The Contract of the Little Devil (Thanks to tOAst25, the top-tier big brother, for the expert verification)

Evening.

The setting sun cast its orange-red glow over the surface of East Lake Park's waters.

By the lakeside, a gentle breeze rustled through the weeping willows.

"Si—tu Wenyao!"

Feng Youqing viciously pinched Situ Wenyao's ear and snapped,

"Do you even know how to take a photo? Or are you doing this on purpose?"

"At least get me in the frame!"

"Look at this—does the ghost in this picture look like me?!"

As she spoke, she shoved her phone screen right in front of his face.

The photo showed her distorted, with eerie lighting—indeed resembling a ghost.

"Ow ow ow!" Situ Wenyao winced in pain, his face scrunching up as he hurriedly pleaded,

"I think it looks great... really! It has a unique artistic vibe."

"Great?! You turned me into a ghost, and you call that great?" Feng Youqing’s anger flared even hotter.

Her grip on his ear tightened, and her other hand slipped under his school uniform, finding a precise spot on his waist to twist mercilessly.

"Hiss—"

"Ow ow ow ow!"

This time, Situ Wenyao gasped in pain, nearly in tears as he begged again,

"Could it be that you're just too beautiful, so no matter how I take the photo, it looks good?"

"Smooth talker, just like a playboy."

Despite her words, Feng Youqing finally let go, crossing her arms and tilting her chin up with an air of a domineering general.

Situ Wenyao exhaled in relief, one hand rubbing his reddened ear, the other clutching his waist, his posture comically awkward.

Pathetic.

Absolutely pathetic.

Seeing his pitiful state, Feng Youqing snorted disdainfully,

"Look at you. How did I end up with a childhood friend like you?"

"What a disgrace."

"Yes, yes, yes..." Situ Wenyao nodded frantically, like a sycophant.

Being scolded was still better than being beaten.

It couldn’t be helped—they’d been in the same class since kindergarten, all the way through to Guangya High.

He’d basically grown up being beaten by Feng Youqing.

A minor beating every three days, a major one every five.

After so many beatings, he’d gotten used to it.

"Hey, Wenyao, I really like Gu Luo."

Feng Youqing suddenly dropped this bombshell, her gaze fixed intently on him.

Hearing this, Situ Wenyao froze for a second. Before his brain could process it, his mouth blurted out,

"I like Gu Luo more than you do..."

And then a fist slammed into his stomach.

"Hiss—"

His face twisted in agony as he doubled over, clutching his abdomen.

"I—SAID—I—REALLY—LIKE—GU—LUO," Feng Youqing enunciated coldly, looking down at him.

Situ Wenyao shivered, hesitating before tentatively replying, "Then... I won’t compete with you..."

"THINK—CAREFULLY—BEFORE—YOU—ANSWER." Feng Youqing let out a chilling laugh, her head tilted and eyes narrowed.

For a moment, Situ Wenyao felt like she was a demon straight from hell.

One wrong answer, and he might not make it out alive.

Taking a deep breath, he said,

"What I mean is... your liking Gu Luo and my liking Gu Luo are the same kind of liking..."

'We’re both just shallow fans of his looks.'

"Go on."

Feng Youqing’s expression softened slightly.

"...Because we promised each other before... that we’d get married someday..."

As he spoke, memories flashed through his mind.

One day, Feng Youqing had cornered him in the park, declaring imperiously that he had to marry her and be her punching bag for life.

At the time, he hadn’t agreed right away.

But after a thorough beating, he’d given in.

"Hmph, then why aren’t you jealous?"

Feng Youqing demanded.

Situ Wenyao tensed, cautiously asking, "If... if I were jealous, what would you do?"

"Beat you up."

Her reply was swift and decisive.

"......"

Situ Wenyao looked up at her, on the verge of tears. "Then... can I not be jealous...?"

Feng Youqing slowly raised a finger and wagged it. "No. You have to be jealous."

"......"

He opened his mouth, thought for a moment, and rephrased his question, "Then... how do I avoid getting beaten?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Feng Youqing stared at him seriously. "Haven’t you heard the saying? ‘Hitting is affection, scolding is love.’"

She paused, clenched her fist, and narrowed her eyes.

"Got a problem with that?"

"No... it’s just..."

Before he could finish, an elderly voice called out from behind him.

"Kid."

They turned to see a hunched old man, a scavenger, limping toward them with a smile.

It was the same lame old man they’d met once before.

"Hello, Grandpa."

Situ Wenyao forced a polite smile, still clutching his stomach as he straightened up.

"...Hello, Grandpa."

