"Classmate Cheng Ying, why are you being so polite? We're high school classmates, what a connection! I truly feel terrible about this; we'll even be university classmates, with another four years of shared fate ahead of us!"

Cheng Ying smiled a brittle, artificial smile. It was rare these days to see someone so shamelessly persistent; a national treasure, truly.

However, the ice-cold feeling emanating from the side put considerable pressure on Cheng Ying. Her application form was still clutched in someone else's hand, and now was definitely not the time to invite scandal, even if the subject of the potential gossip was a complete lunatic.

Chi Wu glared at the lunatic, genuinely regretting his earlier strategy. How could he have engaged with this madman? Whatever impression Cheng Ying had of this person just now, she must have felt the same way about him. He resolved to stick to his own path from now on.

Once they became a real couple, would he still need to follow that path? He must have been desperate to stoop to the same level as this lunatic.

He extended a hand, taking back his enrollment application. "Do you know what my relationship with Cheng Ying is? Stay away from her. Even if we attend the same university, you won't have a chance. Wherever I go, Yingzi goes. Understand?"

The young man glanced at the clear lettering of 'B University,' then straightened his chest. "An arranged marriage? Classmate Chi Wu, what era are we in? You're an ambitious university student; how can you use methods like this to stop Classmate Cheng Ying in her tracks?"

This struck at Chi Wu's sore spot: We are not in an arranged marriage; we have an emotional foundation.

Chi Wu wanted to retort that they also had a private connection, but that was impossible to blurt out loud. To claim they were in a free-love relationship felt too far-fetched; Chi Wu himself lacked the conviction to say it.

He then turned, glaring at Cheng Ying as if she were his nemesis. It was all her fault. Why couldn't she see him? Why didn't she cherish him with the same devotion he felt for her? If she did, he could easily crush this rival.

Cheng Ying felt immense pressure; Chi Wu's gaze was fiercely intense. Was that the look of love? Or was it the look of mutual destruction? Thinking of her own application form and the foolish boy's concession, Cheng Ying decided it was probably fine to back Chi Wu up just this once. "We are childhood sweethearts. Classmate, poaching like this isn't right."

Chi Wu’s eyebrows lifted, almost soaring off his face. Standing beside Cheng Ying, he looked down on the other man with complete disdain.

As for the male student, calling him a lunatic was an understatement; he was like an unkillable cockroach with a built-in recovery system. "Classmate Cheng Ying, I know you're acting under family pressure. Living in that kind of violent environment for so long has made you afraid to resist. But don't worry, from now on, we’ll be at the same university. I will stand by your side, and I will face their violence with you. I know you have a passionate heart, just like me."

Cheng Ying squeezed her eyes shut. Was this a stage play, or community theater? He was so incredibly punchable. Passionate heart? I have a heart ready to explode. I need thunder.

Chi Wu pursed his lips. Ignorant fool. Just wait, you’ll soon realize you and Yingzi are worlds apart. I won't even deign to speak to you.

Finally, the young man delivered his closing statement. "Oh, right, Classmate Cheng Ying, let me introduce myself. My name is Shen Cheng. From now on, you can call me Shen Cheng. Calling each other 'Classmate' is so irritating. May I call you Yingzi? If not, Ah Ying will do."

Chi Wu strained with all his might, nearly causing internal injury to prevent his fist from flying out. "Absolutely not. Can you move out of the way?"

Classmate Shen Cheng stood resolutely in front of them. "You are nothing to Classmate Cheng Ying. An engagement holds no legal weight. Once we are all in university, you'll see how ridiculous your relationship is. A childhood promise? That hasn't been recognized for ages."

Chi Wu sneered, "I wouldn't stoop to your level by arguing, which would only lower my standing. Please, Classmate Shen Cheng, move aside."

Cheng Ying felt goosebumps erupting all over her skin. Ah Ying? How sickeningly saccharine. She really needed to see a dermatologist soon. "Yes, this is wasting too much time. That... classmate, I'm truly sorry. Your passionate heart is too constrained here. You should go save more people. Bye-bye, have a nice life, don't let the door hit you on the way out."

With that, she walked around them and left. Chi Wu was satisfied with Cheng Ying's response, though it wasn't the best possible one. "You shouldn't have engaged with someone like that at all. Just walk past them when you see them. Talking to him is a waste of breath. Remember that, okay?"

Cheng Ying nodded, noting that this brat's arrogant side was back in full force. "Next time, I’ll walk around him."

Chi Wu thought to himself, I am a man; I am not childish. Look, this is what a man’s broad-mindedness looks like. Then he turned to Cheng Ying. "What a trashy name. He even has the nerve to say it out loud. Good thing I didn't bother remembering it; it would just contaminate my ears. Who even named him that?"

Cheng Ying smacked her lips silently. Shen Cheng's name was no different from Chi Wu's. She didn't understand why this unfortunate child felt the other person's name was so bad. The crow lands on the pig and calls itself pretty.

Chi Wu didn't receive the expected resonance and shot Cheng Ying a sideways glance. "Hmph?"

Cheng Ying quickly complied. "What name? I didn't pay attention. Is there someone like that in our class?"

Chi Wu was satisfied. He led Cheng Ying on a circuitous route around the small courtyard before finally handing the registration forms over to the homeroom teacher.

