Early the next morning, Qiao Muyu was jolted awake by a foreign phone alarm.
His mind was a haze of confusion. He stared at the unfamiliar interface for several seconds before remembering that this was his new phone. At the top of his WeChat chats, two unread messages had appeared an hour ago.
Lu Zhen: Morning, boyfriend.
[Attached Image: A photo of a pale morning moon hanging on the horizon.]
Qiao Muyu sat up with a start.
Oh right, I’m someone with a boyfriend now.
He cleared his head and instantly switched into “service mode.”
Qiao Muyu: Morning, baby.
But when he saw the timestamp of Lu Zhen’s message, he couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear. Did Lu Zhen really wake up at 5:00 AM every day to study? No wonder he couldn’t out-scroll him.
Qiao Muyu: Why are you up so early? Lu Zhen: Because I’m happy. I couldn’t really sleep. Qiao Muyu: Happy about what? Lu Zhen: That you said you like me.Lu Zhen: It feels unreal that we’re dating, like a dream. Lu Zhen: I’m afraid that if I wake up, you won’t stand by it.
Qiao Muyu’s fingertips paused. His conscience felt a massive wave of guilt for several seconds.
Don’t doubt it, bro—at its core, this is fake.
However, he truly hadn’t expected Lu Zhen to have such a “girly” romantic side once in a relationship. To be this insecure and worried on the very first day—what would happen later? A dip in his grades was bound to happen sooner or later.
Although it was unscrupulous, this was exactly the effect Qiao Muyu wanted.
He hit a “digital wooden fish” in his heart to ask for forgiveness, cleared his throat, and pressed the record button. Articulating clearly, he said, “Lu Zhen, Lu Zhen, I like you,” and sent it flying.
Qiao Muyu: if that’s not enough, I’ll say it ten thousand more times when we meet ^O^
The other side immediately replied with “Okay,” but it was quickly retracted. Two seconds later, it was changed to:
Lu Zhen: Okay >o<
Qiao Muyu flopped onto his bed, laughing at the screen.
This was incredible. The guy had even learned how to use emoticons to act cute. A man in love was truly a terrifying thing!
…
Building on the lessons from the first day, Qiao Muyu gradually adapted to the rhythm of switching between “avoiding suspicion” and “passionate romance.” This underground affair was proceeding smoothly according to his plan.
On Wednesday, just a few minutes into the noon self-study session, Wan Qianghai’s large head suddenly appeared at the classroom window, giving the students a fright. Fortunately, he wasn’t there to catch slackers; he smiled and beckoned to Qiao Muyu and Lu Zhen.
The two exchanged a glance and left the classroom together.
Wan Qianghai’s steps were light, and he seemed to be in a very good mood. As he led them upstairs, he said, “You remember that interview I mentioned? Reporter Chen from the Publicity Department just arrived. You can head over now. Make sure to perform well.”
Qiao Muyu hadn’t forgotten, of course. His heart fluttered with a bit of nervousness, but on the surface, he remained steady. “Okay.”
The interview was set in a small conference room at the end of the fourth-floor hallway. It was quiet, soundproof, and had great lighting—perfect for a conversation.
Upon entering, they saw a middle-aged man fiddling with camera equipment. Beside him, a young woman with a neat, ear-length bob was bending over to adjust a tripod.
Noticing the movement, she looked up, pushed her glasses up her nose, and offered a professional, warm smile. “Teacher Wan, thank you for bringing the students over.”
“Of course, of course,” Wan Qianghai replied politely. “Reporter Chen, these are our students, Lu Zhen and Qiao Muyu. They’re both from the top-tier Class 1 that I teach.”
The reporter’s eyes lit up. She walked toward them and introduced herself with a smile. “Hello, I’m Chen Tu. You can just call me Tu-jie.”
Qiao Muyu: Hello, Tu-jie. Lu Zhen: Hello.
After observing them briefly, Chen Tu joked, “I didn’t expect the top students of No. 3 High to be such handsome young men. I suddenly feel like I’m not doing an education segment, but a ‘visuals’ channel.”
“Haha, Reporter Chen, you’re quite the joker.” Wan Qianghai checked the time. “I’ll leave them in your care. I have a meeting to attend, so I’ll head out first.”
Wan Qianghai nodded and left without further delay.
Chen Tu closed the door and pointed to two chairs placed side by side at the conference table. “Don’t just stand there, handsome boys. Please, sit. Let’s get you on camera so we can adjust the framing.”
“Okay.”
Qiao Muyu had thought a reporter would just ask a few questions for a written transcript. He hadn’t expected such professional filming equipment. Facing a media lens for the first time, he couldn’t help but feel tense, sitting up unnaturally straight.
Suddenly, he felt a leg quietly pressing against his. Lu Zhen’s knee bumped into his and then leaned against it lightly—a silent form of support.
Qiao Muyu glanced sideways. Lu Zhen’s thin lips parted slightly as he whispered, “Don’t be nervous. I’m here.”
Qiao Muyu didn’t reply, but he silently looked back. Seeing Chen Tu busy organizing her notes and not noticing the movement under the table, he dared to move his leg a few inches closer to Lu Zhen until their toes touched. His heart, strangely, settled down.
