CHAPTER 4

As Yibo strutted through the university gates like he owned the damn place, whispers trailed behind him. The students stared like he was some mythical creature.

Well... the old Wang Yibo did skip classes like they were optional side quests. But this Wang Yibo? He walked like a runway model with a business plan.

Then—tap tap—someone poked his shoulder.

Turning around, Yibo raised a row and asked, "Who are you?"

A tall boy with a smug face replied coolly, "Seriously? A month away and you already forgot your bestie?"

Yibo pauses then smirks, pretending like he knows him, said confidently, "Never, asshole. I was just testing your loyalty."

"Pfft. You're full of shit. I thought I'd see you next on exam day, sobbing and begging me to teach you everything overnight." He said smirking back.

"Excuse me. I don’t cry. I make people cry." Yibo replied jokingly, looking a bit offended.

"Oh really? Because last semester, you failed every single exam, cried in my arms like a soap opera heroine, then ran to your handsome uncle for comfort, who by the way, ghosted you again."

Faking a laugh and cursing old Yibo in mind, he replied, "Sounds like a different person. I've upgraded. I'm a serious student now."

The friend replied, "Says the guy wearing designer sunglasses in a business lecture hall."

Yibo replied while fixing his glasses, "Branding, babe. You wouldn't get it."

The boy, now wearing a bit series expression, asked, "Mhm. So what happened to your Xiao Zhan obsession? Any update?"

Yibo said in response, now getting serious, "Let's just say... I've changed tactics."

"Okay, that's either sexy or terrifying. Or both."

"Exactly." Yibo replied.

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After a long-ass day of pretending to care about lectures and trading insults with 'his' friend, whose name happened to be Wang Haoxuan—no the same 'Wang' as him but a different one, Yibo finally made it home.

Lowkey? He liked Haoxuan. The guy was cute, funny, way too caring. Honestly? Exactly Yibo's type. Boyfriend material with a little brat energy.

"Bet he cries pretty too." Yibo muttered to himself, smirking.

But the second he stepped through the door... the air shifted. He felt it in his gut. Something off. Something tense.

Then he saw it.

HIM.

Xiao. Fucking. Zhan.

Leaning casually against the armrest, all sharp jaw, god-tier cheekbones, and a chest that clearly had no right being hidden under a shirt that tight.

Yibo screamed internally, "Oh. My. Fucking. God. I get you, olf Wang Yibo. I GET YOU, BABY! That man is a walking wet dream. His face? Illegal. That voice. Sin—even though I haven't heard it yet. His chest? HELLO?! How would he even look in bed—NO. STOP. YIBO. CONTROL YOUR DIRTY MIND."

He forced a tight smile, hiding the mental breakdown under layers of fake calm.

"Good morning, Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Zhan barely looked at him Just a slight nod. No words.

Not wanting to stretch the tense moment further, Carman Lee says a little awkwardly, "Zhan is joining us for dinner tonight, sweetheart!"

Understanding what she was trying to do, Huang Ziteng said, "He just flew back from Tokyo, and we thought it'd be nice to catch up like old times!"

Yibo thought, "Old times? You mean the times I was crying over him while he ignored me like a furniture?!" He didn't even flinch. Just gave them a sweet smile that masked the screaming. Yibo decided to give a simple reply to avoid the situation, "I'm not really hungry. I ate with Haoxuan. I'll be in my room."

He turned and walked off without waiting for a response.

Behind him, Zhan's eyebrow lifted. Just slightly. But that was enough.

Because this? This wasn't the Wang Yibo he knew.

No puppy eyes.

No clingy talks.

No dramatic blabbering.

Just a calm, polite exit.

Xiao Zhan thought, "Interesting..."

________________________________________

Up in him room, Yibo face-planted into his bed, groaning into the sheets.

"I'm so fucked."

Because the one man he promised himself to avoid?