Lu Ping had no idea that his heroic rescue of a “beauty” at the entrance to the Library Tower had been witnessed entirely by Chen Miaomiao.
By now, he and Shen Yuze had already entered the Library Tower. They rode the transparent sightseeing elevator upward, squeezed among a crowd of chattering children.
The Library Tower was a landmark building in Jiao River, a full six stories tall. The first and second floors housed popular literature, including novels, essays, and popular science books; the third floor was for social sciences and humanities, with some successology chicken soup books tossed in there too; while the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors belonged to parents and kids, ranging from picture books for kindergarteners to cram materials for postgraduate entrance exams—anything you could imagine, they had it for sale!
High school textbooks were on the fifth floor, and the elevator stopped at nearly every level. Lu Ping and Shen Yuze got pushed into a corner of the sightseeing elevator. Through the transparent glass walls, they could see the dense crowd of people below.
“Shen Yuze, what subject reference books are you looking to buy this time? You’re way behind in history, geography, and politics—cramming at the last minute won’t cut it. How are you doing in Chinese and math? Maybe we should focus on Chinese reading!” Lu Ping nagged away, racking his brain for books that could help Shen Yuze. “Have you done Five-Three? What about Classical Chinese Reading Detailed Explanation and Famous Essays? The teachers recommended those in class!”
Unfortunately, he performed his one-man show for quite a while, but Shen Yuze didn’t respond.
Lu Ping thought Shen Yuze hadn’t heard him and turned to call out, only to discover that Shen Yuze’s gaze had passed through the glass wall and landed somewhere far off in the distance.
Curious, Lu Ping followed Shen Yuze’s line of sight. Over by the atrium on the third floor, a group of people had lined up in an orderly long queue, gathered around a booth.
The booth was laid with a red carpet, and behind it stood a massive promotional poster featuring a beautiful young woman. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a professional suit with her arms crossed over her chest, looking vibrant and exceptionally capable.
Next to her large photo were some eye-catching big letters: “From Provincial TV Host to Media Company CEO: Wang Shiya’s New Book Signing Event.”
Wang Shiya hadn’t appeared yet, but judging by the length of the queue, the signing event was sure to be a hit.
The Library Tower often hosted such signing events. Last year, a wuxia author had come, and Lu Ping had arrived at five in the morning to line up. He waited a full five hours and bought ten of the author’s novels in one go, then resold them to classmates for a profit of eighty yuan per book, padding his piggy bank nicely.
Seeing Shen Yuze’s eyes fixed on the signing area, Lu Ping couldn’t help but ask, “Are you a fan of Wang Shiya?”
Shen Yuze withdrew his gaze. Instead of answering directly, he countered, “Do you know her?”
“Who at Jiaojiang No. 1 Middle School doesn’t? She’s one of our school’s star alumni—got into Communication University eight years ago, headed to the Capital, and landed a job at the provincial TV station right after graduation. When I first got into No. 1 High School, her name was everywhere. The teachers were always talking about her… I didn’t expect she’d quit hosting to start her own company. She’s only twenty-six, right?”
“Twenty-seven,” Shen Yuze corrected him.
Lu Ping went along with it. “Twenty-seven is still impressive!” His tone was full of admiration. “I hope I can achieve something like that in ten years.”
“Her ‘achievements’?” Shen Yuze repeated the words. Though his tone didn’t change much, Lu Ping keenly picked up on the sarcasm.
Lu Ping glanced around. Everyone else in the elevator was chatting among themselves, no one paying attention to them.
So he lowered his voice and whispered, “Do you know her?”
“No,” Shen Yuze said, his face practically screaming “liar.” He shot Lu Ping a glance and said flatly, “Lu Ping, don’t see someone and automatically think they’re successful and amazing, then blindly worship them… unless you want to get sold off and cheated out of your money in ten years.”
Just as his words fell, the elevator reached the fifth floor with a “ding,” and the doors opened. The crowd inside and outside surged together—some rushing in, others pushing out. Shen Yuze stepped toward the exit and vanished into the throng in the blink of an eye.
Lu Ping froze for a few seconds before snapping out of it and chasing after him, yelling, “I’m not that stupid!”
But those few seconds were enough—he’d already lost sight of Shen Yuze.
