"Ning Ning, do you know? The forum is buzzing about you and Zhou Yi, and there are even rumors of a love triangle now."
Su Ning let out an indifferent scoff. "These people are just bored, grasping at shadows and making up stories. Let them talk."
Zhang Lili nudged Su Ning's shoulder. "But they're saying Zhou Yi used to be Chu Han's simp, and they’re making it sound convincing."
Su Ning paused her writing and looked up at Zhang Lili.
"So what? Lili, just now, I became certain—Zhou Yi is definitely putting on an act. I’m sure of it. So, in my opinion, whatever happened between him and Chu Han was just for show."
Zhang Lili nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense. After all, Zhou Yi just walked back to the classroom with you. If he were really Chu Han’s simp, he would’ve followed her to the cafeteria instead."
While Zhang Lili was still gossiping about Zhou Yi and Chu Han, Zhou Yi himself had already received a friend request from Chu Han.
Zhou Yi accepted it without hesitation.
There were several other unfamiliar friend requests below—some with names he recognized, which he accepted, while the rest were rejected.
That’s just how aloof he was!
A guy like him wouldn’t just let anyone add him on WeChat.
At the same time, Zhou Yi had multiple unread messages on his phone.
[Little Xi: Yi-gege, I saw posts about you on the forum today. I had no idea you were so famous at school!]
[Yixin Loves Candy: Gege, want to grab bubble tea tonight? My treat~]
[Zhi: What’s going on between you and Su Ning, Yi-gege? Everyone’s talking about it. Want to go out and clear your head?]
The rest were just trivial messages from unimportant people. Zhou Yi didn’t bother replying—he was committed to maintaining his cold, untouchable image.
He only responded to Qiao Xi and Xia Qiuzhi.
[Zhou Yi: The forum is full of baseless rumors, Little Xi. Don’t believe any of it.]
[Zhou Yi: No need, Zhi. I wouldn’t want Wang Xuan getting upset if he found out we met.]
Then he opened Wang Yixin’s chat. After a moment’s thought, Zhou Yi didn’t turn her down.
[Sure, wait for me outside the classroom after class.]
He specifically told her to meet him outside the classroom—just to provoke Su Ning a little.
A girl’s jealousy could sometimes be the key to stirring up emotions.
[Yixin Loves Candy: Yay! I’ll wait for you outside your classroom then, gege. Can’t wait, hehe~]
Wang Yixin was a pro at reeling guys in. With someone as indifferent as Zhou Yi, she played the bubbly, cheerful role.
Around others, though, she was the epitome of an untouchable ice queen.
Just as Zhou Yi put his phone away to sleep, Chu Han and Xia Qiuzhi’s chat notifications lit up again.
[Han: When do you have time to talk alone? I don’t think things should end like this between us, Yi-gege.]
[Zhou Yi: You have a boyfriend. Meeting alone isn’t appropriate. Bring him along if you want.]
But would Chu Han dare?
Zhou Yi had just thrown her a dilemma.
Bringing Gao Wenhao to meet Zhou Yi would be like dancing on his grave.
Yet she was desperate to uncover the truth behind Zhou Yi’s sudden change.
Compared to Gao Wenhao’s unpredictable, spoiled-brat temper, she much preferred the old Zhou Yi—the one who used to dote on her endlessly.
[Han: I’ll think about it. Sorry, you know how Wenhao gets jealous easily. I don’t want him targeting you.]
With that, Chu Han shifted all the blame onto Gao Wenhao, as if her past treatment of Zhou Yi had been entirely his fault.
Zhou Yi ignored her, leaving Chu Han feeling hollow.
Who would’ve thought she’d ever be the one staring at her phone, waiting for Zhou Yi’s reply?
Karma’s a real... Ugh, what was she even thinking?
Chu Han quickly shook off those strange thoughts. Right now, the priority was confirming whether Zhou Yi was actually a rich heir.
[Zhi: He won’t get mad. And if he does, that’s his problem. We’ve been friends for years—since when do we need permission to meet?]
Zhou Yi smirked mockingly.
In Xia Qiuzhi’s eyes back then, Wang Xuan was never just "someone else."
But now that she wanted him back, Wang Xuan had suddenly become an outsider.
[Zhou Yi: I’ll see when I’m free. My schedule’s packed for the next few days.]
Translation: You’re at the back of the line, sweetheart.
Xia Qiuzhi’s eyes widened slightly. Was Zhou Yi saying she was less important than others now? That he’d only see her if he felt like it?
She felt a pang of frustration. There was a time she could’ve sworn she was number one in Zhou Yi’s heart—but not anymore.
Zhou Yi wasn’t the same person he used to be. Now, he was the white-shirted campus heartthrob praised by countless girls on the forum.
She’d even seen the posts about three girls crowding around him at lunch.
Her Yi-gege didn’t care about her anymore. For some reason, that realization made Xia Qiuzhi’s chest ache.
Back then, he hadn’t been that important to her either... So why was she suddenly feeling so insecure?
[Xia Qiuzhi’s regret value +10, affection value +10.]
Hearing the system’s notification, Zhou Yi drifted off to sleep in high spirits.
The next morning, with no classes scheduled, Zhou Yi made a call from his dorm balcony before heading straight to Liu Wei’s office.
He wanted to move off-campus—living in the dorms wasn’t conducive to his dating life.
"Applying for off-campus housing?"
"Yes, teacher."
"Have your parents call me."
"Mind if I borrow your phone?"
Liu Wei handed it over, and soon the call connected.
"Hello, is this Teacher Liu?"
A refined woman’s voice came through—the kind that made you picture an elegant noblewoman just from her tone.
Liu Wei instinctively softened his voice. "Ah, yes, hello. You must be Zhou Yi’s mother?"
The woman chuckled. "Yes. Our Xiao Yi has special circumstances, and as parents, we’d like to spend more time with him. We hope you’ll understand."
Liu Wei nodded eagerly. "Of course, of course. No problem."
"We appreciate your patience."
"Not at all, not at all."
After a few more polite exchanges, the call ended.
The woman wasn’t actually Zhou Yi’s mother—just a voice actress he’d hired.
And just like that, Zhou Yi was free from dorm life.
Now, he planned to buy an apartment. With assets totaling eight million, dropping a million on a place wasn’t unreasonable, right?
Before afternoon classes, Zhou Yi browsed property listings with intense focus.
Zhang Wu glanced over and nearly turned green with envy.
This guy was seriously looking at million-dollar properties?
Was Zhou Yi actually loaded?