After class, Ke Bu was preparing to move to another classroom. Their classes usually rotated between several rooms. There was one thing troubling him greatly, and he furrowed his brow as he thought hard about it. Suddenly, he spotted Su You Yan and Zhi Li, who had happened to run into each other after class. The two seemed to be talking about something, and the atmosphere between them looked surprisingly pleasant. Ke Bu’s frown deepened. Two attractive people standing together naturally attracted attention from passersby. Storming over angrily, Ke Bu pointed accusingly at them. “Don’t you think you two are being a little too close? I may be a man, but I still get jealous. I still get possessive. What do you take me for? I get angry too! This has gone too far! I can’t tolerate it anymore! My heart hurts, do you know that? It’s bleeding! It’s burning! Can’t you see it? No matter how you explain it, if you two adulterers want my forgiveness, there’s only one way—You Yan, hand over the exam answers.” So that was what had been bothering him all along! After putting on such a dramatic performance, that last sentence exposed everything.
The two looked at Ke Bu coldly, their eyes full of contempt.
Neither of them spoke. Su You Yan returned to her classroom, while Ke Bu followed behind Zhi Li resentfully. There are plenty of ways to get the answers. If this doesn’t work, I’ve got many more. Just you wait. When Zhi Li turned around, he saw Ke Bu grinding his teeth behind him.
“If you want to graduate, then study properly.”
“You’re not qualified to say that.” After saying that, Ke Bu immediately switched to a smile. “Look, Lord Zhi Li, I really haven’t studied much this month. Ever since we got together, my poor little heart has been fluttering nonstop. I can’t concentrate in class at all. This is the final exam of the semester—I want to get decent grades.” In order to get the answers, Ke Bu was willing to say even this.
“You’re pretty good at shifting responsibility.”
“No, no, not at all. I just wanted to tell you how much I…” The rest of the sentence was defeated by practical interests before it could become a confession.
“I know how much you like me.”
Zhi Li said it casually, as though discussing the weather.
“But I didn’t even say it yet.” Why was it that Zhi Li could say things like this so naturally, while he was the one blushing? Zhi Li looked as if he were discussing everyday matters. By the time they reached the classroom, Ke Bu realized the conversation had somehow wandered completely off track.
After second period, there was a twenty-minute break. Ke Bu sought out Su You Yan again. “Big Sister, please, just give them to me. The final exam scores are important. Next semester I’ll definitely study properly. You know how difficult this semester has been.” Su You Yan remained unmoved. Ke Bu continued earnestly, “Even if you won’t do it for the sake of our long and harmonious friendship, at least do it because I’m Zhi Li’s boyfriend. If I do badly and get depressed, then Zhi Li, who likes me so much, will definitely be unhappy too.”
“I can see the evil in your eyes.”
“Come on…”
Before Ke Bu could continue, Su You Yan interrupted. “But Zhi Li specifically instructed me to let you fail so you’ll use it as motivation to study harder. What should I do? I’m in a difficult position too.” Nothing in her expression suggested she was troubled at all.
“He would do something this cruel to his own boyfriend?!”
“There’s only one copy of the answers. I already gave it to Zhi Li. He’s probably hiding it somewhere on his person. The rest depends on whether you’re capable of finding it without him noticing.”
“Something that easy? Leave it to me. Thanks, You Yan. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”
After Ke Bu left, Su You Yan adjusted her glasses and returned to her seat. “You’d better thank me properly, Zhi Li.” Naturally, Su You Yan would never actually betray Zhi Li. Ke Bu had simply been blinded by greed.
At noon, everyone headed toward the cafeteria. Ke Bu stopped Zhi Li. “I have something I want to tell you.” Zhi Li tilted his head and examined him, but showed no intention of leaving. Soon the classroom was empty except for the two of them. Playing with his fingers, Ke Bu blushed and finally spoke. “Before we go to the cafeteria… I… I want you to hug me.”
“Okay.”