The homeroom teacher looked at Cheng Ying's form and spoke with a hint of regret. "I truly didn't expect this. I thought our class would have three B University students—what an honor! Classmate Cheng Ying is actually attending university in our own province."

Cheng Ying didn't feel regretful. She had already seen what she needed to see. She wasn't overly ambitious. Even being reborn didn't mean she had to command the world or achieve sudden fame. This was quite fine: modest wealth and security, guarding her own happiness was more important than anything. Few things could be held onto across two lifetimes, and this warmth and happiness were the things she couldn't let go of. Otherwise, she wouldn't be so anxiously hesitant over Chi Wu's affairs. Didn't that prove her heart cared for this bond? Even though the feeling had slightly deviated now, she still couldn't bear to lose so many years of connection. She still remembered her wish back then was simply to eat dumplings every day. How simple that was.

Chi Wu's response was much grander. "There are many elderly relatives at home. If both of us went to school so far away, they would worry. Yingzi is staying behind to make it easier to care for them." In my mind, I'm taking the lunatic away, and our provincial capital will be much safer.

The homeroom teacher thought, Great men are always women. "Classmate Cheng Ying, it's commendable that you think this way. Classmate Chi Wu, you must remember that half of that medal of military merit belongs to you, and half belongs to Classmate Cheng Ying's sacrifice. Although attending university in our own province is good, it was ultimately for the sake of your shared family that Classmate Cheng Ying chose this location."

Chi Wu replied, "Teacher, please rest assured. I remember Yingzi's regard for me. Our matters won't change because of distance. I have confidence, and Yingzi has confidence too." This was another move to solidify his perception of Cheng Ying’s commitment: not to let distance breed stray thoughts. Chi Wu certainly didn't want to come back to find some wild man waiting.

Listening to their conversation, Cheng Ying felt her teeth ache. If things were unspoken, the world would generally be at peace. Her face flushed crimson with the effort of restraint.

The homeroom teacher looked at Classmate Cheng Ying, shaking her head and sighing. The sudden change in youthful affections—with the two of them separated by such a distance, how much affection could possibly remain? She hoped Classmate Cheng Ying wouldn't regret her current choice; history was full of women who regretted pushing their intended husbands aside for fleeting fame. She had given all the pointers she could. This was a woman with a 50% chance of future pity. Therefore, her attitude toward Cheng Ying softened even more. "Alright, Chi Wu, as long as you remember. You two should go take care of your business. I heard you are going back to the village to finalize the engagement. Go prepare quickly. Once your admission letters arrive, I will call you."

Cheng Ying managed a subdued, "Thank you, Teacher." She was still too inarticulate.

The teacher shook her head again. Was this the same Cheng Ying who used to sing love songs? Had something possessed Classmate Cheng Ying that night? Unscientific deductions spun through the homeroom teacher's mind.

Chi Wu, however, was pleased to hear someone talk about the engagement. "Teacher, why don't you come with us back to the village?"

The teacher replied, "I can't. Once you graduate, I'll have a lot of work to do. It’s a real pity."

Chi Wu agreed, "It is indeed a pity. Well then, Teacher, we'll be leaving now. I'll bring you back some wedding candy!"

Cheng Ying thought to herself: It’s not just the engagement; even marriage shouldn't be this ostentatious, Chi Wu. What pity? But in front of Chi Wu, Cheng Ying said nothing now. If their children ever met someone they liked, they would undoubtedly regret today's events bitterly. Her lecturing now would be useless.

Also, there would be trouble when the admission letters arrived. Considering Chi family's old matriarch, Cheng Ying dreaded even thinking about her. Just thinking about her gave her a headache. She didn't even want to face her, yet as long as her relationship with Chi Wu remained unchanged, she would still have to show filial piety to this old lady—she was, after all, her paternal grandmother-in-law. Oh, how I envy my own mother; I wonder how she deals with that old woman.

Chi Wu was in high spirits. Returning early, he took Cheng Ying along to purchase items needed for their village return, displaying his excitement completely and trying his best to include Cheng Ying, ensuring she felt part of the engagement proceedings. Chi Wu knew that this engagement was currently something he had pushed for. He needed Cheng Ying to recognize that they were now engaged, that he was thrilled and cherished this relationship, and he wanted her to share his excitement. That would be a hundred percent success. At least Cheng Ying should see some return for his efforts, no matter how small. The future was long, and Chi Wu was confident that one day, Cheng Ying would be happy about this relationship. This was Chi Wu's new goal.

Cheng Ying followed Chi Wu. Although she wasn't keen on seeing so many festive items, she understood they would be needed. If they bought them now, the old lady wouldn't have to fuss over everything later. Seeing Chi Wu carefully selecting items, catering to the old lady's preferences while occasionally asking for her own opinion, was something. For such a large, rough young man, achieving this level of consideration was not easy. Cheng Ying felt she couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Settling her mind, she helped with the arrangements—not for herself, or rather, if the male lead were anyone else, Cheng Ying felt she could accept it more easily, perhaps even look forward to it. Chi Wu? Just thinking about it makes me want to spit blood. This is the rhythm of failing to export and preparing for domestic sales.

Chi Wu was delighted to see Cheng Ying helping him acquire supplies.

RP