Chapter 38: Misapplication of the Dark Forest Principle

When the door opened, Chen Xinya stood there in a white lace-sleeved blouse and a cute checkered pleated skirt, looking like a little princess.

She held a big bag of snacks, beaming with anticipation, as if ready to surprise someone dear.

“You’re up! I bought some snacks, too much for me. Want some—”

Her smile faded.

Her gaze drifted past Meng Zhi to Feng Xiyao on the couch, disheveled and sulking.

Chen Xinya: “…Bad timing?”

“No, perfect timing.”

Meng Zhi felt relieved.

Without her interruption, he might not have held back.

“Come in.”

Chen Xinya stepped in hesitantly, glancing at Feng Xiyao but not daring to ask what was going on.

“I’ll leave the snacks here…”

She set the bag on the table, fidgeting.

“If I’m in the way, I can go.”

“Take care~”

Before Meng Zhi could speak, Feng Xiyao waved cheerfully.

He flicked her forehead, annoyed, then turned to Chen Xinya.

“You’re here, wanna eat something before you go?”

“Uh… is that okay?”

She glanced cautiously at Feng Xiyao.

“Ignore her. Treat her like a mute pet dog,” Meng Zhi said.

Feng Xiyao made a face at Chen Xinya, huffing and turning away.

“Tch… little miss perfect.”

Chen Xinya’s expression froze, but she masked it with a smile.

“I brought lots of snacks you like.”

She smiled softly.

“If you want something else, I can cook. You’ve been eating takeout for days, haven’t you? That’s not good for you.”

“You’re still growing. Bad eating habits can stunt your development.”

Feng Xiyao flinched, glancing at her flat chest, then glared at Chen Xinya, baring her teeth like an angry puppy.

Chen Xinya smiled gently, looking away.

“I ate this morning.”

Meng Zhi rummaged through the bag, grabbing a bag of chips.

“Just snacking for now.”

“I want some~”

Feng Xiyao eyed him eagerly.

“Go eat hotpot mix.”

“…Ugh.”

*

Three people sat on the couch.

Meng Zhi in the middle, poised.

On his left, Feng Xiyao curled up in a thin nightgown, her long, pale legs fully exposed.

On his right, Chen Xinya sat gracefully, slightly angled.

The TV played an old Hong Kong action flick, its gritty tones and bloody tunnel shootouts packed with commercial flair, gripping their attention.

Feng Xiyao occasionally nabbed a chip from Meng Zhi’s bag, sneaking glances at Chen Xinya to check for sneaky moves.

Chen Xinya nibbled snacks, occasionally feeding Meng Zhi a candy, stealing glances at Feng Xiyao to check for sneaky moves.

Meng Zhi just ate.

With Chen Xinya balancing out Feng Xiyao, he didn’t have to stress about handling her.

In a way, Chen Xinya was a lifesaver.

“Oh, right.”

Chen Xinya spoke up.

“I came for something important.”

“Are you going to the teacher appreciation banquet?”

Teacher appreciation banquet?

Meng Zhi paused, recalling it vaguely.

He’d always been the type to avoid classmates and teachers.

In past lives, he was too busy to bother with pointless gatherings.

Even now, he had little interest.

It’d just be classmates sucking up and teachers boasting.

Boring.

“Honestly… not interested.”

“Figured.”

Chen Xinya smiled.

“I guessed you wouldn’t be. The student council president asked me to tell you, but it’s fine if you don’t go.”

“Student council president?”

Meng Zhi frowned.

“Isn’t that Lu Ziming from Class 3? How does he know me?”

“You don’t know him?”

Chen Xinya looked surprised.

“He specifically asked me to tell you. I thought you were friends.”

No way.

His social life across lives was practically nonexistent.

Lu Ziming was the school’s notorious show-off, ignored by most unless they envied his family’s wealth.

Meng Zhi kept his distance.

He wasn’t in the student council, nor in Lu Ziming’s class, so they had no reason to cross paths.

Why would he know Meng Zhi?

Why invite him specifically?

“You’re in the student council, right? Got his contact?”

When she nodded, Meng Zhi said quietly, “Send it to me. I’ll ask him myself.”

“Okay.”

Chen Xinya tapped her phone a few times, then noticed Meng Zhi yawn.

“I’ll head back to sleep. I’m beat.”

“You didn’t sleep well?”

“Pulled an all-nighter gaming.”

“Want me to sleep with you?”

Feng Xiyao peeked out.

“Don’t even think about it.”

He glared, then shut his bedroom door.

The living room fell silent, heavy with tension, leaving only Feng Xiyao and Chen Xinya.

Gunshots blared from the TV.

Chen Xinya turned, meeting Feng Xiyao’s sneaky gaze.

“…Wanna talk?”

“Let’s talk.”

“I’m surprised he forgave you.”

“Maybe he prefers my straightforward charm over scheming green tea girls.”

Feng Xiyao smirked proudly.

Chen Xinya didn’t flinch.

She looked at her calmly, then said, “Let’s set some ground rules.”

“Huh? What?”

“We can compete, but we need clear terms. Otherwise, it’s bad for both of us. Ever heard of the dark forest law?”

“Sci-fi stuff? What’s that got to do with me?”

“We need to be clear.”

Chen Xinya’s expression was serious.

“Or the first one to break the rules screws us both.”

Feng Xiyao paused, starting to get it.

“You mean… no—”

“No sleeping with him secretly.”

Chen Xinya’s eyes flashed with urgency.

“It’s his first time. It matters.”