Have you ever seen two people wearing matching couple outfits who claim they don’t even know each other? The students of Class 2 in Grade 11 witnessed it, but they didn’t believe it.

Especially Song Feiyang, whose grin was so wide it practically split his face. He nudged Xu You beside him. “Our boy Jiang is smooth, huh? Wearing couple outfits but still pretending like nothing’s going on!”

Earlier, when they had talked about the “beauty mark,” Jiang Chizhou had pretended to be uninterested, but now he was thoroughly exposed.

“Oh~ couple outfits, huh?” someone started, and soon the entire class turned their attention to Jiang Chizhou and Yan Xi.

Things quickly spiraled out of control. Yan Xi grabbed the USB drive from the lesson plan and made a hasty retreat, followed closely by the girl who had come with her.

The girl still seemed confused. “You and Jiang Chizhou… couple outfits?”

The words got stuck in Yan Xi’s throat. She could almost hear her teeth chattering as she forced out a response. “If I said we don’t know each other, would you believe me?”

The girl pointed at her face. “Do I look like an idiot?”

Yan Xi tugged at the design on her shirt, her expression sincere. “I’m not lying. I didn’t even buy this shirt; my mom did. I just threw it on.”

“But don’t couple outfits usually come as a set?” The girl’s question hit the mark.

“Sss…” Yan Xi sucked in a breath, and as they descended the stairs, she finally squeezed out, “Maybe it’s just the same design in different colors?”

That explanation was passable.

After a few more words, they parted ways, heading back to their respective classes. Yan Xi’s heart only started to settle as she stepped into her classroom.

Sitting down at her desk, she couldn’t help but blush. “This is bad… really bad.”

How had she ended up wearing couple outfits with Jiang Chizhou?

Ah… She remembered now—those two matching shirts that Jiang’s mom had bought during a “sale.” That’s why they looked like couple outfits!

Yan Xi quickly came up with a plausible explanation. She planned to go home today, change out of the shirt, and never wear it again.

But plans never go as expected.

After school, Yan Xi and Xiao Ran were riding their bikes home when Jiang Chizhou suddenly overtook them.

He braked in front of them, blocking their path. Yan Xi’s yellow bike came to a stop two meters away from him.

Over the past half month, Xiao Ran had learned from her elders about the “deep bond” between the two, so she quietly took a few steps back. “Sis, I’ll head home first?”

“Go ahead,” Yan Xi waved her off, then turned her attention back to Jiang Chizhou. Both of them were wearing the same shirt design, just in different colors, creating an awkward sight.

An auntie carrying a grocery basket passed by, noticing the two students with their backpacks. She couldn’t help but remark, “Kids these days, already dating while still in school.”

Yan Xi: “…”
Jiang Chizhou: “…”

As the auntie slowly walked out of sight, the two sat on their bikes, one foot on the ground, hands gripping the handlebars, leaning forward slightly. Their sharp gazes met, sparking a silent battle.

In unison, they both blurted out:
“I’m not wearing couple outfits with you!”
“I’m not wearing couple outfits with you!”

Yan Xi glared to the right and muttered, “As if I care.”
Jiang Chizhou scoffed, “Tch.”

The accidental synchrony only fueled their rivalry further. Both had already decided to go home and change out of the shirt, but now neither wanted to back down.

Jiang Chizhou said, “You better not wear it again.”
Yan Xi retorted, “You go change first!”

They spoke at the same time, neither willing to yield.

Whoever changed first would seem like they were admitting defeat. No way! There was no way either of them would bow to their nemesis!

Both let go of their handlebars and clenched their fists, stepping off their bikes in unison. They set their bikes on the stands and started walking toward each other.

Suddenly, Yan Xi turned on her heel, jumped onto her bike, and sped off, shouting over her shoulder, “Whoever gets home first wins!”

Someone saw the two of them racing past, Yan Xi in the lead thanks to her head start. But Jiang Chizhou quickly caught up with his long legs. The two squeezed against each other at the entrance to their building, acting like children.

“Xiao Xi…”

A voice faintly called her name, but Yan Xi, focused on the race, didn’t notice. Jiang Chizhou nudged her. “I think someone’s calling you.”

“Hmph, trying to distract me? I’m not falling for it!” After years of battles with Jiang Chizhou, she had learned to see through his tricks. She wasn’t going to be distracted so easily.

They struggled to control the door, preventing the other from opening it, until a neighbor with a key fob came by and opened the door for them.

The door swung open—

Both exerted all their strength as Jiang Chizhou stepped through with one foot and Yan Xi reached in with one hand. They shoved their way into the elevator.

“You change out of it!”
“No, you change!”

They were still arguing when the elevator doors began to close, but a hand suddenly reached in, stopping them. Xiao Ran stepped inside.

The argument came to an abrupt halt, and Yan Xi looked at her in surprise. “Ran Ran, what are you doing here?”

Xiao Ran looked a bit embarrassed and lowered her head. “I bought some things downstairs.”