……
Where could Shen Yuze have gone?
The Library Tower was huge, and Lu Ping practically combed the entire fifth floor without finding a trace of him. The signal inside was terrible; Lu Ping tried calling his phone several times, but it wouldn’t connect. Though he knew Shen Yuze—a grown guy—couldn’t possibly get lost, Lu Ping still fretted like a mother hen searching for her chick… pfft, more like a weary old dad hunting down his rebellious son!
Just as Lu Ping was spinning in circles with worry, an announcement blared overhead.
“Dear customers, Wang Shiya’s new book signing will commence promptly at 10:30 on the third floor. Those wishing to attend, please purchase books and line up by the main stage on the third floor…”
The announcement repeated three times, and a thought flashed through Lu Ping’s mind—could Shen Yuze have gone to the third floor?
Back in the elevator, Shen Yuze’s look at Wang Shiya’s poster had been rather intriguing… Did the two of them have some grudge? Was his sudden disappearance to cause a scene?
At that thought, Lu·Old·Dad·Ping’s head nearly exploded.
He didn’t wait for the elevator and bolted for the stairs instead. In his haste, he collided head-on with another female customer. His phone tumbled from his pocket, adding yet another crack to its already battered screen.
“Ow…” The girl he’d bumped clutched her forehead, wincing in pain.
“Sorry, sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going… Huh? Chen Miaomiao?” Lu Ping quickly helped her up, stunned to find it was his classmate.
He wasn’t close to Chen Miaomiao. They’d only become classmates after class assignments in sophomore year. He knew her family was well-off and that she was a loud, gossipy “little gossip princess.” Of course, she had another key identity—she was a fan of @fake-diaond!
Lu Ping’s feelings toward Chen Miaomiao were complicated: on one hand, he’d tricked her into admiring him under a fake identity, leaving him guilty; on the other, he worried she couldn’t keep a secret, so he stayed wary of her.
In short… minimize contact.
He hadn’t expected such bad luck today, running right into her.
Chen Miaomiao had no clue about his inner turmoil. Rubbing her sore head, she peered behind him. “What’s got you rushing around like that? Huh, you’re alone? Where’s Shen Yuze?”
Lu Ping’s hackles rose. “How did you know I came with Shen Yuze?”
Chen Miaomiao’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Because I just saw you two taking a ~romantic~ stroll ~in~ the ~rain~.”
Lu Ping: “……”
They had indeed shared an umbrella in the rain, but why did “romantic stroll in the rain” sound so off?
Before Lu Ping could figure out how to deflect, Chen Miaomiao spotted his dropped phone and bent to pick it up. “Your phone’s smashed like that—does it still work?”
Lu Ping: “It didn’t get smashed like this.”
Chen Miaomiao: “?”
Lu Ping: “It was already like this.”
Chen Miaomiao: “……”
Lu Ping’s screen was shattered like crushed ice, with one corner of the glass panel peeling up and held together by tape. Honestly, Chen Miaomiao thought even a street beggar’s phone looked better. This thing felt like it could die any second…
Chen Miaomiao: “Does this phone really work?”
“Of course.” Seeing her doubt, Lu Ping pressed the lock button, and the screen lit up. But he’d forgotten—his wallpaper was a photo of Shen Yuze!
On the cracked screen, the young man stood tall amid glacial ice fields, silently gazing out at the two of them.
Chen Miaomiao: “!!!”
Lu Ping’s face flushed crimson. “Wait, I can explain!”
Chen Miaomiao did need an explanation—this photo wasn’t the one @fake-diaond posted on his account yesterday? How did Lu Ping have it? Did he follow @fake-diaond too?
Lu Ping hurriedly said, “Th-this photo? Shen Yuze sent it to me yesterday.”
“?!” Chen Miaomiao had never imagined that answer. Her mouth gaped wide enough to swallow the Earth. “Shen Yuze sent you his photo? And you set it as your wallpaper?”
The facts were true, but it sounded so weird…
Lu Ping could only nod stiffly.
A strange noise bubbled from Chen Miaomiao’s throat—the kind humans make when spotting an adorable little animal.
Lu Ping: “…? What’s wrong? Throat hurt?”
