Xu Lanfan is the cousin of Yin Sanyue's high school friend, Xu Lanqing.

The first time they met, she was 16, and he was 13. It was during summer vacation at Xu Lanqing's house.

At that time, Yin Sanyue fancied herself as a bit of a tomboy and loved teasing the well-behaved Xu Lanqing.

The two of them were originally sitting on the couch, watching a drama, when Yin Sanyue suddenly asked, "Do you know why girls are called 'little white rabbits'?"

Xu Lanqing curiously asked, "Why?"

Yin Sanyue cleared her throat, her eyes fixed on Xu Lanqing's chest, and in a playful tone, she said, "Because they're carrying a pair of soft, white little bunnies."

"You're being so improper," Xu Lanqing scolded, reaching out to hit her.

Yin Sanyue jumped off the couch, dodging lightly, and patted her own chest, "Can't help it. Since I don't have a pair of little bunnies, I have to pretend to be a big bad wolf and tease others instead."

Xu Lanqing, embarrassed and annoyed, picked up a cushion to throw at her but suddenly stopped, exclaiming, "Lanfan, you're awake."

Yin Sanyue turned her head and locked eyes with Xu Lanfan's dark gaze.

The young boy was delicate-looking, with finely sculpted features. He was leaning lazily against the wall, looking casual and unbothered.

She froze for a moment before realizing what was happening. Clutching her chest, she let out a dramatic cry, "Xu Lanqing, why didn’t you tell me there's a little handsome guy in your house? My reputation is ruined!"

Xu Lanfan, however, remained calm. He glanced at her again and said, "A tomboy doesn't need a reputation."

Yin Sanyue later learned that Xu Lanfan usually lived in S City and didn't come back often.

His mother had passed away when he was very young, and his father was busy with work, so during summer vacations, he was sent to stay at Xu Lanqing's house.

Since her first impression was already less than ideal, Yin Sanyue decided to just let it go. She continued to be her unrestrained self in front of Xu Lanfan, not bothering to hold back.

Xu Lanqing was gentle and pure, often not even realizing when Yin Sanyue was being inappropriate, but Xu Lanfan always disapproved in a serious tone, "Yin Sanyue, stop being so improper in front of me."

Yin Sanyue glared at him, "Kids shouldn’t interrupt. I’m just giving your sister a heads-up so she doesn’t get tricked by someone as good at teasing as me."

Xu Lanfan gave her a sidelong glance, "You do realize I'm a kid, right? Don’t corrupt me."

Yin Sanyue burst into laughter, "You think you can be corrupted? More like you'll corrupt others."

Xu Lanfan sat up straight, pretending to be proper, "I’m clearly a model youth of socialism."

Yin Sanyue couldn’t take it anymore and tried to hit him, and then Xu Lanqing joined in. In the end, the three of them would often end up laughing together.

In their second year of high school, the well-behaved Xu Lanqing unexpectedly started dating.

That summer, Yin Sanyue and Xu Lanfan helped her cover up so she could go out on dates.

On a scorching hot day, the two of them sat in a KFC, staring at each other, waiting for Xu Lanqing to finish her date so the three of them could go home together.

Xu Lanfan suddenly asked, "Have you ever been in a relationship?"

Yin Sanyue replied with a serious face, "I'm still just a kid."

Xu Lanfan gave her a complicated look, took a sip of his drink, and then said, "You should have a sip too, cool down a bit. I think the heat's gone to your head, making you act all innocent in front of the nation's youth."

Yin Sanyue burst out laughing, "You? The nation's youth? Must be poisonous, right?"

Xu Lanfan raised an eyebrow, "Thanks for the compliment. The more poisonous a flower, the more beautiful and attractive it is."

"Hey, Xu Lanfan," Yin Sanyue laughed so hard her stomach hurt, "I always wondered why Xu Lanqing was so easily embarrassed—turns out all the thick skin in your family went to you!"

"You better be careful. With that sharp tongue of yours, most girls won't be able to handle it—they'll stay far away from you."

"With a face like mine, they won't be able to resist," Xu Lanfan said, stroking his chin in a flamboyant manner.

Yin Sanyue couldn't stand his smugness and reached up to squish his face into a bun shape, "This way, you're actually handsome."

Xu Lanfan let her squish his face without moving.

After a while, he suddenly snapped out of it and quickly swatted her hand away.

Seeing his face turn red, Yin Sanyue was surprised, "I didn't use that much force—why's your face red? I'm treating you to food, don't go complaining to Xu Lanqing later."

"I'm not a kid, what would I complain about?" Xu Lanfan grumbled, adding, "I always get my own back."

Yin Sanyue thought he was going to pinch her back, so she leaned in and said, "Go ahead, pinch me."

Xu Lanfan didn’t hesitate; he smirked and reached out, but instead of pinching her face, he pinched her lips into a duck shape and then teased her for a long time.

Later, when Yin Sanyue took her college entrance exams, she outdid herself, scoring much higher than usual. Xu Lanfan encouraged her to apply to C University in S City, saying that if she did, they could go together at the start of the school year, and he could help her carry her luggage and assist her during winter and summer breaks.

It was rare for Xu Lanfan to be so considerate, and since Yin Sanyue dreaded traveling with luggage, she agreed without much hesitation.

