"What are you talking about, nonsense."

Upon hearing Banai’s words, Duanmu Huai rolled his eyes, suspecting that this guy might be losing his mind.

"If you want a boyfriend, just go find a man."

"No, I’m not in the mood to date any other man right now."

"Why ask me?"

"Because you’ve played the male lead in , so I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend to fend off others. You have no idea, those people are so annoying. My female friends, out of concern, introduce guys for me to meet, and guys keep asking me out for meals..."

At this point, Banai’s phone buzzed, she opened it and nodded with satisfaction.

"See, I just posted that photo, and someone already messaged me asking if I’m on a date with my new boyfriend."

"I see."

Hearing this, Duanmu Huai finally understood Banai’s intention. She clearly doesn’t plan to start a new relationship any time soon, but others don’t see it that way. So, fed up with it, Banai wants Duanmu Huai to pretend to be her boyfriend to keep those annoying folks at bay.

"So you’re planning to use this method to shoo away those pests, huh? What are you going to set up?"

"Setting, setting... Hmm..."

While speaking, Banai looked Duanmu Huai up and down, then clapped her hands.

"Right, I’ll say my boyfriend is younger than me, currently a middle schooler, and plans to work hard to enter Yang Gao for me!"

"Yang Gao’s score line isn’t high..."

With a deviation score of 40, what’s there to work hard for in an art school?

"Then let’s set my boyfriend as a brilliant scholar who originally planned to apply to a prestigious school, but chose to forgo the recommendation for me and opted for Yang Gao!"

"Alright... If you think it works, it works..."

Duanmu Huai silently rolled his eyes, with his current small frame, saying he’s a middle schooler isn’t completely unreasonable.

"And then? How did you two meet?"

"Hehe..."

At this point, Banai proudly puffed out her chest.

"We met at the aquarium, at that time my mature adult charm attracted him and made him fall in love at first sight. But before he could speak, I disappeared from the aquarium. Since then, he came to the aquarium every holiday hoping to see me again. And when I went to the aquarium to console myself after a heartbreak, we met again, the naive boy saw me once more, couldn’t restrain his inner feelings, and confessed to me!"

By now, Banai’s eyes were gleaming, completely lost in a fantasy mode.

"Initially, I was very surprised by his confession, but his effort moved me, so I decided to give him a chance to become my boyfriend..."

"Oh."

"He also worked very hard, even asking his classmates for advice on how to date girls to get on my good side."

"Oh..."

"That classmate has a big bust, is beautiful and cute, well-liked by everyone, and gentle and caring..."

"... Hmm?"

"Back then, my boyfriend was unfamiliar with dating, so she volunteered to practice with him to avoid him embarrassing himself in front of me..."

"...?"

"Then that naive boyfriend agreed to her proposal, and they went on a joyous date..."

At this moment, Banai was staring blankly like a cursed puppet at the ice cream soda in her hand, muttering.

"Initially, they were just friends... He told me they’re not that kind of relationship, but somehow, they ended up together... Ah! That woman is also a sneaky cat! No doubt about it!"

"..."

It’s the first time Duanmu Huai has seen someone lose in their own fantasy.

"Are you sure you want to go with this setup?"

According to this setup, you just got dumped again.

"... Let me think about it again."

Perhaps because she got dumped again in her fantasy, Banai was crestfallen, so Duanmu Huai, who couldn’t stand it anymore, waved his hand.

"Excuse me, another burger combo, please."

"Eh? Is that okay?"

"Don’t worry, I’m treating today, won’t count it against your debt."

"Great!"

Seeing Banai come back to life and happily chow down, Duanmu Huai smiled helplessly.

"By the way, about the club journal..."

"Hmm??"

"I won’t be able to participate in activities during the summer because I need to shoot a movie."

The Classical Literature Department needs activity results too, at least to produce a club journal. Duanmu Huai can provide them with financial support, but don’t expect him to help with literary creation.

"It’s okay, I’ve already made a map."

While speaking, Banai triumphantly placed a hand-drawn map in front of Duanmu Huai.

"Chitanda provided the data, and I’ve marked all the exotic culinary literature across Japan. This summer, it should be enough for us to gather information!"

By the way, the theme for this issue’s club journal was decided as "Classical Literature and Cuisine," which boils down to photographing the foods described in classical literature from various places and compiling them into a book, a relatively easy task.

The only problem is it’s expensive.

Coincidentally, there’s someone in the Classical Studies Club who never worries about money.

Chitanda is very familiar with classical literature and provides the books, while Banai, driven by her obsession with food, finds the targets, and Duanmu Huai funds the literary culinary pilgrimage.

Hmm, everyone has played to their strengths.

