Chapter 41: The Silent Treatment

The topic stopped abruptly, the atmosphere instantly turning silent. Ye Nuo sighed, got up to get a glass of water, and after returning, she asked:

“So what are you going to do now, Liu Ya?”

Liu Ya sniffled and said seriously:

“I… I’ve decided! From now on, I won’t say another word to her! I’m done caring about her!”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Ye Nuo tilted her head in confusion.

“Hmph… Didn’t Yaqi say it doesn’t matter who teaches her? Then let Gongyu teach her! I’m not getting involved anymore!”

“Ah? No… is that… right?”

Liu Ya frowned hesitantly for a moment, but still insisted:

“Wh… what’s wrong with it? Don’t they say practice leads to true knowledge? I worked so hard every day to teach her math, and Gongyu hasn’t put in any effort, so why should she be able to teach her?”

“Didn’t you say the basket is meant to be poked? Since Yaqi said so, let her do it! When she fails the exam in the end, she’ll realize I’m not that easily replaced!”

‘Failing the exam would affect class placement… but compared to the current problem, class placement isn’t impossible to solve. At worst, I’ll just get a few more wrong answers?’

‘But… this might affect Qiqige’s college choices later… but looking at Qiqige’s grades… she’s not exactly top-tier material anyway, and I don’t really have plans for the future…’

‘Maybe this is a bit selfish… but as long as I can be with Qiqige, I don’t care where we go!’

Liu Ya nodded to herself. Ye Nuo leaned in immediately and grabbed her hand.

“No… dear. You’re not going for the tsundere act, are you?”

“Huh? I… I’m not!”

“You… I’m warning you! Tsundere is outdated! You’ve read plenty of novels and manga; how many tsunderes have a good ending?”

“Tsundere is fun for a moment, but chasing after a wife is a disaster!”

“Ch… chasing after a wife… hmph! She has to apologize to me first! Then I’ll consider what comes next based on her attitude…”

Liu Ya turned her face away angrily. Seeing her seriousness, Ye Nuo blinked in disbelief.

“Fine, forget I said anything. Good luck…”

“Hmph…”

Ye Nuo stared at her for a while, sighed helplessly, stood up to straighten her clothes, and smoothed her hair.

“So, you’re okay now?”

Liu Ya lowered her head shyly, but then glanced up and said awkwardly:

“Yeah, I’m fine… Um, thank you, Ye Nuo!”

“Heh~”

Ye Nuo chuckled, reached out to hold her face, and gently wiped away the dried tear streaks on her cheek.

“You don’t need to say that anymore! We’re close, no need to be so polite!”

“And you already asked for my help, right? If I can help in the future, just tell me directly! Don’t hold back!”

“Okay!”

Liu Ya smiled at her, turned, and walked to the door. Before leaving, she said:

“I’m off then!”

“Yeah, go ahead. I’ll lock up.”

“Okay, bye.”

After Liu Ya left, Ye Nuo slowly walked to Liu Ya’s desk and leaned lightly against it. Supporting herself with her hands on the desk, she looked up and let out a sigh.

“You’ve been like this since we first met, always saying thank you.”

“If anything, I should be thanking you!”

“I originally thought this school wasn’t interesting anymore, didn’t even want to come!”

“But… thanks to you! Thank you! And I sincerely wish you good luck, Liu Ya!”

On the other side:

Liu Ya returned to the classroom, finding only Yaqi and Gongyu left, each sitting at their own desks. Yaqi immediately stood up with worry written all over her face.

Liu Ya glanced at her, then lowered her head and walked over silently. As she passed Gongyu’s seat, Gongyu suddenly called out to her.

“Um… I’m sorry… I was a bit out of line earlier…”

Yaqi froze for a moment, didn’t respond, gave her a cold look, and walked straight to her own seat.

When Liu Ya reached her side, Yaqi noticed her red, swollen eyes and nose. Yaqi’s brows furrowed instantly. She was about to speak, but Liu Ya pushed her aside, went to her seat, and lay face down on the desk without moving.

“Liu Ya…”

Gongyu also came over. She stared at Liu Ya for a while, then timidly looked at Yaqi.

“I apologized… so this afternoon…”

Yaqi looked at Gongyu, then at Liu Ya lying on the desk. She sighed silently and finally nodded to Gongyu. Gongyu said nothing more, glanced at Liu Ya, and quietly left.

After Gongyu was gone, Yaqi quietly approached Liu Ya and whispered:

“I’m sorry, Liu Ya… I said some harsh things earlier too…”

“But I just wanted you to rest. I didn’t think you meant anything bad! Don’t be mad…”

Liu Ya still lay there silently. Yaqi felt awful but had no choice. She returned to her own seat, lay on the desk, and stared blankly at Liu Ya.

At some point, she herself drifted off to sleep.

In the afternoon classes, as agreed, Yaqi took her books and sat next to Gongyu. Mengmeng, Fengye, and the others were confused and came to ask, but they were brushed off with excuses about not seeing the blackboard clearly.

During class, whenever the teacher turned their back, Yaqi would glance at Liu Ya. But every time their eyes met, Liu Ya would immediately look down or out the window.

During breaks, even when Yaqi passed by her, Liu Ya showed no reaction, as if she had completely ignored her.

Yaqi felt a knot in her stomach. Her brows stayed furrowed all afternoon, and she couldn’t focus on the lessons. She just muddled through until evening when school ended.

Yaqi packed her things early and waited at her seat, clutching her backpack and sneaking glances at Liu Ya. Liu Ya packed up without a care, then slung her bag on her back and squeezed past her.

Yaqi couldn’t hold it in anymore. She stood up and called out:

“Liu Ya!”

“Yaqi…”

Before she could finish, Gongyu walked over.

“Huh? Gongyu, what’s up?”

“Do you have time later?”

“Huh? What for?”

Gongyu took out a book.

“Do you have this book?”

“This one… I don’t. What book is it?”

“It’s a math improvement guide. The problems are comprehensive.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Mm.”

Gongyu handed her the book. Yaqi flipped through it seriously. Liu Ya peeked surreptitiously from behind.

“Okay, where can I buy it?”

“There’s a bookstore near my place. Want me to take you there?”

“This…”

Yaqi turned to look at Liu Ya. Liu Ya froze for a moment, then quickly turned away.

The three of them stood in silence. After a while, Liu Ya stepped toward the door.

“Liu Ya!”

Yaqi shouted, her voice trembling as if she might cry. Liu Ya flinched, and Gongyu was startled too. After a moment of silence, Liu Ya said quietly:

“You go ahead. I’ll let Aunt Zhao know.”

“But… that’s not what I wanted to say…”

“…Don’t you have money for a cab?”

“I do…”

“Then okay… I’m leaving.”

With that, Liu Ya quickly walked away, leaving Yaqi staring blankly at the empty hallway, her eyes trembling.

“Liu Ya…”

Gongyu was silent for a moment, then stepped forward and took Yaqi’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

“I… okay…”

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