For some time afterward, Mufeng Su went about his days as usual, as if winning the lottery had never happened at all.
Chen Haoyu, however, kept dropping subtle hints, trying to pry into what Mufeng had actually done with the prize money.
"Brother Feng, save me!"
Chen Haoyu rushed in breathlessly.
Seeing how flustered he looked, Mufeng asked, "What happened?"
Chen Haoyu glanced at Luoyi Zhao sitting nearby, putting on an exaggerated, coy act as if he found it hard to speak.
"If you don't spit it out, I'm not helping."
"I'll talk! I'll talk."
"Well, basically, I accidentally fell asleep yesterday and didn't do my homework. Let me copy yours."
"Is that all? I thought it was something major. Don't you pull this stunt all the time?"
"It's different now. I'm the class monitor. Word gets out that I'm leading the charge in copying homework, and the bad example I'd set would be terrible."
Mufeng pulled the test papers and workbooks from a stack of books and tossed them at him.
"Here, take them and copy away. Just remember to hand mine in along with yours when you're done."
"You really are my best brother, the kind closer than actual brothers."
Luoyi gave them a knowing, inscrutable look.
Chen Haoyu picked up the homework and embarked on his path of redemption.
All morning, Mufeng had the lingering feeling that she had something she wanted to ask him.
She kept glancing over from time to time as if about to say something, only to turn away and swallow her words.
After returning to the classroom following lunch, Mufeng couldn't contain his curiosity any longer and finally asked, "Luoyi, is there something you wanted to ask me?"
Luoyi carefully scanned her surroundings, and making sure no one was close by, she asked in a low voice, "It's actually quite simple. I just wanted to know if you went and did anything special after collecting the prize money."
Luoyi blinked. She genuinely wanted to know what Mufeng had gone and done ever since he'd brought the prize money back home.
Done?
Done what?
A memory suddenly flashed through Mufeng's mind—something Chen Haoyu had told him before, picked up from some unknown source:
*488, 688, 998, there's always one package to satisfy you.*
Thinking of that, he couldn't help blushing slightly.
"I gave thirty thousand to my parents. I kept a little bit for myself and deposited most of the rest in the bank."
Mufeng kept his voice down, terrified that anyone else might overhear.
"What are you and Mufeng talking about, Luoyi?"
Qi Yue walked over at that moment, holding a can of cola in her hand.
Qi Yue stepped up to Mufeng, her cheeks flushed as she extended her hand to offer him the cola.
"Mufeng, I just bought this cola for you. It's iced—it's way too hot out, so don't get heatstroke."
Mufeng looked bewildered and didn't reach out to take it.
When Qi Yue didn't pull her hand back, he had no choice but to take the cola, though he didn't open it right away.
Yet he remained entirely oblivious to the dark expression that had settled over Luoyi's face beside him.
Seeing that Mufeng had accepted the cola, Qi Yue returned happily to her seat. She didn't bother explaining herself to the rest of the class, who were all watching with avid gossip in their eyes.
Qi Yue silently pumped herself up. She had finally mustered the courage to give him a cola, and he had actually taken it.
That meant he and Luoyi weren't together yet. As long as they weren't together, she still stood a chance.
Lately, people in the class had been spreading rumors that Mufeng and Luoyi were dating, which had been driving her crazy.
She had originally thought about getting Luoyi to gather intelligence for her, but it looked like that wasn't going to work out.
"Cola, why aren't you drinking it yet?"
Luoyi's tone was rather chilly, making Mufeng feel strangely distant.
Mufeng happened to be spacing out and didn't catch what she said, only vaguely hearing the word "Cola."
He assumed she was talking about the orange cat at home.
"Cola's still sleeping at home. Do you want to go take a look?"
"Look, look, I took a picture of her on my phone yesterday."
Mufeng pulled out his phone—the matching model he shared with Luoyi, which she had picked out herself—and handed it over for her to see.
Luoyi instantly found herself torn between wanting to laugh and wanting to scream.
She had clearly been talking about the cola Qi Yue handed him, and he was showing her pictures of little orange cat Cola.
That instantly defused any lingering anger Luoyi might have had.
