He navigated straight to the latest trending post, which flashed with a single picture that already had millions of views and thousands of comments.

It was a picture of Shen Yu and Gao Peng together. In the photo, they were standing incredibly close, and from the angle it had been taken, anyone looking at it would think there was something fishy going on between the two of them. Of course, only the people who had actually been present knew the truth—that it was the exact moment Shen Yu had leaned in to whisper a warning, and Gao Peng was holding his hand in a death grip.

Right below it was another picture, taken right after Lin XiaoXi had slapped Gao Peng's hand away. But this time, the camera had focused deeply on Shen Yu's wrist, where the dark, angry bruises from the grip were too obvious.

There were too many comments to count below the post.

Yourdad: I think these two are dating for sure and there must be some romantic drama going on between them.

Unknown_: Are you blind or what? Can't you see the bruises on Shen Yu's hand? It has literally turned red and green!

Alie-You: Do you think they are in a toxic relationship? No, I don't want my pretty Shen Yu to suffer! 

Lifestyle: People here are clearly blind. Can't you see they're having a fight and Gao Peng used actual violence on him?!

Having_thriller: I don't know if they're in a relationship or not, but I am definitely shipping these two. #YuPeng

Yan Shou and Lin XiaoXi practically didn't want to laugh, but they simply couldn't help themselves. In the end, they completely forgot that they had been starving just a minute ago, entirely abandoning their food. Instead, they started eating the comments section.

FlowerBoy: Wait, did Gao Peng get a buzz cut because Shen Yu told him he likes short hair? Is this a lover's quarrel?? #YuPeng is real y'all. 

DramaLover: I knew something was going on between them! Gao Peng always acts like a tough guy, but he’s totally obsessed with our handsome genius designer.

Uni_Watcher: Hello?? Why are people shipping this?! Look at Shen Yu’s wrist in the second photo, it’s literally pooling blood under the skin. Gao Peng is a psycho! 

Campus_News: This isn't romantic at all, it looks like straight-up assault. Look at how calm Shen Yu is trying to stay while that thug is crushing his hand.

User_99: Omg?? Why is Gao Peng leaning in like that though? The tension in the first pic is insane... are they about to fight or kiss??

Foodie_Life: Forget the drama, can we talk about Lin XiaoXi in the background of the first pic just casually eating his lunch? He is literally all of us right now. 

Style_Guru: Wait, did Gao Peng get a plaster cast on his hand right after this? Did Shen Yu's sugar daddy find out and break his wrist? The plot thickens!

Anon_101: I was literally sitting three tables away and the vibe was terrifying. I don't know what Shen Yu whispered to him, but Gao Peng looked like he was about to explode.

Lin XiaoXi and Yan Shou both burst out laughing loudly at those comments while Shen Yu took the last bite of his food and slowly stood up.

"Wait, you're finished? This fast?" Lin XiaoXi asked, looking up from his screen.

"It has already been half an hour," Shen Yu answered coolly, before walking away to return his tray.

Yan Shou and Lin XiaoXi looked at each other in realization. They had been so completely engrossed in reading the comments that they had entirely forgotten how starving they were. Both of them quickly shoved their phones into their pockets and began inhaling their lunch—frantically stuffing the food into their mouths. By the time Shen Yu returned, the food on their plates was already completely gone.

For a second, even the unbothered Shen Yu froze in pure disbelief at the sight. But then he quickly accepted the reality of their nature, sighing helplessly as he sat back down to wait for the two of them to return their trays so they could finally head back. 

They all exited the cafeteria. On their way out, they noticed countless people completely engrossed in their phones, their thumbs flying across their screens as they typed furiously with excitement. The three of them took one look at the chaotic scene and shook their heads in perfect unison, muttering, "Can't be helped."

"Oh, by the way," Yan Shou said, leaning in slightly as they walked. "Is it really true that you didn't beat up Gao Peng? He was looking so worse for wear just now. Whoever beat him up must hold a deep hatred for him."

"If you're asking me, no, I didn't do it," Shen Yu said smoothly. "Your sugar daddy only has money to spend on you. Spending it on people like him would be a total waste of funds—especially just to hire people to beat him up only that much."

"Hey! Don't say that out loud! Otherwise, someone might hear you!" Lin XiaoXi whispered frantically, glancing around suspiciously. "Whoever beat Gao Peng up will beat him even worse after hearing your words, just to prove a point!" 

"Then let him be," Shen Yu said unbothered. "It’s none of our business whatever they choose to do with him."

"Oh? Are you really sure about that?" Lin XiaoXi asked, a knowing smile spreading across his face.

"Yes, of course," Shen Yu answered.

"Hey, don't try to act all innocent with us, because we both know you're not as innocent as you look. We know you deliberately let him hold your wrist and walked closer to him because you knew he would suffer right after all of this," Lin XiaoXi concluded with a grin. "And I can bet you couldn't be happier after seeing the state he's in." 

"Wait! Wait! I feel like I'm missing something here," Yan Shou said, looking back and forth between the two of them. "There is something really fishy going on, and I'm missing it."

Lin XiaoXi smiled, casually throwing an arm around his neck to guide him forward. "Friend, there is something you will eventually get to know—after some time." 

"What do you mean by that?" Yan Shou asked in puzzlement.

"Just wait and see. When he feels like it, Shen Yu will tell you about it one day. Just give him some time," Lin XiaoXi said with a smile, then looked over at Shen Yu, who was walking slowly ahead. 

Yan Shou didn't force them for an answer. He knew that if both of his friends were hiding something from him but promised they would eventually tell him one day, he could blindly believe in them. 

The next afternoon, Yan Shou was behind the counter of the cozy campus-edge cafe where he worked part-time, he was tying the knots of his forest-green apron. After the chaotic whirlwind of designer showrooms, luxury hypercars, and viral university drama. The familiar scent of roasted coffee beans and steam felt grounded. Peaceful.

"One iced oat milk latte, extra shot, light ice," Yan Shou recited in sweet voice, sliding the plastic cup across the pickup counter to a blushing freshman. He offered a polite and sweet smile, entirely unaware that his new haircut and radiant skin made him look more like a high-fashion model doing a casual lifestyle shoot than a university student working on a shift. 

The freshman squeaked a shy thank-you and practically tripped over her own feet running back to her friends, who immediately huddled over a phone, giggling and looking back at him.

Yan Shou sighed softly and grabbed a clean rag to wipe down the espresso machine. Ever since the #YuPeng ship had taken over the university forum yesterday, he couldn't walk anywhere without hearing hushed whispers. It wasn't like he was completely unused to the attention, but this time, he had a different feeling about the whole thing.

Strangely enough, after all the chaos, the photo of Shen Yu and Gao Peng had suddenly been scrubbed from the school forum, and the rumors about them dating had gone completely silent. It was as if someone had deliberately forced it to vanish—like someone didn't want it out there.

He was completely distracted by his thoughts when the bell above the cafe door chimed, letting out a cheerful ring. Yan Shou didn't look up immediately, his hands busy restocking the pastry display.

"Welcome to Sweet Bean, what can I get started for you—"

Yan Shou choked on his own words the second he saw the person in front of him. In an instant, the girls inside the cafe started frantically whispering and giggling together.

Only one thing came to Yan Shou's mind:

’Dammit.’