Chapter 10: I’m White-Haired Too

“Take the cola back.”

“Why? You don’t like cola?”

Yixin Xue looked puzzled.

She’d noticed Ling Yuan drinking cola often—how could he turn down happy water?

“It’s your money, Class President. I don’t like owing favors.”

Ling Yuan forced a smile, feeling the jealous glares from his classmates.

If he accepted that cola, wouldn’t he be committing an unforgivable sin?

“What favor? It’s just an apology for yanking your ear in class. Plus, it’s chilled—perfect for keeping you awake next period, right?”

Oblivious to his plight, Yixin Xue insisted on handing him the cola.

The stares piling on him grew heavier.

Some faces were outright twisted with envy, unable to fathom why the class president was suddenly interested in Ling Yuan.

“Let’s just… forget it…”

“Is the flavor bad?”

“It’s not that… Just drink it yourself!”

“Really?”

Yixin Xue took the cola back, thoughtful.

[Is the flavor off?]

With that in mind, she skeptically twisted off the cap and took a small sip, the sweet-tangy taste spreading across her tongue.

“Here.”

She placed the cola back on his desk.

“It’s pretty sweet. Tastes good to me.”

“It’s not about that…”

Ling Yuan gave a wry laugh, but the class bell rang, and Yixin Xue turned back to focus on the next lesson.

The cola…

The cap was already off, and she’d taken a sip.

She didn’t seem to mind at all…

Thinking back “‘indirect kiss’ at lunch… this was another one, wasn’t it?

Ling Yuan glanced at her white back, her milk-pale hair cascading to her waist.

An urge to touch it hit him.

What would white hair feel like?

He looked down at the cards in his hand, then back at Yixin Xue, and suddenly smacked his forehead.

“Oh! New character drop today! Gotta pull!”

Yixin Xue deflated a bit.

[What’s that about? I thought he was going to say something to me. Just thinking about his 2D waifus, huh?]

She twirled a strand of her white hair.

[I’m white-haired too.]

Too bad Ling Yuan couldn’t read minds, and she didn’t expect a 2D-obsessed guy to pick up on her feelings.

“Twenty-five days until midterms. Yixi Xue, you’ve got to work hard and take back first place!”

“Got it. I will.”

***

Tomorrow was the weekend.

The students on cleaning duty were half-hearted, rushing home as soon as they could.

Ling Yuan had just finished rinsing the mop when he returned to the classroom.

Only Yixin Xue remained.

They didn’t talk, each quietly tending to their tasks.

When Ling Yuan finished mopping the entire floor, Yixin Xue spoke.

“Thanks for the hard work, Ling Yuan. You free tonight?”

She took the mop from him, placing it in the classroom corner, and handed him a tissue to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

“Yeah.”

Ling Yuan wiped his brow, exhaling.

“Anything else, Class President?”

“Nothing major.”

Yixin Xue shrugged casually.

“It’s raining again, so I was hoping you’d walk me home.”

“Huh…?”

“What?”

She checked the classroom windows and doors, her tone light.

“It’s not safe for a girl to walk home alone. Plus, I’ve been followed home lately. I’m a bit scared.”

[Scared? Your face doesn’t look scared at all!]

“Sure, I guess. But there’s a reward, right? You’re not making me do this for free, are you?”

“Don’t worry, no one’s at my place. My parents are abroad and won’t be back anytime soon.”

“That’s not…”

Ling Yuan stared, dumbfounded, unsure what she was getting at.

[What’s with all this? Why’s she saying stuff like that? What’s she planning?]

Meanwhile, Yixin Xue hid her expression by pretending to adjust her backpack, biting her lip and gripping the strap tightly.

[Seriously, any normal guy would’ve agreed by now! Is this guy actually that hopeless!?]

“It feels a bit… inappropriate…”

Ling Yuan hesitated, unable to read her intentions.

He was also worried Yan Xi might be at his place tonight.

“Come on, you’re coming for a reason. Tomorrow you’re coming to my place for tutoring, so think of it as scoping out the route.”

“Fair point. But, Class President, it’s really just tutoring, right?”

Ling Yuan asked uncertainly.

“Of course. Bring your homework tomorrow.”

Yixin Xue slung her small, off-white backpack over her shoulder. It matched her hair and skin perfectly, giving her a pure, clean look.

“Still raining?”

She reached out to check for raindrops.

“It’s stopped.”

The wet street was filled with students heading home, their eyes drawn to the white-haired girl.

Yixin Xue and Ling Yuan walked like a bickering couple, keeping their distance, silent.

Ling Yuan trailed behind her like a lackey, head down.

Meow—meow—

A pitiful cat’s cry caught their attention, coming from a nearby alley.

“A cat’s meowing. Sounds like a kitten.”

Yixin Xue peered into the dark alley, but it was too dim to see anything.

“Probably a stray?”

“Yeah… it sounds so sad. Can we go check?”

“Sure.”

“You go first. It’s too dark. I’m scared.”

She stepped behind him.

“Alright.”

Ling Yuan sighed, pulled out his phone, turned on the flashlight, and walked into the alley.

The meowing came from a pile of garbage. After some searching, they found a tiny, pure-white kitten.

Its fur was soaked, and its crystal-blue eyes looked at them pitifully.

“She’s so skinny. Hasn’t eaten in a while, huh?”

Yixin Xue reached to pick it up, but Ling Yuan stopped her.

“Too dirty. Let me.”

The kitten was tiny, barely palm-sized. Ling Yuan figured it had just been weaned.

The little thing shivered in his arms, its small head swiveling to look at him and Yixin Xue.