Feng Youqing instantly turned sweet and demure, though her expression was slightly strained.

"Kid"?

She didn’t know their relationship.

But she had to play the part—manners mattered.

"Hello, you two." The old man chuckled, his wrinkles smoothing out.

Then he looked Feng Youqing up and down and praised,

"This girl’s a real beauty."

"Thank you, Grandpa." Feng Youqing immediately feigned shyness.

Not a trace of disdain showed for his scavenger appearance.

"No wonder. Last time, I told the kid I’d introduce him to my relative’s granddaughter, but he refused outright. Said he already had a girl he liked." The old man nodded approvingly.

"You two make a fine pair. Just standing together, you look like a happy couple."

Situ Wenyao scratched his head awkwardly. "Thanks."

...Like... liked her?

Feng Youqing’s eyes widened slightly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

This time, her shyness wasn’t an act.

That idiot Wenyao had never even said those words to her before!

He deserved a beating!

A beating! A beating! A thousand beatings!

While mentally listing ten thousand ways to murder him, she said aloud,

"Grandpa... excuse me, I need to use the restroom..."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Though her steps were measured, her movements seemed oddly stiff.

Once Feng Youqing was gone, the old man sighed in relief and turned to Situ Wenyao with a complicated expression.

"Kid... if you end up with this little girl, you’re gonna get beaten up a lot."

"Have you thought about my relative’s granddaughter instead?... That girl’s got such a gentle personality."

Clearly, the old man had witnessed the whole interaction between the two.

He knew this girl didn’t hold back—she really hit hard.

"No need, Grandpa."

Situ Wenyao clutched his still-throbbing stomach, forcing a pained smile as he said:

"I like her."

Just then, his phone buzzed.

[Feng Youqing: Go entertain yourself for a while. Don’t wander too far. If I can’t find you later, you’re in for a beating.]

............

After parting ways with the limping old man, Situ Wenyao started strolling along the lakeside.

The glow of the setting sun stretched his shadow long across the ground. As he walked, his mind wandered.

What was Gu Luo doing right now?

He really wanted to immerse himself in some wish-fulfillment fantasy.

The worst part of every day was after school.

As he walked, he suddenly heard a heavy sigh.

Following the sound, he spotted a tall, heavyset man in his mid-twenties, his face twisted in distress.

Situ Wenyao perked up like a bloodhound catching a scent. He quickened his pace and approached, asking:

"Hey, need any help?"

Since he couldn’t indulge in thoughts of Gu Luo right now, he’d settle for a small dose of satisfaction.

Even a tiny mosquito carries a bit of meat.

"Huh?..." The man blinked, clearly surprised by the stranger’s greeting.

But seeing the boy’s earnest, slightly naive expression, he managed a bitter smile and said:

"I’m fine, but thanks for asking."

Situ Wenyao nodded but didn’t leave. Instead, he stood quietly beside the man.

The two of them stayed there, letting the lakeside breeze wash over them.

The wind carried the crisp, fresh scent of the water.

After a long silence, the man suddenly spoke up: "Do you like reading novels?"

"Love them," Situ Wenyao answered immediately.

His whole immersion technique was something he’d learned from novels.

It had been an epiphany.

"Sigh... Well, I’m actually a web novelist," the man admitted, his face darkening with frustration.

"But my novel got thrown into the ‘dark room’ recently... Had to change the timeline to a college setting, but the plot couldn’t shift with it. Now it’s a mess, and my readership keeps dropping."

"I don’t even know what to do anymore..."

Hearing this, Situ Wenyao fell into thought. After a moment, he offered: "I’ve got a plan that might bring your novel back from the dead."

"What plan?"

Instead of answering directly, Situ Wenyao asked, "What’s the hottest industry right now?"

"What industry?"

"Edu-tech." Situ Wenyao smirked.

"Edu... edu-tech? What do you mean...?"

The man paused, then suddenly slapped his forehead in realization:

"Holy shit! You’re right!"

"If I’ve already changed the timeline, why should I hold back?"

He’d been stuck in a mental block, too afraid to write certain scenes before. But now, as the protagonists grew closer, he could just...

The two exchanged knowing grins.

"By the way, what genre is your novel?" Situ Wenyao asked casually.

To his surprise, the man answered without hesitation:

"My novel’s called []."

"Just some brainless wish-fulfillment stuff, no real logic to it."

"Wow, what a coincidence—I’ve read that one!" As a seasoned novel addict, Situ Wenyao instantly recalled the plot.

At the same time, he mentally compared it to Gu Luo.

Wish-fulfillment?

Uh... your ‘wish-fulfillment’ isn’t very fulfilling...

............

............