Chapter 9: Pretty Cute, Huh?

“Well…”

Ling Yuan gritted his teeth.

If he said Yixin Xue was prettier, wouldn’t that be betraying his 2D waifus?

He had nothing to do with Yixin Xue!

Absolutely nothing!

He should obviously pick his 2D waifus!

“Of course the girls on the cards are prettier! They’re my waifus!”

Ling Yuan declared boldly, oblivious to the shocked stares around him.

Was that an indirect jab at Yixin Xue’s looks?

Was Ling Yuan the only guy in the whole school bold enough to deny her beauty to her face…?

The air froze in a deathly silence. Ling Yuan had given an answer most people wouldn’t dare—and one most wouldn’t agree with.

“These are your waifus, huh? They’re pretty cute.”

Yixin Xue didn’t seem angry. No denying it—the girls on the cards were indeed attractive.

But she didn’t think she’d lost in terms of looks. If anything, she figured it was about the outfits.

It’s just a bit of skin. What’s the big deal?

Yixin Xue straightened up, twirling her pen.

She had revealing clothes too—she just never wore them out.

Those outfits stayed in her room, where she’d try them on for herself.

But, as luck would have it, her older sister, Yingnan Xue, had caught her once.

Yixin Xue still remembered her sister’s words.

[Snowy, you bought all these pervy clothes!?]

Her ladylike image had crumbled in front of her sister.

So infuriating.

Snap—

Her pen slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.

Irritated, Yixin Xue bent down to pick it up, only to notice Ling Yuan had dozed off again.

Maybe it was the suppressed anger bubbling inside her, but she needed an outlet.

She grabbed his ear.

“No sleeping in class! Go stand at the back!”

“Ow—ow! It hurts!”

Dazed and confused, Ling Yuan stumbled to the back with his papers, taking several minutes to process what just happened.

The entire class, including the teacher, was stunned.

But the teacher quickly recovered.

“Well, it seems putting Yixin Xue in that seat was the right call…”

[Right call, my ass!  I’ve never bothered anyone back here!  Why am I suddenly under study supervision!?  Damn it, did Yixin Xue ask for this seat change?  Did she even consult me!?]

Ling Yuan’s inner voice roared, venting his frustration.

Woken up by Yan Xi in the morning, now by Yixin Xue in the afternoon—what was this nonsense!?

But as a slacker, no amount of protesting would help.

Jolted awake, chilled by the draft at the back, and burning with unstoppable anger, his sleepiness vanished.

He stood lazily, with no proper posture, almost as if defying the teacher.

Until…

Yixin Xue glanced back, her eyes catching his with a fleeting look of apology. As if she were saying…

[I just want what’s best for you. I’m not targeting you on purpose. Sorry…]

Guilt gnawed at him like a swarm of insects.

Maybe, just maybe, he shouldn’t be sleeping in class.

Yixin Xue was moved to his side to supervise his studies—it was a task from the teacher.

How could he make things hard for her?

How could he trouble her?

Ling Yuan wanted to slap himself.

[I’m such a jerk.]

But really, the teacher was to blame.

If looks could kill, the teacher would’ve been torn to pieces a thousand times over.

Fine.

For Yixin Xue’s sake, he’d stand properly this once.

Ling Yuan hated causing trouble for others. He straightened up, glaring at the teacher on the podium.

To the teacher, it looked like Ling Yuan was finally taking studies seriously, realizing their importance. The teacher smiled, relieved.

[This kid’s got hope.]

When the bell rang, the bizarre punishment ended. Ling Yuan returned to his seat, but Yixin Xue was gone.

“Yuan, you okay? You looked pissed back there!”

Lan Feng rushed over.

Seeing Yixin Xue’s seat empty, he plopped down in it.

“Yeah, I’m clueless about what just happened.”

Ling Yuan sighed, looking like life had drained him.

“When are you coming back, man? I miss you already. I can’t even sleep in class anymore…”

“I wanna come back too! I can’t slack off up front!”

The two buddies clung to each other, lamenting their cruel fate.

Unnoticed, Yixin Xue had returned.

She stood silently beside Ling Yuan, watching them embrace.

Luckily, Ling Yuan caught the white figure in his peripheral vision and quickly let go.

[Do you… like guys?]

Yixin Xue’s lunchtime words replayed in his head, and he froze.

“Did I interrupt you two?”

Seeing their “intimate” moment, Yixin Xue raised an eyebrow disdainfully, staring coldly at Lan Feng. He knew she wasn’t to be messed with and quietly slipped back to his seat.

“Didn’t know you were that into guys.”

Yixin Xue pouted, clearly displeased, and sat back down.

“It’s just bros bonding over life’s struggles! How’s that liking guys!?”

Ling Yuan was losing it.

How did she keep misinterpreting him?

“Alright, I get it.”

She placed a bottle of lime-flavored cola on his desk.

“Didn’t know what flavor you like. I’ve never seen this lime one before, but I bet it’s good. Consider it an apology for last class.”

“An apology…”

Until she mentioned it, Ling Yuan had forgotten about the incident.

“Yeah, hope you don’t mind.”

Yixin Xue flashed a heart-melting smile, the kind that made you forgive her no matter what she’d done.

“I wasn’t that mad… You’re just looking out for me…”

Ling Yuan smiled awkwardly.

Yixin Xue tilted her head, surprised.

[Really? You don’t care at all? Does that mean you’re a masochist? If so, I’m even more into this. Should I do it again next time?]

Strange.

Those flame-red eyes held an odd glint, making Ling Yuan squirm uncomfortably.