Once ready, Chen Tu sat opposite them, signaled the cameraman to start, and gave a friendly reminder: “No need to be nervous, you two. I’ve only prepared some very simple questions. Just answer naturally. If you say something wrong, we can edit it out later. Just think of it as a casual chat with me, okay?”
The two nodded. “Okay.”
Chen Tu: Then please, start by introducing yourselves to the students watching. Qiao Muyu: Hello everyone, I am Qiao Muyu from Grade 12, Class 1 of Nanjian No. 3 High School. Lu Zhen: I am Lu Zhen.
Chen Tu: The first question is for Lu Zhen. I heard you just transferred to Nanjian No. 3 High this semester, yet you took first place in this joint exam, and you were the only student to break the 700-point mark. I’m very curious—how did you adapt to the new environment so quickly and achieve such an incredible score? Did you find it surprising yourself?
Lu Zhen lifted his eyes and replied, “Not surprising. It was just a normal performance.”
“…”
The conference room fell into a silence that lasted five full seconds.
Chen Tu wondered if she had missed something. She kept her smile, waiting for him to elaborate, but Lu Zhen was already looking at her with an expression that said, You can ask the next question now.
She asked tentatively, “Finished?” Lu Zhen: “Mhm.”
Chen Tu was choked up. She hadn’t expected him to dodge the question with just a few words. Refusing to give up, she tried to guide him: “Could you… expand on that?”
Lu Zhen knit his brows in confusion. Though he found her request strange, he complied and “expanded” his answer: “I am not surprised by this result because this is my normal level.”
Chen Tu: “…”
Is this a joke? Did this guy really pass his Chinese Literature exam?
Qiao Muyu, unable to watch any longer, stepped in to save the day. “Um, I think what Student Lu means is that the teachers and students at our school are very friendly and gave him a lot of help. Because of that support, he could focus on his studies in a new environment without worries, allowing him to perform at his normal level. Plus, he has a very stable mindset, so he isn’t surprised by the result.”
Chen Tu looked at Qiao Muyu as if he were a lifesaver, her eyes filled with admiration. She was mostly impressed by his ability to turn ten words into such a long paragraph. He was clearly a master of language.
Lu Zhen seemed to have no objection to this “proxy” answer and added out of the blue, “Mhm. Especially my Class Monitor. He is very good to me.”
Chen Tu asked curiously, “Who is your Class Monitor?”
Qiao Muyu, unexpectedly cued, replied weakly, “It’s me.”
In his heart, he was screaming: Did you have to mention that? It’s so out of place!
Chen Tu understood and shifted her focus to Qiao Muyu. “Qiao Muyu, the next question might be a bit sharp, I hope you don’t mind. I heard that before Lu Zhen transferred here, you had a monopoly on the first-place position. Now that you have such a strong competitor, do you feel pressured?”
Qiao Muyu’s eyes lit up. Finally.
He had anticipated this and already prepared his response. He smiled calmly and answered gracefully, “There is definitely some pressure, but it also provides more motivation. To me, Student Lu’s appearance is like a ‘catfish effect.’ He let me know that there is no ceiling to exam scores. I shouldn’t just be satisfied with the status quo; perhaps I have the potential for even better results. And it’s not just me—many students in our class look up to him as a role model and have started studying harder. So, I see it as a healthy competitive relationship where we inspire each other and progress together.”
“As expected of a top student, well said,” Chen Tu praised.
She then asked several routine questions about study methods and tips. Qiao Muyu generously shared all his experience, occasionally supplementing Lu Zhen’s overly brief remarks. Driven by “Translator Qiao,” the interview proceeded smoothly toward the end.
“One last question,” Chen Tu said. “Have you two thought about which universities you want to apply for?”
“Mhm.” Lu Zhen nodded, giving his answer first. “Whatever he applies for, I’ll apply for too.”
Chen Tu: Huh?
The smile on Qiao Muyu’s face froze. He deeply regretted not poisoning Lu Zhen into silence before the interview.
He had to brace himself and smooth things over again. “Cough. Actually, what Student Lu means is that he trusts my judgment in picking universities. Because I admire many excellent domestic universities, I’ve done a lot of research and know them well, so my choice is reliable. Yes, exactly that.”
Chen Tu’s gaze shifted between the two, and she broke into a meaningful smile. “It seems the relationship between you two is truly excellent.”
Lu Zhen agreed. “Mhm. Our relationship is extraordinary.”
Qiao Muyu, reaching his limit, secretly kicked Lu Zhen under the table and laughed awkwardly. “Haha, not really. We’re just ordinary classmates.”
As he spoke, he turned and gave Lu Zhen a warning look that was like a blade hidden in silk.
Chen Tu didn’t ask further. She just said with a smile, “Thank you both for taking the time for this interview today. I wish you great results in the Gaokao. And, I hope you both get into the same university as you wish.”
Lu Zhen replied happily, “Thank you.” Qiao Muyu felt a massive weight lift. “…Thank you.”
God, those long fifteen minutes are finally over!