Before the school year began, the three of them got together again. While Xu Lanqing was in the restroom, Xu Lanfan asked Yin Sanyue if she planned to date in college.

Yin Sanyue thought about it and said, "No way, being single is great."

"You've seen Xu Lanqing dating—it's too hot in summer, too cold in winter, and you still have to go out on dates."

"For me, I'm always tired in the spring and sluggish in the fall, so there's no season that suits dating. I'd rather just enjoy myself."

Xu Lanfan replied, "That won't do."

Yin Sanyue was confused, "Me not dating—how does that affect you?"

Xu Lanfan looked at her, then suddenly leaned in and kissed her on the lips. "Because I want to date—you."

The boy had been drinking, and there was a faint scent of alcohol on his breath. Yin Sanyue felt like she had been drinking too, feeling dizzy and light-headed.

Later, when Xu Lanfan graduated from high school, he also applied to C University.

In her fourth year, Yin Sanyue decided not to live in the dorms anymore and started looking for an apartment. Xu Lanfan took it upon himself to help.

After they found a place, they celebrated both the move and the start of the new school year.

Taking advantage of the alcohol, Xu Lanfan forcefully kissed Yin Sanyue again, his hands wandering mischievously.

He said, "I confessed to you so innocently, but since you didn’t accept, I have no choice but to be a rogue."

"I told you before not to act like a rogue in front of me because that's like showing off your skills in front of a master. Let me show you what a real rogue is."

Don’t be fooled by how carefree and outspoken Yin Sanyue usually is; she truly hadn’t figured out how to tell Xu Lanqing that she had slept with her brother and was now his girlfriend.

Worrying aside, she still needed to calm Xu Lanfan down first.

The typical crying, throwing a tantrum, or threatening wouldn’t work with Xu Lanfan.

When he’s in a good mood, you can cheer him up with just a piece of candy, but when he’s not, he’s impossible to deal with—neither soft words nor harsh methods work on him.

No matter if you act cute or throw a fit, he won’t even spare you a glance.

But generally, Yin Sanyue rarely managed to upset him.

Even though he had a bad temper and little patience, that was mostly directed at others—he was very tolerant and patient with her.

At most, when he got really annoyed, he would throw a couple of sharp remarks at her or give her a hard time in bed to let her know he was displeased, making her soothe him.

But this time, he said nothing and resorted to silent treatment.

Yin Sanyue realized that this situation wasn’t going to be easy to resolve.

Still, she decided to try the usual tricks girls use to cheer up their boyfriends.

First up, acting cute.

Yin Sanyue called Xu Lanfan, “Xu Lanfan, I can’t sleep, I’m cold.”

Xu Lanfan replied, "Turn on the air conditioner."

Yin Sanyue started to whine, "Turning on the air conditioner makes me too warm. I want to cuddle with you."

Xu Lanfan remained ice-cold, "Then just think about it."

She kept whining for a while, but Xu Lanfan stayed rational:

"Yin Sanyue, do you think I don't know? You’ve never fully said ‘I miss you’ or ‘I love you’ to me."

"You either leave out the subject, just saying ‘miss you,’ or you add an adjective, saying ‘I like how sharp your tongue is.’"

"You always find clever ways to express your feelings, leaving yourself an out. You never speak in absolutes, never say something you can’t take back. It’s never just about me; it’s never something you absolutely must have."

"But with you, I’ve never had any intention of taking a step back."

Yin Sanyue fell silent, and after a moment of mutual silence, he hung up the phone.

Needless to say, her first attempt had failed.

Yin Sanyue wasn’t discouraged, though, and quickly moved on to the next step—playing the sympathy card.

"Xu Lanfan, I’m sick."

Yin Sanyue lowered her voice, sounding genuinely worn out.

Xu Lanfan paused, "Go see a doctor."

"No doctor can help. I’ve got a terminal illness. Whether it’s traditional Chinese medicine, Western medicine, or no medicine at all, I just feel terrible."

"Is this terminal illness the kind that gets better in seven days with medicine, or a week without?"

"You’re so smart."

"Yin Sanyue, I never need to be smart around you."

"I only know that if you really had a terminal illness, you’d pack up your things and run far away—you wouldn’t tell me a thing."

"The best lie you tell is ‘I’m fine,’ and the hardest thing for you to say is ‘I’m not okay.’ No one knows you better than I do."

Yin Sanyue was silent again, so the second attempt failed too.

This time, she gave it a rest for a while before making her next move. She went straight to the boys’ dorm and blocked his way.

Yin Sanyue grabbed Xu Lanfan’s hand, "Let’s make up."

Xu Lanfan asked, "Have you figured out how to tell Xu Lanqing?"

Yin Sanyue didn’t answer, just blinked up at him with a look of pitiful innocence, while her small hand mischievously scratched his palm, trying to break his composure.

But the boy who used to get flustered by her flirting had now turned into a gentleman, completely unmoved by her teasing.

Xu Lanfan tightened his grip on her hand, "Yin Sanyue, I really want to sleep with you."

"But if I’m going to sleep with you, it’s with a lifetime in mind. If you’re not planning on that, then don’t lead me on."

"Let’s forget about the past. I’ll consider it as letting you have your way. But from now on, I’m going to stay pure and only sleep with my future wife."

It was clear that seduction had also completely failed.