Friends—or Something One Step Closer?

“Friends.”

He had already acknowledged they were friends before; answering that now shouldn’t go wrong.

“Classmate Pei, aren’t you friends with your classmates too?”
“Are you friends with every single person in your class?” Pei Du countered.

“Of course not.” He Chengxi knew his logic made sense, but it still wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear. “But I feel my relationship with Classmate Pei is a little better than just ordinary friends.”
“…”

Meeting He Chengxi had been an accident.

Pei Du appreciated her way of handling people and matters, and it was clear that He Chengxi also had the intention of interacting with him. That was how they naturally became friends.

A little better than ordinary friends?

Pei Du didn’t know how to define that.

After chatting for a while, the two settled into quiet study. Thanks to the problem sets He Chengxi brought, Pei Du managed to break through at least two difficult knowledge points over the course of the morning.

By noon, around twelve—

“Classmate Pei, what do you want to eat for lunch?”

He Chengxi hadn’t arranged for a cook today. Wen Hui had agreed to let her eat out or order delivery.

“What do you want to eat?”
“I want sushi!”

She said it with disarming honesty.

“Sushi?”
“Yes. The anime I watched yesterday made it look really good.”

She put down her pen, clearly reminiscing about the episode.

Eating sushi with friends at a restaurant, listening to the surrounding chatter, laughing and chatting—this was something He Chengxi had long imagined.

Her standards for making friends were extremely high, so she had very few. Being top of the grade and having a cold, distant appearance naturally pushed people away.

Ordinary classmates didn’t dare approach her.

Classmate Pei, however—someone whose values aligned with hers, with a considerate personality and an attractive appearance—was a friend she hadn’t known for long, yet deeply treasured.

“Is there a specific place you want to go?”
“Any recommendations from you, Classmate Pei?”

Pei Du didn’t have strong opinions, so he suggested checking reviews on an app. Even if ratings were inflated, it was still better than choosing blindly.

“‘Yishui Omakase’—this one has really high reviews.”

Pei Du glanced at the price and paused. The cost was outrageous—high enough that ordinary people wouldn’t even click into the page.

His parents ran a small business, putting their family above average financially, but they strictly controlled his allowance. Living expenses were reimbursed, but discretionary spending was limited.

Even so, a place like this would probably be a once-a-year experience for his family, purely to try it out.

“These other places look good too.”

He Chengxi selected a few more reasonably priced options—Japanese-style Chinese restaurants where two hundred yuan could easily feed two people.

Clearly, she had also noticed that the first restaurant wasn’t appropriate for two high school students.

If he were eating with Zhao Yu, the one-yuan sushi outside the school gate would have been enough.

But eating with He Chengxi… Pei Du felt it was better to go with Yishui Omakase. Otherwise, her delicate stomach might not handle it well.

—More importantly, this counted as dating expenses.

Eating something luxurious with a beautiful girl without spending his own money was genuinely relaxing.

“This one,” Pei Du said as he packed up his things. “It’s close and has the best reviews.”

He Chengxi didn’t object. She had intended to pay anyway—after all, she was the one who suggested sushi, and this clearly wasn’t a place normal students should casually visit.

She hoped Classmate Pei would feel comfortable letting her treat.

“Were the problem sets useful?”
“Extremely.”
“That’s good.”

The restaurant wasn’t far, so they decided to walk.

This time, Pei Du deliberately stayed half a step behind her instead of walking side by side.

Outside of school, the sense of safety was lower. A beautiful girl walking alone always needed someone watching out for her.

And as a friend, protecting her was only natural.

With He Chengxi in front, still within his field of vision, it was easier for him to keep her safe.

“System detects host is about to dine with the first Perfect Life Partner. Would you like a customized strategy?”
“No.”

Why was the system so obsessed with He Chengxi? It was practically pushing him into a relationship.

Right now, the college entrance exam mattered most. Instead of teaching him how to date, it should be teaching him how to score over 700.

“Detecting host demand. Issuing task.”

[Spend a perfect day with He Chengxi. Rewards vary based on the other party’s satisfaction.]
(Reward pool includes attribute points—Intelligence.)

“System, stop reading my thoughts.”
“Request denied.”

…

When they arrived, the waiter discreetly assessed them.

The girl wore high-end custom pieces, her aura refined—just a bit short.

The boy’s brands were slightly lower profile but still limited editions. Handsome, tall, and striking.

Clearly, children from wealthy families.

They were respectfully guided upstairs into a semi-private room. A server handed them a tablet to select the price tier.

He Chengxi hesitated, about to choose the most expensive option but worried about Pei Du’s feelings.

Before she could decide, she realized Pei Du had already selected the highest tier—and paid.

“Classmate Pei? I was the one who wanted sushi. I should be the one paying.”
“You treated me yesterday. Today it’s my turn.”

Seeing her hesitation, Pei Du didn’t hide it.

“Don’t worry about me pretending to be rich. I still have some allowance left.”

He handed her his phone, showing the account balance the system had transferred to him. Though technically invested, it could be withdrawn at any time—fully liquid funds.

This money existed because of He Chengxi, and could only be spent on her. Pei Du decided it was better to use it up while they were still friends.

At least that way, there’d be fewer lingering thoughts during high school.

Given He Chengxi’s family background, this amount was probably pocket change to her—there was no risk of seeming showy.

“Is this why you asked me last time what I’d do with a million?”
“You’re sharp,” Pei Du replied. “More or less.”
“Okay.”

He Chengxi genuinely enjoyed this outing. It was far more interesting than sitting alone at home. Being around Classmate Pei made her feel safe.

More importantly, his attitude toward her was pure.

Other classmates always treated her strangely.

Some girls carried subtle disdain, jealousy, admiration, even hostility.

Boys were worse—full of confusing, uncomfortable intentions.

—The one she disliked most was Xu Daohui. He gave her an unmistakably unpleasant feeling.

If not for how demanding the college entrance exam was, she would have already told her parents that there was an annoying boy at school constantly trying to show affection and disturbing her peace.

Classmate Pei was completely different.

Clear, restrained, polite, and comfortably distant.

Someone who made people unconsciously want to get closer.