CHAPTER 32: Group Chats and Happy Hearts

Back at college, Nian and Xuanye stepped out of the car, bags in hand. Nian took a deep breath as she glanced around.

Xuanye sighed dramatically. "And here we are… back to reality. Time to face Professor Xi again."

Nian chuckled. "What? I thought you said you had him under control?"

Xuanye choked. "I—might've said that, but don't twist my words! You're pushing it!"

Nian burst into laughter, and together they made their way to the dorm, dragging their bags behind them.

Once inside, they dropped everything onto the table. Nian collapsed face-first onto the bed, exhausted. Xuanye flopped into a chair and pulled out her phone.

Suddenly, a notification lit up her screen:

"You've been added to a group chat."

Her eyes widened.

The group name?

The Vibe Mates.

Xuanye let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief.

Right then, a message popped up.

Minghao:

"Did you reach college? 😊"

Xuanye instantly straightened up like her professor had just called on her in Zoom class. Her hands trembled as she typed back, smiling brightly:

"Yes~ Just reached now."

---

Meanwhile, back at the dorm…

The SEVENTEEN members were shamelessly gathered around Minghao's phone—some crouched beside him, others peeking from behind like curious kids. They shook his shoulders playfully, impressed.

Minghao laughed proudly.

Just then, DK's expression froze like he'd just realized he left the stove on.

Dino noticed. "Hyung… why do you look like that?"

DK blinked. "I—I didn't even get my girlfriend's number yet! But this man—"

He dramatically spun around and gave Minghao the most bombastic side-eye the dorm had ever seen.

Minghao scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Ah… I'll ask Xuanye to send me Nian's number for you."

In the blink of an eye, DK stood up straight, puffed his chest, cupped his cheeks, and blew Minghao a dramatic kiss.

The members groaned, cringed, and burst into laughter.

Minghao messaged again:

"Hey, can you send me Nian's number? DK didn't get a chance to ask her."

Xuanye raised an eyebrow and replied:

"Why?"

Smirking.

"For DK!" he quickly typed. "He's dying here."

Xuanye laughed to herself and nodded.

"Oh~ okay, I'll send it."

"Also… what's with this group name? 😄"

Minghao grinned, glancing at Scoups.

"Scoups-hyung's idea. He wanted a space where all of us could talk together—with you two too."

The members hovered behind him, eyes glued to the screen.

Meanwhile, DK paced like an expectant dad outside the delivery room.

Finally, Minghao looked up and said,

"She sent it."

DK's face lit up like a spotlight. He dashed to his phone, typed in the number with trembling hands, and saved the contact as:

HappyNian 💛

He turned to the others with a victorious grin, blew another flying kiss to Minghao, and skipped down the hallway like he'd just won the lottery.

The members shared knowing smiles. Jun walked over, gently patted Minghao's head, and grinned proudly.