Sorry, you didn't think I was your girlfriend, did you

Lin Yu's sudden words left Chi Qingshui's mind blank.

She never expected Lin Yu to voluntarily reveal this secret!

Why would he tell her?

Was it really just to hear her analysis?

Or had he noticed something and locked onto her?

"You… you have an online girlfriend?"

"You're lying, right? You… don’t seem like the type to date!"

Chi Qingshui desperately suppressed her emotions, forcing herself to respond.

If she didn’t react appropriately, wouldn’t it make her seem even more guilty?

Even after saying this, Chi Qingshui’s heart remained unsettled.

She frantically retraced her steps, wondering if she had slipped up somewhere in the days since returning from Jizhou.

Was it when she took Lin Yu to the community hospital?

When she volunteered to make breakfast?

Or was it her unnatural reaction when they ran into their class monitor during the gathering?

Chi Qingshui racked her brain, scrutinizing every unpolished detail.

At the same time, she pondered:

If Lin Yu suddenly said her name, how exactly should she explain herself?

Lin Yu: "Big Chi? Big Chi!"

Chi Qingshui: "Huh? What? What’s the question?"

Lin Yu barely held back his laughter.

Who would’ve thought?

Just a casual mention had made her so nervous.

If he outright named her, who knew what kind of rare expression he’d get to see?

"I didn’t ask a question. I was just talking about… how I met my online girlfriend."

Lin Yu spoke calmly.

"Oh, how you met…"

Chi Qingshui opened her mouth to reply, but her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

No!

Something was very wrong!

Had Lin Yu actually said that earlier?

Lost in thought, she genuinely hadn’t heard what he’d just said.

But what if Lin Yu hadn’t said anything at all?

What if this was a test?

If Chi Qingshui described how they’d really met, wouldn’t that be like walking straight into a trap?

Could it be…

Lin Yu was cleverly baiting her into exposing herself?

Fortunately, she’d caught on!

"Sorry, Lin Yu."

"Just hearing you say you have a girlfriend shocked me so much."

"I didn’t catch anything you said after that."

"Could you repeat it?"

Victory!

If Lin Yu was testing her like this, he must not have any solid proof it was her.

Now she’d perfectly seen through his scheme and given the most flawless response.

This round belonged to her!

In the dimly lit park, Chi Qingshui clasped her hands behind her back, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

Little did she know—

Her expression hadn’t escaped Lin Yu’s "night vision."

Lin Yu’s thoughts:

Wow, my little girlfriend’s smirk right now seems even more devious than mine.

But I really should praise her.

Even under this much pressure, she’s still sharp and quick-witted.

What an impressive little genius!

However…

The student may have outsmarted the master once, but the master always wins in the end.

If he exposed Chi Qingshui too easily, tomorrow would lose half its fun.

On the way here, Lin Yu had already devised a perfect plan—

One tailored specifically for tomorrow’s movie night!

"It’s fine if you didn’t hear. I didn’t say much anyway."

"Just that we met as freshmen on WeChat."

"We hit it off chatting and slowly became online lovers."

Chi Qingshui nodded thoughtfully, matching Lin Yu’s slow steps as they headed toward the pavilion.

"Who knew you’d be so bold online, actually pursuing a girl?"

"What’s she like? Is she pretty?"

Lin Yu’s thoughts:

Good, good. Keep up the act like it’s not you.

She knows full well Lin Yu’s never seen her before.

Yet she still thinks to ask if his girlfriend is pretty—

That’s exactly how a normal person would react.

Lin Yu glanced at Chi Qingshui, then looked away and said:

"Of course I think… she’s very pretty."

Chi Qingshui: "!!!"

Lin Yu just looked at her?!

But he’s never even met his online girlfriend.

What does he mean by "pretty"?

Is he implying it’s her?

Stay calm.

He can’t have proof. He definitely can’t!

"That important person you mentioned in the taxi last time… must’ve been her, right?"

"No wonder you had that look on your face."

"Seems like you’re the loyal type."

Lin Yu nodded earnestly:

"Big Chi, you really see right through people."

Inside the darker pavilion, Chi Qingshui subtly put some distance between them.

College boys could be impulsive sometimes.

What if—

He lost control and did something reckless? Chi Qingshui would be terrified.

And this risky meeting spot…

Was one she’d chosen herself!

"Lin Yu, didn’t you say earlier that I know this person?"

"What did you mean by that? You’re not suggesting…"

"Your girlfriend is someone from our apartment, are you?"

Chi Qingshui’s question was flawlessly phrased.

No hints like "You don’t think it’s me, do you?"

Nothing that could give her away!

"Someone who pays extra attention to me, who wants to watch movies together…"

"It took my dense brain until recently to realize."

"The online soulmate I’ve been talking to has been right beside me all along!"

Chi Qingshui: "!!!"

He might as well be reciting her ID number at this point!

Would calling him out now—asking if he suspects her—still sound natural?

After all…

In their apartment, the only person who’d made movie plans with Lin Yu was Chi Qingshui!

Given Lin Yu’s behavior, it wasn’t hard to guess he was preparing to confront her.

But in Chi Qingshui’s heart—

She’d never imagined this moment would come.

No matter how sharp Lin Yu’s instincts were…

Without concrete evidence, Chi Qingshui would never admit it.

"Lin Yu, I think I understand now."

"I must’ve done something that gave you the wrong idea."

"You don’t actually think…"

"I’d waste time dating you online instead of studying, do you?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Chi Qingshui’s heart twisted in pain.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…

She repeated silently, praying Lin Yu wouldn’t take it too hard.

But then—

Lin Yu blinked and laughed:

"Hahaha, Big Chi, you’ve got it all wrong."

"I meant our classmate… Lv Rou!"

Chi Qingshui’s eye twitched, her heart missing a beat:

"L-Lv Rou?!"

...