Yuan Yi: I heard a woman’s taste

Sitting in the classroom, Ye Hao gradually realized a big problem.

It seemed… he didn’t have lunch.

Hiss… did that mean he’d have to make do with something from the supermarket?

Although it was still morning, something felt off.

For some reason, Yuan Yuan was unusually quiet today.

When something’s off, there’s always a reason!

“Ah Yuan, why do you seem… kind of down today?”

Patting Yuan Yuan’s head, Ye Hao smiled as he spoke.

“Ah, didn’t sleep well last night.
Maybe I’ll just sleep at your place tonight…”

She rubbed against Ye Hao’s palm, then leaned right onto him.

Ye Hao: “…”

Completely dumbfounded, Ye Hao looked at Yuan Yuan, who seemed to have fallen asleep on him.

Helplessly, he propped one arm on the desk and wrapped the other around her.

Resting on Ye Hao’s shoulder, Yuan Yuan buried her face in his chest.

Sniff~

The moment she inhaled, Yuan Yuan caught a faint scent — a scent unique to girls.

This smell…

It wasn’t Sister Luo Yao, nor Li Mengying, nor Liu Qianxia…

“Haozi, what did you do this morning?”

Jerking upright from his embrace, Yuan Yuan stared seriously at Ye Hao.

“Huh? Nothing, I came straight to school after breakfast.”

Hearing his answer, Yuan Yuan narrowed her eyes.

“Then what’s with this unfamiliar woman’s scent on you?”

This was a smell she’d never noticed before — unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar.

But one thing was certain — it was a woman’s scent!

Ye Hao didn’t even know what to say anymore.

He seriously suspected Yuan Yuan had been a dog in her past life — that nose!

He absolutely couldn’t let Yuan Yuan find out about Chen Shirou being his fake girlfriend.

Otherwise, this girl would most likely expose everything as a proud member of the FFF group.

“Maybe it’s just from brushing past people on the way here.
There were a lot of people around — totally normal, Yuan Yuan.
You’re the one acting weird.”

“Really… maybe I just imagined it.”

As a woman, Yuan Yuan’s sixth sense told her — it couldn’t be that simple.

Ye Hao was hiding something.

She’d already prepared for the worst.

Looks like today she couldn’t let Ye Hao out of her sight — wherever he went, she’d quietly follow.

“Mm, yeah, you’re overthinking.
Anyway! Let’s review— no wait, hand over the problems I gave you yesterday.”

Yuan Yuan: “…”

You… you dog!

She hadn’t even taken those questions home.

She hadn’t done a single one.

Oh no, she was doomed~

“You didn’t write them, did you…”

Looking at her constipated expression, Ye Hao tapped the desk with a teasing grin.

Yuan Yuan: Not only didn’t I write them — I didn’t even bring them home!

“Ah, forget it.
Do whatever you want — not much time left anyway.”

Since she didn’t want to study, he couldn’t force her.

Studying was her own business, and forcing it would only backfire.

So…

He decided not to push Yuan Yuan to study anymore.

If she wanted to play around, fine.

After all, she’d never have to worry about money anyway.

As the saying goes — “Why study when I’m destined to inherit billions?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Yuan Yuan lifted her head, puzzled by his words.

“I mean, I won’t force you to study anymore.
Forcing someone who doesn’t like studying — I’ve been there before.
So, that’s that.”

At least now he’d have more free time to study on his own.

“Tch, it’s not that I don’t study — your questions are just weird.”

“Then how come Liu Qianxia can do them?”

Hearing him mention another girl’s name — and so seriously, right in front of her — Yuan Yuan felt uncomfortable.

Sure, people had the right to talk freely, but why did he have to praise another girl in front of her?

He never used to be like this!

So smart academically, yet emotionally clueless — ridiculous!

But then again… she had publicly claimed to be a boy.

So technically, they were still “bros.”

“She’s her, and I’m me. Totally different.”

After saying that, Yuan Yuan turned away and started playing on her phone.

Had she given up on herself?

Though her grades were average, well… forget it.

Her family was rich — whether she studied or not didn’t really matter.

As Ye Hao flipped through his notes, a familiar figure appeared in front of him.

“Liu Qianxia?”

“Ye Hao, do you have any more problems for me?”

Don’t be fooled by Liu Qianxia’s slightly airheaded demeanor — she was sharp when it came to serious work.

She knew that, at this stage, the only topic Ye Hao enjoyed talking about was studying.

Anything else — he wasn’t interested.

Sure enough, once he realized she was here to talk about studying, Ye Hao’s energy instantly rose.

“Didn’t expect that.
Want basic ones or something more challenging?
I remember your foundation’s already solid.”

After all, he’d been tutoring her for nearly two years — and had often enjoyed the lunches she made in return.

