Seeing Zhang Chenxi like this, Ji Mingyue was slightly surprised, but she didn't press for details.
It seemed the junior still had secrets she knew nothing about.
"If she really applied to Longcheng University because of you, and you deleted her anyway, that's going to hurt her deeply," Ji Mingyue said, changing the subject.
"Maybe a little, but I just find it really weird. Someone who never even spoke while playing games before, how did she suddenly... turn into this?" Zhang Chenxi snapped back to reality and asked the question he had been pondering for a long time.
"An eighteen-year-old girl, who knows? Maybe a single sentence or a promise is all it takes for them to make a decision," Ji Mingyue guessed nonchalantly.
Hearing this, Zhang Chenxi froze in place again, and the regret and pain that had faded from his eyes reappeared.
He tried hard not to think about it, forcing a smile as he looked at Ji Mingyue.
"Senior, are you not mad at me anymore?"
"I can let go of the fact that you took candid photos of me."
Upon hearing this, joy bloomed in Zhang Chenxi's heart like a blossoming flower.
However, this blossoming flower was quickly pressed back into a bud by Ji Mingyue.
"That being said, you might still need to explain in detail how this 'evil senior sister' or 'female demon' nickname came to be." Ji Mingyue said expressionlessly.
Zhang Chenxi's mood instantly plummeted, as if a bucket of freezing cold water had been dumped over him, chilling him to the bone—though Ji Mingyue was clearly not done with just one bucket.
"Besides, this face of mine is owed a few million by you. Tell me, how do you think I should be repaid? Cash or Green Bubble?"
Her expression grew even colder, a deathly smile lingering at the corner of her lips as she stared at Zhang Chenxi.
*I'll take either, I'm not picky. Of course, if Senior doesn't have that much, other methods aren't entirely out of the question.*
Zhang Chenxi only dared to complain inwardly. If he actually said that out loud, he might graduate right then and there.
"Senior, it's really a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!" Zhang Chenxi cried out without tears.
"A misunderstanding? I merely fell asleep in the library and missed you, and inviting you upstairs to do problems somehow makes me a female demon?"
The corners of Ji Mingyue's lips curled up into a half-smile as she looked at Zhang Chenxi. Her tone carried a hint of teasing and mockery, clearly turning the tables on him.
A cunning glint flickered in her eyes, as if she were deliberately provoking his emotions.
Zhang Chenxi felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him.
Facing her cross-examination, he was momentarily tongue-tied and stammered in defense:
"Senior, that's not what I meant... I was just joking, please don't take it seriously..."
However, Ji Mingyue did not give him a chance to explain, pressing on:
"Oh? Then what did you mean? Are you saying I was always a female demon in your eyes?"
Her voice revealed a hint of dissatisfaction and doubt.
Zhang Chenxi waved his hands hurriedly and said in a panic:
"No, Senior, you've misunderstood me! I never thought that! You've always been a great senior in my eyes—smart, kind, and brilliant..."
Interrupting him, and deciding she was done teasing, Ji Mingyue smiled and said:
"Alright, alright, no need to shower me with compliments. I can't handle all that."
Her smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze, yet Zhang Chenxi felt an invisible pressure, silently groaning in despair.
"Considering you called me a female demon but also praised my looks, I suppose I can forgive you."
This time, Zhang Chenxi didn't feel happy; he was afraid Ji Mingyue would cook up some new scheme.
Sure enough, she didn't disappoint him.
"However, you have to do me a favor. If you agree, I'll help you solve another problem."
"Name it, Senior. As long as it's something I can do, I'll do it," Zhang Chenxi conceded helplessly. What could he do? He was the one who had offended her first.
Ji Mingyue nodded in satisfaction.
"There's a small graduation party right after the Longcheng University graduation ceremony on June nineteenth. My senior sister handed the event over to me, and you need to put on a performance." She looked at him earnestly.
"Senior, I... I don't know how to do anything. It'll be so embarrassing if I go up there." Zhang Chenxi waved his hands in refusal, disliking public singing and always finding it rather awkward.
"Really? You can't do anything?" Ji Mingyue stared intently into his eyes, as if trying to see through his thoughts.
"Really, I can't do anything..." Zhang Chenxi lowered his head, not daring to meet her gaze, his voice trailing off.
Seeing this, the corners of her mouth curled up into a cunning smile:
"Well, nothing I can do then. I suppose I won't help you with your trouble after all."
Folding her arms across her chest, she added unhurriedly:
"As for the 'female demon' business, I'll have to think carefully about whether I can let that slide."
