Throughout the entire dream, Zhu Lexing stayed by Yan Mian’s side.
There were no intimate gestures between them. They simply sat quietly together as the scenes shifted around them—sometimes watching a movie, other times doing homework or reading. Occasionally, their limbs would brush against each other.
Even these simple moments were enough to fill Zhu Lexing with joy.
When she woke up, that joy dimmed slightly as she recalled the System’s words.
Even so, her good mood remained intact.
Strictly speaking, every day of her past life had been a countdown. Now that the System had suddenly extended her time, Zhu Lexing felt a spark of delight.
It was the same reasoning as always.
With no other choices left, she might as well enjoy each day and create beautiful memories for herself.
After washing up, Zhu Lexing gazed out the window at the vast snowy landscape. The moment she unlocked her phone, she saw a [Good morning] sticker Yan Mian had sent half an hour earlier.
Staring at the adorable rabbit, Zhu Lexing could almost picture how cute Yan Mian must have looked while sending it.
The more she looked, the better her mood became.
In that instant, she understood why so many couples flooded the internet with their lovey-dovey chat logs, constantly flaunting their affection.
If you can’t beat them, join them!
But Zhu Lexing decided to give the others a surprise. After some thought, she sent a voice message in the group chat, her tone deliberately profound: “Today, I’m not the same as you all anymore.”
The Small Group didn’t include Yan Mian and had a total of seven members.
Excluding AB Lovers, the remaining three were all single.
Zhu Lexing, now in the throes of romance, naturally considered herself different from them!
No sooner had she sent it than the group exploded with a string of “?” messages.
Xu He assumed it was about age and fired back indignantly: I’m an adult too—we’re the same!
Qiao Qiao chimed in right after.
-What’s wrong with being seventeen?
-We’re all normal people. Have you turned into something else?
-Hehe, you wouldn’t understand.
The group’s tone grew more aggressive.
Zhu Lexing tried to argue back, but she couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips. She frantically rubbed her face, attempting to force her expression back to its usual icy indifference.
Yet the Alpha staring back from the mirror was still beaming.
Zhu Lexing gave up.
By the time she went downstairs, Yan Mian had already finished washing up and was flipping through a book at the table. Spotting Zhu Lexing, she blinked and called out, “Lexing.”
Zhu Lexing hummed in response and quietly took a seat beside her. Lowering her gaze to the pages, she asked, “What’s this?”
She had already glimpsed the content—interpretations related to acting techniques—but she asked anyway.
Zhu Lexing wasn’t sure what to call her current behavior, but the question was out.
Her tone sounded perfectly natural, and Yan Mian cherished these subtle intimacies. She replied softly, “It’s a book Auntie prepared for me.”
Zhu Lexing pondered for a moment. “Do you really like it? If not, doing something else would be fine too.”
After all, Yan Mian was one of the high-IQ elite. She could breeze through recommendations, grad school, study abroad, and contribute to the nation in one seamless track.
If Yan Mian really buckled down, Zhu Lexing might even catch her being interviewed on national television someday.
Imagining that scene, Zhu Lexing thought it wouldn’t be half bad.
She had brought up this topic with Yan Mian before, but back then their relationship had been so strained that their words came out awkward and barbed.
Discussing it now, Yan Mian’s voice was much gentler. She answered honestly, “A lot of people like me, so I’m trying to like the industry too.”
Yan Mian knew the idea sounded a bit ridiculous.
She felt a twinge of nervousness, wondering how Zhu Lexing might react. But the other girl simply nodded without a hint of surprise, as if she completely understood.
Zhu Lexing noticed Yan Mian’s gaze lingering on her and assumed the Omega was fishing for praise.
After a few seconds of thought, she clenched her fist, her voice swelling with fervor. “I’ll support you.”
The words left her mouth, and Zhu Lexing cringed inwardly at how out-of-character she sounded. She was already brainstorming excuses when Yan Mian let out a soft laugh.
Every time Zhu Lexing comforted her like this, Yan Mian felt an immense wave of satisfaction and joy.
As long as Zhu Lexing was by her side, she had endless motivation.
Her response was even more earnest than Zhu Lexing’s: “I’ll work hard, Lexing.”
