for that wasn’t unreasonable—but Ji Nian had clearly been serious. Naturally, Ruan Yu hadn’t liked that.
While the two were chatting, they didn’t notice the boy who had just sat behind them. His face was full of shock before he quickly pulled out his phone and started typing in the group chat.
[Breaking news!]
[Ji Nian is no longer chasing Young Master Xie!]
[Why? She was still following him this morning—what changed?]
[Ji Nian said it herself—she said he’s boring!]
[What does “boring” mean?]
[It means he’s boring, obviously!]
[…I think I get it now.]
Soon, the news spread through multiple group chats.
Meanwhile, the person involved—Ji Nian—had no idea. She wanted to make it up to her best friend.
“One class this afternoon, and tomorrow’s the weekend. I’ll treat you to a big meal.”
“Deal. I want that new hot pot place.”
Since her best friend had come to her senses, Ruan Yu was willing to give her a chance to make up for it.
“…Bro, your little tail didn’t follow you today?”
Inside a private room at a hot pot restaurant, Xie Qingwang was resting with his eyes closed.
Someone broke the silence with that question.
Fang Ruiming immediately chimed in, “You don’t know—she threw a tantrum today.”
“She threw a tantrum? Isn’t she always obedient to you?” Song Zilin asked, confused.
“Could it be a ‘playing hard to get’ tactic?”
The room was full of wealthy second-generation heirs—none as powerful as Xie Qingwang, but still from influential families.
One of them, who’d been dating since his teens, spoke up: “I had a girlfriend before—I got bored and wanted to break up. But then she suddenly ignored me. And you know what? It actually made her interesting again.”
Song Zilin nodded. “Bro, could Ji Nian be doing the same thing?”
Xie Qingwang ignored them.
No one dared push further, so they turned to He Weichen sitting beside him.
“Chen-ge, what do you think? Does bro even like her? If he does, we should help him chase her!” Fang Ruiming said. He had liked Ji Nian since the start of the semester, but she had eyes only for Xie Qingwang.
He thought she was a pure goddess—but she turned out to be someone who threw herself at others.
If Xie Qingwang didn’t care, he wouldn’t mind giving it a try himself.
He Weichen took a sip of water, glanced at Xie Qingwang, and said nothing.
Being ignored, Fang Ruiming clenched his cup.
Suddenly, someone spat out their drink.
“Holy crap—Ji Nian said bro can’t do it!”
Xie Qingwang’s eyes snapped open as he glared over. “What did you just say?!”