Li Cheng stared at his phone like it was a ticking bomb.
[It's about my mother.]
That single sentence kept repeating in his brain like a cursed echo.
Why did it sound less like a request…
And more like:
"Show up or die."
He dropped onto his couch, staring at the ceiling.
Why was life doing parkour on his sanity?
Just this afternoon, he'd been worrying about midterm committee duties.
By evening, a billionaire CEO was touching his face and offering to fund his startup.
And now her daughter — the school's Ice Princess — wanted a "talk" before class.
A normal protagonist would get a break.
Li Cheng was clearly not a normal protagonist.
He sighed, showered, forced down dinner, and eventually collapsed into bed with a dramatic groan.
Tomorrow was going to be chaos.
The Next Morning — Way Too Early for Drama
Li Cheng arrived at school earlier than he ever had in his entire academic life. The campus was still waking up; a few early-rising teachers passed by with coffee, and the basketball team was practicing half-asleep.
He stood under the old cherry blossom tree as instructed.
A faint breeze picked up, scattering pale petals across the courtyard.
Peaceful. Serene.
Which only meant one thing:
Something terrible was about to happen.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, waiting—until he felt a gaze prick the back of his neck.
He turned.
There she was.
Su Mengyu.
Long black hair tied loosely behind her, cold eyes that could freeze the sun, school uniform immaculately pressed. She walked like she existed above mortal concerns, like she had an invisible air-conditioning field around her soul.
She stopped exactly two meters in front of him.
Not one inch more.
Not one inch less.
Her expression was unreadable. "You came."
Li Cheng nodded. "You asked."
A hint of surprise flickered in her eyes — gone so fast he almost imagined it.
"Good," she said softly. "This won't take long."
Li Cheng took a quiet breath. "So… what did you want to talk about?"
She looked him dead in the eyes.
"My mother."
Li Cheng coughed. "Right. That. Um… how should I put it—"
"You let her into your house."
Li Cheng almost choked.
"I—I didn't LET her in! She just appeared at my door!"
She blinked slowly. "So you opened the door for her."
"Because she said she had business with me!"
A pause.
Mengyu crossed her arms — not aggressively, but analytically, like she was working through a series of equations that all led to the same unacceptable answer.
"So. My mother visited you. Alone. At your home."
Her tone remained calm. Too calm.
"She stayed for 23 minutes."
"You… know the exact time?"
"I checked her schedule," she said. "She canceled a meeting for it."
Li Cheng froze.
"She WHAT?!"
Mengyu nodded. "That's why I'm here."
Oh no.
OH NO.
He was being interrogated by the Vice President of the Student Council about her billionaire mother entering his apartment.
This was not the kind of face-slapping he wanted.
He raised both hands. "Look, nothing weird happened. She just talked about my startup."
Mengyu's eyes narrowed.
"You have a startup?"
"…Kind of."
"You're still in school," she said flatly.
"It's small! Very small!"
"What does my mother want with your 'very small' company?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out too!"
For a moment, it looked like she was trying to read his mind.
Then—
She exhaled.
Not dramatically. Not angrily.
But softly.
Like she was… relieved?
"Alright," she said. "I'll trust you."
Li Cheng blinked. "Just like that?"
"No," she deadpanned. "But I'll observe you closely."
"…That sounds worse."
She didn't deny it.
The Walk to Class — Attention Follows Them
Students trickled into the campus in larger numbers now.
And of course—
Of course—
People started staring.
"Wait… is that Su Mengyu walking with Li Cheng?!"
"No way! The ICE PRINCESS?!"
"Bro, what cheat code is he using?!"
"I bet he's using money."
"What money?! He's literally from the common dorms!"
"He must have saved the world in his past life."
"Or he's dating her mom."
Li Cheng nearly tripped.
Mengyu's expression remained arctic, but her fingers tightened slightly around her notebook.
"…I'm ignoring that," she murmured.
"Please do," Li Cheng begged.
Inside the Classroom — Rumors Explode
As soon as they stepped inside, noise erupted like someone had kicked a beehive.
Students practically whiplashed around in their seats.
"Yo! Li Cheng came with the goddess of Year One!"
"Campus prince + ice empress?? Legendary combination!"
"ARE THEY DATING?!"
Li Cheng opened his mouth to deny everything—
But someone else beat him to it.
A loud chair scrape echoed through the room.
Qin Ruo stood up.
Slowly.
Her eyes sharp, dangerously bright, locking onto Mengyu like two apex predators sizing each other up.
"Li Cheng," she said, voice velvety but edged with steel. "You seem… close to her today."
Mengyu didn't step back.
She stepped forward.
"I needed to discuss something with him."
Qin Ruo smiled politely.
Too politely.
"Oh? Discuss what?"
Mengyu tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, calm as ice.
"A private matter."
Qin Ruo's smile twitched.
"Sounds interesting. Perhaps I should also schedule a private conversation with him."
Li Cheng's soul fled his body for the fourth time in two chapters.
"Um— I am not a public library," he protested.
"Quiet," both girls said simultaneously.
He shut up instantly.
Homeroom Teacher Arrives — But Trouble Doesn't Leave
Their teacher entered, slamming a thick pile of papers onto the podium.
