No way, I have something very important to do

After a brief greeting, Lin Yu left with Tang Manman, continuing their stroll towards the mall not far from the school.

As for the white-haired Wang Xiao, he took out his phone, secretly snapped a photo of their backs, and began to harshly criticize the guys in the group chat who were spreading fake news.

Fried Chicken Salad Rice: Who said Brother Long and Tang Manman broke up?

Fried Chicken Salad Rice: The two of them were holding hands today, sweetly returning to school to reminisce about the past.

Fried Chicken Salad Rice: Whoever reported fake intel, stick your butt out for me!

Fried Chicken Salad Rice: If I have to do it myself, it won't just be about your butt!

In this friend group, the rumor of Lin Yu and Tang Manman breaking up had already spread a year ago.

Now, it had almost circulated to the point of becoming an established fact.

The white-haired guy's photo and his words undoubtedly caused a huge uproar in the group.

Even some lurkers who rarely showed their faces made a rare appearance to pop their bubbles.

Jiu Li: ?

Xiaojin Miemie: ?

No Cilantro: ?

Eat or Don't Eat Cilantro: ?

No Cilantro @Eat or Don't Eat Cilantro: If you don't change your ID, I'll go to your house and beat you up!

Little T: No way, when I was traveling in the south this summer, I saw Brother Long with a woman who had a really great figure.

Little T: Could it be that Brother Long broke up with that woman and got back together with Tang Manman?

Mingming @Little T: Don't ruin the formation.

Mingming: ?

Little T: ?

...

...

Top Student: ?

...

After the two arrived at the familiar mall, they walked around in a large circle but couldn't find that DIY shop from back then.

It was only after asking some of the older shop owners that the two learned the DIY shop had gone out of business and closed down due to financial losses.

Upon hearing this news, Tang Manman became noticeably more depressed.

Lin Yu noticed her disappointment, so he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gently comforted her:

"Don't be sad."

"I'll look for the exact same one online for you."

"I will definitely make it up to you with an identical one."

Tang Manman's full lips still pouted slightly, showing her reluctance.

She still wanted to go to the original DIY shop and have Lin Yu make her an identical one.

But this small wish was destined to be impossible to fulfill, so she could only nod and choose to compromise.

Since the DIY shop was gone, the two turned and headed toward Tang Manman's favorite fried milk shop.

Fortunately, this shop was still open for business.

And even after all this time, the signboard at the entrance still displayed the picture of golden, rectangular fried milk.

It seemed they hadn't lost their signature craft.

The two entered the shop, ordered some fried skewers and a portion of fried milk, and then found a seat.

They casually chatted about college topics.

As they talked, Tang Manman remembered another serious matter.

She looked at Lin Yu and said seriously:

"Next year when school starts, you have to go to University A with me!"

Lin Yu thought about it and nodded in agreement without much hesitation.

After all, Lin Yu had long thought about leaving University S, a school closely tied to the plotline.

Thinking of this, Lin Yu couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

If it weren't for that incident with Xia Yueshan, if he had transferred right away on the first day of enrollment when he felt that sense of familiarity.

Would all of this have not happened?

As he thought about it.

Lin Yu showed a tired expression and let out a sigh of utter helplessness.

Things had already reached this point, what was the use of regretting past choices?

It would only add to his troubles.

Lin Yu stopped wallowing in self-pity.

Right then, the fried skewers and fried milk they ordered were ready, brought to their table personally by the shop owner.

Fried skewers were not like grilled skewers, where each place had its own unique characteristics.

They were all fried in oil, so the taste of fried skewers from different places was actually quite similar.

But fried milk was a different story.

This shop's fried milk truly lived up to the word "signature."

The outer crust of the fried milk was golden and crispy, and the sweet aroma unique to milk wafted through the air, impossible to hide.

With a single bite, the crunching sound seemed to ring right next to the eardrums, and the sweet milk flavor exploded richly in the mouth.

It was absolutely irresistible.

After eating one, just as Lin Yu was about to pick up a second piece of fried milk, his phone suddenly rang.

Lin Yu picked it up and saw that the caller was Xia Muzhu.

Immediately, Lin Yu cautiously shifted his gaze and stole a glance at Tang Manman.

Seeing that her eyes were also locked on the phone screen, Lin Yu knew he couldn't dodge it this time.

So, Lin Yu generously picked up the phone.

He held the phone with one hand, put his other arm around Tang Manman, placed the phone between them, and after answering the call, he turned on the speakerphone.

He put on an honest look, as if saying, "Baby Manman, I'm not hiding anything from you."

"Is there something the matter?"

Lin Yu asked in a calm voice.

Tang Manman, curled up in Lin Yu's arms, was very sensible and didn't say a word, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but twitch upward slightly.

It was hard to tell if it was due to the thrill of this behavior or the smugness of being closer to Lin Yu than Xia Muzhu was at this moment.

"Nothing much."

Xia Muzhu's soft voice came from the phone's speaker.

After a brief pause, Xia Muzhu's voice sounded again.

Only this time, her voice seemed to be tinged with a faint, imperceptible shyness.

"It's just that Little Shan is recovering very optimistically now."

"I wanted to ask if you have time to come back for a visit."

"We could celebrate a bit..."

Faced with Xia Muzhu's invitation, Lin Yu was noncommittal. Instead, he lightly tapped his finger to mute the microphone.

He tightened his arm around Tang Manman, slightly lowered his head, and after getting closer to her, Lin Yu curled his lips into a wicked smile and asked in a low voice:

"What do you think?"

"Do you want me to go back?"

Tang Manman pursed her lips even tighter.

But her inner emotions were still conveyed through the slightly higher curve of her lips and her crescent-shaped eyes.

"No."

Tang Manman shook her head and said softly with a bit of a mischievous tone.

Without another word, Lin Yu nodded, turned the microphone back on, and replied into the phone:

"I can't."

"I have very important things to attend to right now, so I can't go back."

When Lin Yu mentioned having very important things to attend to, Tang Manman could hardly hold back.

She buried her face in Lin Yu's chest, her body trembling with laughter.