Zhang Chenxi was struck speechless. He knew she was deliberately making things difficult for him, but he was powerless. After all, he really had offended the "female demon," and now he had no choice but to try and win her favor.
Just then, Ji Mingyue spoke up again:
"Oh, right, your Signals and Systems exam is quite early. In case Professor Li's other graduate assistants are still busy, he might ask me to help grade the papers."
Zhang Chenxi's heart skipped a beat. What was that supposed to mean?
"You know, if I suddenly remember the title 'female demon' while I'm grading, my hand might just slip...?"
Ji Mingyue dragged out her tone deliberately, a playful glint flashing in her eyes.
His expression turned unsightly; he knew she was threatening him. If he didn't find a way to appease her, his grade for this exam was probably in jeopardy.
"Senior, you're magnanimous, please don't hold it against me, okay? I know I was wrong, and I'll never dare make you angry again," Zhang Chenxi pleaded with a bitter face.
Inwardly triumphant while maintaining a stern facade, Ji Mingyue said:
"Fine. Since you're apologizing so sincerely, I'll forgive you for now. But you have to put on a performance that satisfies me."
Relieved, Zhang Chenxi nodded repeatedly:
"Thank you, Senior! I'll definitely prepare properly!"
Though he still felt somewhat reluctant, compared to failing a class, this was the best possible outcome.
*How did such a aloof and quiet senior turn into this? Good-looking people really are black-bellied,* he muttered inwardly.
"That's more like it. Now then, let me help you deal with that Genie Girl."
Seeing him agree to the performance, Ji Mingyue smiled with satisfaction.
"If she really comes to Longcheng University, even though you didn't tell her your real name, it wouldn't be hard for her to find you through QQ. The only way to solve this once and for all is simple." She coaxed him leisurely.
Zhang Chenxi was startled. He had completely forgotten about QQ; the Genie Girl didn't need his real name to find him through it.
"What way, Senior? Tell me quickly," he urged anxiously.
"Get a girlfriend," Ji Mingyue dropped the bombshell.
Zhang Chenxi waved his hands and stayed silent.
"I mean, you can find a fake one," she added.
"Compared to deleting her, getting a fake girlfriend to fool her might hurt a little less."
Thinking about it, Zhang Chenxi realized it made sense. But another problem arose: who should he ask?
Apart from a few girls in his debate team, he didn't really know anyone else.
There was one girl he was quite familiar with, but given their relationship, asking her for this would be way too awkward.
While he was racking his brains, Ji Mingyue inwardly screamed in exasperation:
*What, is my meaning that hard to understand?*
"Senior, I don't think I can find..."
After searching his mind for a long time without finding a suitable candidate, Zhang Chenxi raised his head helplessly and locked eyes with her glowing gaze.
"Senior, um... do you think you could possibly... just pretend to be my girlfriend? Once this blows over..."
He looked at her sheepishly.
Though that was her intention all along, since he had asked so sincerely, she felt obliged to show mercy and state her terms.
Ji Mingyue stared at him in silence, a trace of hidden amusement flashing in her eyes.
She knew it was her turn to take the initiative.
"You want me to be your girlfriend?"
Looking at him, the corners of her lips curved upward in a half-smile.
Flustered, Zhang Chenxi explained hastily:
"No, not for real! Just pretend!"
His voice trembled slightly, as if afraid she would misunderstand his intentions.
Unexpectedly, however, Ji Mingyue replied: "Alright, then confess your feelings to me."
Her tone was calm, as if stating something entirely natural.
"Huh???"
Zhang Chenxi was utterly bewildered.
"What, you ask someone to be your girlfriend without even a confession?" She feigned surprise.
"No, wait, you, me? Aren't we... pretending?"
Zhang Chenxi scrambled to piece his words together.
"Alright, I'm done teasing you. I'll help you with this, but don't forget to prepare your performance. If you mess it up..."
Narrowing her eyes, Ji Mingyue left the threat unfinished.
He quickly assured her he would prepare properly.
As she turned and walked toward the school gate, Zhang Chenxi subconsciously followed her while pondering what performance to put on.
"Why are you still following me?" she asked, puzzled.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot to thank you. Thank you for being willing to play my girlfriend, Senior. I'm heading back now, bye!"
Zhang Chenxi didn't bother lowering his voice, and since quite a few students were picking up food deliveries near the gate, nearby heads turned in their direction.
"Hey, isn't that Ji Mingyue? What did that guy just say? Did I hear that right?"
