At four in the afternoon, the school bell rang across Guangya.
As usual, students flooded toward the club building or sports center, their laughter rising and falling like waves, weaving a lively net under the clear autumn sky.
Lu Xuexue glanced at Gu Ximan, who looked troubled, and hesitated before speaking up. "Miman, I’ll go with you."
She had carefully gone over the whole incident with Gu Ximan afterward and realized it was truly just a misunderstanding.
Gu Luo’s confession had been meant for Luo Shuning all along.
Though Lu Xuexue was heartbroken too, she had spent the past few days doing her best to console Gu Ximan, who was taking it even harder.
Hearing her offer, Gu Ximan waved a hand with forced nonchalance. "It’s fine, really. Hmph, I just want to see what that jerk Gu Luo is up to."
But the worry between her brows betrayed the unease in her heart.
Gu Luo’s words—You didn’t leave because of that awkwardness, did you?—still echoed in her mind.
What did that idiot mean?
Had he figured something out? Was he about to lay everything bare…?
"Alright then… I’ll wait for you downstairs," Lu Xuexue said, her expression concerned as she ruffled Gu Ximan’s cool tea-brown hair.
"Mhm! That jerk said he’d take me home, but I’m not going." Gu Ximan lifted her chin defiantly. "I’d rather starve to death or jump off this rooftop than go back with him!"
"Hey, none of that talk about starving or jumping! Tsk, tsk."
"You’re the best, Xuexue!"
Ten minutes later, Gu Ximan took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the rooftop door.
A breeze brushed past her, and the sunlight was a little too bright.
Gu Luo was the only one there, sitting on a bench. He waved at her and called out, "Block the door."
"W-why block the door…?"
Gu Ximan’s face instantly flushed.
Every Guangya student knew the rule—blocking the door with something meant hanging a "Do Not Disturb" sign. It usually meant a couple was up here getting cozy.
After using an empty bucket to barricade the door, Gu Ximan smoothed her cool tea-brown hair and walked unhurriedly toward the bench.
She sat down beside Gu Luo, leaving just a few inches between them.
"Come closer."
He patted the space next to him with a smile.
"…Okay."
Her heartbeat quickened, her gaze darting nervously as she inched closer, until her calf lightly brushed against his uniform pants. Her pulse stuttered.
"Ximan."
Gu Luo turned to look at her, his voice soft.
"…What?"
She puffed her cheeks and glared back, though her lashes trembled.
"You like me, don’t you?"
"……"
The words hit like a stone dropped into a still lake, sending ripples crashing through her chest.
Her eyes widened, lips parting, but before she could speak, she choked on her own saliva. Violent coughs wracked her, turning her cheeks scarlet.
"Cough… cough…!"
"Easy, easy."
Gu Luo’s hand settled on her back, gently rubbing along her spine. The warmth seeped through her thin uniform, so scorching she wanted to pull away—yet couldn’t bring herself to.
When she finally caught her breath, Gu Ximan covered her face, her voice muffled between her fingers.
"You… you…!"
"Jerk… What are you trying to say…?"
Her heart pounded so hard it threatened to leap out of her throat.
This was too sudden.
Way too sudden.
Instead of answering, Gu Luo pulled a lucky star from his pocket. The fluorescent green paper shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Pinching the star between his fingers, he smiled so tenderly it could melt ice. "I love it. Really, really love it."
"Because you folded it for me. It’ll definitely bring me luck—and keep me safe."
"…S-so what…?"
Her pulse raced even faster.
But Gu Luo veered off again, fingertips tracing the star’s edges as he murmured,
"Ximan, there’s something I need to confess to you."
…………
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Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
