I Only Pretend to Have Fun with Everyone Else

"Leaving? Give me a good review, handsome."

When Yu An came out with his backpack, the owner leaned on the counter with his chin propped up, smiling at him.

"Okay."

"Huh?"

He had only called out casually. Someone was actually willing to leave a good review?

Yu An took out his phone, gave the place a five-star rating on the spot, and wrote three words: Very cheap.

The owner stared blankly at it. "Thank you, little fool... handsome."

College students these days were really foolish and kind.

Yu An put away his phone, took out his umbrella, and walked outside.

The sky had already gone completely dark. He held up his umbrella and headed for the subway station.

He had spent a lot of money today. Taking a taxi home would put him way over budget.

After Yu An got home, he went over the traces on his computer again, took a shower, changed into soft loungewear, and slowly started making dinner.

Song Yuechi called him on video at that moment.

After Yu An answered and set the phone on the stove, Song Yuechi craned his neck to look for a while. "You're cooking?"

"Mm." Yu An looked up and noticed that Song Yuechi's background was his home. "You didn't go out to have fun?"

Usually, Song Yuechi spent all day outside every weekend.

Song Yuechi sighed. "There's nothing fun to do anyway. It's just eating and drinking. I'd rather hang out with you."

Yu An was somewhat confused. "With me?"

He knew very well that his life was monotonous, nowhere near as lively as Song Yuechi's.

"Yeah." Song Yuechi nodded emphatically. "The two of us genuinely have fun. I only pretend to have fun with everyone else. They wouldn't be as loyal as you."

By "loyal," he probably meant what had happened yesterday.

"You're loyal too."

Song Yuechi seemed like a very weak person to Yu An.

A little dumb, bad at studying, without any particular skills, and seemingly incapable of withstanding any risks.

But when they had encountered human traffickers while looking at houses before, Song Yuechi had not run away.

Song Yuechi gave an embarrassed "Aiya," then seemed to see something. His eyes suddenly widened. "Talk to you later. I need to check a group message."

"Mm." Yu An hung up.

Song Yuechi was always like this, easily startled by everything.

That night, Yu An went to bed on time as usual.

Early the next morning, a phone call woke him up.

"Hello, student Yu An. This is the Saint Belien School Board. There is a matter that requires you to come to the school and assist with an investigation."

"Okay."

This call had come much later than he had expected.

Under normal circumstances, they should have called last night.

There were many unread messages on his screen. Unsurprisingly, they were from Song Yuechi.

[Song Yuechi]: Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit! Sheng Yilin got what he deserved!

[Song Yuechi]: I heard he slipped to his death in the bathroom

[Song Yuechi]: Turns out it was a rumor. He didn't die, but I heard he's seriously injured. When he wakes up, he might be an idiot

[Song Yuechi]: [Screenshot][Screenshot]

The messages had been sent last night, in the early hours of the morning.

There were many more screenshots afterward. Some were from group chats, while others were from the campus forum.

Yu An gave them a rough scan when another new message popped up.

[Song Yuechi]: The school called and asked me to assist with the investigation. Are you going too?

[Yu An]: Mm

[Song Yuechi]: What time? Let's go together

[Yu An]: Nine o'clock, at the school gate

At exactly nine o'clock, Yu An waited at the school gate on time.

Five minutes later, Song Yuechi hurriedly got out of a car and ran over. "Sorry, Yu An."

Yu An frowned. "You're five minutes late."

Song Yuechi knew that Yu An was very punctual. "If I'm late again next time, I'll... treat you to a meal!"

He knew himself well. He could not quit procrastinating at all, so he did not dare promise never to be late.

Yu An felt that he was being sincere. "Okay."

The two walked inside together, and Song Yuechi muttered nonstop the entire way.

"Should we get our stories straight?"

"What if they suspect us?"

"Hahaha, are we really brave enough to do something like that?"

Yu An did not like that last sentence. "Just tell the truth."

The area outside the school board office was already packed with people.

It was just an ordinary round of questioning and screening, something Yu An was no stranger to. He calmly lined up at the back, while Song Yuechi was extremely nervous.

When it was Yu An's turn, they repeated the questions from before.

"Name?"

"Yu An."

"Age?"

"Eighteen."

"Occupation?"

"First-year finance student."

"..."

"Where were you between five and six yesterday afternoon?"

"In the Vacuum Study Room, studying."

"..."

After Yu An answered every question, the person questioning him slightly raised a hand, signaling that he could leave.

Song Yuechi, on the other hand, was questioned for a long time.

Yu An did not understand. Did he look less suspicious than Song Yuechi?

Or was it because his identity in this world was that of an insignificant extra, so he was automatically skipped over?

If that theory held, then Song Yuechi was an important named character in this prequel...

"Yu An!"

A familiar voice came from behind him.

Yu An turned around and saw He Li'an striding toward him. He wore a crisp suit beneath an overcoat, dressed very formally, as though he had originally been headed to an important occasion.

"Finished?" As he spoke, his gaze carefully inspected Yu An from head to toe.

"Mm." Yu An asked him, "Did you come to assist with the investigation too?"

He Li'an did not answer. Instead, he asked, "Why didn't you tell me about what happened yesterday?"

"What happened?"

"The swimming pool."

So He Li'an was asking about Sheng Yilin giving him trouble yesterday.

Yu An said with some admiration, "You're really well-informed."

He had only just been called in for questioning, and He Li'an had already learned about it. That was truly impressive.

He Li'an's expression darkened. "Don't change the subject."

"I'm not." Yu An's eyes widened slightly. This time, he was not pretending to be innocent. He really was innocent.

He Li'an stared directly at him for a moment. Then, as though finally admitting defeat, he reached out and touched Yu An's head. "If something like this happens again, tell me."

Yu An did not understand. "What would I tell you for?"

He Li'an guessed that Yu An might be used to handling his own problems, so he softened his tone. "Whatever you need me to do, I'll help you do it."

Perhaps his expression and tone were too firm, because Yu An unconsciously imagined He Li'an helping him deal with Sheng Yilin and could not help laughing.

He Li'an frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

Yu An was not someone who liked to smile. He Li'an could easily tell the emotions behind his smile, and the smile just now clearly had nothing to do with happiness.

Yu An's smile faded. He took a step back, putting distance between them. "No need."

He simply thought that such a scene was absurd.

Given He Li'an's character, let alone helping him, even not reporting him after learning the truth would count as violating his principles.

They were different people.

Although Yu An did not think he had done anything wrong, he knew that, in other people's eyes, he was a monster.

That was also why his family had abandoned him.