14,014.

Discussing such matters with someone she liked felt strange, so Shen Yi hesitated for a long time, unsure how to bring it up with Wen Que. Yet, unexpectedly and by a twist of fate, she ended up blurting it out directly.

Her intuition warned her of danger, so she immediately recounted the entire incident to Wen Que.

“I wanted to sit next to you from the start, and then I said those things to you afterward.”

Wen Que’s brows furrowed deeply as he asked again to confirm, “Did anything happen between you two the last time you met?”

Shen Yi shook her head and replied earnestly, “No, I don’t even remember meeting him.”

That was the strangest part.

Even if Xu Qingyi truly fell for her at first sight, it couldn’t have been just from that one encounter, right? Getting her contact information should have been easy—calling it a secret crush was nonsense! Besides, so much time had passed since then. It was all too far-fetched.

“Avoid being alone with him. I’ll look into this thoroughly,” Wen Que promised, offering Shen Yi some reassurance. Though slightly reluctant, he added, “If anything urgent happens and you can’t reach me in time, contact Song Yang.”

“Okay.” Shen Yi nodded obediently, promising to listen.

They didn’t mention the matter again.

Dinner was set at an upscale Western restaurant.

Though Shen Yi wasn’t particularly fond of the food there, neither the night view nor Wen Que himself ever bored her.

Noticing Shen Yi’s gaze fixed intently on him, Wen Que put down his knife and fork and gently asked, “What is it? Is there something on my face?”

“No.”

Shen Yi cupped her cheeks with both hands and confessed honestly, “I just think you’re handsome. I can’t get enough of looking at you.”

Saying such a thing made her a little shy.

But Shen Yi tried hard not to look away.

Unlike before, when she felt insecure, Wen Que had clearly expressed his feelings to her, so she would no longer avoid him.

She wanted to convey more of her own feelings to Wen Que.

She hoped that when he looked at her, he would feel as happy as she did.

In this world, there was nothing more beautiful than mutual love.

“…You,” Wen Que said, feeling a little embarrassed under Shen Yi’s steady gaze. He reached up awkwardly to shield his forehead from her burning eyes, as if having made some sort of decision, resigned to face it all.

---

The boy’s ears flushed red, but he still tried hard to appear calm. His thin lips pressed together, and finally he couldn’t resist reaching out to gently poke Shen Yi’s cheek, saying, “…Don’t be so adorable.”

Especially, especially adorable.

She was like candy, like cake; whenever she appeared before him, the world seemed to be sweetened by her presence.

His parents’ failed marriage had robbed Wen Que of any illusions about such things. The engagement? It could be with anyone.

He had long been used to hiding behind an indifferent and aloof exterior, indifferent to who the other person might be.

But Wen Que had never anticipated that his fiancée would be a girl whose heart and eyes were wholly devoted to him.

Day by day, their closeness fueled a growing hunger and desire within him.

He would not allow anyone to take her away.

While Shen Yi shyly lowered her head, Wen Que seized the moment and directly brought up the reason for their meeting: “Have you thought about transferring to Class A?”

Meeting her surprised gaze, he painted a beautiful future with gentle words, “That way, you can be with me and Meng Zihan anytime, anywhere. Just think it over, okay?”

With him around,

She wouldn’t have to see Song Yang and Xu Qingyi so often anymore.

Soon, Song Yang would become an irrelevant figure in her life.

* * *

On the way home,

Shen Yi scrunched her face like a steamed bun, seriously pondering Wen Que’s proposal.

Transfer to Class A?

With her grades, if she really wanted to get in, a little effort wouldn’t be a problem.

Besides, Jiang Yue was originally meant to be in Class A; she had only come to Class B for Shen Yi’s sake. If they both went back to Class A, it would be perfect.

But what about after she got in?

Just thinking about the terrifying pressure of all those geniuses studying hard even during breaks made Shen Yi shudder.

No, please—!

She still had many manga and anime series to catch up on! She wanted to spend weekends leisurely shopping and lazing about, not caught up in endless competition!

Shen Yi knew she was without grand ambition.

Her grades were good enough that maintaining the status quo would let her easily get into a good university, enjoying a happy youth and future.

But changing environments meant facing unknown risks, and she couldn’t just leave Song Yang alone...

Wait.

Shen Yi’s expression froze.

Why was she even considering Song Yang? What did Song Yang’s fate have to do with her?

Shen Yi was confused.

She thought it over.

Soon, she reached a conclusion.

They had been deskmates for so many years without separation, already used to being together every day.

Moreover, Song Yang’s mother had been so kind to her, she felt deeply guilty to abandon this poor, friendless boy.

But this was Wen Que’s invitation.

His meaning was clear: he wanted to see her every day.

Thinking this, Shen Yi raised both hands to her cheeks, trying to cool herself down in an emergency.

So—troublesome!

A new worry had surfaced, and Shen Yi completely pushed the absurd Xu Qingyi out of her mind.

That was how Shen Yi felt.

But that night, the nightmare of the “real and fake heiress” continued, with the male lead in the dream changed to Xu Qingyi.