Is it possible for two people in this world to look so alike?

The face of that unknown, burly young man haunted Lin Yu's thoughts, refusing to leave. Despite many tests, Lin Yu still found it hard to believe the youth was not Niu Dafei. They looked so similar that Lin Yu could bet even their parents wouldn't be able to tell them apart if placed side by side.

Puzzled and feeling strange, Lin Yu mused over the recent encounter while absentmindedly eating his lunch, unaware of the faint scent of flowers that had begun to permeate the air around him. It wasn't until he heard that soft, glutinous voice that he came back to his senses and looked up at the pretty girl whose relationship with him was unreasonably tangled.

"Hello, Lin Yu," greeted Tang Manman, standing demurely at the table. When Lin Yu's gaze met hers, she shyly waved, squeezing out a slightly nervous smile as a greeting.

"Just say what you need to say." Despite determining that Tang Manman felt only gratitude towards him, Lin Yu maintained an icy demeanor to prevent any further complications.

But rather than feeling awkward, Tang Manman actually seemed reassured by his cold response. She breathed a small sigh of relief, and her smile became more natural.

"Lin Yu, how are your injuries?" she asked with concern.

Lin Yu, who was about to cuss, paused; he couldn't very well insult someone who had saved him. So instead, he replied coolly, "Much better."

After a moment's thought, to prevent further prying questions, he added, "I'm almost healed."

"That's good to hear," Tang Manman sighed with relief as if she had been the one who was injured.

Having answered her, Lin Yu returned to his meal, expecting her to leave after getting her answer. But to his surprise, she remained, cheeks flushing pink, suddenly shy and evidently with more to say.

"What else do you need?" Lin Yu, unable to endure her lingering presence, asked first.

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"Yes," Tang Manman barely whispered. After another moment of silence, she spoke up softly, "My mother knows you helped me. She would like to invite you over for dinner. Would that be okay?"

Lin Yu, sipping on the free soup, choked and sprayed out half of it.

"What did you say?" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Your mother wants to invite me to your house?"

Tang Manman didn't respond. Instead, her pretty face blushed a deeper hue as she nodded quickly, looking incredibly cute.

Lin Yu, now uninterested in admiring her innocent beauty, asked pointedly, "Does your mother know what kind of person I am?"

Tang Manman thought for a moment, then shook her head before adding, "I told her you're a good person."

As she spoke, her cheeks became even redder, spreading to her graceful neck, leaving none of her usual fair complexion visible.

Watching Tang Manman's unembellished, shy look, Lin Yu's heart softened, and he couldn’t help but laugh instead of swearing.

"Why don't we do this, Tang Manman. You ask around this school and see if anyone thinks I'm a good person," Lin Yu said while still pointing at his nose, chuckling at her. "If you can find ten people to say in front of me that I'm good, I'll go to your house. How about that?"

Tang Manman shrank back slightly, clearly intimidated by Lin Yu’s mischievous smirk. She attempted to build up some courage, still believing deep down that Lin Yu was not a bad person despite his façade.

"Is that really true?" she asked carefully.

"Of course it's not, you dummy!" Lin Yu's face turned cold again, annoyance clear in his tone. "Just go away! Seeing you annoys me!"

"Okay," said Tang Manman in a pitiful tone, but as she turned to leave, she suddenly hesitated. Hope glimmered in her tearful eyes as she asked cautiously, "Then... will you still visit my house?"

"No!" Lin Yu glared at her fiercely. "Forget about it!"

Dejected, Tang Manman walked away, leaving Lin Yu with mixed emotions and a loss of appetite.

It seemed his plans to distance himself were failing...

Lin Yu ruffled his hair in frustration, at a loss for what to do next. His 'trilogy' of avoidance strategies now seemed ineffective. Avoiding her was useless—she'd seek him out anyway. Being rude didn't sit well with him, especially since she had saved his life. It wasn't right to spit venom at someone for no reason.

And the last resort—acting like a hooligan to push her away—did it still work?

Lin Yu had his doubts about this tactic working again. Recalling the events of the day Tang Manman brought medicine only made him lose the nerve to try; it was too embarrassing. Too damn humbling...

Holding his burning face, Lin Yu breathed deeply to calm himself down, then stared at his now-cool lunch. He decided to give it another try.

Well, next time Tang Manman comes looking, adopt the rogue demeanor once more. Hopefully, it would still work on her.

Lin Yu prayed quietly in his heart.