Ren Yanjing glanced at his phone for a moment before putting it away. “Let’s go,” he said.
Tang Zhen responded with a soft, “Oh,” her eyes bright and dewy, blinking in a way that made you want to kiss them.
How could someone look so obedient, so kissable?
Suddenly, Ren Yanjing leaned closer—close enough that they could see each other’s eyes clearly.
Tang Zhen tilted her head in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
Beautiful cats never realize the kind of effect a single gesture can have.
Unexpectedly, Ren Yanjing cupped her face in his hands.
Tang Zhen stayed perfectly still, tilting her head up to look at him.
Then, his phone started vibrating like crazy, as if refusing to stop until the world ended.
The sudden interruption shattered the moment completely.
000: 【Aaaaaaaaaah!】
The system was fuming, ready to explode—but Tang Zhen quietly exhaled in relief.
Being too close to the female lead’s man was never a good thing. She just wanted to follow the story quietly, earn enough life points, and live her own life.
Ren Yanjing shut his eyes tightly for a moment, then, when he opened them again, calmly answered the call.
He spoke a few words with the other person—Tang Zhen didn’t even register what he said.
When he hung up, he didn’t do anything else. He just drove away from the school.
A few minutes later, a new post appeared on B University’s campus wall:
[Ren Yanjing, Class of 20XX, School of Computer Science and Technology, AI Major, states that refusing to sign autographs for fans is a personal decision and has nothing to do with anyone else. If anyone has concerns, please discuss with him privately—no need to involve others.]
Although it was posted on the B University wall, Ren Yanjing had many followers. In no time, students from other schools also heard about it.
Meanwhile, the “Ren Yanjing Fan Group” was buzzing with excitement.
【What’s going on? Did someone bother his girlfriend? Which brave soul did this?!】
【Is he standing up for his girlfriend?】
【Not necessarily… the post didn’t even mention a girlfriend.】
【Who else could it be besides his girlfriend? He just didn’t mention it.】
【Ugh, the more he protects his girlfriend, the more I can’t let this go. I was about to get my autograph, but he got called away by her!】
【When are they breaking up anyway?】
【Don’t worry, if my bestie becomes his girlfriend, the first thing she’ll do is get him to sign for all of you. Everyone!】
【Tsk, Yi Tiao Yu, you and your bestie sure think highly of yourselves.】
At this time, Li Ran and Yi Tiao Yu were strolling across campus. It was still early, so they planned to wander a bit before lunch.
Seeing Yi Tiao Yu’s message, Li Ran bit her lip. “Xiao Yu… why did he suddenly post something like this on the campus wall?”
Yi Tiao Yu opened her mouth but didn’t mention why she had confronted Tang Zhen earlier.
She hadn’t really done anything wrong.
Tang Zhen wasn’t affected in the least, yet Yi Tiao Yu had already reported it.
Is Tang Zhen a child? Pulling the “tell the parents” trick and getting her boyfriend to fight her battles?
She wanted to see how long Tang Zhen could remain smug.
Not wanting Li Ran to know, Yi Tiao Yu shrugged. “Who knows?”
She didn’t think she went too far.
She just told Tang Zhen not to be selfish.
Had she been wrong?
Tang Zhen was selfish.
Half-joking, half-serious, Yi Tiao Yu added, “If one day you end up with Ren Yanjing, you have to make sure he signs autographs for the fans, got it?”
Li Ran knew she should refuse. He already had a girlfriend.
Her thoughts were hardly honorable—but no matter how hard she tried, the words of refusal wouldn’t come out.
She smiled gently. “Okay, I understand.”
If she were ever with Ren Yanjing, she would never hold him back like Tang Zhen did. She would never stop him from giving autographs to his fans.
He was too good.
More people deserved to see that.
By the time Tang Zhen and Ren Yanjing arrived at B University, it was around 10:30 a.m.
They weren’t in a hurry for lunch and decided to walk around campus first.
B University was beautiful, especially this time of year, with golden leaves carpeting the paths.
As Tang Zhen admired the scenery, 000 suddenly started screaming wildly in her head.
【Zhen! The male lead just posted on the campus wall—anyone with complaints should go directly to him, not bother others!】
【This is a warning aimed at Lu Yu, right? Right? Right?!】
【Definitely!】
【His initiative is insane!】
He actually… made a public stand under his real name?
Tang Zhen was still processing when his hand suddenly took hers.
It was Ren Yanjing.
With so many students walking by—and Ren Yanjing being somewhat of a campus celebrity—their presence instantly drew attention. Curious stares and whispers followed.
Tang Zhen felt slightly awkward. Ren Yanjing, however, looked completely at ease.
000 giggled mischievously: 【Earlier, at the robotics competition, your hands were held for over twenty minutes. This? A piece of cake.】
That was true. The competition venue had been far more crowded.
Thinking this, Tang Zhen relaxed and let him hold her hand.
They walked to the lake, planning to sit and rest for a while. Suddenly, 000 went berserk again, sounding the alarm.
【Mission 9: Prevent the male lead and the female lead from meeting (mandatory mission).】
Another mandatory mission.
This was Tang Zhen’s second compulsory mission.
Tang Zhen froze. “Is the female lead nearby too?”
【Yes. She and her bestie Lu Yu are walking toward you.】
What are the odds…
B University was huge, yet the four of them were about to meet immediately.
Tang Zhen asked the system, “So… it’s still not time for the male and female leads to meet?”
【Of course not. According to the plotline, they shouldn’t meet this soon. To keep the story on track, you must prevent them from running into each other.】
【Zhen, act fast! The female lead and her bestie are less than ten meters away!】
【Lu Yu sees you!】
Tang Zhen didn’t know what would happen if the story broke—but she’d read enough novels to understand that breaking the plot could have serious consequences.
The worst-case scenario? The second female lead might disappear entirely.
That was unacceptable.
No time to think.
Panicked, Tang Zhen instinctively called, “Ren Yanjing!”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking down at her.
He was so tall—she was 1.68 meters, yet she still had to tilt her head back twenty-two centimeters to meet his gaze.
【Five meters! Zhen!】
【Getting closer!】
【Zhen! Don’t let the male and female leads meet! Aaaah!】
Tang Zhen went all in. She pushed Ren Yanjing. Unprepared, he lost balance, sliding back onto a bench by the lake.
The next second, Tang Zhen’s hands rested on his shoulders. She leaned forward slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips.
For that brief moment, time seemed to stand still.