Outside the classroom, Lin Wei finally made his way through the gates, a quiet breath escaping his lips.
"Hah… that was nice." His thoughts lingered on the image of Xueyin sitting beside him—cheerful, relaxed, laughing at his jokes. "Even a dull class feels fun when she's around."
There was a lightness in his steps as he exited the campus, a rare contentment humming beneath the surface. Glancing at the time, Lin Wei quickened his pace. He hadn't forgotten—his evening with Chen Yuxi was next.
Just as he reached the meeting spot, a sudden tap on his shoulder jolted him. He turned, instinctively alert, only to see Yuxi standing there with a smug grin.
"Can you not show up like a ghost every time?" he said with a chuckle. "At this rate, you might as well become an assassin."
"Hehe~ It's fun seeing you freeze like that." Yuxi winked. "I got bored waiting, so I grabbed a drink over there." She motioned toward a nearby open-air café.
"Sorry. Class ended a bit late. I came straight from there."
"Relax, I came early anyway." She folded her arms, tilting her head at him. "And I knew you'd rush over here, totally ignoring that café—so I decided to sneak up first."
"Is that so..." Lin Wei let out a faint sigh and extended his hand, smirking. "Shall we go then, Lady Chen?"
She narrowed her eyes in mock irritation. "Ugh, don't be cringe. Just call me Yuxi like everyone else—especially after what we've already done together..."
Lin Wei blinked, caught slightly off guard by her boldness, but Yuxi had already turned away with a teasing laugh, her ponytail swaying behind her.
"Right..." he muttered under his breath, grinning.
"Hmph! You don't even look that thrilled about it," Yuxi pouted, her tone laced with mock indignation. "Do you have any idea how many guys would kill to go shopping with me? And here you are, acting like I dragged you into a chore. Shouldn't you at least be a little thankful?"
Her sulky act was almost flawless—complete with a practiced pout and narrowed eyes. Lin Wei, walking beside her, sighed inwardly, rubbing his temple.
"That's how it's supposed to be, right?" he thought. "A guy going shopping with a beautiful girl like her should feel lucky. But after everything between us… it just doesn't feel like that big of a deal anymore."
"You're the one asking for my help," he said aloud, looking at her with a dry expression. "And I'm the one who should be grateful?"
Yuxi blinked, caught off guard by the blunt reply. Her cheeks colored faintly as she registered the logic in his words before turning to glare at him with mock annoyance.
But even she knew—that unconcerned honesty of his was probably the reason she felt so at ease dragging him along.
"Still," she huffed, "I wasn't lying. There are a bunch of guys in my class who'd jump at the chance. For them, it's like winning the lottery."
"I don't doubt that," Lin Wei replied with a shrug. "But let's be real—they're not offering to carry your bags out of kindness. They're hoping it'll get them one step closer to dating you."
Yuxi raised an eyebrow at him, then gave a small nod. "You're not wrong. That's probably exactly what they're thinking."
There was a brief pause between them, casual yet oddly comfortable.
"But I already did way more than just carry your bags," Lin Wei added casually, smirking.
"H-Hey!" Yuxi's face went bright red, and she swatted at his arm, flustered. "Don't say stuff like that out loud!"
"I didn't say what I did." He grinned.
She groaned and rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips was impossible to hide.
The two of them strolled through the shopping district, weaving past crowds and bright displays. As they walked, Yuxi's expression gradually softened—her steps lighter, her smiles more frequent. Her eyes sparkled each time they passed a window filled with stylish clothes, elegant shoes, or glossy handbags.
Lin Wei watched her quietly, a faint smile on his lips. "She really is just a girl her age," he thought. "For all the attitude and poise, in the end... she's still drawn to the same things most girls are."
But that wasn't a bad thing. In fact, it made her seem more real—less like the campus beauty others imagined and more like someone just trying to enjoy a rare moment for herself.
He glanced at her as she paused in front of a boutique. She stood still, admiring a sleek designer bag behind the glass, her reflection overlaying the price tag she didn't bother to read.
"You're not going to buy it?" he asked, curious. She hadn't stepped inside a single shop yet.
Yuxi turned her head slightly, her lips pressing into a tight smile. "I'm not that rich," she said, her voice soft but steady. "Even the purse I'm using in the next shoot—it's from the company. A loaner."
Her eyes didn't leave the bag.
"Most of the money I make goes back home," she continued. "My parents aren't well-off. So yeah... sometimes sticking with that bastard is the only way to keep things stable." Her voice hardened at the end, and she finally turned to face him.
"In short," she said, meeting his eyes, "my family's not doing great. And I don't have the luxury of spending on things just because they look good."
Lin Wei didn't respond right away. He simply looked at her—really looked—and understood a little more of the weight she carried behind her confident front.
"Thanks for telling me," he said at last, gently. "You don't have to pretend around me."
Lin Wei glanced at Yuxi again as she admired a designer bag through the glass.
'Girls like her notice the details,' he thought. 'Clothes, bags, the brand stitched into a corner—they all matter more than they let on.'
In a world where appearances often whispered louder than words, especially in college circles, those little things weren't just fashion—they were status. A name-brand purse could shift how someone was treated in a group, how people spoke to them, or even who invited them out.
And for a beautiful girl, the pressure was twice as high.
It was no surprise that so many of them ended up chasing relationships that promised more than just affection. Sometimes, a rich boyfriend wasn't about love—it was about keeping up in a world that quietly demanded it.
'It's not vanity,' Lin Wei thought. 'It's survival in a different form.'
Wearing the same dress to different parties could spark entirely different reactions—that was just how it worked. Lin Wei had seen it firsthand, and it taught him not to judge too quickly.
He never looked down on girls for wanting a rich boyfriend. It wasn't always about greed—sometimes, it was about keeping up appearances in a world that weighed women on how they looked, what they wore, and who they were seen with.
Plenty of his female friends from the past had confided in him about it. He understood. Maybe that's why, even now, he didn't let that desire cloud his view of them.
They were just playing the game they'd been handed.
"We can check it inside too. It's getting a bit hot out here," Lin Wei said casually, spotting a perfect chance to test his [Rebate Option] skill in action.
"Hm, okay. Let's go in and take a look." Yuxi gave in, her practical side agreeing with his suggestion. The sun was starting to get to her, and deep down, her desire to at least browse the luxury store was stronger than she admitted.
Even though she didn't expect to buy anything—especially not with Lin Wei footing the bill—she still followed him in. Stella had already filled her in about Lin Wei's modest financial standing back when they first met in the city, so she was sure this was all just harmless browsing.
But once inside, Yuxi was quickly pulled in by the elegant displays. Her eyes lit up as she admired the clean designs, the shining tags, and the limited editions. Lin Wei simply followed behind her, keeping quiet, observing both her and the subtle UI prompts of his skill activating. The staff, noting their intent to browse freely, politely stepped back, allowing them space.
Just as Yuxi was eyeing a more affordable piece—possibly thinking she might stretch her savings to make it work—a sharp, sarcastic voice cut through the calm air behind them.
"Well, well... look at this. Our dear Yuxi is out shopping at the Cv bag store."
The words dripped with venom.
Yuxi froze slightly, her posture tensing as she slowly turned her head. Lin Wei followed suit, his eyes narrowing. Standing at the entrance were a guy Lin Wei vaguely recognized and a sharp-looking woman who clearly knew Yuxi. Both wore smirks and glints of disdain in their eyes—as if they'd caught her doing something she wasn't supposed to.
Yuxi's cheerful shopping mood vanished in an instant.