Not Archenemies, But the Best Childhood Sweethearts in the World

Su Kexi's brief words carried a whirlwind of emotions—three parts sorrow, three parts melancholy, three parts reluctance, and one part "If you dare say it was me, I'll hang myself at your doorstep."

Shen Nian immediately shook his head in denial. "How could that be? Though Teacher's guidance hasn't been much, I’ve always liked you."

"?"

That somehow made it worse.

So I really am disliked by my student... What a failure as a teacher...

I’ll go downstairs to buy water. The teaching building has no elevator, and I don’t feel like taking the stairs either.

"Why would Teacher think that?" Shen Nian asked curiously.

"Because... you talked to all the other teachers except me..." As she spoke, Su Kexi even sounded a little aggrieved.

Shen Nian understood now!

Ah, so it’s possessiveness, huh? Got it, got it.

"Oh, that’s because I saw you were busy with your PowerPoint and didn’t want to disturb you."

"O-oh, I see."

Seeing Shen Nian’s earnest expression, Su Kexi felt a bit better.

So it wasn’t that the student hated her—just her own overthinking.

"Then you can ask me now."

"Teacher, what was your college entrance exam score?" Shen Nian recited flatly.

Honestly, no one cares about your exam score. My task here is done; all that’s left is to kill an hour in the office.

"Six hundred fifty-seven."

"Oh."

"By the way, about that thing with 'On the Faults of Qin'—I was just saying it. I didn’t actually expect you to copy it."

"Don’t worry, Teacher. I figured you didn’t mean it, so I didn’t write a single word."

Even if I had been serious, you still wouldn’t have done it, right, kid?

No one but Shen Nian could make skipping homework sound so righteous.

Su Kexi smiled wryly. Shen Nian was still the same old Shen Nian. Guess she’d just been overthinking again.

With the conversation dead, Shen Nian buried himself in studying. During the second evening self-study session, a notification popped up—mission complete. Shen Nian bolted back to the classroom.

After class, Chen Dong immediately turned around. "You spent a whole period in the office and came back with a row of Wangzai milk?"

"How did you know Teacher Yan Yuzhu gave them to me?"

"Who even asked you?"

Shen Nian tossed one to Chen Dong and drank one himself.

After school, Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun walked out together. Under the dim streetlights of the campus path, a few mosquitoes buzzed, stretching their two shadows long and slanting.

"That milk was from Teacher Yan?"

"How’d you know?"

"I overheard you talking."

"Couldn’t be helped. The teacher insisted on giving it to me—wouldn’t take no for an answer. What can I say? I’m just too outstanding. Finished my study plan in no time."

"Wow, impressive," Xia Yanchun deadpanned.

"Too kind, too kind," Shen Nian replied with exaggerated modesty.

Back home, Shen Nian tossed his bag aside and grabbed the remote. He pressed it—nothing. The AC was dead.

In disbelief, he tried using his phone as a remote. Yep. The AC had officially kicked the bucket.

It was working fine yesterday, damn it.

Thirty degrees at night—how am I supposed to live without AC?!

He considered crashing in Shen Yue’s room, but her door was shut tight. She was definitely dead asleep, and since she had work tomorrow, Shen Nian decided not to bother her.

He dug out an ancient mini-fan from the storage room, plugged it in, and hit the switch. The blades spun twice before making a sound like a Transformer mid-shift—then died completely.

Shen Nian’s room faced the sun. Even at night, the walls radiated heat. Opening the window did nothing; the room was a literal sauna.

Autumn was being way too affectionate. Shen Nian couldn’t take it. Lying in bed, sticky and sweaty, he couldn’t focus, let alone sleep.

No AC? Shen Nian would perish.

Luckily, Shen Nian had Xia Yanchun. Their so-called "mortal enemies" dynamic was just a front—she was, at heart, a sweet and adorable girl.

Shen Nian pulled out his phone and sent her a QQ message.

[Shen Nian]: Baby.

Xia Yanchun had just stripped for a shower when she saw the message. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

[Xia Yanchun]: ?

[Shen Nian]: I think we should call a truce. I’m tired of the fighting. Let’s acknowledge what we really are—not rivals, but childhood friends who are the closest, okay?

Xia Yanchun knew Shen Nian too well. This long-winded spiel? He was definitely up to something.

Her almond-shaped eyes glimmered as her lips curved.

[Xia Yanchun]: You wish.

[Shen Nian]: ?

Not following the script?

Crying. Ten years thinking my tsundere childhood friend just secretly liked me, but she actually hates me.

[Shen Nian]: Come on, remember the good times. I even gave you lollipops.

[Xia Yanchun]: And then you stole my peanut candy this summer.

[Shen Nian]: Got proof?

[Xia Yanchun]: You admitted it.

[Shen Nian]: Date, time, exact second? Can’t name it? Then it didn’t happen.

[Xia Yanchun]: (Eagle Brother Amogus.jpg)

[Xia Yanchun]: What do you want?

[Shen Nian]: Open up. FBI.

[Shen Nian]: My AC’s broken. Let me crash at your place tonight. You wouldn’t let your best childhood friend die of heatstroke, right?

[Xia Yanchun]: Perfect. Tell your mom you love Orléans roast chicken. I’ll feast at your funeral.

[Shen Nian]: I’ll just sleep on the floor. No snoring, no grinding, and definitely no weird stuff while you’re asleep. Don’t make me beg.

[Xia Yanchun]: Wow, "the lady doth protest too much."

[Shen Nian]: Please.

[Xia Yanchun]: Should’ve begged sooner. Wasted my time.

One minute later—

[Shen Nian]: Hello? Why aren’t you opening the door?

[Xia Yanchun]: I never said begging would make me open it.

[Shen Nian]: Monster monster monster monster monster! Evil woman evil woman evil woman!

[Shen Nian]: I’ll hang myself at your door, haunt you as a ghost, peek at you showering and sleeping, and lurk behind you every time you check the mirror—just hovering over your shoulder, watching.

[Xia Yanchun]: Madge.

Xia Yanchun pressed her lips together, eyes crinkling with amusement before she burst into soft laughter, the sound light as spring breeze echoing in the bathroom.

Nothing better than seeing Shen Nian seething but powerless against her.

Felt like all the day’s frustrations had melted away. Shen Nian deserved every bit of this.

[Xia Yanchun]: Fine, come over.

After sending the last message, Xia Yanchun set her clothes aside and padded to the door, leaving it slightly ajar.

Soon, the door across the hall opened, and Shen Nian slipped inside.

Before entering: I am but a humble worm.

After entering: Shurima, your emperor has returned!

"You bitch, Xia Yanchun! You played me!" Shen Nian plopped onto the sofa like a king, legs crossed, fuming.

Xia Yanchun, your lord and master has arrived!

"Be grateful I even let you in. Keep acting up, and I’ll kick you out."

"Pfft. Easier to invite a god than send one away." Shen Nian smirked. "You really think I’m leaving now?"

"..." Xia Yanchun had no retort. The moment she let him in, she’d known this would happen.

Who is Shen Nian? She knew him all too well. If she couldn’t foresee this, then all the traps he’d set for her in the past would’ve been for nothing.

A nemesis is the enemy who understands you best. You might not know my depths, but I sure know your lengths (referring to strengths and weaknesses).

"Is your AC really broken?"

"Yeah, my sister’s asleep. Rather than bothering her, I figured I’d bother you instead."

"You’ve got a death wish, Shen Nian!"

Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato’s request for 3 million+ daily visits overloading the servers, we now recommend switching to other top-tier sources.