He Yuan looked at the invitation carefully and was quite surprised.

The scale of the offline event for V-site’s anniversary celebration this year seemed to be quite large. In previous years, the site basically wouldn’t invite small up-masters with less than 100,000 followers.

After all, for such a massive video platform, there were plenty of up-masters with hundreds of thousands or even millions of fans. Every time a two-dimensional event like this was held, participation was through the roof, making crowd management a serious challenge.

An An: Brother, will you go? [Little yellow bird peeks out.jpg]

Wall: Yes.

The other party was typing for a while. He Yuan had a feeling he knew what was coming and started typing his own response.

Their messages were sent almost at the same time.

An An: If you still don’t want to see me, then I won’t go. I’ll just stay home and do homework. [Little yellow bird folds its wings and squats.jpg]

Wall: Do you want to meet?

He Yuan figured that since the opportunity had presented itself, meeting once wouldn’t be out of the question.

If the other person was just a high school student, then they had no intersection with his real-life social circle, meaning his vest wouldn’t be exposed.

And honestly, he also wanted to understand Xixizi a bit more…

An An: !!!

An An: Brother, are you willing to meet me?! [Little yellow bird flaps its wings excitedly.jpg]

He Yuan pursed his lips, feeling slightly amused. He couldn’t quite understand why the other person was so eager to meet him.

Realizing that he might’ve been a bit too excited, Xixizi forced himself to calm down before sending another message, this time in a serious tone.

An An: Brother, don’t be scared.

An An: I’ll just look at you, I won’t do anything.

…Somehow, that sounded even more unsettling.

The other person was clearly hyped, even sending an emoji of a little yellow bird picking feathers, as if he was already planning what to wear for their meeting.

He Yuan couldn’t help but frown slightly. Meeting online friends in real life always carried some level of risk, and yet, Xixizi seemed completely unguarded.

It was fine if the other party was meeting him, but what if it was someone with bad intentions?

Wall: If you won’t do anything, then maybe I will.

Wall: Aren’t you afraid?

An An: [Little yellow bird petrified.jpg]

Wall: Be careful when you go out. Don’t just meet anyone.

Wall: It’s fine if we meet at the event. After it’s over, I’ll ask you out somewhere privately, but you don’t have to follow me.

An An: Don’t worry, brother. I’m actually pretty strong.

An An: Maybe I can pick you up with one hand. [Little yellow bird showing muscle.jpg]

He Yuan glanced at the emoji of a little yellow bird lifting weights, feeling doubtful.

He was naturally tall, and given that he was in the south, most of the guys around him had the cutest height difference when standing next to him.

Wall: I’m not joking with you. [You use two fingers to lift the little yellow bird up.jpg]

Wall: Do you understand?

An An: I understand qqaqq [Little yellow bird nods honestly.jpg]

—

From December onwards, the University of Science and Technology’s School of Architecture officially entered exam season.

Most of the exams for professional courses were project-based. All students were working around the clock to meet deadlines, and even the class group chat had fallen into rare silence.

The only activity was occasional anxious messages from students asking how to fix software crashes or deal with computer errors.

He Yuan was the kind of person who excelled at making plans. He had already mapped out the submission timeline for each course in advance and had even submitted a portion of his work before others had started panicking.

But Xu Zhaoyuan was different. He used to play games in his free time and was even busy with love for a while. Now, he had to rush to catch up.

He Yuan occasionally helped him out, pointing out mistakes here and there. Failing a professional course and having to retake an exam wasn’t a big deal, but it could affect scholarships and grad school admissions. Having an asterisk on the transcript wasn’t a good look, so everyone was still pretty nervous.

“Why are you looking at your phone? I can draw faster than you with my left hand,” He Yuan said mercilessly.

“Okay, okay, you can draw faster than me with your feet,” Xu Zhaoyuan grumbled. “Someone sent your photo to the class group again.”

“Oh.” He Yuan didn’t react at all. “Draw your own.”

Students during exam season were like this—suddenly interested in any little thing. As long as it wasn’t related to studying, it became the most fascinating thing in the world.

“Hey, Dad.” After only ten minutes of focused drawing, Xu Zhaoyuan leaned over again. “What are you reading?”

