After joking around with Xiang Bingbing, Mei Fang went to find Lin Youxi during the afternoon break to discuss when to make their relationship public. However, Youxi immediately put on her class president demeanor and coldly questioned him:

“Why do you come looking for me and Yuan Yuan every break? Can’t you restrain yourself a little?”

Mei Fang was momentarily stunned by this sudden sternness from his childhood friend and rubbed his face sheepishly. “Why so cold all of a sudden?”

Youxi smiled faintly. “Just teasing… What did you want to talk about?”

“It’s about when we should go public.”

Mei Fang asked excitedly, “How about a month from now?”

“Wouldn’t this be better discussed at home? Why the rush?”

Youxi sighed softly. “Don’t you think we should focus on academics during senior year?”

“Academics…”

Mei Fang reminded her, “I’ve already told you our plans for senior year—I intend to publicly reveal our identities as C-site founders. That way, more universities will offer us early admission, and we can choose one that meets our conditions.”

“I know that.”

“Right, so announcing our relationship should ideally coincide with revealing our C-site founder status.”

Mei Fang explained, “That way, our relationship will seem more credible to the public. Otherwise, you might end up being unfairly criticized.”

“I don’t really mind… Besides, there won’t be much time for romance during senior year anyway. Given how deep your bond with Yuan Yuan is, if you publicly start dating me just a month after your ‘breakup,’ you’ll be labeled a scumbag. Honestly, maybe we should wait until after graduation to… you know. What do you think?”

As she spoke, Youxi unconsciously placed a hand over her chest, though Mei Fang didn’t notice this detail. He was too preoccupied with her sudden change of heart, frowning slightly.

“This isn’t what we agreed on, though?”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Youxi slowly lowered her hand. “I’ll try to convince Yuan Yuan tonight and see what she thinks. After all, we’re already together in reality. If we rush to go public, I’m worried it’ll damage your reputation. But we can still reveal our C-site founder status as planned.”

“Ughhh… Don’t be so considerate of me! I’m supposed to be the scummy ‘Mei Dog,’ I don’t deserve this!”

Mei Fang nearly gave in to the urge to hug his dear childhood friend right then and there, but Youxi pressed a hand against his chest to stop him.

“Alright, alright… Save the affection for home.”

She patted his shoulder and playfully stuck out her tongue. “I’m going back to study now. Bye.”

“Mmm…”

Though Mei Fang waved goodbye, he couldn’t shake a strange sense of unease. When he returned to the classroom, he happened to run into Zhu Nainai and Xu Wei chatting in the hallway.

“Senior! Senior!”

Nainai immediately greeted him enthusiastically. Now the newly appointed head of Ximilu Studio, she had recruited the seemingly introverted but talented Xu Wei as deputy head due to her deep gaming knowledge and strong writing skills.

“What are you two doing here?”

“We’re preparing for recruitment! We want to film a promo video and were wondering if we could borrow your camera. Also, could you ask Wan Chaoxiong to help with filming and editing?”

“No problem, I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

“Nainai, about Senior Wan Chaoxiong…” Xu Wei, too shy to even look at Mei Fang, tugged at Nainai’s sleeve to remind her.

Nainai suddenly brightened. “Oh, right! Could you ask him for us, Senior?”

“You’re already here, why not ask him yourselves?”

Mei Fang frowned. “I get that Xu Wei’s shy, but Nainai, you’ve worked with Chaoxiong before. Why are you scared to talk to him?”

“W-well… Senior Wan always seems so stern! I’m a little intimidated.”

“Intimidated? Really?”

Mei Fang chuckled. “I didn’t think there was anyone Zhu Nainai was afraid of.”

Nainai immediately puffed up indignantly. “Just because I’m comfortable around you, Senior, doesn’t mean I’m like that with everyone! You’re my one and only!”

“Besides, you haven’t seen how Senior Wan acts around us juniors. He barely talks to us and always looks grumpy. I bet he only likes interacting with 2D girls. Well, that and his pet turtle, Overlord.”

“He doesn’t dislike girls—he’s probably just shy.”

Mei Fang smiled. “Chaoxiong’s only ever really interacted with his childhood friend. He doesn’t have much experience talking to other girls.”

“Ohhh…”

Nainai pondered this. “So he might actually be easier to talk to than he seems? Maybe we can even… er, convince him to help us with the video…”

“That… actually sounds a bit like Senior Lin Youxi?”

Xu Wei suddenly murmured, unable to resist joining in. “During our summer studio training, Senior Lin always seemed so cold, but I think she might’ve been nervous too…”

“Nervous?”

This was the first time Mei Fang had heard someone describe Youxi that way, and he leaned in curiously. “Why do you think she was nervous?”

“I totally disagree!”

Nainai made a tearful face. “Senior Lin’s aura is terrifying! No matter how cheerful I usually am, around her, I feel like a lowly maid, too scared to even lift my head.”

“W-well, this is just based on my personal observations…”

Xu Wei twisted her fingers nervously. “I noticed that whenever Senior Lin reviewed her notes after explaining studio rules, she’d always place a hand on her chest, like this…”

She demonstrated the gesture in front of Mei Fang. But as soon as she did, she noticed his eyes lighting up with sudden realization.