Gazing at her radiant smile, Zhu Lexing ducked her head, wishing she could bury her face in her bowl.
On the way to school, something occurred to Zhu Lexing. She turned to Yan Mian. “No need to bring it up with them proactively.”
Yan Mian was flipping through the pages and glanced sideways at the sound. “Hm? Why not?”
Zhu Lexing said gravely, “She’ll mock me for it.”
Yan Mian couldn’t follow her logic.
Zhu Lexing glanced at the partition separating them from the driver, hesitated, then typed on her notepad app.
Yan Mian leaned over, her body weight settling comfortably on Zhu Lexing’s shoulder. Their breaths mingled closely as she read the screen: Qiao Qiao’s always thought we were together before this.
Yan Mian curved her lips into a smile and tapped at the screen.
-So, Lexing wants to be my secret lover?
Zhu Lexing shot back a stern rebuttal right away.
-Don’t phrase it so weirdly
-We’re just keeping it under wraps for now. If someone finds out, we’ll admit it then!
Yan Mian typed: So, still secret lovers.
Zhu Lexing resorted to her trusty full-stop tactic, abruptly ending the exchange.
Yan Mian didn’t press further. She simply found Zhu Lexing’s competitive streak utterly adorable and agreed without fuss.
From then on, Yan Mian kept leaning on Zhu Lexing’s shoulder as they read the book together. By the time they reached school, Zhu Lexing’s mind was buzzing with phrases like “On the Basics of Acting in One Minute” and the like.
Her scalp itched—she must be growing a brain.
Even right up until class started, Zhu Lexing harbored a subtle confidence: they hadn’t noticed the cold war, but surely they’d pick up on the fact that they were dating now?
An entire morning passed, and no one noticed anything unusual—no matter whether Zhu Lexing brushed Yan Mian’s fingers, or Yan Mian proactively leaned in to explain a problem to her. The two of them sat extremely close, even entering and leaving the classroom together, practically glued at the hip.
Gazing at Song Yingying’s unmoved back, Zhu Lexing slowly typed out a question mark.
How could this be? Zhu Lexing thought incredulously. She felt like she’d been acting strangely enough today.
Why hasn’t anyone checked on her yet!
As she pondered, Song Yingying still hadn’t turned around, but Yan Mian had already leaned in again. “Hm? Which problem are you on?”
It was still break time, with plenty of classmates weaving through the aisle. Zhu Lexing finally felt a touch of embarrassment and whispered, “Problem 17. Don’t lean in so close—we’re still at school.”
Yan Mian replied, “But you were the one sticking to me just now.”
Zhu Lexing: “…”
Zhu Lexing said, “I’ve got thicker skin.”
Yan Mian said, “Mine isn’t as thin as Lexing thinks.”
Zhu Lexing felt like she’d suffered a total defeat in this exchange.
Or rather, in front of Yan Mian, she never stood a chance.
Zhu Lexing forcibly steered the conversation back. “Do you think Yingying’s already figured it out but isn’t saying anything? Just pretending to play it cool?”
Yan Mian found it a little funny but still offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you just ask her yourself?”
Under the Omega’s watchful eye, Zhu Lexing carefully scribbled a note.
-Haven’t you noticed anything off about me today?
Song Yingying stared at the words, remembering the message she’d sent that morning.
-Hm, have you become one of those people now?
Zhu Lexing: “…”
Yan Mian wasn’t in the group chat, so of course she had no idea what that meant.
She glanced at Zhu Lexing, but that group chat was packed with romance talk—including plenty of Zhu Lexing’s questions about Yan Mian herself. She couldn’t very well drag her into it, so she gritted her teeth and wrote:
-I mean somewhere else.
Song Yingying finally seemed to catch on. She turned around seriously—and spotted the two of them sitting way too close.
Seeing Song Yingying’s expression shift from calm to a slight eyebrow raise, Zhu Lexing thought she’d gotten it.
But the note that came back read:
-You and Yan Mian are both blushing.
Zhu Lexing: “…”
Yan Mian: “…”
Zhu Lexing decided to write off Song Yingying entirely.