He Yuan simply covered the book in his hand and pretended not to hear.

“Excavators?” Xu Zhaoyuan had sharp eyes and caught a glimpse of the title. “Why are you reading a book about excavators?”

“What are you gossiping about?” He Yuan refused to answer, maintaining a cold expression.

The book he was holding was called The Latest Excavator Driver Training Course. Alongside it, another book, Hydraulic Excavator Structure and Maintenance Manual, was already on the way.

In truth, when he actually met Xixizi, he wouldn’t need to keep pretending to be a construction worker. But Xixizi seemed to have a very strong interest in excavators.

He Yuan figured that learning a little about it wouldn’t hurt. At least it would give them something to talk about when they met.

But he had no idea that at this moment, his roommate was filled with shock and admiration.

Xu Zhaoyuan thought He Yuan was too incredible. Even in the middle of exams, he still had the energy to learn practical excavator operation—something completely unrelated to their coursework. Meanwhile, everyone else was just struggling to pass. Compared to him, they were all hopeless.

As expected of an academic god.

“What are you eating tonight? Let’s order takeout together?” Xu Zhaoyuan asked.

He Yuan glanced at the time. It was only two in the afternoon, and this guy was already thinking about dinner.

“Eat by yourself. I’m going to my sister’s place,” He Yuan said, stuffing the excavator book onto the shelf, spine hidden.

“Again?” Xu Zhaoyuan noticed he’d been going there quite frequently lately.

“Picking something up,” He Yuan replied.

—

A few hours earlier, in the lobby of the apartment building where Xiao An rented a place.

Xiao An stepped out of the elevator carrying a fresh package.

It was his third time doing this. He was getting quite skilled at it, walking into the lobby with a casual air.

The security guard, same as before, chuckled when he saw him and covered his face with a magazine.

Xiao An frowned but didn’t dwell on it. He carefully placed the package in the safest corner, using his index finger to nudge it slightly away from the glass window—to avoid it getting overheated by the sun.

Satisfied, he straightened up with a smile.

Then, a hand landed on his right shoulder.

Xiao An turned around—and was stunned.

It was Wall’s friend.

He Xin wasn’t working today. She was dressed casually, smiling gently. “I came to pick up a package.”

Xiao An watched in horror as she bent down and picked up the very package he had just placed there. His mind went completely blank.

The security guard behind him buried his face deeper into the magazine, pretending he saw nothing.

This was… awkward. He’d been caught red-handed.

“Is this from you?” He Xin asked, lifting the package slightly.

Xiao An felt that no explanation would save him now. He simply nodded.

He Xin raised an eyebrow, amused by his guilty expression.

“Your behavior is kind of like a stalker’s. Explain,” she said. “If the reason makes sense, I’ll keep it a secret for now.”

Worried that he’d actually be mistaken for a pervert, Xiao An followed her into a café across the street.

Once seated, he briefly explained the whole story.

He Xin listened with an amused smile the entire time. When he finished, she leaned forward slightly, intrigued. “So… what do you like about Wall?”

“It’s not like that!” Xiao An blurted. He hesitated for a second, then added, “I’m just… a little attracted.”

At first, it was his face.

Later, it was his personality.

In his eyes, Wall was a really good person—he genuinely loved his work, treated others with respect, and took care of people in a subtle yet thoughtful way.

As the saying goes, beautiful people have good hearts.

“Oh, attracted,” He Xin echoed thoughtfully.

Her little brother was charming, but she hadn’t expected him to attract a little boy this time.

She tapped the courier box. “What’s inside?”

“Snowflake crisps,” Xiao An answered quickly. “Next time, I’ll definitely make your—your share too.”

“Call me sister,” He Xin said, satisfied.

“By the way… sister.” Xiao An tested the word out, then continued, “Wall and I are meeting in a few days.”

“You’re meeting?!” He Xin was immediately surprised. “He asked you out?”

“No, it’s just an event for the website,” Xiao An clarified. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “I want to ask… what kind of clothes look more serious?”

Usually, he either dressed like a flashy playboy or in casual sportswear. This was the first time he was meeting Wall, so he wanted to leave a good impression.

