“Reporting to the Commander—Xia Yan is currently in the bathroom, and he’s x-secretive.”

Sitting discreetly on a chair, Mu Feng sent a covert message to his superior, wiping the sticky sweat from his forehead. His eyes darted around suspiciously.

“?”

The so-called “Commander,” whose profile picture simply read “Proxy Player,” replied almost instantly with a single question mark.

“Wait!”

“Commander, Commander—I’ve got new intel! 😫”

Fearing his superior was dissatisfied with his report, Mu Feng hastily typed:  
“Just now, when I came back, I heard him calling someone ‘wife’ in the bathroom—super lovey-dovey.”

“It’s 100% confirmed it’s Lin Qingyu.”  
“I checked Lin Qingyu’s WeChat Moments earlier—she posted this afternoon: ‘Had a really fulfilling and happy day!’ with a photo of a pair of high heels. 👠”  
“They’re definitely the same ones she wore on stage today (I watched the replay seven times) 😋.”  
“Conclusion: Their relationship has already reached ‘matchmade’ status.”

...

Mu Feng waited anxiously as his superior remained silent. A cold dread crept into his chest.

Wasn’t the deal just for him to report Xia Yan’s every move in the dorm? He’d already compromised his conscience enough—he absolutely couldn’t betray his good friend any further! 😡  
(As long as it doesn’t violate my principles… I’ll keep playing the mole. 😋)

😨!

“Bro, seriously—Mu, you’re glued to your phone all day. No wonder no senior girls ask for your WeChat. You look like such a snitch.”

Xiang Guan slapped Mu Feng hard on the shoulder, then watched as he quickly covered his phone…

Classic case of overcompensation.

Xiang Guan raised an eyebrow—but on his rugged, buzz-cut sportsman face, it looked oddly comical. He leaned in with a sly grin:  
“You little rascal…”  
“Could it be you’re…?”

Mu Feng: “I’m reading Picacg.”

“Please respect me.”

He said it calmly, as if he’d already accepted his fate, uttering that mysterious string of English letters with serene resolve.

“My bad.”

Xiang Guan dropped his teasing smile and suggestive gaze, silently returning to his seat.

They sat facing the same direction, but the ladder between their bunk beds blocked their views of each other.

After a moment, Xiang Guan picked up a brand-new book from his desk, placed it down, and broke the silence casually:  
“Netorare or pure love?”

“Pure love.”

“Send me a copy.”

“Sure.”

“Oh, by the way, Bro Xiang…”

“Hmm?”

“Your calculus textbook’s upside down.”

………………

(Chew chew chew chew chew chew chew.)

Wow! 🥺

Unlike her usual ravenous eating, the girl savored each bite slowly, relishing the burst of savory flavor in her mouth!

This… this is real meat! 😭😭!!

She let out a soft, snow-leopard-like purr of delight (｡>∀<｡).

Hua Xin had just reheated Xia Yan’s leftover lunch in the microwave. Though overly salty and oily, to a palate long accustomed to thirteen-spice seasoning and chili sauce, this meal felt like a New Year’s feast.

Their rice at home had run out ages ago, and their emergency stash of instant noodles couldn’t be finished yet… 😶

She’d been surviving on crackers for over a week.

Hesitantly, the girl picked up a piece of sweet-and-sour spare ribs.

“Awooo…”

She solemnly placed it in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.

Though the taste wasn’t as fresh as at lunchtime…

Her big, watery eyes welled up again with tears of gratitude. She finished not only the reheated portion but also the leftovers she’d saved from noon.

Surveying the empty plate before her, she carefully gathered the remaining bones.

Tomorrow’s meal: spare rib bone milk mung bean congee over rice. 🤤…

“Buzz buzz.”

Hmm? Jolted from her sacred mealtime, Hua Xin finally noticed her poor phone buzzing nonstop.

………………

After reading Mu Feng’s report, the girl fell deep into thought.

According to Mu Feng, ever since they’d met, Xia Yan had always appeared unmistakably single. Plenty of pretty girls had flirted with or subtly approached him—even the turnover at the barbecue stand where he worked part-time had tripled, fitting the classic “male escort” trope. 🤔

And Xia Yan himself had clearly stated he had no intention of dating in college.

But…

His behavior was suspicious.

He was rarely in the dorm—on weekends and days without class, he’d vanish mysteriously. This pattern started roughly two weeks after military training began. (Probably found some off-the-books gig.)

Which meant he might have already been secretly seeing Lin Qingyu even before then.

Were their current “shy-but-flirty” interactions just an act—to delay publicly confirming their relationship?

But then… what did Xia Yan’s approach toward her have to do with any of this?

Hua Xin furrowed her brow, utterly confused.

Wait! 🤔☝🏻️

If his secret romance with Lin Qingyu began around the same time he started getting close to her…

Hua Xin suddenly clenched her tiny fists, lifting her head with flushed cheeks and gritted teeth, whispering fiercely:

“I… I’ve uncovered the truth…”

——————

“Listen, babe—I’ve got this weird classmate. Always wears strange clothes and a mask, even his Nike shoes are backwards—and don’t even fit! 🤣”

“I heard from our advisor he’s got autism and social anxiety. Tsk tsk, so weird. 😨”

“Why even come to school if you’re sick like that? (Disgusted face.)”

(Fantasy Xia Yan) cradled Lin Qingyu in one arm while his other hand wandered suggestively over her body, sneering dismissively.

“My dear 🥰, stay far away from him. People like that are mentally unstable—who knows when he might snap and stab you?”

“And if something happened to you… what would happen to the little embryo growing in your belly right now? 😭”

(Fantasy Lin Qingyu) clutched Xia Yan’s wandering hand worriedly, guiding it beneath her clothes.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Wanna see some fun?”

“What kind of fun, honey? 

(Fantasy Xia Yan) smirked with a sinister 70° angle.  
“Imagine—a lonely, socially anxious weirdo suddenly gets showered with attention from a sunny, kind-hearted popular guy who becomes his best friend…”

“Once he’s willing to take a bullet for me and finally overcomes his shyness… I’ll reveal I never saw him as a friend at all—and humiliate him mercilessly.”

“Oh! you’re so bad! But… it does sound fun~”

“Wife… there’s one more thing I want to say.”

(Fantasy Xia Yan) gazed at Lin Qingyu, now half-undressed and glowing, and murmured tenderly:  
“You’re so hot… 😉”

————————

Hua Xin leaned forward, her hands gripping the edge of her chair, her face hidden behind her hair.

With years of experience reading novels and manga…

There could only be one explanation. 🥺

“Xia Yan…”

“Hic…”

She quietly took a sip of milk to suppress her burp.

“You despicable couple… 😡”

“I’ll bring you both to justice! 👊🏻😡👊🏻”

“Just you wait—!”

“Hua Xin… I’m not the same Hua Xin anymore… I won’t let you trample me like before! 😡😭…”