That noon in the cafeteria, the two of them had just taken their seats when Qiao Qiao leaned back, stroking her chin thoughtfully. Her gaze darted back and forth between them, like she was piecing something together.
Zhu Lexing shot her a glance. “Spit it out if you’ve got something to say.”
Qiao Qiao said, “Why aren’t you two sitting at separate tables today?”
Without them at separate tables, Qiao Qiao had ended up sharing with Xu He—which meant she couldn’t get all lovey-dovey like usual.
Qiao Qiao was clearly annoyed about it.
Zhu Lexing: “…None of your business.”
Qiao Qiao turned to Yan Mian next, but the Omega—uncharacteristically—flashed her a smile.
Keep in mind, in the past, Yan Mian had always worn the same neutral expression toward everyone except Li Nian and Zhu Lexing.
Qiao Qiao felt downright flattered. But a second later, she realized something was wrong.
…Why was Yan Mian smiling at her?
She wasn’t Zhu Lexing or Li Nian!
Staring at their identical seating spots, Qiao Qiao leaned back again.
Could Yan Mian and Zhu Lexing have had a fight? Was that smile meant to make Zhu Lexing jealous?
Qiao Qiao patted herself on the back for figuring it out. But as an Alpha with a partner of her own, she fired off her theory to Shi Ruofeng.
The next second, Shi Ruofeng looked up and suddenly used the serving chopsticks to pile food onto Yan Mian’s plate.
Yan Mian: ?
Even Zhu Lexing stared blankly at the move.
Everyone froze, eyes locked straight on Shi Ruofeng.
Shi Ruofeng said casually, “Eat up.”
Yan Mian could only reply, “Thanks.”
Shi Ruofeng glanced at her screen and read out Qiao Qiao’s scripted line: “Why so polite with me? We’re basically family.”
The question marks piling up over Zhu Lexing’s head kept multiplying.
Our relationship? Since when were Yan Mian and Shi Ruofeng that close?
She looked up again and caught Qiao Qiao blinking furiously at her, like she was sending some kind of secret signal.
Zhu Lexing: “…”
What on earth?
She felt utterly baffled but couldn’t pinpoint the problem. Still, Shi Ruofeng’s gesture sparked an idea. Zhu Lexing grabbed another pair of chopsticks and served Yan Mian some food too.
The next instant, Shi Ruofeng went for it again.
Zhu Lexing followed suit on instinct.
Xu He, mid-bite of her cake, watched their back-and-forth with a shrill cry. “Hey, serve yourselves! I haven’t even eaten yet—”
One or two times was fine, but this nonstop nonsense was just plain mean!
Qiao Qiao figured she owed her friend some backup and jumped in. “I’ll grab you a fresh plate later.”
Xu He whipped her head side to side like a rattle. “No way!”
She jabbed an angry finger around. “Shi Ruofeng, what did that poor Beta ever do to you? Fantasizing about OO romance before you’re even official? I despise you! And you, Zhu Lexing—take your lovey-dovey crap home!”
Shi Ruofeng: ?
Zhu Lexing, feeling utterly innocent: ?
Qiao Qiao tried to smooth things over, but Xu He promptly turned her ire on her instead.
What a tangled mess, Zhu Lexing thought. Truly a case of bad karma.
She wanted to say something to Yan Mian, but Yan Mian already looked embarrassed. She turned her face away slightly—but her lips were curved upward, a laugh bubbling out despite herself.
Zhu Lexing had no choice but to turn her attention back to the AB pair right in front of her.
She wanted to break up the fight, but their vibe was this unbreakable bubble of intimacy—no room for outsiders.
Zhu Lexing pulled out her ultimate trump card. “Knock it off! Keep arguing and you two can just kiss already!”
They clamped their mouths shut on the spot. A second later, both their faces flushed bright red in sync.
Zhu Lexing figured she’d earned some good karma. These were sights she wasn’t meant to witness.
She’d just started to turn to Yan Mian—telling her to hang on a sec while she fetched Xu He a new plate—when Yan Mian’s gaze shifted right back to her face.
Zhu Lexing: ?
After pondering for a few seconds, Yan Mian said earnestly, “Lexing, what do you think came first in the world, the chicken or the egg?”
Zhu Lexing: ??