Chen Miaomiao clapped a hand over her mouth. “No, it’s not that. I just got hit with another ship moment.”
Lu Ping looked around blankly. The nearest bookshelf was a meter away—what had she “shipped”?
……
When Chen Miaomiao heard that Shen Yuze and Lu Ping had gotten separated, she volunteered to help search.
Lu Ping told her Shen Yuze might be on the third floor, so the two rushed down there.
But they hadn’t expected the third floor to be so packed!
Wang Shiya had returned to her hometown for this signing, and the publisher had promoted it heavily. She was stunningly beautiful, her custom-made gown accentuating her curvaceous figure. She stood gracefully at center stage, every move captivating. Her story was legendary too—from provincial TV host to female CEO of a media company—and she’d turned it into an autobiography. Lots of people hoped to copy her path to success from the book. The signing site was jammed with fans and curious onlookers alike.
Finding Shen Yuze in that sea of people would be no easy task for Lu Ping and Chen Miaomiao.
Chen Miaomiao stood on tiptoe, scanning around, then lit up and pointed to a distant bookshelf. “Quick, look! Shen Yuze is over there!”
Lu Ping followed her finger and spotted the figure amid the crowd.
The tall, slender young man stood outside the signing queue, leaning against a bookshelf as he gazed remotely at the radiant Wang Shiya on stage. His expression was cold and stern, lost in thought.
A sea of people separated Lu Ping from Shen Yuze, and the noise was deafening. Lu Ping waved frantically and shouted his name, but Shen Yuze never glanced his way.
Chen Miaomiao nudged Lu Ping. “You’re an idiot—just calling won’t work. Go find him!”
So they hurried toward Shen Yuze. But waves of incoming fans blocked their path. Lu Ping was like a little boat, trying to advance but pushed back by the tide. In the chaos, he lost Chen Miaomiao too.
After who-knows-how-long, Lu Ping finally broke through the crowd, dazed and confused—not to Shen Yuze’s front, but behind the very bookshelf he leaned against.
A tall bookshelf separated them. Lu Ping could peer through the gaps between books to see Shen Yuze, but Shen Yuze just couldn’t see him.
As Lu Ping pondered whether poking Shen Yuze’s back through the shelf would scare him, a few unexpected figures appeared, interrupting his plan.
“Shen Yuze, what a coincidence! You’re here for Senior Sister Wang’s book signing too!” A few boys stopped in front of Lu Ping, the leader wearing glasses and greeting Shen Yuze in a familiar tone.
Shen Yuze, who had been immersed in his own world, was stunned for a moment. He straightened up and looked at the boys, his tone laced with wariness and unfamiliarity. “Who… are you?”
The boys had never expected Shen Yuze not to recognize them, and the atmosphere turned awkward for a few seconds.
Although Shen Yuze didn’t know them, Lu Ping, hiding behind the bookshelf, did. These boys were also students at Jiaojiang No. 1 Middle School, but from the neighboring classes. The humanities classes there had few students, so PE was always held together for three classes. During lineup for PE, these boys had stood right next to Shen Yuze, but clearly, he hadn’t remembered them.
Lu Ping felt a secret thrill of satisfaction. This little clique had once made him avoid them like the plague—they had vicious tongues, and it was they who had invented his nickname “Niangao Prince.” Lu Ping had fought against it, but they always had their twisted logic.
“We’re all classmates—calling a nickname isn’t a big deal, right? Look, they call me ‘Glasses’ too!”
“Yeah, ‘Big Head’ is my nickname. Does that mean everyone’s bullying me when they call me Big Head?”
“Your family sells glutinous cakes, so what’s wrong with calling you Niangao Prince? We like you, that’s why we call you ‘Prince’!”
And just like that, the nickname “Niangao Prince” spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred. Soon, aside from the teachers, no one in the class called him by his real name anymore.
Until—Shen Yuze became his desk mate.
Shen Yuze had a cold personality and didn’t talk much, but every time, he called Lu Ping’s name with utmost seriousness.
“Lu Ping, go get the desks.” “Lu Ping, why did you take my photo?” “Lu Ping, are you really going to hold that ugly umbrella all the way to the Library Tower?”
Lu Ping, Lu Ping, Lu Ping.
He was calling his name.
