Chapter 20: Sterilization

“But you’re really too much—you seriously deserve to die, Lin Cheng!”

“For what?”

The drawn-out chorus of ooohs in the classroom was enough to make anyone’s blood run hot.

Li Xiaoran’s hands, braced against the desk, slipped without her noticing. The shy, expectant smile on her face froze, then slowly faded away.

She looked at the impossibly beautiful girl standing at the doorway, then at Lin Cheng beside her, whose brows had furrowed ever so slightly. Her gaze turned blank—helpless.

Lin Cheng… has a girlfriend?
And she’s this pretty?
She had no idea!

That afternoon—was that why he borrowed money? To spend it on this girl?

When… did they even get together?

Su Wanqing, baffled, stared straight at Ye Weixi in the doorway, then floated right through her body and popped out from behind.
“This is that sickly little thing who looked like she’d topple over from a gust of wind? Oh my god—are these two even the same person?”

Amid the commotion, Lin Cheng rose to his feet. He strode quickly to the door, confusion and worry written across his face.

“Ye Weixi? Why are you here?”

His gaze swept over her pale-yet-rosy, flawless cheeks.
“What’s going on with you?”

Ye Weixi’s quiet, well-behaved smile deepened ever so slightly, tinged with a trace of pride. She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she tilted her head, her clear voice carrying to the classmates nearest the door.

“I’m your girlfriend—why can’t I come find you?”

“Ooohhh!!!”

The room erupted again, boys adding their playful whoops.

“Quit messing around. What’s going on? How’d you get in? Is your health okay?”

Lin Cheng stepped closer, finally noticing the faint difference in color between her face and the skin of her neck.

Ye Weixi pulled a stiff card from her little shoulder bag and gave it a shake in front of him.

It was an ID card with a one-inch photo of Lin Cheng, his class printed clearly beneath, along with the bold characters: Day Student Pass.

A little surprised, Lin Cheng patted his pocket—only to realize his pass was gone.

At No. 3 High School, day students had to show their pass to enter or leave campus during the noon break or after evening classes. Most of the time, though, you could just flash it at the security guard and they’d wave you through—so plenty of boarders used it to sneak off campus.

“Here, you left it at my place.”

Her voice slipped back into its usual thinness.
“I saw your class on it, so I showed it to the security uncle and said I was here to find someone. He let me in.”

She added quietly, “I put on a little makeup… otherwise my face would look awful. It took me ages—my hands got sore.”

So that’s what it was. Makeup.

But this was practically face-changing magic. Even those deep hollows under her eyes had been filled in.

In the hands of a makeup master, man or ghost alike could be turned into a beauty.

Lin Cheng took the pass from her.
“Thanks. But you didn’t need to make a special trip.”

“I think it was pretty necessary.”

Her lashes fluttered like tiny fans as she blinked, clearly savoring the amazed stares from all around. For the moment, she forgot she was a patient.
“At least… I don’t look so scary anymore, right?”

Looking at the bright smile she’d forced onto her face, Lin Cheng could imagine her standing in front of a mirror, painstakingly layering on makeup to mask the sickly pallor.

That stubbornness, that little bit of vanity—he couldn’t bring himself to scold her.

Especially when this whole “braving illness to deliver something” thing gave her the air of a sweet, dutiful girlfriend. It could honestly fool a man into thinking she was his girl.

Adorable. Lin Cheng had to admit it.

“Come on, make way! Don’t block the door flaunting your love life. Even when they kill a chicken, they at least keep it out of the dog’s sight—but you? You’re shoving the dog’s head right next to the butcher’s knife. Not worried it’ll snap?”

A boy lugging a water jug back to the classroom froze at the scene, barely holding it together.

“Ah—sorry.”

Ye Weixi stepped back without realizing that behind her, two giggling girls were also trying to come through the door.

Lin Cheng reacted fast, grabbing her arm and pulling her back in.

“Ouch.”

Her voice was soft, her frame so light it was like pulling air—one tug and she was in his arms.

The two girls at the doorway stopped mid-play, froze for a second at the sight, then squealed, covered their faces, and darted inside.

“Damn, brother, now you’ve gone too far. It’s not just killing chickens—you’re straight-up killing dogs now.”

The boy with the water jug nearly dropped it.

“Hey, Wang An—why are you so invested in other people’s relationships? You’re single, so what? And you’re the one who sneaks peeks at romance novels on your phone at night.”

“I do not read romance novels! Don’t slander me.”

“What slander? The other night I got up to use the bathroom and saw your screen lit up. I took a look—Sweetheart Cries During Pregnancy, Beijing Tycoon Kneels to Coax Her. And you’re telling me that’s not a romance novel?”

Wang An’s face went pale, then green, then pale again as his dormmate aired his secrets.

“Who cares if it’s men’s or women’s fiction? Pregnancy or tears—I’m reading it because it’s a power fantasy. A power fantasy, okay? Readers can read whatever they want.”

The classroom air grew almost giddy with amusement.

“…”

Ye Weixi braced one hand against Lin Cheng’s chest, the other still caught in his grip.

Even with thick foundation, a faint flush crept across her cheeks.
“Lin Cheng… my arm hurts.”

He let go immediately.

Where he’d gripped her, a clear red mark stood out.

This girl was ridiculously fragile—sharp-boned and delicate.

She clasped her hands in front of her, head lowered, mind a little scattered.

So quickly… in front of the whole class, he’d pulled her right into his arms…

Had they already progressed this far?

Did this mean she was now truly Lin Cheng’s woman?

So all that “I don’t want you as my girlfriend” talk—was that just lip service? Deep down, did he want her as his girlfriend?

She was hit by a sudden fit of coughing, a faint ache radiating from her chest.

Lin Cheng led her outside, rubbing her back gently.
“Those two girls just now almost ran right into you. If they’d hit you, I swear I’d be scared they’d snap you in half on the spot.”

“Ah… so that’s why?”

Her blush deepened.

“What else?”
He looked puzzled.

“…Nothing.”
She ducked her head.

Su Wanqing crossed her arms, sucking in a cold breath through her teeth, her tone dripping with mockery.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Look at you.

Announcing in front of everyone that you’re Lin Cheng’s girlfriend, throwing yourself into his arms all frail and pitiful, then acting like you don’t know anything—tsk, tsk, tsk… You really are something.

At the doorway, a few curious onlookers were still sneaking glances.

Li Xiaoran, still in her seat, was starting to squirm.

No way.

She’d just convinced herself that “girlfriend” was just a rumor exaggerated by the class… so why had Lin Cheng just hugged that girl and walked her out?

So this afternoon, when he borrowed money from her—was it really to go have fun with that girl?

Uh????

Then what am I supposed to be?
I was supposed to be first!

She couldn’t take it anymore.

Sneaking out the back door, she peeked toward the front—only to find Lin Cheng and the girl gone.

“Where’d they go?”

She turned back, frowning—

“What are you doing?”

Lin Cheng’s curious gaze met hers.

“Ah! You—you weren’t just at the front door?” Li Xiaoran almost jumped.

“I came back to the classroom to take a sip of water, then was going to the bathroom.”

“Oh… right, why did you borrow money from me this afternoon?”

She smiled brightly.

Faced with a question he’d already answered once, Lin Cheng replied naturally.
“Just a small matter. For that girl just now—I bought her something…”

“Then could you please pay me back tomorrow? My mom just called—our dog’s about to give birth. I need the money to get her spayed.”

Li Xiaoran’s eyes curved as she clenched her little fist.

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