Ren Jie couldn’t wrap his head around it—why would anyone bring a girl on a lunch date and still drag along a male friend?

He’d already gone out of his way to give Lu Yu some space, yet Lu Yu acted as if he didn’t understand at all.

In truth, though, Lu Yu understood perfectly.

That was exactly why he had to keep Ren Jie around.

Yesterday, they’d missed the usual lunch rush, so the cafeteria was nearly empty. Today was different—the place was packed at this hour, the absolute peak dining time.

Lu Yu himself didn’t care much. After all, he’d been in full “I’ve given up on life” mode for three years now. A few rumors wouldn’t kill him—annoying as they might be, he could tolerate them. But Lin Beixing was another story.

At school, Lin Beixing was the model “Three-Good” student—exemplary in academics, conduct, and physical health. At home, she was the obedient, well-behaved daughter everyone praised. Lu Yu had personally witnessed that side of her just yesterday.

So he wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Sorry, bro—but Ren Jie was absolutely needed as a human shield.

“You two go to the cafeteria—what am I supposed to do there?! I don’t wanna eat your dog food!!” Ren Jie protested.

Lu Yu ignored him completely and yanked him along.

“It’s just lunch. There’s no dog food.”

He sounded utterly serious. After being dragged two steps, Ren Jie sighed and gave in.

Seriously… this guy’s almost six feet tall—why’s he acting so shy?

Ren Jie grumbled inwardly.

Lu Yu glanced back at Lin Beixing, who was still standing frozen in place.

“You coming?” he asked.

“Yeah, yeah, of course!” answered Lan Xi—before Lin Beixing could even speak.

Lan Xi had seriously had enough.

Just half a minute ago, she and Lin Beixing had been scheming over how to crack open Lu Yu’s secrets. Lin Beixing had confidently declared that, for the sake of the class’s average score, she’d make an effort to understand Lu Yu and figure out why he refused to study.

She’d sounded so determined—only to freeze like a statue the second she saw Lu Yu in person.

Lu Yu was already standing two steps down the stairs, waiting.

Lan Xi took a deep breath, then executed a slightly reckless maneuver.

She gave Lin Beixing a firm shove on the back.

“…Huh?!”

Lin Beixing, slight and delicate, practically toppled forward from the push.

She tumbled straight into Lu Yu’s chest.

That chest felt oddly familiar—after all, she had secretly groped it a few times yesterday.

“Sorry…” she murmured, looking up, her cheeks burning.

She didn’t even know what was wrong with her. Yesterday, when they were together, everything felt perfectly normal—even this morning, when she reminded him to study, she’d been calm and composed.

Why was she suddenly acting so weird?

It felt like the more her best friend teased her, the more flustered she became.

But… there really was nothing going on between her and Lu Yu…

“It’s fine.”

Lu Yu wrapped an arm around her waist, steadying her upright.

He replied casually, then turned and walked ahead.

Outwardly composed, he subtly patted his own chest.

Darn it.

Why am I suddenly so nervous?

Could this be a side effect of swapping bodies…??

He tugged Ren Jie—who was still stuck in “observer mode”—along with him, while Lin Beixing trailed behind them, and the trio headed toward the campus cafeteria.

At this hour, the cafeteria was swarming with students.

Lu Yu spotted a table with empty seats and gestured for Lin Beixing to sit first.

Then he dragged his good buddy Ren Jie toward the food window.

Their school cafeteria operated on an à la carte system—dozens of dishes rotated daily, each priced individually, neatly displayed in large trays behind the counter. Students simply pointed to what they wanted, and the cafeteria aunties would dish it out.

“What would you like?” Lu Yu asked Lin Beixing.

Even though he’d briefly inhabited her body yesterday, he still didn’t know her well—especially her food preferences.

“Something light… preferably vegetables… and if they have meatballs, I’ll take those. If not, maybe stewed spare ribs,” Lin Beixing replied.

“That’s all?”

“Yeah… that’s it,” she nodded.

Lu Yu remembered the dinner at her house yesterday. Her family seemed strict—controlling even her portion sizes under the guise of “balanced nutrition.” In reality, she was never full.

“How about a chicken drumstick?”

He really wanted to recommend Jiangshui No. 1 High’s famous fried drumsticks—big, juicy, and dirt cheap.

But Lin Beixing just shook her head. “I’ll pass on the drumstick…”

Yesterday, when she was in his body, she’d devoured one with pure joy.

But now back in her own body, she couldn’t afford greasy food.

What a shame.

If they ever swapped again, she vowed to stuff herself silly using Lu Yu’s body.

She watched him quietly, thinking this with absolute seriousness.

Lu Yu turned to leave, but Lin Beixing suddenly remembered something.

“Wait, Lu Yu—take my meal card.”

She didn’t mind him running errands for her, but considering what she’d seen of his living conditions, she couldn’t bear to let him pay.

She didn’t know the full details of his situation, but judging by where he lived… things probably weren’t easy for him.

Lu Yu didn’t hesitate.

Since Lin Beixing didn’t want to owe him anything, he wouldn’t let her feel burdened. He took her meal card without a second thought.

“Uh… you can just use my card for everything. I accidentally overcharged it last time…”

“No need,” Lu Yu declined politely.

He joined the end of the food line, Ren Jie in tow.

Ren Jie beamed at him, eyes wide with unspoken gossip.

“If you’ve got something to say, just spit it out,” Lu Yu said, unnerved by that stare.

“She’s basically offering to feed you, bro…”

“…”

Lu Yu had no idea what nonsense his desk-mate cooked up in that head of his—but it definitely wasn’t anything wholesome.

The line inched forward slowly.

Ren Jie glanced between Lu Yu and Lin Beixing, who sat alone at their table.

Suddenly, he yelped, “Hey! Lu Ge! Someone’s approaching the class rep—two guys!”

Lu Yu started to turn, but Ren Jie slapped a hand on his chest to stop him.

“Whoa, whoa! Don’t look back! Let me handle this!”

Lu Yu was just curious—that was all.

Besides, Lin Beixing was just a petite girl. As her classmate—and technically her desk partner—he felt responsible for keeping an eye on her.

Jiangshui No. 1 High wasn’t exactly known for bullies or gang trouble. As one of the city’s top schools, incidents of campus violence were practically nonexistent.

But that wasn’t what worried him.

Lin Beixing was the school’s “campus flower.” He just didn’t want sketchy guys trying to flirt with her.

“Ah! They’re getting closer!” Ren Jie suddenly panicked.

Ignoring the hand still pinning him, Lu Yu turned to glance back.

Lin Beixing was propping her chin in her hands, watching his back.

And beside her—no one.

This was already their… who knows how many-th time locking eyes today.

But this time, both of them snapped their gazes away as if electrocuted.