"QUIET DOWN!" she barked.
The class froze.
She narrowed her eyes at the lingering tension between the girls, then at Li Cheng.
She sighed heavily.
"Li Cheng… I don't know what's going on with you lately, but stop making the female students form alliances and factions over you. I'm tired."
"I—I'm not doing anything," he whispered.
"Oh? Because yesterday two boys nearly fought to impress Lin Xiaoyu, and today three girls asked permission to switch seats next to you. Do you think this is romance simulation class?"
Li Cheng covered his face.
This was hell.
Absolute hell.
Recess — The Playboy Appears Again
After two classes, Li Cheng escaped to the school courtyard like a man fleeing war.
He sat on a bench, letting out a long sigh.
Peace.
Finally.
No girls.
No CEO.
No—
A shadow fell over him.
Li Cheng didn't even look up.
"Whatever you're planning, please don't."
A familiar arrogant voice scoffed.
"Not planning. Declaring."
Li Cheng groaned internally.
Not him.
Jiang Hao.
Playboy from the Business Department.
Professional narcissist.
Self-proclaimed "Future Emperor of Campus Love."
He wore sunglasses indoors.
Outdoors.
During rain.
During exams.
Li Cheng suspected he showered in them.
"I heard you walked in with Su Mengyu this morning," Jiang Hao said, crossing his arms. "How bold of you."
Li Cheng massaged his temples. "Bro, I wasn't bold. I was terrified."
"Same thing," Jiang Hao sneered. "But I can't let you steal the spotlight again. My fans are talking less about me and more about YOU. That is unacceptable."
"You have fans?" Li Cheng muttered.
"Yes."
He flipped his hair.
"Myself."
Li Cheng wanted to punch him.
But violence was illegal.
Probably.
"What do you want?" Li Cheng asked.
Jiang Hao smirked. "I'm here to reclaim dominance."
Li Cheng blinked. "This is a school. Not a zoo."
Jiang Hao leaned closer. "Listen well. I, Jiang Hao, will prove once and for all that I am superior in charm, elegance, and romantic appeal."
"You tripped yesterday trying to wink at a girl," Li Cheng reminded him.
"That was strategic misdirection!"
He flicked his sunglasses up."
Today, I challenge you."
Li Cheng stared. "…To what?"
"A charisma showdown."
That was the dumbest thing Li Cheng had heard in a week——which was impressive given his life.
Before he could refuse, Jiang Hao spotted a group of girls walking by and shouted:
"LADIES! Tell me honestly—who looks more handsome today? Me or him?"
The girls froze.
Looked at Jiang Hao.
Looked at Li Cheng.
Looked back at Jiang Hao.
Then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
One girl gasped between giggles. "Hao-ge, please… your sunglasses… there's a sticker on them…"
Jiang Hao ripped them off—
A giant 5-yuan price tag dangled on the bridge.
Li Cheng bit his lip to stop from laughing.
He failed.
"BRO," he managed between breaths, "how did you not notice?!"
Jiang Hao stood frozen, face red, expression betraying an inner death.
The girls took photos.
Multiple photos.
"Oh no… this will be on the school forum by lunch," one said.
"It's already there," another added. "Top trending."
Jiang Hao slowly turned to Li Cheng.
"You…" he whispered. "You did this."
Li Cheng raised both hands. "I LITERALLY DID NOTHING!"
Jiang Hao swore vengeance and ran off dramatically like a rejected anime villain.
Li Cheng sat back down, satisfied.
Finally, a humiliation scene where he wasn't the victim.
Lunch Break — The Real Trouble Begins
Li Cheng headed toward the cafeteria, finally feeling like he'd regained some control over his life.
But then someone tugged on his sleeve.
He turned—
Su Mengyu.
"Walk with me," she said.
Li Cheng stiffened. "Is… something wrong?"
She hesitated.
A rare sight.
Then she handed him a folded note.
He opened it.
It was from Su Yaling.
Dinner tonight.
I have additional business matters to discuss with you.
My driver will pick you up at 7 PM.
—Yaling
Li Cheng's heart dropped.
Mengyu watched his reaction carefully.
"So," she said. "Are you going?"
Li Cheng swallowed. "I mean… she IS my investor now…"
Mengyu looked away for a moment, lips pressed tightly.
Then—
She stepped closer.
Too close.
Her voice dropped to a soft whisper.
"Just remember something."
Li Cheng blinked. "What?"
Her cheeks turned faintly pink—so faint he would have missed it if he blinked.
"My mother… can be very charming."
"…I noticed."
"Don't let her charm you too much."
Li Cheng coughed. "I—I won't!"
"Good."
She stepped back, cold mask returning instantly.
But the damage was done.
A crowd nearby recorded everything.
By lunch, the school forum would explode.
Again.
Li Cheng stared at the note again.
Dinner with a billionaire CEO.
A jealous Ice Princess watching him closely.
Rumors swirling everywhere.
Playboys being publicly defeated.
And he still had homework.
Life was hard.
He sighed deeply.
Tonight…was going to be dangerous.
And not because of business.
Because of her.