“Hmm, just medium difficulty.
Starting with hard ones can be discouraging.”

“Eh? But I think you’re ready for hard problems.
They’re just combinations of basic steps — I’m sure you can handle it.”

While talking, Ye Hao pulled a new notebook from his drawer and started writing.

“This time I made a mock exam — multiple choice, fill-in, application, and an extra problem.
Difficulty’s moderate — you should finish by noon.”

After scanning through the problems, Ye Hao handed the notebook to her with a smile.

“If I can’t do them, I’ll just ask you, right?”

“Yeah, come to me if you get stuck.
It’s a bit tricky.”

Listening to their exchange, Yuan Yuan, still playing on her phone, felt increasingly sour inside.

That Liu Qianxia hadn’t taken her warning seriously at all.

But still…

Even if they did become a couple, so what?

Ye Hao was going abroad eventually.

She wanted to go too, but… she couldn’t.

So now she had to eliminate potential threats.

But since those two were talking about studying, interrupting either of them would only earn her a bonk on the head from Ye Hao.

Her understanding of Ye Hao seemed frozen three years ago.

The person who truly understood him best over these three years… was Liu Qianxia.

Not long after, as Ye Hao and Liu Qianxia were chatting happily, Li Mengying arrived late — and immediately squeezed between them.

“Good morning, Ye Hao~”

Seeing that clumsy move, Liu Qianxia almost burst out laughing.

Classic. Walk in and step right on the minefield.

Their discussion interrupted, Ye Hao’s mood dropped instantly.

“Oh. Morning…”

After making an apologetic gesture to Liu Qianxia, he turned back to his notes, ignoring everything else.

Watching Liu Qianxia return to her seat with the notebook, Li Mengying froze.

She must’ve hit some strange nerve…

The rest of the morning passed peacefully.

Ye Hao finally found that familiar study rhythm again.

Then, right as the final morning class ended, a figure appeared at the door.

“Ye Hao, let’s go~”

As Ye Hao’s fake girlfriend, Chen Shirou had to play her role convincingly.

Besides… he’d already seen everything — the parts worth seeing and the ones not.

What was there to be shy about?

She’d just turn this playboy into a proper man!

And honestly… she liked Ye Hao.

Even if things had ended before they began last time — she didn’t mind starting over.

“OK.”

The moment Chen Shirou appeared, all three girls in the room turned their heads.

As she walked closer, Yuan Yuan finally realized who that mysterious scent from the morning belonged to.

“Yuan Yuan, not joining us today.
I’m heading out first~”

Patting Yuan Yuan on the head, Ye Hao stood up and followed Chen Shirou out of the classroom.

Once they left the building and were free from everyone’s eyes, Ye Hao let out a long sigh.

“Not bad, Chen Shirou.
So, where are we going now?”

“This is nothing more than a dirty transaction.
Let’s just go have lunch at a restaurant outside.”

Speaking haughtily, Chen Shirou grabbed Ye Hao’s hand and led him out of campus.

Meanwhile, standing on the second floor, Yuan Yuan watched the two of them leave, rubbing her chin.

As far as she knew, Chen Shirou and Ye Hao didn’t have any real connection.

Meaning — there was no way they could be in that kind of relationship.

So why were they so close…

Luo Yao: “When something’s off, there’s always a reason!”

Rushing back to the classroom, Yuan Yuan’s first instinct was Ye Hao’s phone, left forgotten in the drawer.

Normally, Ye Hao always left some secrets in his phone.

And the password — no need to guess — was his birthday.

Unlocking it easily, Yuan Yuan froze the moment she saw the wallpaper.

The color drained from her face.

“So that’s it… that’s what’s going on…”

Ye Hao had found a girlfriend who suited him…

Tch.

She really wanted to interfere — but she knew it wasn’t the right time.

“Just wait.
Stealing a man comes with consequences… especially for someone like you, who has nothing.”

Glancing around to make sure no one saw her, Yuan Yuan quietly put Ye Hao’s phone back, took out her own, and ordered lunch.

“I’ve never been here before…”

Following Chen Shirou through a small street, Ye Hao soon spotted a restaurant ahead.

Though small, it was very clean.

“Ye Hao, what do you want to eat?
The noodles here are really good~”

“Really… let me see… I’ll have a bowl of Lanzhou noodles then.”

“Eh? You like Lanzhou noodles too?
I love them!”

“Boss, two bowls of Lanzhou noodles!”

Pulling Ye Hao’s hand, Chen Shirou led him to the innermost table and sat down.

“Alrighty!
So you brought your boyfriend to eat noodles today, huh?
Nice catch — handsome guy!”

“Of course.”

Hearing someone compliment her “fake” boyfriend, Chen Shirou couldn’t help but feel a small, inexplicable joy.