The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

"Oh, junior, why don't you go ahead?"

Xia Qing's voice came through the phone. Her voice sounded very calm, but Ye Shu wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that her voice had an indescribable indifference, or rather, a bit of coldness.

"Then I won't go. I wasn't planning on going anyway."

Ye Shu quickly expressed her stance over the phone:

"Honestly, I don't want to go at all. I just bumped into a college classmate, and I didn't even recognize her."

He was telling the truth, but there was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone before Xia Qing spoke, her voice still very calm:

"It's alright, you go ahead. It's only right to catch up with an old classmate."

If anyone else had said this, Ye Shu would have believed it. But hearing it from Xia Qing's mouth, why did that ominous premonition in his heart become even stronger?

"No, no, no, I'm not going, I really'm not going."

He was shaking his head so hard it made a rustling sound, and as he shook, he kept assuring the phone:

"I'll tell her when I see her after get off work, and then I'll go straight home, really."

Chen Xing was washing cups nearby when he heard Ye Shu professing his loyalty on the phone, and he couldn't help but laugh so hard he was shaking.

Ye Shu's cautious demeanor was exactly like that of a middle-aged man being checked up on by his wife.

Although it was a bit raw, it captured the essence perfectly.

Ye Shu glanced at Chen Xing, who was laughing so hard his phone vibrated, but ignored him. She then solemnly assured him several times over the phone that she would "absolutely not go," "go home as soon as she gets off work," and "have only one thing on her mind: cooking for her girlfriend."

His tone was earnest and his attitude sincere, almost as if he were swearing an oath under the lamplight. Only after Xia Qing seemed to finally give him a "hmm" in response, as if she was temporarily letting him off the hook, did he hang up the phone.

Ye Shu let out a long sigh of relief, feeling like he was starting to resemble Uncle An. Was he destined to be second only to his wife in the future?

Chen Xing, unable to resist any longer, flicked Ye Shu's face with his finger, splashing some water onto Ye Shu's face.

"Oh, our Comrade Ye, can't you tell? He's quite the good family man, so obedient to his wife at home."

Ye Shu felt a little embarrassed by what she said. Lies don't hurt, but the truth is the sharpest knife; he himself felt the same way.

"I really didn't plan to go. We weren't that close to each other. I just sold her a campus card when I was short of money in college. It's so strange that she suddenly wants to eat here."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xing shrugged, smiled, and said nothing more.

As an outsider, she shouldn't interfere too much in matters of the heart, especially since Ye Shu seemed to know what was going on. She turned around and continued with her work.

Another busy day has passed. As usual, Chen Xing went to his date an hour early, leaving Ye Shu to finish up.

He glanced at the clock on the wall, then looked out the window, but didn't see Jiang Yining.

He relaxed a little; it seemed she might have something to do and wouldn't be coming. That was for the best, saving him the embarrassment of having to decline again in person.

Feeling a bit relaxed, I walked around the store as usual, checked the water and electricity, then turned off the lights, locked the glass door, and went home.

But as soon as he turned around, he saw a person standing under a street lamp not far away.

The person was backlit by the streetlight, their shadow stretched long and thin, and they were quietly gazing at me.

Ye Shu immediately recognized the professional-looking outfit she had seen during the day.

It is Jiang Yining.

Well, it just happened. What was bound to happen has happened.

Jiang Yining saw him turn around and walked over. The streetlight illuminated her face, revealing a faint smile.

"Senior Ye Shu."

She stopped a few steps away and greeted him.

Ye Shu felt a little uncomfortable being called "senior" by her, and quickly waved his hand:

"No, just call me by my name, senior. It sounds a bit cringey."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yining seemed to find it amusing and smiled as well.

"Don't you guys all like being called that? It makes you feel younger and gives you a sense of accomplishment."

"Don't generalize and condemn all boys. I can't speak for all boys. Anyway, it sounds weird to me when you call me that."

Ye Shu's complaints were very straightforward, and she wanted to use this method to create some distance between them.

But Jiang Yining's smile didn't fade at all as she listened to Ye Shu's words, and she cut straight to the point:

"Alright then, I won't call you 'senior' anymore, I'll call you 'Brother Ye'. Let's go, I've already booked a place, it's not far. It's my treat today, consider it making up for that... um, schoolmate friendship from back then?"

However, Ye Shu didn't move. He stood there, looking apologetic, but without hesitation, he spoke directly:

"Um, I'm really sorry, I won't be going."

"What's wrong? Didn't we already agree on this?"

"I'm so sorry, I really need to go home right away. My girlfriend hasn't been feeling well these past few days, and I have to go back to take care of her. We can have dinner another time; I'll definitely treat you another time, okay?"

Ye Shu used Xia Qing as a shield, but he wasn't lying. His girlfriend was indeed feeling unwell, but it was Zhi Qiu. This morning, Xia Qing didn't seem to be feeling unwell.

He also found this somewhat strange. Although he hadn't looked into it, it seemed that different personalities experienced different physical sensations.

Jiang Yining's smile faded visibly, and her eyes revealed obvious disappointment and a hint of sadness.

She was silent for a second or two, her gaze falling on Ye Shu's "I'm sorry" face, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Ye Shu quickly picked up the three drink bags he was carrying, took out one of them, and stuffed it directly into Jiang Yining's hand.

"Look, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. Consider this an apology. I'm so sorry."

Jiang Yining looked down at the drink being handed to her, her lips moving slightly. After a moment, she looked up, her face once again displaying that seemingly very friendly smile.

"Hey, it's nothing."

She shook her head:

"It's my fault. I was so excited to see you today, and the appointment was arranged in such a rush. Next time, when you have time, let's have dinner together again, it's a promise."

"Okay, okay, definitely, definitely, I'm so sorry."

Ye Shu clasped his hands together and nodded repeatedly, preparing to make his escape.

"Hey, wait a minute."

Jiang Yining called him back.

"Is there anything else?"

"Look, I'm already here."

Jiang Yining pointed to a pink car parked not far away:

"My car is over there, let me take you home. It's hard to get a taxi at this hour, and you must be tired after a long day."

"No need, no need, it's really no trouble at all."

Ye Shu immediately refused:

"I don't live far away, it'll only take me twenty minutes to walk back at most, which is perfect for some exercise."

But Jiang Yining's smile deepened:

"Oh, what's the trouble? Why are you being so polite with me? We're old classmates, it's just a coincidence."

What kind of talk is that? Why can't I be polite with you? It's precisely with you that I have to be polite!

Ye Shu was internally ranting, but still said:

"Really, no need. Look, gas prices have gone up now; that's all money. I can walk back myself, really."

"This is an electric car, so it doesn't use gas."

Jiang Yining seemed to have anticipated his response, and even took half a step forward, saying in a half-joking voice:

"Let's go, let's go. I'll also familiarize myself with the area, see where you live, and gather some information so I can pick you up at your house next time."

At first glance, this last sentence sounds like a joke between friends, but its meaning is rather intriguing.

Well, now they're not even going to act anymore.

Ye Shu was taken aback by her words. This classmate seemed a bit too familiar. We don't seem to be... really familiar, classmate!