"It’s great that Teacher Gan Xia is willing to be the supervisor, otherwise this club activity wouldn’t have been approved."

While eating a burger meal, Banai was also exclaiming. This is considered an activity for the Classical Studies Club, so it couldn’t be purely student-led, thus they found the consultant teacher Gan Xia Kunami. Originally, she didn’t plan to agree, but... well, it turns out that money isn’t everything, but without it, nothing is possible.

Nobody wants to miss an opportunity for public funds dining.

"You all need to keep an eye on her. If she drinks too much and misses the schedule, that’ll be a problem."

"You can count on us!"

Banai patted her chest vigorously.

"We definitely won’t let you down!"

"Alright, I’ll leave it to you guys."

Duanmu Huai glanced at the map, then took out his phone to snap a photo.

"I’ll handle this part. I happen to be filming there, so I can finish this part as well."

"That’s good. I also didn’t think I’d be able to eat all of Japan..."

".........."

You truly don’t have a clear self-awareness.

"But, I still need to trouble you for help."

"You mean pretending to be a boyfriend?"

"Exactly, there’s one more class reunion before the break, and if I want a peaceful summer, it’s my last chance. When the break starts, I’ll say my boyfriend went abroad for vacation... then he met a long-haired girl with a great personality, who’s gentle and has a great figure, and then..."

"Alright, alright, I got it."

Duanmu Huai quickly interrupted the once-again entranced monologue of Banai, it seemed this breakup had indeed hit Banai hard.

"Let’s not worry about the latter part, just stick to the initial setup, alright?"

"Yeah, okay, then let’s practice on the next holiday."

"Practice what?"

"Of course, dating!"

Banai immediately put her hands on her hips, glaring at Duanmu Huai.

"If we wait until the reunion day to go, everyone will see right through it, won’t they? So on the next holiday, Duanmu, you have to disguise yourself like that and go on a date with me!"

"Alright, sounds fun."

Duanmu Huai didn’t mind at all, after all, it was just for fun.

Three days later, during the Golden Holiday, Duanmu Huai received a text message from Banai notifying him that the date location was the Aquarium—it seemed she intended to stick with the setup till the end.

So, as agreed, Duanmu Huai arrived at the entrance of the Aquarium and soon saw Banai waiting there.

At the entrance of the Aquarium stood a blue-haired girl in a white dress, holding a bag, looking lively and cheerful while exuding a glow of charm—well, if you ignored the way she ate, she was a complete beauty.

Once you saw her eat, it was a different story.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Banai."

Casting aside the sarcastic thoughts in his mind, Duanmu Huai hurriedly approached and greeted Banai. Hearing Duanmu Huai’s voice, Banai turned her head, looking at him with confusion, her eyes showing a hint of wariness...

"It’s me, it’s me."

Duanmu Huai lowered his voice, took out his phone, and waved it, at which point Banai came to her senses.

"Eh? You are... Duanmu?"

"That’s right."

"You feel completely different..."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s reply, Banai widened her eyes in surprise, sizing up Duanmu Huai from top to bottom. In Banai’s impression, Duanmu Huai appeared slender but had a somewhat aggressive personality. Duanmu Huai thought as long as Banai didn’t eat, she was a top-level beautiful girl, and in fact, Banai also thought if Duanmu Huai didn’t speak and just sat quietly, she was the very picture of a demure and frail beauty.

Hmm, they mutually found each other annoying.

But standing before Banai now was a petite boy, wearing a shirt and tie, looking very businesslike, his brown short hair framing a shy and uneasy smile, making him look very lovable...

"Duanmu, how did you achieve this?"

Walking into the Aquarium, looking at Duanmu Huai beside her, Banai couldn’t help but ask.

"It’s simple, just basic skills for an actor, adjusting height with shoes, and wearing a wig for the hair... it’s all very simple."

"But the feeling is completely different, how did you do the makeup?"

"Oh, actually, I didn’t use much makeup."

"Huh? How is that possible?"

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s response, Banai widened her eyes in surprise, scrutinizing Duanmu Huai carefully.

"But this face seems completely different from you, Duanmu?"

"It’s the same face; I just slightly changed my aura."

"Ah, come to think of it, that’s true."

Upon hearing Duanmu Huai mention it, Banai realized that usually Duanmu Huai exuded an invisible oppressive feeling, but today he didn’t have that oppressive feel, perhaps that’s why she didn’t recognize him immediately.

"Alright, aren’t we supposed to simulate a date today? Don’t forget, I’m just a junior high student who admires Miss Banai, pure and innocent, so I’ll leave the guiding to you, Miss Banai."

"Heh heh, leave it to me."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s words, Banai proudly raised her head.

"See for yourself the mature charm of the real Banai!"

...... Do you even have such a thing?