April Fools' Day

"All my life I've been striving, yet this very minute I wonder who's on my mind—I'd say it's only you I can't afford to lose."

"Beautiful scenes seem illusory, who truly understands life's joys? I'd say devotion to love remains the answer..."

Xie Yuling sat on Lin Mo's computer chair, tilting her head to glance at him as he read a book.

"So you went out yesterday just to buy this?"

"Yep. After seeing the stereo system left by Chu Ling's dad at her place, I figured we needed one here too."

The volume wasn’t deafening, but the sound quality was impeccable.

The whole setup had cost a small fortune, though.

"This must’ve been expensive," Xie Yuling couldn’t help asking.

"It’s fine, not too bad."

Lin Mo would never admit that the system had set him back over a hundred grand.

The tube amplifier alone cost more than fifty thousand.

Add to that the top-tier cables and peripherals—Lin Mo had spared no expense.

But he certainly wasn’t about to explain the nuances of this setup to Xie Yuling.

Still, the system needed some "burn-in" time.

Burn-in was essentially a process to stabilize electronic components by accelerating their aging.

It was like breaking in a new car by driving it hundreds of miles to let the parts settle.

The same principle applied here.

So Lin Mo left it running, casting a soundproof barrier around it to allow uninterrupted burn-in for both the amplifier and speakers.

--System: Seems like filler, but it’s totally filler--

The next morning, sunlight seeped through the gaps in the curtains, casting scattered patches of light across the small rented apartment.

Xie Yuling’s hand was halfway raised, not yet touching the door, when Lin Mo twisted the knob open from inside.

"Right on time," Xie Yuling remarked, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Of course," Lin Mo replied with a cocky eyebrow raise, as if it were the most natural thing.

Side by side, they descended the stairs, the morning breeze carrying a slight chill through the hallway.

As they neared the ground floor, Xie Yuling paused mid-step, as if suddenly remembering something crucial. She turned her head, eyes glinting with mischief.

"Today’s April Fools', you know. Better watch your back."

April Fools’?

Back in his school days, April Fools’ was no joke.

His memories of the day were filled with prank gadgets lining the shelves of convenience stores near campus—everything from classic stink bombs and fake spiders to more elaborate tricks like shock gum and faux poop. The creativity knew no bounds.

From elementary school to university, the tradition only grew wilder, fueled by an endless well of enthusiasm.

Probably all thanks to Stephen Chow’s influence.

But! Pranks were a delicate art.

They had to be unexpected and hilarious without crossing the line into genuine offense.

Push too far, and friendships could sink faster than a capsized boat.

And if the target was a girl, making her cry was off-limits.

For guys, the rule was simple: don’t provoke them to violence.

That said, everyone loved testing the limits with the boys.

"So..."

Noticing his thoughtful expression, Xie Yuling added with a hint of seriousness,

"Don’t accept food from anyone today, and don’t take anything handed to you. Could be a trap."

Lin Mo scoffed, puffing out his chest.

"Relax. As if anyone could prank me. Do they even know who they’re dealing with?"

Meanwhile, inside the school, Fang Jun and his "Prank Strike Force" had already mobilized.

"Listen up, team! Today’s the day we finally make Lin Mo slip up! I refuse to let someone go three years without a single embarrassing moment!"

"Prank Special Ops Super Squad!"

"Charge!"

Sunlight bathed their youthful faces, each one radiating the glow of mischief.

Lin Mo hadn’t even stepped foot on campus before his spiritual senses were fully deployed.

Pfft. As if they could outwit a Foundation Establishment expert.

At the far end of the third-floor hallway, a boy craned his neck, palms sweating as he stared intently at the unhurried figure approaching the school gates.

The moment Lin Mo entered, he bolted toward Classroom 8.

"Brothers! Lin Mo’s here—time to crank it up!"

The classroom buzzed with suppressed excitement. A few shadowy figures exchanged glances, their faces twisted into grins of anticipation and nerves as they double-checked their setups.

Above the front door, a plastic bucket teetered precariously on the frame.

The oldest trick in the book.

A single sweep of Lin Mo’s spiritual sense revealed its contents—flour. Harmless enough.

His gaze lingered on the half-open door before he casually veered toward the back entrance.

Little did he know, Fang Jun and his crew were already there, barely containing their glee.

"Heh, knew he’d go for the back door!" Fang Jun whispered excitedly.

"Lin Mo’s too clever—that’s why the real trap’s here!"

The floor by the back door was coated with nearly invisible glue traps.

Of course, Fang Jun had solvent ready.

They just wanted to see Lin Mo squirm.

Sensing something amiss, Lin Mo paused with his hand on the doorknob—then withdrew it.

Without missing a beat, he took a step back and eyed the half-open window beside him.

In one fluid motion, he pulled it wide open and vaulted inside.

The classroom fell dead silent.

Fang Jun’s jaw dropped, his arms frozen mid-celebration, his expression comically stunned.

Lin Mo brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeves and coolly surveyed the sea of dumbfounded faces.

"You amateurs."

As he landed, he strode to his seat, swiftly retrieving a stink bomb hidden inside and lobbing it toward Fang Jun.

"Fire in the hole!"

The expanding bomb erupted in the back row, releasing a noxious cloud.

Thankfully, the front rows were spared.

Fang Jun’s team had been thoroughly outplayed—though their efforts weren’t entirely wasted.

Ma Li and Su Mingzhao entered through the front door one after the other.

The bucket tipped over, dumping its contents onto Ma Li, whose already sun-darkened skin was now dusted white.

Su Mingzhao, trailing behind, narrowly avoided the same fate.

"Hahaha! Sucks to be you, Ma Li!"

Still laughing, Su Mingzhao headed for the back door—pushing it open before stepping inside.

His foot stuck fast to the floor.

"Damn it! Who set this up? Why not use it on Lin Mo instead?!"

A voice drifted over, dripping with sarcasm.

"Who do you think it was for? He didn’t fall for it."

Su Mingzhao could only sigh in defeat.