Chapter 156: First period

When Hua Ruolian and Su Xiaoxiao finished getting ready and walked out of the empty dormitory building, the bell signaling the end of first period rang at the same time.

First period was mathematics, taught by a stern, square-faced middle-aged male teacher. He was notoriously strict—especially toward students who skipped class or didn’t turn in homework.

Fortunately, Hua Ruolian had already secretly contacted Liu Qingqing on her phone and asked her to help request a leave from the teacher.

In the end, the one who hadn’t done her homework—Liu Qingqing—voluntarily went to find the math teacher and stayed behind in the office to handle the excuse. She was probably getting scolded right now.

The last message on the phone read: “I’m going to solo the math teacher! Don’t worry about me—I’ll definitely get your leave approved!”

Hua Ruolian glanced at her phone screen as they stepped out of the dorm. Her expression was a little complicated. She murmured softly to herself:

“She didn’t do it again, huh… Asking her to go beg the math teacher for a leave was really putting her in a tough spot… Did he finally decide not to let her copy his homework today?”

“What’s wrong, Lian? You were muttering something to yourself.”

Su Xiaoxiao, walking beside her, asked casually. She was still adjusting to the light, floaty feel of this outfit. Wearing girls’ clothes really did feel strange in her heart—but what else was she supposed to wear…?

‘Ah, I’ve got an idea. Maybe I should dress like that cool S-rank Butterfly Night—jacket, shorts, tie my hair up, wear a cap. It’d look kind of boyish and cool. Might feel more natural that way.’

‘I should try that style when I get the chance!’

Though she seriously doubted whether her current appearance could pull off that handsome vibe.

“Mm… actually, my friend didn’t do her math homework either. I asked her to help me ask the teacher for leave, and now it looks like I’ve dragged her into getting scolded in the office.”

“Again…? Ah—no, I mean, that’s kind of helpless. If she just forgets occasionally, she could borrow someone else’s to copy, right?

I don’t really know… I usually do my homework properly, but every time she makes that pitiful face, I can’t bring myself to refuse.

Before this, she always had her desk mate to borrow from every day. Maybe today that person finally refused.”

“Ah, no… actually, that desk mate who always does his math homework fell into the fountain pool early this morning. He went to the girls’ dorm to change clothes and hasn’t made it to class yet.”

“That Liu Qingqing really is something. Last time she swore that if she didn’t write it she’d lift her skirt and show me—and even after saying that, she still didn’t do it.”

While mentally scolding Liu Qingqing, Su Xiaoxiao suddenly realized she had no right to judge her.

Hadn’t she herself sworn a poisonous oath and then still not done her Chinese homework?

In a way, the two of them were pretty similar.

“By the way, there’s something I should probably tell you in advance. The desk mate you mentioned—Liu Qingqing’s, right? His name is Su Mu Zhe?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

Hua Ruolian looked genuinely surprised for a moment, but then she thought about it and realized it wasn’t that strange. Same family name—probably relatives.

“Because… I’m his cousin. Yeah, cousin. We’re only a few months apart in age, so I know quite a bit about him. He… won’t be coming back to school anymore.”

“Ah? ‘Won’t be coming back’ means—”

“Exactly what it sounds like. For certain reasons, he’s gone abroad. He probably won’t return for a very long time. The homeroom teacher will explain the details later.”

“Eh… something like that happened…? He never mentioned anything to me…”

Hua Ruolian’s expression suddenly froze. She lowered her head and stared at the ground, lost in thought for a while.

Su Xiaoxiao simply watched her reaction in silence.

This was the cover story she had prepared in advance. A lie had to carry some believability—otherwise it would be seen through immediately.

Just as she expected, Hua Ruolian didn’t have any particularly strong reaction.

‘Makes sense. To Lian, I was probably just… someone optional. Losing one more classmate who never turns in homework might actually make things easier for her.’

She just wondered what her own desk mate’s reaction would be when she heard the news.

Would she be devastated? Cry her eyes out? —Because she had forever lost her source of copyable math homework.

“I need to head to the teachers’ office first. Since I’m a transfer student, I have to report there. The classroom is on that floor over there, right? I think I saw the sign.”

“Mm-hmm. Then we’ll see each other in class later.”

At the fork in the corridor of the teaching building, Hua Ruolian and Su Xiaoxiao waved goodbye for now.

Hua Ruolian headed toward her classroom, while Su Xiaoxiao quickened her pace toward the third-year teachers’ office.

But before she even reached the office door, she could already hear Liu Qingqing’s sobbing voice coming from inside the neighboring room.

“Teacher… I really was wrong… Next time I’ll definitely do my homework properly.”

“Knowing your mistake and correcting it makes you a good student. But your desk mate—who’s also the math class representative—failed to properly supervise you. I recall this isn’t the first time you’ve skipped turning in math homework. I’ll have to have a word with him too.”

“Yes yes yes! It’s all his fault! All his! Today I didn’t do it because—”

Su Xiaoxiao, eavesdropping from the hallway, swallowed hard. A glint of schadenfreude flashed in her eyes.

“Hm? Why didn’t you do it because of him?”

“Ahhh—no, forget I said anything! It was my own fault. I know I was wrong. I’m sorry…”

Realizing she shouldn’t have said that, Liu Qingqing hurriedly backtracked. She hung her head and sincerely apologized.

But now the math teacher grew interested and pressed further:

“It’s fine. If there’s some hidden reason, tell me. Maybe I can help you resolve it.”

“Really, there’s nothing. I was just talking nonsense earlier.”

“You two… you’re not dating, are you?”

“Aaahhh!? Why would you think that?! Of course not! N-Nothing else—I’ll head back to class now. Next period is about to start!”

With that, Liu Qingqing—face flushed red—panicked and fled from the math group office. She nearly tripped on her way out.

Su Xiaoxiao quickly ducked out of sight to avoid being seen.

As she left, Liu Qingqing kept muttering complaints under her breath:

“Who’d ever date that perverted black-stocking-leg-fetish freak!”

Several black lines appeared on Su Xiaoxiao’s face. In her heart, she silently retorted:

‘And who’d ever date you, you panty-less exhibitionist pervert!’

But judging from the math teacher’s reaction, he still didn’t know the situation. Xiao Zi probably hadn’t contacted anyone beyond the principal and homeroom teacher yet.

For some reason, the feeling of hiding her identity and returning to this familiar school environment with a brand-new persona made her little heart race with excitement—like she was playing some kind of game.

When she snapped back to reality, Su Xiaoxiao noticed something.

Even though Liu Qingqing had been grumbling about it just now… today she was wearing over-the-knee black stockings herself.

Usually she only wore white ones…

“What the heck… You call other people black-stocking-leg freaks, but you’re wearing black stockings too…?”

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