Zhu Yue, furious, called him. "Senior, I post what people want to see. Why are you so serious? Did I say anything wrong? Aren't we childhood friends? Did someone say something to you?" I propped my chin, marveling at her upgraded tactics. She used to target me, but now she's trying to stir things up with him. Chi Yan was stern. "Zhu Yue, let me say it again: we're not childhood friends, just neighbors. I tutored you because my mom made me, not because I liked you." For years, she clung to the tutoring thing, thinking it meant he liked her. Why else would he tutor only her and not other kids in the neighborhood? Her voice cracked. "Even so, couldn't you talk to me privately? Why say it in the comments? My career's ruined. Is your girlfriend happy now?" Thanks for the mention. I grabbed the phone, barely keeping my cool. "Zhu Yue, get it straight. If you hadn't spewed nonsense in your livestream, who'd bother wading into your cult-like comment section?" In the year we've been together, Chi Yan's rejected her at least a hundred times. Yet she's asking why he didn't "talk nicely"? She froze, hearing my voice, then said, "Senior, I knew you wouldn't be so harsh. Someone's with you." Chi Yan and I exchanged a look, wishing we could find a block of tofu to smash our heads against. Were we speaking gibberish, or was she just not listening? He hung up, regretting everything. "If I'd known it'd come to this, I wouldn't have tutored her. Her grades went up, but her brain's still empty!" I burst out laughing. He over-tutored her into a hopeless romantic. After that, Zhu Yue kept spiraling on her page. "I knew you always had me in your heart." "It's okay, I'll quietly watch over you." Most people didn't know the full story, and some sent screenshots to the fire station's official account, accusing Chi Yan of two-timing and having "character issues." It was a mess. Zhu Yue's antics—spreading rumors to ruin him or force him to cave—were infuriating. Chi Yan was swamped dealing with it, and I compiled a year's worth of photos and wrote a long post clarifying everything, proving he'd rejected her every time. Before I could post, Zhu Yue called. "Meet me at my place." Her voice was hoarse; she wasn't doing well. I refused. "You're not crushing on me. No need to meet." What, so I could graciously hand over Chi Yan? Dream on. Plus, knowing green tea tactics, she'd probably accuse me of slapping her or pushing her down stairs. She didn't expect my blunt refusal. After a pause, she said, "Meet me once, and I'll stay out of your and Chi Yan's lives." Tempting. But I was about to say no when I heard a lighter click. She doesn't smoke. What was she doing with a lighter? A terrifying thought hit me. I called Chi Yan and rushed to her place. She didn't deserve pity, but I didn't want firefighters, including Chi Yan, dealing with her nonsense or him carrying the guilt of a life lost.