Chapter 10: The Price of Pretence

Su Mian looked at the photo of himself sticking out his tongue, a belated flush of shame coloring his face.

Having just returned to his dorm, a surge of anger had momentarily clouded his judgment. He couldn’t believe he had indulged in such a perverse game.

Even he wasn’t sure why.

After being humiliated by Xiao Moyuan in reality, he felt an overwhelming urge to retaliate online. Perhaps it was the protective shield of the internet that allowed him to shed his inhibitions, growing increasingly unrestrained.

Though this method of revenge was twisted, he found it incredibly satisfying.

Imagine being ridiculed by your romantic rival, who treats you as utterly insignificant in person. Yet, online, they fall madly in love with you, only to be brutally cast aside in the end. The sheer exhilaration of that feeling was immense.

No act of vengeance could possibly surpass it; he was completely hooked.

After a brief wait, the other party quickly replied.

[Yuan: You little brat who needs training, do you enjoy seducing people this much?]

[Yuan: It’s still broad daylight, and you’re already so insatiable?]

Despite the obvious insults, he somehow didn’t feel angry. What was happening to him?

Su Mian froze, not even noticing his own erratic breathing.

[Yuan: Dare to meet tonight?]

[Sweetheart Marshmallow: Brother… you still haven’t agreed to an online relationship with me.]

[Yuan: If I agree, will you meet?]

[Yuan: I’d like to see how you’ll grovel then.]

‘He’s already losing control?’

‘Men truly are lustful devils.’

Su Mian’s cheeks flushed as he read the reply.

‘It seems he’s developing feelings for me…’

‘A boy like me actually managed to stir desire in another boy, and that boy is even my romantic rival.’

‘Why am I feeling excited?’

‘This is too strange.’

‘Am I excited because I’ve taken a huge step toward the success of my plan?’

The more Su Mian pondered, the more convinced he became that this was the reason.

People were always like this; their subconscious would find reasons to comfort themselves about things they were unwilling to accept.

Capitalizing on his advantage, he continued to reply.

[Sweetheart Marshmallow: If Brother agrees, after we get to know each other better, perhaps I’ll gather the courage to meet you.]

[Yuan: Oh!]

‘Oh, your head! Just agree, and be more explicit!’

Su Mian grew a little anxious once more.

[Sweetheart Marshmallow: Brother, does ‘Oh’ mean you agree?]

[Yuan: It depends on your performance.]

‘What?’

‘Why does it depend on my performance *again*?’

‘This is utterly outrageous!’

[Sweetheart Marshmallow: Brother, don’t you want to meet me? Why does it depend on my performance?]

[Sweetheart Marshmallow: Besides, I’m a girl, shouldn’t Brother be more gentlemanly and yield to me?]

[Yuan: Suddenly, I don’t feel like it as much. After all, my patience has never been great.]

[Yuan: And you need to understand one thing: you were the one who approached me.]

‘Hmph, what’s with this act!’

‘I’ve already gone so far as to use my looks.’

‘Yet he’s still playing hard to get.’

Su Mian felt wronged once more. He had finally gained the upper hand, but now, it was slowly slipping back into the other party’s grasp.

This couldn’t continue. Su Mian decided he should give the other party the cold shoulder for a few days.

Constantly acting like a sycophant would only diminish his standing.

Therefore, Su Mian resolved not to reply. He would leave Xiao Moyuan hanging for a few days first.

Once Xiao Moyuan initiated contact, the initiative would return to Su Mian.

Evidently, Su Mian was still too naive.

This strategy only worked if both parties had an established emotional connection, if he held a certain status in the other person’s heart, or if the other person had a reason they couldn’t do without him.

Evidently, he possessed none of these three conditions.

Several days passed, and Xiao Moyuan hadn’t sent him a single message.

During his professional course, Su Mian stared at the pink chat interface, the last message frozen on Xiao Moyuan’s words: “you were the one who approached me.” His gaze, fixed on Xiao Moyuan’s back, gradually turned resentful.

That guy actually ignored him.

‘How could anyone be so cold and indifferent?’

‘He really just wanted to freeload without any intention of giving back.’

‘Oh, the injustice! He had even meticulously dressed up and sent him so many “beautiful” photos every day during this period.’