And since He Xin was Wall’s friend, her opinion had to be reliable.

“Wall actually…” He Xin frowned, debating whether to speak.

Honestly, her annoying little brother didn’t care about what others wore. Unless they were wearing…

“Women’s clothing,” she muttered under her breath.

“What?” Xiao An didn’t catch it.

“Nothing, nothing!” He Xin waved her hands quickly. That would definitely be too much of a shock for their first meeting. “Pick out a few outfits first, and let me give you some advice.”

All afternoon, He Xin opened and closed the door repeatedly as the doorbell rang.

Xiao An ran up every time he changed her clothes. He Xin crossed her arms and pondered, shaking her head again and again.

By the time Xiao An changed into the seventeenth set, He Xin finally clutched her head and wailed, “This is very good.”

It looked very cute. Even her stinky little brother might barely understand the cuteness.

So it was decided. Xiao An left happily, and He Yuan arrived right after.

“Here you are, brother.” He Xin sat cross-legged in a pile of discarded clothes and sipped her flower tea.

The moment He Yuan stepped inside, he sensed something was off. Seeing He Xin’s unusually pleasant smile, he instinctively felt the urge to flee.

“Where’s my package?” He Yuan dropped the large bag of daily necessities He Xin had ordered him to buy.

He Xin pointed at the dining table with a grin.

He Yuan thought about grabbing it quickly and leaving just as fast, stepping over the mess in a few strides. But He Xin’s words stopped him in his tracks.

“Brother,” He Xin said in an unnervingly serious tone, “Why have your clothes been so rustic lately?”

What do you mean, rustic?

He Yuan had just reached for his package but ignored the comment.

“But then again, as an engineering student, dressing casually is normal.” He Xin continued, “You don’t really have to meet anyone, so whatever you wear is appropriate.”

“Yeah.” He Yuan responded, picking up the box. “Alright, see you during the holidays.”

He Xin leisurely blew on her flower tea, watching his retreating figure.

He looked tall and mature, but at the end of the day, a younger brother would always be a younger brother.

She silently counted, “Three, two, one.”

Sure enough, He Yuan, who had reached the door, stopped for a second, then turned around and walked back step by step, expressionless.

“What are the fashion trends now?” He Yuan tried to sound calm, speaking seriously. “I have an elective exam on fashion design soon.”

He Xin nearly choked from holding back her laughter. “What should I do? I don’t know anything about men’s fashion. Sit down, I’ll tell you about women’s clothing and get you fifty points.”

Seeing that he was a little frustrated, He Xin worried he might stomp his feet and leave, so she changed the topic. “Or, I can base it on the men I’ve dated. What kind of style are you going for?”

He Yuan’s furrowed brows finally relaxed a little. He cleared his throat and spoke slowly, “For example… what would a young construction worker wear for a more important occasion?”

“Construction worker?” He Xin’s eyes widened in disbelief. She nearly jumped up to smack him. “Why don’t you just say you’re going for the domineering CEO look?”

He Yuan looked confused, feeling unfairly accused.

“Forget it.” He Xin put down her teacup, crossed her arms, and said, “I’ll send you a set of clothes in two days. You can use it as a reference.”

“Will it help me pass?” He Yuan raised an eyebrow.

“Ninety-nine points, guaranteed,” He Xin assured confidently.

————

The V-Station anniversary celebration was in January, but the offline event was scheduled for the day before Christmas, which happened to be a Saturday.

He Yuan hadn’t finished his exams yet and was still scrolling through Ma Yuan’s political philosophy on his phone while riding the subway. Though most of it was high school-level content, he had forgotten much of it over the years.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but people on the subway seemed to be looking at him more than usual. Some even sneakily snapped photos with their phones.

Feeling uneasy, He Yuan tugged at his red sweatshirt. He suspected He Xin had pranked him.

The outfit she sent had a strong Christmas vibe, with an oversized fit and a large hood. Originally, He Xin had told him to wear shorts, but He Yuan thought, who in their right mind would wear shorts in the middle of winter?

So, he paired the sweatshirt with dark jeans and short boots, which unexpectedly made his legs look long.

