The next day.
Tuesday.
The sunlight draped over the earth like golden silk, casting a particularly radiant glow on the exceptionally bright day.
As usual, Gu Luo woke up early, prepared breakfast, and packed a lunchbox. After quickly finishing his meal, he headed to the school garden with an unusual flutter in his heart.
The garden was quiet at this hour, with only a few students around. Chrysanthemums swayed gently in the breeze.
Sitting on a bench, Gu Luo glanced at the two bottles of milk tucked inside his bag, his emotions tangled.
That morning, Luo Shuning had not only warmed a cup of milk for him but had also sneakily slipped two extra bottles into his backpack when he wasn’t looking.
Hard to describe.
Really hard to describe.
Though the awkwardness from last night still lingered, he couldn’t ignore the kindness behind her gesture.
Gu Luo couldn’t help but replay Luo Shuning’s words from earlier:
"Big bro, sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have come to you like that."
"And... you’d rather embarrass yourself than let me feel uncomfortable..."
"Thank you, really. So... this’ll be our little secret from now on, okay~?"
Secrets, after all, were the magical threads that drew people closer.
Gu Luo never imagined things would unfold this way.
All he could say was—gentle girls truly were the most beautiful existence in the world.
"Stupid big bro! Did you miss me?!"
After who-knows-how-long, Gu Luo felt a small hand tap his shoulder, followed by Gu Ximan’s energetic voice.
Turning around, he saw the lively Gu Ximan and Lu Xuexue, who was hiding behind her like a shy little rabbit.
Both wore playful twin ponytails, their hair swaying with every movement, radiating youthful charm.
Gu Luo’s lips curled into a doting smile. "So much that I couldn’t even eat."
"Eww~ So cheesy. But I know you mean it." Gu Ximan waved a hand in mock disgust, though the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her delight.
With a soft chuckle, Gu Luo shifted his gaze to Lu Xuexue behind her and greeted warmly, "Morning, Xuexue."
"G-Good morning, Brother Gu."
Her voice was as light as the garden breeze, her cheeks tinged pink.
Brother Gu greeted her!
She cheered silently in her heart.
Good. Gotta keep this up!
Gu Ximan plopped down beside Gu Luo, lifting her chin like a little princess. "Stupid big bro, Xuexue and I are waking up early this weekend to buy figurines. You’re coming with us."
"...About that. I’ve got plans both days."
"With who?!" Gu Ximan instantly went on high alert, eyes wide like a territorial kitten.
"Classmates on Saturday, and Shuning on Sunday—we’re going clothes shopping. I was gonna ask you, but seems like you’re busy."
Gu Luo kept his tone casual, but internally, he was sweating bullets.
No way could he explain the situation between him and Luo Shuhe.
Sigh.
What a mess. Another lie.
But Gu Ximan’s focus had already zeroed in on one thing: Gu Luo and Luo Shuning going clothes shopping together.
Shopping for clothes? That’s basically a date!
Big bro and Luo Shuning? Alone?!
The thought looped in her mind.
"I’m on cleaning duty today, so I’ll head back first. Don’t stay out too long, okay?" Gu Luo stood, ruffled Gu Ximan’s hair, left the lunchbox behind, and hurried off.
His steps were just a tad too quick.
Guilt was a heavy burden.
He dreaded Gu Ximan pressing for details about his "classmates" on Saturday.
No more lies. Please.
Yet, their concerns were worlds apart.
"Ximan... you okay?"
Lu Xuexue took Gu Luo’s vacated seat, worry lacing her voice.
"I... I’m fine. Totally fine."
Gu Ximan sucked in a breath, forcing a smile. "Who cares who big bro goes out with?"
But as she spoke, her grin faded, replaced by a pout, her eyes clouded with dejection.
Lu Xuexue quickly reassured her, "Ximan... it might not be a date. Brother Gu said he originally planned to invite you..."
"Who knows? Maybe they are dating..."
"Things like this... you never know..."
"And they met through that cliché ‘hero-saves-the-damsel’ trope."
Gu Ximan’s mood sank lower with every word.
Hearing this, Lu Xuexue grew uneasy too.
She knew all too well the magnetism Gu Luo carried—an allure impossible to resist.
And Luo Shuning? A top-tier beauty, elegant and stunning, one of triplets.
If those two got together...
Lu Xuexue didn’t dare finish the thought.
Biting her lip, she tentatively suggested, "Ximan, if you’re this worried... why don’t we secretly follow them this weekend?"
"What do you think?"
Gu Ximan perked up instantly but hesitated. "Xuexue, weren’t you super excited for the ‘Cool Prince’ figurine?"
"Ah, it’s fine!"
"Waaah, Xuexue, you’re the best!" Gu Ximan hugged her like a lifeline.
"I-It’s nothing..."
Lu Xuexue averted her eyes, guilt creeping in.
Meanwhile.
Elsewhere.
The moment Gu Luo stepped into the classroom, he sensed something off.
Too many eyes on him.
It was unsettling.
Puzzled, he made his way to his seat—only to find Shen Yue slumped over her desk, utterly listless.
............
............
u serious?" Chen Feng watched helplessly as his painstakingly trained disciple, fresh off a championship victory, publicly abandoned him. "You had your chance, but you didn’t appreciate it. Now, face the consequences of your choice!" Chen Feng possessed the "Master System," a treasure trove of supreme martial arts techniques, capable of molding ordinary individuals into peerless prodigies. "Legs like yours? A shame not to train in the Crippling Kick." "Ever heard of a palm strike that descends from the heavens?" "Auntie! I see extraordinary bone structure in you—a martial arts prodigy, one in ten thousand." The once-defiant senior disciple, now watching her juniors rise to fame one after another, dominating the internet, was consumed by endless regret.
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
and couldn't return to the real world. Finally, I gave up and decided to go with the flow, only to discover that writing a diary could make me stronger. Since no one could read it, Su Luo wrote freely, daring to pen anything and everything. Female Lead #1: "Not bad. This diary helped me steal all the protagonist's opportunities. I just want to get stronger." Female Lead #2: "I don’t care about reaching the peak of the cultivation world. Right now, I just want to enjoy the chaos." Female Lead #3: "What? Everyone around me is a spy? I’m the Joker Demon Lord?" ... It’s so strange. Why is the plot completely off track, yet the ending remains the same? Are you all just messing with me?!
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