As if sensing something, Xiao Moyuan, who had been engrossed in the lecture, suddenly turned his head!

Su Mian jolted in fright, immediately burying his head.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Zhixia, sitting beside him, noticed Xiao Moyuan’s reaction and asked, puzzled.

“Your admirer seems to harbor a significant grudge against me.” Xiao Moyuan turned back, his tone flat as he looked at his book. “And you don’t need to cling to me every day; I’m not interested in you.”

“You haven’t truly gotten to know me. Perhaps if you did, you might find yourself interested?” Shen Zhixia offered a slight smile, a hint of cunning glinting in her eyes.

Hearing this, Xiao Moyuan then meticulously scrutinized the young woman before him.

After not seeing her for a few days, the Shen Zhixia before him seemed different from before.

“What is it? Do you think I’ve become even more beautiful?” Shen Zhixia smiled sweetly, exuding confidence from every pore.

Suddenly, Xiao Moyuan reached out and touched Shen Zhixia’s cheek.

Shen Zhixia froze, her cheeks beginning to redden. “We’re in class. This isn’t appropriate, is it?”

Xiao Moyuan remained silent, his eyes narrowing slightly. His finger traced a path from Shen Zhixia’s cheek, moving gently down to the right side of her neck, where two faint marks were visible.

“Perhaps you’re right,” he mused. “It seems I truly haven’t gotten to know you deeply.”

He suddenly curled his lips into a faint smile. ‘After searching for clues about that demonic entity for so long, I’m finally making progress.’

Shen Zhixia chuckled. “Then, are you willing to be in a relationship with me?”

Xiao Moyuan replied, “It depends on your performance!”

From the back row, Su Mian witnessed their entire interaction with crystal clarity. Jealousy surged within him, his eyes practically spitting fire.

‘Damn Xiao Moyuan, how dare he touch Zhixia’s face!’

‘Infuriating! All these years, I’ve only ever held Shen Zhixia’s hand!’

‘And that “getting to know me deeply”… that phrase alone sounds ominous!’

Su Mian could truly no longer sit still. If he didn’t act soon, his childhood sweetheart would genuinely be snatched away by Xiao Moyuan.

The moment class ended, he practically lunged forward. After glaring fiercely at Xiao Moyuan, he pulled Shen Zhixia away before the other man could even react.

“A-Mian, let go of me! What are you doing?” By the time they had almost exited the teaching building, Shen Zhixia impatiently shook off Su Mian’s hand.

“Zhixia, listen to me. That Xiao Moyuan is absolutely not a good person; he’s a complete scoundrel.” Su Mian couldn’t help but want to expose Xiao Moyuan’s true nature online.

“A-Mian, you’ve changed. You weren’t like this before.”

“Why are you so quick to disparage someone else? Xiao Moyuan hasn’t had a single negative rumor since he entered this school.”

“Who says there aren’t any?” Su Mian instinctively pulled out his phone. Just as he was about to open it to show her his chat history with Xiao Moyuan, he suddenly froze.

If he showed Shen Zhixia their chat history, she would inevitably see the photos he had sent, along with all the sickening things he had said.

‘Wouldn’t his pretense of being a girl also be exposed?’

Indeed, doing so would expose Xiao Moyuan’s true colors, but it would also likely cost him any chance with Shen Zhixia.

“Well, then produce the evidence!” Shen Zhixia grew somewhat impatient.

“I’m sorry, Zhixia…” Su Mian’s tone was resolute. “I don’t have that evidence right now, but I will definitely give it to you in the future. Please trust me.”

“Then come find me when you’ve gathered the evidence. For now, I think we both need some space.” With those words, Shen Zhixia turned and walked away without a backward glance.

Su Mian returned to his dorm, utterly dejected. Since he couldn’t make any headway with Shen Zhixia, his only recourse was to target Xiao Moyuan online.

Su Mian opened his phone and clicked on the pink chat interface he had specifically set up for Xiao Moyuan.

[Sweetheart Marshmallow: Brother, why haven’t you looked for me these past few days? I miss you so much! [Red exclamation mark]]

[Yuan has enabled friend verification. You are not yet his friend. Please send a verification request. You can only chat after the other party approves your request.]

Su Mian: ‘???’