He called him “Lu Ping.”
Although they had only been desk mates for less than two weeks, the number of times Lu Ping heard “Lu Ping” from Shen Yuze’s mouth already surpassed everything he’d heard throughout high school.
It was just a form of address… but to Lu Ping, how precious that name was.
The boys who had come over to chat hadn’t expected Shen Yuze to be so blunt. They exchanged glances, and in the end, the glasses boy awkwardly introduced himself.
“I’m from Class 9, and the two next to me are from Class 10. We’re all students at Jiaojiang No. 1 Middle School. We’ve seen each other during PE before.”
“Mm.” Shen Yuze’s response was indifferent.
He couldn’t even recognize all the boys in his own class yet—why bother remembering those from other classes?
Having hit a brick wall, the boys still didn’t leave. They lingered in front of Shen Yuze, determined to cozy up to him. Who didn’t know that a rich second-generation kid had transferred into Class 8? He’d arrived at school in a luxury car right at the start of term, and his shoes were expensive too… If they could befriend someone like that, they’d never have to worry again!
With that in mind, the glasses boy mustered his courage and acted all chummy. “Shen Yuze, did you come to the signing alone? After it ends, let’s grab a meal together. I know a great restaurant. I’m very familiar with Jiaojiang—feel free to ask me anything from now on!”
Shen Yuze had no interest in wasting time on pointless socializing. He said directly, “No, I came with Lu Ping.”
The somewhat unfamiliar name left the boys on the other side looking puzzled.
“Lu Ping?”
“Who’s Lu Ping?”
“Why does that name sound so familiar…”
“Ah, I got it!” Finally, someone remembered. “It’s that ‘Niangao Prince’ from Class 8!”
Hearing them laughingly shout the nickname, Lu Ping, hidden behind the bookshelf, rolled his eyes inwardly. These guys were so childish and stupid—their brains were probably smaller than their balls.
“…Why do you always call him ‘Niangao Prince’?”
Unexpectedly, Shen Yuze spoke up.
He lowered his gaze to the boys in front of him, his jade-like face expressionless.
“We call him Niangao Prince because his family sells glutinous cakes,” the glasses boy gestured animatedly as he explained. “It’s a local breakfast item made from glutinous rice dough, stuffed with all kinds of fillings.”
It was the first time Shen Yuze had heard of such a thing. But associating it with the faint glutinous rice scent that always lingered on Lu Ping, he finally understood where that subtle sweetness came from.
The glasses boy’s tone was mocking. “Who knows what kind of dog shit luck that Lu Ping kid had to get into Jiaojiang No. 1 Middle School from the North Shore. We used to call him ‘North Shore Prince,’ but then the disciplinary director found out somehow and said we couldn’t isolate North Shore kids… Please, we weren’t isolating him—we like him!” He said it with exaggerated sarcasm. “So we switched to Niangao Prince. Glutinous cakes are great—cheap and low-class, you can smash them however you want… Who doesn’t like that?”
His tone was arrogant as he desperately belittled Lu Ping in front of the rich transfer student, just short of saying outright: The son of a glutinous cake seller isn’t fit to be friends with a young master like you.
Little did he know, the very person he was disparaging stood right behind the bookshelf, seeing his ugly face clear as day.
Lu Ping trembled with rage, clenching his fists tightly. He itched to lunge out right then and smash a fist into that bastard’s face.
Before Lu Ping could act, Shen Yuze, standing in front of the bookshelf, suddenly took a step forward.
Thanks to his supermodel mother, Shen Yuze had a tall and slender build. Though not yet eighteen, he was already nearing 1.9 meters tall. Not only was he tall, but his shoulders were broad and straight, giving him a physique that outshone his peers in Jiaojiang.
That one step closed the distance between him and the boys.
Standing so close, Shen Yuze’s height carried an intimidating pressure.
He lowered his gaze, looking down at the insolent boy.
“…Is that your reason for giving him the nickname?”
The glasses boy felt a chill creep up his scalp and stammered, “W-well, his family does sell glutinous cakes.”
“Fine then.” Frost filled Shen Yuze’s eyes, and he didn’t hide the sarcasm in his tone. “From today on, I’ll call you ‘Retard.’ After all, you are one.”
