Chapter 15: Manifestation

“What do you mean, ‘go easy on An Xue Ruo’?”

“I don’t get it, Sister Yuan.”

The stunning woman beside me chuckled softly.

Her lips curved into a perfect crescent.

One hand gently caressed my face.

“What do you think?”

“Xiao You, do you think I’d allow a girl who gets that close to you, who initiates that kind of physical contact, to just exist?”

“She’s your friend, so I haven’t done anything to her.”

“But watching you laugh and talk with another pretty girl?”

“I’m not that generous.”

Fear surged through me like a tidal wave.

Cold sweat seeped down my back.

An Xue Ruo is my first female friend, especially given my social anxiety.

In my eyes, she’s kind, hardworking, and exceptional.

I don’t want anything to happen to her.

But I lack the ability or courage to stop Sister Yuan.

I couldn’t believe Sister Yuan had this side.

Her obsessive demeanor felt so foreign, so terrifying.

Her gentle, doting voice spoke again.

It only deepened my instinctive fear.

“That girl’s calmer than I expected.”

“Should I say she lives up to her family’s reputation?”

“I don’t like sneaky cats who don’t panic.”

“Last time, I let her off because I hadn’t warned her yet.”

“And because she’s your friend.”

“Didn’t think I’d have such a kind day.”

“She almost dirtied you, Xiao You.”

“So, what’s your decision?”

“If you take this bet, I’ll let her stay.”

“She’s your first female friend, right?”

“She must mean something to you.”

“This is the biggest concession I’ve ever made.”

Despite her tender voice and intimate touch, my panic and fear didn’t ease.

What would Sister Yuan do to An Xue Ruo?

Why is she so against me having female friends?

Is she really the yandere* Zheng talked about?

I couldn’t think straight.

My mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

I pinched my waist hard to force myself to calm down.

“Alright, Sister Yuan, I’ll take the bet.”

“Xiao You, you’re so kind.”

“She’s lucky to have a friend like you.”

“If you win, I’ll allow you one more female friend.”

“Sister Yuan, are you a yandere?”

“Guess.”

“I don’t know your definition of yandere.”

“All I know is I can’t stand you getting close to other girls.”

“If she does anything inappropriate later…”

“Okay, okay, stop.”

“You’re scaring me to death.”

I cut her off and gulped down water from my cup.

My thoughts cleared.

I was calming down.

“Xiao You, keep your distance from other girls.”

“I’d hate to hurt you, but mistakes need punishment.”

I stood shakily.

My mental fear was under control.

My body hadn’t caught up.

“I’m heading out.”

“Zheng’s probably waiting.”

‘Did I scare Xiao You?’

‘What if he starts fearing me?’

‘No, no.’

‘It took years to pull him out of that shadow.’

‘I can’t let him slip back.’

‘I need to hold back.’

‘I hate him being close to other girls, but I can’t push him into that state again.’

‘He graduates in three years.’

‘I’ll cut off all their ties then.’

‘Xiao You is mine forever.’

‘No one can take him.’

‘The dream I’ve woven for you can’t break yet.’

‘Stay in this Eden.’

‘As long as you don’t touch what you shouldn’t know, this beautiful dream will never shatter.’

I trudged back to the classroom like a zombie.

Zheng and An Xue Ruo were at their desks.

Seeing me, Zheng grinned and leaned over.

“Where’d you run off to, Young Master Lu?”

“Gone all morning.”

“I found a place to nap.”

“Don’t you have an event this afternoon?”

“Don’t embarrass our class.”

“Relax, I’m not you.”

“I’ve been in festivals for years.”

“Never failed to win a medal.”

I gave a light laugh and didn’t say more.

It’s nice having a carefree, optimistic friend.

He pulls me out of my gloom so easily.

“Hey, Zheng, didn’t you say your favorite type is yandere?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Yandere?”

“I know a bit about that.”

“What, Lu You, you into girls like that now?”

An Xue Ruo overheard and joined in.

“You like yanderes too, An Xue Ruo?”

“We’re kindred spirits.”

“I don’t like them.”

“I’ve just seen a lot in anime and manga.”

“You pick up some yandere knowledge that way.”

They both seem to know yanderes.

I’m not sure if Sister Yuan is one, but I’ll ask.

“I don’t know much about yanderes.”

“Just the basics.”

“How do you deal with one?”

An Xue Ruo twirled her blue hair, thinking.

“I’m not sure.”

“Have you met someone like that in real life, Lu You?”

“No, no, just curious.”

“Yanderes barely exist in real life.”

“If you meet one, Young Master Lu, run.”

“Especially if their crush likes you.”

“Run far.”

Run?

Impossible.

If Sister Yuan’s a yandere, I can’t leave her.

If anything, if she is, I’d need to stay even more.

Zheng’s useless.

His ideas are always impossible.

I’ll talk to Sister Yuan myself.

Maybe her feelings aren’t that extreme.

Maybe I can change her.

She’s actually pretty kind and gentle, right?

“By the way, An Xue Ruo, anything weird happen lately?”

“Weird?”

“Let me think…”

“Nope, nothing strange.”

“Why?”

“Nothing, just checking in on a classmate.”

“You never check on me like that, Young Master Lu.”

“We’ve got three years of friendship.”

“How could you ditch me for a pretty face?”

“You’re no better.”

“You were ogling girls all morning at the festival.”

“Didn’t even want to talk to me.”

“No way!”

“I answered you, didn’t I?”

“Don’t slander my good name.”

It’s nice having friends like this.

*TL Note: “Yandere” (病娇) is an anime/manga term for a character who is obsessively devoted, often to the point of extreme possessiveness or violence, as referenced earlier in the story.