Never expect a normal person’s reaction from Zhi Li. At the very least, he should have been excited, hesitant, expectant, embarrassed—something. Instead, he simply agreed as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Zhi Li pulled Ke Bu into his arms. The embrace sent ripples through Ke Bu’s heart. Yet while blushing, Ke Bu slipped his hand into Zhi Li’s jacket pocket. Nothing? Then maybe it was inside the pocket of the shirt underneath. Just as Ke Bu was about to reach deeper, Zhi Li noticed the movement.
“If you want something, just say it.”
Ke Bu immediately pushed him away. “N-No! Nothing like that. Let’s go eat.”
In the cafeteria, Ke Bu carried his tray over and shoved Ying Xiu Jie away from the seat beside Zhi Li. “This is my seat. I’m sitting next to Zhi Li.” Everyone stared suspiciously at him. The usual Ke Bu was never this clingy. Today’s unusually enthusiastic Ke Bu clearly had an ulterior motive.
Ying Xiu Jie warned Zhi Li. “You should be careful.”
Chu Hao Yu nodded. “Yeah. Has Ke Bu entered mating season or something?”
“Eat your food and shut those broken mouths of yours.”
As Zhi Li ate the dishes Zhou Xin He had prepared, Ke Bu leaned close and spoke gently. “Eat a little more. It wouldn’t be good if you got hungry later.” While speaking, he secretly reached under the table and slid his hand into Zhi Li’s jacket. Zhi Li lowered his head.
“What are you doing?”
Everyone bent down and immediately saw Ke Bu’s awkward hand halfway inside Zhi Li’s clothing.
Ke Bu laughed nervously. “I thought I saw a bug.”
“We saw one too. A lust bug. Seriously, Ke Bu, this is the cafeteria. No matter how desperate you are, have some self-control.”
“Y-Yeah, Ke Bu. I’m getting embarrassed just watching,” Gong Zhu added.
Ke Bu immediately stuffed food into his mouth with his chopsticks. All he wanted was for this meal to end.
Ke Bu tried every trick imaginable to get close to Zhi Li, yet nothing worked. Finally school ended. Once again he stopped Zhi Li. Standing directly in front of him, Ke Bu grabbed his collar. “Look at this. Your clothes are all wrinkled. Let me straighten them out.” Using that excuse, he openly slipped his hand inside. Got it! Ke Bu secretly celebrated inside while keeping a straight face. He hid the folded paper inside his sleeve and later slipped it into his bag when Zhi Li wasn’t looking.
At precisely the wrong moment, Su You Yan appeared in the classroom doorway.
“You Yan, are you looking for me? Perfect. Let’s leave together.” Ke Bu quickly searched for an excuse to escape. Before he could turn around, Zhi Li grabbed his wrist.
“Hand it over.”
Ke Bu’s expression changed. “H-Hand over what? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Really?” As he spoke, Zhi Li reached into Ke Bu’s pocket, pulled out a folded sheet of paper, tore it into pieces, and tossed it into the trash. Ke Bu stared in shock. “Did you really have to go that far? Fine. I don’t even want to talk anymore. Goodbye.” He stormed out of the classroom without looking back.
The moment he was out of sight, his angry expression disappeared. Pulling another folded sheet of paper from his bag, he spread it open and sneered. “Did you think I was an idiot? I already predicted you might discover it, so I prepared a blank sheet as a decoy. The real answers were hidden inside the tear in this jacket lining. Hahaha!” Jumping victoriously, he grinned. “Zhi Li, no matter how smart you are, after dealing with you for all these years, I’m bound to win at least once.”
Standing nearby with her arms folded, Su You Yan clicked her tongue. “Tsk. Tsk. If you spoil him this much, he’s going to become impossible.”
“Have you noticed that you’re getting more talkative lately?” As always, Su You Yan could see right through Zhi Li.
“Am I? Weren’t you enjoying yourself today too?”
During the exam, Zhi Li’s phone kept vibrating inside his bag. He pulled it out. Three text messages. When he opened them, every one contained exam answers. A fourth message arrived immediately afterward.
Typing all those answers into my phone this morning nearly made my hands fall off. Better prepare a reward for me. Zhi Li, this is the last time. I’m going to study properly from now on, and then graduate together with you.
—Ke Bu
Zhi Li closed his phone and slipped it back into his bag. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
“Idiot.”
Futile Devices Scans 
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