Chapter 6: Mischief, Misunderstandings, and a Perilous Lunch Break

Back in the classroom, observing the intense academic atmosphere during class, I couldn’t help but sigh with heartfelt admiration; this truly was the top class, living up to its reputation.

Though that group couldn’t help but gather around me during the break, now, during what was supposed to be self-study but had become our Chinese language class, they were all intently focused on the lesson, without a single hint of distraction.

While everyone else seemed to have earned their spot through sheer merit, I couldn’t make the same claim for the person seated beside me.

Throughout the class, she was either subtly massaging my leg or doodling incomprehensible symbols in her textbook.

Honestly, as her childhood friend, I was quite familiar with her personality.

This girl must have gotten in through connections, pulling strings to bypass the usual entry. But then again, I wasn’t much better; at least, my admission wasn’t initially due to my own abilities, but rather because my aunt was the principal. Though, I ‘could’ have gotten in on merit, given the chance.

‘Never mind,’ I decided to push those thoughts aside and focus on the lecture.

Ignoring my childhood friend, who seemed to be up to something mysterious beside me, I redirected my full attention to the class.

However, as the lesson progressed, a sudden unease crept over me. It felt as though a mischievous hand had slipped beneath my skirt, now lingering at my upper thigh.

‘Wait, what in the world was this tingling, pricking sensation?’

Glancing towards the source of my discomfort, it was, predictably, Huang Beifeng behind this mischief.

On the surface, she feigned an expression of utmost seriousness, but in reality, where exactly had this girl placed her hand?

Firmly seizing that errant hand and pinning it beneath the desk, I suddenly noticed something significant.

In her hand, she was actually holding a fountain pen.

‘No wonder I felt a sharp prickling at my thigh; it turned out this girl was wielding a pen!’

‘Right, what would she be doing with a fountain pen in ‘that’ situation?’

A sudden realization struck me, and I forcefully suppressed the urge to lift my skirt. Though I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I could absolutely guess what this girl had been up to.

‘This was truly outrageous.’

Resisting the impulse to flip the desk over, I merely pressed down hard on her mischievous hand, forcing her to behave. To any casual observer, however, it would appear as though we each had one hand resting on the desk, while our other hands were clasped together beneath it.

‘From an outsider’s perspective, it would look like we were holding hands the entire time. Ugh! I hope this doesn’t lead to any misunderstandings.’

Gently pushing her hand away, I turned and shot Huang Beifeng a fierce glare. Finally, she seemed to have settled down; it was quite a struggle.

With her distractions ceased, I could, at last, listen to the lecture in peace.

“Ding-a-ling.”

Just as I was fully immersing myself in the lesson, the ill-timed dismissal bell abruptly rang.

“Alright, class dismissed for today. See you all tomorrow.”

After gathering her materials from the lectern, Meng Yue departed without delay. She always taught this way; the moment the bell rang, she would stop speaking, never extending her classes.

Naturally, just like the previous class, the moment Meng Yue stepped out of the classroom, the other students once again swarmed my desk, surrounding it completely.

‘Uh, is it really this intense?’

Seeing myself so tightly encircled, I instinctively wiped a bead of cold sweat from my forehead, offered an awkward laugh, and was about to make my escape when Huang Beifeng suddenly restrained me.

“Don’t even think about running off, okay? Just embrace your classmates’ enthusiastic welcome.”

‘Ugh! No way, this feels terrifying!’

Just then, the girl closest to me spoke up first.

“Student Luo Ye, your silver hair is so beautiful! Is it natural or dyed? I thought the school rules didn’t allow dyed hair.”

‘Uh, my hair is natural.’

“Well, I have a bit of foreign ancestry, you see, which is why my hair is silver. It’s completely natural.”

I replied with a smile, maintaining an air of grace and politeness.

“Wow, Student Luo Ye, you’re so cute! Can I give you a hug?”

‘Are you kidding me? After being cornered and ‘wall-slammed’ three times today, I’ve developed a psychological complex about girls.’

‘If I let you hug me, won’t I get ‘wall-slammed’ again? And what if, during the hug, something accidentally gets exposed? I’d definitely be labeled a pervert!’

For these very reasons, I decided it would be best to firmly refuse.

“Student Luo Ye, are you single?”

‘Pfft!’

At that moment, a boy suddenly chimed in, extending a folded piece of paper towards me.

‘Holy crap, is that a love letter? Ugh! You should know, little brother, what I’ve got is bigger than yours; your intentions are quite dangerous!’

‘And this is supposed to be the top class? You’re not paying attention in class; you’re writing a love letter!’

“Academics are important. Also, I like girls.”

‘Heh heh heh, I figured after saying that, those boys wouldn’t confess to me anymore.’

‘Besides, declaring that I like girls in public, there’s nothing wrong with that, right? It’s perfectly normal.’

‘Am I supposed to say I like boys? I’m not gay! I’m a straight man, a straight man of steel!’

“Ah, Student Luo Ye actually likes yuri!”

“How could this be? Why must it be this way?”

As their words faded, a chorus of laments suddenly erupted from the crowd, but I couldn’t be bothered to pay them any mind.

Fortunately, the class bell rang abruptly. Otherwise, if they had kept questioning me, I feared I might have inadvertently spilled all my secrets.

For some reason, the class bell had suddenly become quite melodious.

Soon enough, this class also passed.

After this class, it was time for lunch break. Since my home was quite close to the school, I had opted to be a day student.

There was another reason I didn’t want to be a boarding student: since I had enrolled as a girl, if I were to board, I’d undoubtedly be assigned to the girls’ dormitory. That scene was truly unimaginable; I’d definitely be branded a pervert.

Quickly gathering my belongings, I made a swift exit from the classroom before anyone could swarm me again. This way, I avoided being surrounded and interrogated further.

I hurried to the school gate, put on the day student pass my aunt had prepared for me in advance, and then exited the school grounds.

While waiting for the bus at the station, with nothing else to do, I idly surveyed my surroundings.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared before my eyes.

‘Ugh! Why is it her?’