Chapter 6

The police car disappeared around the corner, and the tension that had gripped the alley finally eased.

Su Louzhi let out a quiet breath. Remembering her earlier promise, she turned to Qin Qingyan, her eyes crinkling into a smile as she pointed across the street toward the Tasty Milk Tea Shop.

Qin Qingyan caught on immediately. "Now? Let's go, let's go—I need something sweet to calm my nerves too."

The four of them stepped out of the alley and pushed through the glass door of the milk tea shop. It was the day before the holiday, so the place was nearly empty—just a barista behind the counter, head down, scrolling through her phone.

Su Louzhi pulled up her phone with practiced ease. She ordered a jasmine milk green tea for herself and then, for Qin Qingyan, her usual go-to: a refreshing guava grape blend. All those meals eaten together hadn't been for nothing—she'd long since memorized everyone's tastes. Then she turned and held the screen up for Shen Boyang and Ji Kailan to see.

[What would you two like? My treat.]

Shen Boyang leaned in, scanned the menu, and answered without hesitation. "I'll have the guava grape too! Same as Qingyan—great minds think alike."

Su Louzhi nodded and turned her gaze to Ji Kailan.

Ji Kailan kept his eyes lowered, letting them drift slowly across the rows of menu items like he was making some monumental decision. After a long few seconds, he finally spoke. "Mango pomelo sago. Thank you."

Shen Boyang swiveled his head toward him, his expression clearly saying, You actually drink sweet stuff?

Ji Kailan ignored him.

The drinks came quickly, four cups handed out in order. Su Louzhi took them, passed one to each of the others, and found a small round table by the window.

Sunlight poured through the glass, warm and cozy. The four cups of milk tea sat steaming cold, a fine layer of condensation beading on their sides.

Qin Qingyan took a sip of her guava grape, set the cup down, and frowned at Su Louzhi. "Zhi Zhi, why did you go into that alley in the first place?" Her voice still carried a hint of fear. "If I hadn't shown up when I did... I don't even want to think about it."

Su Louzhi had her story ready. She looked perfectly at ease as she typed: [I just went out for some milk tea. When I was walking past that alley, I thought I heard a kitten meowing somewhere in there. I figured I'd misheard, but I wanted to check it out... and then I ran into those people.] She lifted her face, eyes innocent and sincere.

Qin Qingyan read the message, blinked, and her expression shifted to something even more tender. "A kitten?" She reached over and patted Su Louzhi's hand. "Zhi Zhi... are you getting too lonely staying in the dorm all by yourself? How about this—come home with me? My place is huge, you can pick any guest room you want!"

Su Louzhi shook her head, eyes curving as she typed: [Thanks, Qingyan. I promise I'm not lonely. I just felt like going out for milk tea. I'm planning to stay on campus these seven days—I won't wander off again.]

Qin Qingyan read it, and her brow furrowed even deeper. That sounded like someone too scared to go outside after a scare.

She was about to press further when a low voice cut in first.

"Junior Su."

Ji Kailan was leaning back in his chair, the mango pomelo sago cradled in his hand, his gaze fixed on Su Louzhi.

"Staying on campus all seven days," he said, unhurried. "What do you plan to do?"

Su Louzhi looked up at him. The sunlight struck from the side, casting a handsome shadow across the bridge of his nose. She typed: [Head to the library to read, hit the cafeteria for meals. I don't think I'll go anywhere else.]

After finishing their drinks, Su Louzhi suggested it was time to head back.

Qin Qingyan still wasn't reassured. She tried more than once to coax Su Louzhi home with her, but each time Su Louzhi just smiled and shook her head, politely declining.

"Zhi Zhi—"

Su Louzhi typed: [I'm really fine. I just want to be alone for a bit, read, sleep.]

Qin Qingyan stared at the words. She knew she couldn't change the girl's mind, so she let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. Then let me walk you back to the dorm."

Shen Boyang and Ji Kailan naturally tagged along.

The four of them crossed the campus and stopped in front of Building 1. Su Louzhi stood still, turned around, smiled at them with her eyes, gave a little wave, and went upstairs without looking back.

The door to 302 clicked shut, and the whole world went quiet. Su Louzhi leaned against the door panel, staring at the empty dorm for three full seconds.

They were all gone. Everyone.

Just her now.

She shuffled over to her bed, flopped face-first into the blanket, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Finally, her mind had room to churn.

The System had told her—this was a real world, but it was also a book. She'd been brought here because a background character slot had been left open.

A background character: few appearances, hardly any ties to the main plot.

But today's events felt oddly... deliberate.

Qin Qingyan had rushed forward to shield her. Shen Boyang had followed with flying kick aimed at the blond thug. Ji Kailan had come in after to mop up the mess.

A hero saving the damsel—the classic rom-com setup.

If this were a book, who would the heroine be?

Su Louzhi rolled over and stared at Qin Qingyan's bed across the room.

Qin Qingyan: heiress of the Qin family, gentle and gorgeous, with two childhood friends she'd grown up alongside.

Su Louzhi narrowed her eyes and replayed the details from the milk tea shop in her head.

Qin Qingyan had called Shen Boyang by his full name in the heat of the moment—"Shen Boyang"—but switched to "Boyang" once things calmed down.

Yet she called Ji Kailan "Ji Shao."

Childhood friends... but one gets a given name and the other gets a title?

Unless—she was closer to Shen Boyang.

Su Louzhi's eyes slowly lit up.

Childhood sweethearts. Two families' darling girl paired with the sunny, easygoing boy-next-door. Wasn't that the textbook arrangement for a romance novel?

She sat up with a jolt and mentally poked the System. [System! You there?]

[I'm here, Host.] The System came online, steady as ever.

[Let me ask you something]—Su Louzhi kept her inner voice low—[Qin Qingyan is the heroine, right? And Shen Boyang is the male lead?]

The System paused for two seconds.

[Correct,] it said. [They are bound by destiny. And you—]

Su Louzhi tilted her head. [Me?]

[You are the catalyst for their romance.]

Su Louzhi blinked, then slowly curved her lips into a smile.

Catalyst. Fine—she liked that role.

And honestly, judging from Shen Boyang's behavior today—warm, outgoing, good-looking—he looked great next to Qin Qingyan.

She was happy for her.

Setting that aside, Su Louzhi got down to business. [System, what's my next task?]

[Take a look, Host.]

The translucent screen expanded before her eyes once more.

Su Louzhi focused her gaze—

[Please register for the "Xiqiao Mountain Hiking Mixer" to be held on November 28, 2026.]