The Rumor That Spread Faster Than the Truth

“No, I’ll eat at home.”

Pei Du declined the girl’s invitation.

Unnecessary things could be left undone—this was Pei Du’s life creed.

Even if the other party was the elder sister of a pair of beautiful sisters.

If Pei Du were a middle school student, he might have accepted such an invitation just to taste the budding sweetness of adolescence.

If he were a university student, he wouldn’t just go—he’d even try every shameless trick possible to get closer to the beautiful girl who caught his eye.

But he was a high school student, one who had diligently devoted three years of his youth to academics.

How could he so easily fall to the temptation of beauty?

With his single-minded focus on studying, even the most vibrant blossoms were like roses in a spring courtyard—always there, no more or less because of his attention.

“Alright then.”

A trace of regret, even a hint of loneliness, appeared on Chen Xintian’s pretty face—an expression that could stir pity in countless men.

Unfortunately, when a man lost desire, even the most beautiful and captivating woman couldn’t move his heart.

‘Sexually dysfunctional man.’

Chen Xinmei cursed Pei Du in her heart once again.

And her sister, seriously—what did she even like about this guy? She’d asked so many times, yet her sister refused to say. It was infuriating.

“We’ll be heading off then.”

Pei Du nodded toward the sisters, meaning: that’s it, I’m leaving.

Then, with Zhao Yu, he headed toward the subway station without looking back.

“Bye.”

Zhao Yu’s farewell was a response to Chen Xintian’s earlier greeting to him, the so-called “Young Master’s attendant.”

Having followed Pei Du for so long, he occasionally had to play the role of easing awkward moments.

Chen Xintian re-hung her smile on her face and waved goodbye.

Her younger sister, Chen Xinmei, stood quietly beside her, mimicking Pei Du with a slight nod, as if also saying, That’s it.

The colorful lights from nearby vendors illuminated the two girls.

They looked like a cluster of flowers blooming right in the middle of the street, and they themselves were the most delicate blossoms.

“Young Master, you’re way too cold to beautiful girls.”

Once away from the crowd, Zhao Yu began teasing Pei Du.

He knew the Young Master wasn’t some monk who avoided women—the anime he chose was far more unrestrained than Zhao Yu’s own.

And he definitely wasn’t the type of shut-in who would abandon a real woman for a 2D waifu.

The Young Master even watched borderline videos multiple times while scrolling short clips!

“None of your business. I’m just putting on an act.”

Talking with Zhao Yu, Pei Du was far more relaxed, revealing much of his true nature.

“Young Master, the popular persona with girls these days is the gentle type. The aloof type isn’t trendy anymore.”

“Why would I want to be popular?” Pei Du said indifferently.

“To show off—basically, to act—”

Zhao Yu cut himself off just in time, doing his best to keep his words clean.

“You know too much,” Pei Du said thoughtfully. “I’ll slip something into your food later to shut you up.”

“Don’t plot my murder right in front of me!”

“Is there a drug that messes with your mind, won’t kill you, but causes extreme pain?”

Zhao Yu clutched his backside, looking horrified. “Young Master, that kind of drug should at least be used on a beautiful girl! The gender’s wrong! It can’t be—?!”

Pei Du was speechless at the sheer nonsense filling this man’s head.

“System detects that the host directly rejected an invitation from the opposite s*x who is not the first perfect life partner. Reward: +1 to mental closeness with the first perfect life partner.”

…

The system popped out of nowhere again, delivering yet another mostly useless reward.

Pei Du chewed on the word “directly.”

Did that mean He Chengxi had been nearby just now?

On the other side of a brightly colored pushcart not far away, He Chengxi and Hu Zhuyue were buying freshly made fruit tea recommended by a classmate.

They had unintentionally witnessed Pei Du’s entire interaction with the sisters, hearing the conversation clearly.

“He’s got the face of a player, but he’s actually an otaku who loves 2D wives. What a waste.”

Hu Zhuyue commented.