Yan Xi noticed the black plastic bag in Xiao Ran’s hand and immediately understood but saw her cousin quickly hide it behind her back.

Knowing Xiao Ran was shy, Yan Xi changed the topic to ease the awkwardness. “Next time, don’t stick your hand in the elevator door when it’s closing. It’s dangerous. Just press the button.”

“Okay, I will,” Xiao Ran responded obediently.

When the elevator doors opened again, Jiang Chizhou brushed past her, bumping her shoulder as he left. “Remember to change that shirt.”

Yan Xi gritted her teeth and shouted back, “Not a chance!”

Whether she changed the shirt or not didn’t matter—the important thing was she wouldn’t lose to Jiang Chizhou!

—

The next morning

As longtime neighbors, it wasn’t uncommon for Yan Xi and Jiang Chizhou to run into each other on their way to school. But it didn’t happen often.

Yan Xi usually left early, while Jiang Chizhou didn’t care about being late. He always strolled into the school just before the bell, and the teachers could never do anything about it.

But today, they happened to run into each other.

Neither of them was wearing the matching shirts anymore, having washed and changed clothes after the previous day’s shower.

Passing each other on the stairs, they both scowled and gave each other a cold “hmph,” saying nothing more.

Xiao Ran clutched her backpack straps, feeling awkward sandwiched between them.

By now, most of the students in the class had gotten to know each other, but today, a new student joined.

“This is a new student in Class 3. Due to some circumstances, he’s only just returned to school. Everyone, please welcome him,” the homeroom teacher, Mr. Qu, announced.

A refined-looking boy stepped onto the podium, his calm voice introducing himself, “Hello, everyone. My name is Shu Yu. Please take care of me.”

His brief introduction left everyone with the impression that he was, well, handsome.

Shu Yu had the air of a scholarly gentleman from ancient times, elegant yet not weak.

Sitting in the second row, Yan Xi clapped enthusiastically, drawing the attention of the class representative beside her. “You know him?”

“Of course! An old friend.”

Yes, yet another old friend.

Yan Xi had known Shu Yu since middle school, and now they were classmates again in high school. It was fate.

As soon as the bell rang for recess, she eagerly rushed over to greet him, her eyes sparkling. “Shu Yu, you’re finally back! I thought you were going to settle abroad for good!”

Shu Yu came from a single-parent family. His mother, a successful businesswoman, cherished him deeply. She took him along on her overseas business trips, which was why he had arrived at school two weeks late.

Shu Yu smiled faintly, his gaze resting on her pale hands pressed against the desk. “I promised I’d attend high school with you. I wouldn’t break that promise.”

His words made Yan Xi grin widely, and she gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. “You’re the best!”

Back in middle school, she and her close friends had discussed which high school to attend. She and Shu Yu had the best grades among their group, and both had gotten into the same school. That’s what Shu Yu had meant by keeping his promise.

Reuniting with an old friend made Yan Xi’s mood soar.

At lunch, she happily introduced Shu Yu to Xiao Ran. “Let me introduce you guys. This is Xiao Ran, my cousin, who’s staying at my house.”

“And this is Shu Yu, a friend I’ve known for three years. Since we’re all in the same class now, we can hang out together!”

Xiao Ran, too shy to make eye contact with boys, felt that Shu Yu seemed familiar. Especially when he called Yan Xi “Xiao Xi”…

Wasn’t he the same guy she had seen near their building the day before?

But she couldn’t be sure and didn’t dare ask, so she pretended not to know.

With Yan Xi around, the atmosphere was always lively. No matter what she said, Shu Yu would follow up with something.

Jiang Chizhou, who didn’t like napping, was wandering around the campus when they crossed paths again.

His gaze briefly scanned over Shu Yu before landing on Yan Xi.

Yan Xi wrinkled her nose at him—a playful gesture she often used when communicating with Jiang Chizhou.

In response, Jiang Chizhou smirked and tossed a basketball to Song Feiyang. “You guys go eat without me. I’m heading home.”

Song Feiyang, now holding the basketball, looked confused. “Hey, weren’t we supposed to play after lunch?”

Even the prospect of playing ball couldn’t keep Jiang Chizhou. He pulled out his keys and trailed behind Yan Xi and her group to the bike area.

Yan Xi glared at him. “Why are you following us?”

Jiang Chizhou quipped, “I’m waiting for a chance to sabotage you.”

That comment was so infuriating that Yan Xi felt like punching him.

Shu Yu had already unlocked his bike, and his gaze flicked between the two of them. “You two still at it, huh?”

His words stung a little. Jiang Chizhou’s tone was flat as he replied, “Long time no see.”

He passed by Yan Xi, stopped, and casually added, “Your shirt should be dry by now.”

Yan Xi gritted her teeth. Is he seriously bringing up the shirt again?!

Seeing her cheeks puff up in frustration, Jiang Chizhou leaned in, half his body crossing into her space. He turned to her and asked, “Want me to take it off first?”

Yan Xi: ???