She couldn't speak, choked with a mixture of anger and shame. Her lips pressed together, her cheeks flushed crimson, she frantically rubbed her hand against the wall.

Sensing she was on the verge of tears, Chen Yu grabbed the collar of his T-shirt and, with a swift movement, pulled it off, offering it to her. "Here. Cover up."

A wave of relief washed over her, and suddenly, he didn't seem so annoying. Being seen in his shirt was still embarrassing, but it was infinitely better than streaking.

"Thank you," she murmured, accepting the shirt.

Her gaze drifted up his body, tracing the lines of his waist. He was lean, with sun-kissed skin glistening with a light sheen of sweat. He radiated a healthy, athletic energy.

Her eyes continued upward, taking in his broad, sculpted chest, then lingering on his n*pples. Her face burned, and she quickly averted her gaze.

"Checking me out?" Chen Yu teased, noticing the subtle shift in her eyes. "You were practically giddy when you sat next to me earlier. Then you were peeking at me and my girlfriend. Now this. Do you have a crush on me?"

He leaned closer, but she pushed him back, turning her face away. "Don't be ridiculous!" Who had a crush on him? What was he even talking about? The gratitude she'd just felt evaporated, replaced by annoyance. She pushed at his shoulders, trying to turn him around. "Turn around. Don't look at me." She couldn't adjust the shirt with him staring.

Chen Yu turned back, grinning. "Why? It's not like you're changing."

"...."

Her shoulders slumped. "Just… turn around!" she stammered.

His nearness was overwhelming. She could feel the heat of his breath, the distinctly masculine scent, the legendary male pheromones, perhaps, making her blood rush.

…Oh no. She felt a warm trickle.

This was mortifying. Other girls got nosebleeds around cute guys; she got… this.

Oh God…

Thankfully, a classmate called out, "Chen Yu! Teacher's looking for you!"

He waved to his friend, then winked at her. "Remember to return my shirt!"

She breathed a sigh of relief. Today had been disastrous, but at least it hadn't completely bottomed out. Chen Yu was annoying, but he had helped her.

"Hey, where's your shirt?" Yao Hainan asked Chen Yu. "Showing off your muscles to impress the ladies again?"

Chen Yu jerked his thumb behind him. Yao Hainan spotted the girl huddled by the wall, Chen Yu's shirt wrapped around her waist.

Kids these days grew up fast. He instantly understood. He slung an arm around Chen Yu's shoulder. "So, our sports rep played the knight in shining armor again? Rescuing a damsel in distress?"

"Get off me," Chen Yu grumbled, shrugging off Yao Hainan's arm. He then grabbed Yao Hainan's T-shirt and sniffed it.

Before he could speak, Yao Hainan anticipated his thought. "No way. This is my only shirt. I'm not going shirtless."

He called over a classmate they often teased. "Jia Rong, my boy, come here!" His real name was Shi Jiarong, but no one remembered who'd given him that nickname.

Chen Yu wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I'm not wearing his shirt. He hasn't showered in days."

Shi Jiarong trotted over eagerly. "What's up, Nan-ge?"

Yao Hainan pulled off Shi Jiarong's jacket and draped it over Chen Yu. "Beggars can't be choosers. Look around. Who else has a jacket?"

He was right. In the entire class, only Shi Jiarong, bless his heart, was bundled up in layers on a hot day.

Chen Yu held the jacket to his nose and inhaled. Ugh! The stench of sweat nearly knocked him out. Oh well. Better than nothing. Better smelly than nak*d.

He then kicked Shi Jiarong in the rear. "Go take a shower, you stink!"

Shi Jiarong, feeling utterly wronged, scurried away.