Xixizi would never have guessed the master was this fashionable.

Satisfied with his reflection in the glass door, He Yuan switched to the six-person group chat to check where everyone was.

Huahua Kindergarten: E’e and I have arrived! [Picture]

Pick Up a 98K: I still have six stops to go. Where are Wall and Xixizi?

What is Xixizi Eating Today: I’m on my way! [Little Yellow Bird is highly nervous.jpg]

Xixizi also sent a picture. He Yuan clicked on it, but it was taken from the back seat of a car, making it impossible to judge the location.

Through the reflection in the window, he could see Xixizi’s hand holding the phone.

Pick Up a 98K: Xixizi has a car to take them there.

Huahua Kindergarten: Hey, why do I feel like Xixizi is a handsome guy? [Slanting smile.jpg]

Ye Miao Eating Alone: You guys are so mean, I’m still stuck in extra classes tvt

Big White Goose: Touch meow, maybe you can come next year.

Ye Miao Eating Alone: [rub.jpg]

What is Xixizi Eating Today: [email protected] Wall, where are you? qwq

He Yuan replied: I got off the subway.

What is Xixizi Eating Today: Brother, wait for me! I’ll be there soon! [Little Yellow Bird Flies Out Like an Arrow.jpg]

Pick Up a 98K: If you two keep showing off, I’ll kick you out of the group chat. [Flips table.jpg]

Ye Miao Eating Alone: Ahhh, I wanna go too! [Cat bursts into tears.jpg]

The group chat was lively. He Yuan arrived at his stop, pocketed his phone, and walked out with his headphones on.

For precaution, he had worn a black mask to avoid being recognized.

The event venue at V-Station was at Exit A. Outside, the sun shone brightly, and the crowd bustled with excitement.

There were many people in cosplay. Weaving through them, He Yuan suddenly felt his outfit was pretty normal in comparison.

The official entry hadn’t started yet, so most attendees were gathered outside, chatting as they waited.

Glancing at the group chat again, he saw that Big White Goose and Huahua Kindergarten were far from him. This was his first time meeting online friends in person, and it felt strangely surreal.

“Little brother, which UP master are you?” A girl with twin ponytails approached him enthusiastically. “I’m San San Tao! Want to take a picture together?”

He Yuan felt awkward, but thankfully, his phone rang at that moment. He used it as an excuse to refuse and strode toward a quieter area.

It was a voice call from Xixizi. He Yuan answered.

“Brother!” The voice on the other end was bright and cheerful. “I’m here! Where are you?”

Hearing Xixizi’s voice, the reality of their impending meeting finally hit him. His heart beat slightly faster than usual.

He was nervous but also looking forward to it.

“I’m…” He Yuan looked around, “In a crowded square.”

“I’m here too.” Xixizi said, “What are you wearing? I’ll try to find you.”

“A red sweater.” He Yuan’s heart beat faster.

“Red sweater…” Xixizi suddenly became excited, “I see you, I’m coming over.”

He Yuan continued to look around. There were so many people coming and going that he couldn’t tell which one was Xixizi and which one was just passing by him.

“Brother.” Xixizi said softly, “Turn around, I’m behind you.”

As soon as those words fell, the call was suddenly interrupted.

He Yuan stopped in place, feeling like the moving crowd around him had paused at the same time. Even the sky seemed to darken slightly.

He didn’t know why he was so nervous. This kind of nervousness was something he hadn’t expected before coming here.

After a brief hesitation, he turned his head.

Right behind him stood a dark-skinned, muscular man.

The man had a beard and was nearly two meters tall. His hair was tied into small tufts on both sides. He was wearing a sailor suit so short that it revealed his rock-hard abs, and beneath his dark pleated skirt were a pair of wild, powerful legs.

He Yuan then realized it wasn’t that the sky had darkened—it was just that he was standing under the shadow of the man’s burly figure.

The man noticed He Yuan looking back at him and raised his eyebrows several times. Then, with exaggerated movements, he lifted his muscular, bulging arms and made a horizontal scissors-hand gesture over his eyes.

He also winked.

He Yuan was completely dumbfounded.

Xi… Xixizi, so you’re this strong?