"The top student in the School of Microelectronics? The team leader who won first prize in the National Undergraduate Electronic Design Contest?"
"No way, Ji Mingyue is in a relationship?"
Whether on purpose or by accident, Zhang Chenxi turned and bolted right after expressing his gratitude.
Leaving Ji Mingyue standing there with a slight blush; with so many people watching, she felt a bit embarrassed.
Yet, with her usual cold gaze, she simply swept her eyes over the crowd without offering any response or explanation.
Clutching her books, she walked decisively out of the school gate, leaving an aloof retreating figure for the gossiping students.
*Fine, junior, I'll remember this,* she vowed inwardly.
...
...
After finishing dinner and returning to the dorm, Zhang Chenxi found his three roommates and several close friends from the neighboring room all gathered around his desk.
Seeing him step inside, the crowd quickly parted to let him through, then surrounded him again, casting looks of utter disdain.
"What are you guys up to?"
Creeped out by their gazes, Zhang Chenxi asked.
"What are we up to? Don't you know what you've done?"
Wang Jiuri looked at him with profound disappointment.
Zhang Chenxi: "???"
"Why waste words with him? Put him on trial," Sun Dong said with a look of exasperation.
"I ask, you answer," Wang Jiuri demanded mercilessly.
"Name?"
"Zhang Chenxi."
"Gender?"
"Are you out of your mind? Have you been watching too many adult films lately?"
"Just answer the question. With all of us here, are you trying to start a rebellion?"
"Male."
Yielding to the collective pressure, Zhang Chenxi lowered his head.
"Where were you this afternoon?"
"The library," he answered truthfully.
"By yourself?"
"......" Zhang Chenxi could roughly guess their objective.
Seeing him fall silent, Wang Jiuri sighed mournfully:
"If Wang Chengshuang hadn't seen you sitting with a girl in the library today, we wouldn't even know how long you'd been keeping this secret. Zhang Chenxi, you owe us an explanation."
Wang Chengshuang was the most diligent student in their dorm, practically living in the library every day.
And because Ji Mingyue had worn a black dress during her previous guest lecture and a white dress today—completely different styles—combined with the distance, he hadn't recognized her.
Silently opening his drawer, Zhang Chenxi handed Wang Jiuri a roll of tape.
Silence hung in the air for three seconds.
"You think you're funny?"
Wang Jiuri snatched the tape away with a slap.
"Senior and I are just friends. She was tutoring me in Signals and Systems today."
Knowing explanations were futile, Zhang Chenxi still spoke up.
Sure enough, Sun Dong wore a meaningful expression upon hearing this: "Tsk tsk, the library, a senior sister, tutoring."
"Don't talk nonsense. You can joke with me all you want, but Senior is a girl after all," Zhang Chenxi said with a serious look.
Sun Dong and the others weren't clueless about which jokes crossed the line.
"Senior and I really are just ordinary acquaintances, we might not even count as friends," Zhang Chenxi reiterated.
"Do you guys believe him?" Wang Jiuri asked, turning to the roommates on his left.
They shook their heads.
"Do you guys believe him?" He turned to the guys from the next dorm on his right.
They shook their heads as well.
"Chenxi, old buddy, we're not blaming you, it's just... your sudden betrayal of the organization has left the brothers a bit heartbroken."
Wang Jiuri put on a heavy sigh, though mentally he was already picking the restaurant he would extort Zhang Chenxi to treat him at tomorrow.
"Actually, Senior has a roommate, and she is drop-dead gorgeous..." Zhang Chenxi stared up at the ceiling, looking thoroughly captivated.
"Really? Really? Well, putting that aside, who doesn't want to better themselves, right? Although Chenxi's behavior isn't worth emulating, but..."
Interrupting Wang Jiuri's sudden shift in attitude, Zhang Chenxi imitated a gaming streamer he frequently watched, tightening his calves to prepare for a sprint.
"Just kidding, hehe!"
With that, Zhang Chenxi bolted out the door, leaving the dumbfounded crowd in his wake.
He didn't run out just to escape his roommates' interrogation; his Note account hadn't been updated in a while.
Whenever he filmed his singing videos for Note, he always went up to the playground bleachers at night because that was when ambient noise was at its lowest.
It also allowed him to immerse himself entirely in singing and present his best self to everyone who supported and loved him.
Sitting on the bleachers, Zhang Chenxi opened his Note account and saw several new direct messages.
The top one was from an old fan:
[Jieyue]: "What's going on? Why aren't you updating? Did you forget about me again?"