“Uh… um…”

Under his intense gaze, Xu Wei quickly lowered her head in embarrassment. Nainai, sensing danger, yanked her behind herself protectively.

“Senior! I’m your number one fan! Don’t go falling for someone else now!”

Snapping out of it, Mei Fang waved them off. “I’ll talk to Chaoxiong about helping with the video. If you need me to appear in it, I’ll make time.”

“Really?! That’s amazing!”

Before Nainai could celebrate further, Mei Fang began ushering them toward the stairs. “Alright, you two go prepare your proposal. Your senior has things to do—”

“Ugh, what’s so urgent? Quit pushing me…”

After sending them off, Mei Fang rushed back upstairs to find Youxi again.

Surprised by his sudden reappearance, she stepped out to ask what was wrong.

“No time to explain. Come with me—we don’t have long.”

He led her to the pavilion where the three of them often spent time together.

How could I have missed this?

They’d grown up side by side, knew each other’s habits inside out, and even their body language was in sync.

Yet because of the strong preconceptions he’d formed about her, some things had become invisible to him—things that were obvious to outsiders.

Was this the right way to understand it?

“Good thing this is a long break… Why’d you bring me here?”

Youxi’s tone carried a hint of reproach. “Even if you want some alone time, you should’ve invited Yuan Yuan too. This isn’t balanced at all.”

“I didn’t invite her to spare your pride. After all, you’ve been enjoying playing the ‘older sister’ role in front of her lately.”

Youxi looked puzzled. “What do you mean by that? And why would you need to ‘spare my pride’? Stop being cryptic and just tell me.”

“Okay, okay. Let’s revisit how our confession went, alright?”

Mei Fang gestured as he spoke. “First, I found the love letter and tracked down who wrote it. When I finally realized it was you two, it should’ve ended there. But then you suddenly said, ‘Consider this letter my confession to you.’ Remember?”

“Of course I remember… What about it?”

Lin Youxi smiled softly. “Bringing this up so suddenly—are you trying to rekindle old romance with me?”

“I remember properly confessing to both of you after you asked for my feelings.”

“Mmm… You said you loved us.” Youxi’s smile deepened. “Very seriously.”

“And then Yuan Yuan confessed to me too, under your encouragement, right?”

“…”

Lin Youxi, ever perceptive, quickly grasped the implication behind his words.

“I confessed to you as well.”

“If you mean the love letter, then yes—but—”

Mei Fang raised his head, meeting her gaze with a gentle smile. “You’ve never actually said you love me out loud.”

“…”

For a moment, Youxi seemed taken aback. Then she shook her head with an amused sigh. “Of all things to fixate on… Ah Fang, you’re practically a CEO worth hundreds of millions now. Why so childish?”

“Even with the letter, a love confession isn’t complete without the words spoken aloud.”

“I must have said it before.”

“Not once.”

“Never? Not even casually during—”

“Your memory’s perfect. Think hard.”

An autumn breeze brushed past as Youxi tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her expression remained calm, but her smile softened.

“Fine. If my Ah Fang insists on hearing it…”

She cleared her throat just as Mei Fang stepped closer—then abruptly seized her wrists, pulling them away from where they’d instinctively moved toward her chest.

“…”

“Wh-what are you—”

“Just making sure you’re not cheating,” Mei Fang teased.

Youxi’s eyes narrowed. “You want me to confess like this?”

“Yep.”

He grinned. “You know, there’s an anime where this ice-cold heroine would cover her right cheek when flustered. It was her way of forcing composure.”

“That’s fiction. Normal people don’t—”

“But our Youxi isn’t normal.”

Holding both her hands captive, he leaned in.

Trapped, Youxi exhaled sharply. Then—

“…I love you, Ah Fang.”

Her voice wavered on the last syllable, barely audible.

Mei Fang’s grin widened.

“Seeing me embarrassed pleases you that much?” Youxi muttered, refusing to meet his eyes.

“No! I just… hate seeing you force yourself to be strong.” He hurried to explain. “When you hesitated about going public, I thought maybe you were nervous too, so I—”

“You’ve become mean since we started dating.”

“I have not!”

“You have.”

Peeking through her fingers, Youxi added quietly, “And… I never learned how to be vulnerable. Growing up without Mom, with Dad always working… I only knew how to give affection, not ask for it.”

Her admission shattered Mei Fang’s teasing demeanor. He pulled her close.

“You don’t need to copy Yuan Yuan. The way you love is perfect as—”

“I’m tired of being ‘big sister.’”

Youxi suddenly dug into her pocket. “Since you humiliated me… call me something else.”

“Like what?”

“The role Yuan Yuan always plays in house.”

Mei Fang’s ears turned crimson. “…You want me to call you Mom?!”

Youxi’s laughter rang through the pavilion—until Mei Fang noticed her phone recording.

“Delete that!”

“Never~”

Their chase ended with Youxi catching him in a kiss, sealing their happiness.

(TL: SO CUTE)