“…Zhuyue, it’s not very nice to say that about Classmate Pei.”

He Chengxi, however, felt that face wasn’t wasted at all. It was quite pleasing to look at.

“Xi Bao, you and Pei Du… you don’t really have something going on, do you?” Hu Zhuyue couldn’t help recalling the events from earlier that afternoon.

She’d spent the entire break probing indirectly, but Xi Bao hadn’t revealed anything at all.

“No. Classmate Pei and I are just friends.”

He Chengxi genuinely felt there was nothing between her and Pei Du. Why would Hu Zhuyue misunderstand?

“Friends… Xi Bao, besides Pei Du, do you have any other male friends?”

Hu Zhuyue took a big sip of fruit tea. The perfectly balanced sweetness soothed her mood, tense from doing test papers.

“No,” He Chengxi held her tea and took a small sip. “But making friends is about fate. It has nothing to do with being male or female.”

“But others won’t think it has nothing to do with being male or female.”

Hu Zhuyue sighed. Her good friend had very upright values, but high school was a time when perspectives were still being shaped.

As long as something was fun and involved a boy and a girl, people wouldn’t stop to think about right or wrong.

Just that afternoon, she’d already heard rumors spreading through their class and neighboring ones about Xi Bao and Pei Du dating.

In a few more days, probably half the grade would have heard this rumor.

“I don’t know who’s spreading it everywhere. Now people are talking about it every break.”

It was all because Xi Bao and Pei Du were simply too well-known.

At least among girls, the topic had reached the level of a must-discuss bathroom break subject.

“What others think has nothing to do with me.”

He Chengxi had heard some rumors too, but she didn’t take them to heart.

Handling matters calmly leaves room for aftertaste; living calmly leaves room for time. Caring too much only added unnecessary trouble.

Do your own things well. Time would prove everything.

“That’s good, as long as you’re not affected.”

Hu Zhuyue had been worried this would influence He Chengxi’s mindset and, ultimately, her grades.

Seeing that He Chengxi truly didn’t care, she knew it wouldn’t affect her.

Then it was completely fine.

…

“Young Master, this is really good.”

Zhao Yu served himself another bowl of rice. This clear shrimp-roe soup was truly delicious.

“Good? Then have more.”

Pei Du was focused on watching an anime on his phone.

He wouldn’t use his phone or watch TV while eating with his parents, but with friends, there were fewer constraints.

Unless it was a rare reunion with someone special—where conversation mattered more—when eating with friends he saw often, comfort came first.

Pei Du and Zhao Yu always watched something while eating, discussing the plot as they chatted.

“Young Master, how can you even watch this new anime? It’s so bad.”

Zhao Yu was a veteran otaku, his standards for otaku culture extremely strict.

The plot and animation of this new series were even more ridiculous than your average “toilet paper” anime. He really couldn’t stand it.

It was among the worst of the worst.

“It’s not great,” Pei Du said, picking up a piece of beef with his chopsticks. “But it’s vulgar enough.”

“…Young Master, you’ve fallen.”

Zhao Yu scooped a large spoonful of shrimp paste into his bowl.

In the past, Pei Du would never watch an anime just because it was vulgar.

It didn’t match his image.

“How is that falling?”

“You never used to watch stuff like this.”

“Then go tell that to the old me.”

Pei Du ate neatly and efficiently, quickly finishing his bowl of rice.

Not planning to get more, he began clearing his dishes.

“Young Master, everyone outside is saying you and the grade’s top student are in a secret relationship.”

Zhao Yu casually mentioned it while playing on his phone.

Given his social circle, people had already privately asked him what was going on.

But when it came to matters involving Pei Du, he usually joked his way through.

This time, he didn’t even need to joke.

Because he genuinely didn’t know.

From his understanding of the Young Master, the grade’s top student was absolutely not his type at all.

Yet everyone was saying the two of them were always together—just one step away from kissing.

Even if it was just rumor-mongering, there had to be something going on… right?