Besides, what kind of relationship were the two of them in right now? What right did she have to police his private life?
Qi Yue's sudden proactive gesture had stirred a flicker of tension and anxiety in Luoyi's heart.
*Forget it, let's just see how Cola's been doing lately.*
In the photo, Cola was clearly living it up at Mufeng's place. The cat was sprawled out on its back, sleeping comfortably on Mufeng's pillow without a shred of vigilance.
"Cola really is a good cat, and she's grown a bit bigger lately. Do you want to go see her, or I could bring her out, though I'm afraid she'll run off everywhere once we're outside," Mufeng said with a worried expression.
Luoyi pondered for a moment and said, "How about this: I'll come over to your place after school to check on her. To be honest, I miss her a bit too. After all, she's my little cat as well, and as one of her legal guardians, I should go check up on her."
*I'm one of Cola's guardians too, so does that make us co-parents?*
Seeing Mufeng standing there in a daze, Luoyi gave his arm a nudge.
"Do you not want me to come? If it's that much of a bother, never mind."
With that, she gave a little huff and turned her head away.
Only then did Mufeng snap back to reality.
"No, not at all, Luoyi. I was just thinking about something else. Let's go see Cola after school today; she must miss you a lot too. She's always been especially close to you, hasn't she?" Mufeng pleaded softly.
"Hmph~ That's more like it."
Luoyi's cheeks flushed pink, giving Mufeng a sudden urge to reach out and pinch them, though he quickly squashed the thought.
Qi Yue had found herself unable to settle down lately, especially whenever she saw Mufeng and Luoyi laughing and chatting together.
For some reason, ever since Mufeng accepted the cola she gave him today, her cheeks had felt like they were burning up, making it even harder to dare look him in the eye.
She desperately wished she could be the one sitting next to Mufeng. Watching his relationship with Luoyi grow closer by the day only heightened the sense of urgency pressing down on her chest.
Qi Yue glanced at the class schedule and saw there was a P.E. class right in the afternoon. She decided to use the break during P.E. to go talk to Mufeng and find a chance to get closer to him.
Yes! That's what she'd do.
In truth, Luoyi had known for a while that Qi Yue liked Mufeng.
She had guessed it ever since Qi Yue first came to ask her about Mufeng's habits and preferences.
Perhaps it was the innate attentiveness of girls, or perhaps a sharp vigilance toward potential threats, but it had made her exceptionally sensitive.
Luoyi had noticed that over the past two days, Qi Yue had been looking at Mufeng more and more frequently. Several times, she and Qi Yue had locked eyes, only for Qi Yue to instantly look away like a thief caught in the act.
Luoyi was currently studying Qi Yue intently, deep in thought.
Mufeng also noticed Luoyi staring at Qi Yue and wondered what was going on in her head.
"Luoyi, do you want some cola?"
Mufeng picked up the can Qi Yue had given him and waved it in front of Luoyi.
Luoyi snapped out of her reverie at once. Seeing Mufeng right in front of her with that can of cola, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"I don't want any. I was just wondering why Qi Yue gave you cola in the first place," Luoyi said, pouting with a thoroughly unhappy expression.
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. That was way too obvious—what on earth was she doing?
Mufeng, however, didn't read into it at all.
"Probably because I've been helping her with problems lately, and she wanted to show her gratitude by giving me a cola."
He never expected Mufeng to interpret it that way. Luoyi shot him a look that clearly said: *You deserve to be single.*
Naturally, Luoyi would never drink the cola Qi Yue had given Mufeng.
Just then, Chen Haoyu rushed over. Seeing a can of cola in Mufeng's hand and giving it no second thought, he popped it open and downed it in one go.
Both of them froze.
"Ah, buddy, I was just so thirsty. I'll buy you another one later, gotta run to the restroom!"
Mufeng wore a helpless expression. This sort of thing happened all the time, though he didn't mind.
Luoyi, however, reacted quite differently. Seeing that can of cola consumed by Chen Haoyu, the stone weighing on her heart finally lifted.
"I'll... buy you another can later."
A radiant smile blossomed across the girl's serene, lovely face, and her eyes curved into crescents.
*Such a blockhead...*