Chapter 8: Who Do You Think Is Prettier?

Ling Yuan ignored her instructions.

What classes were this afternoon, anyway?

First period was English—perfect, the world’s best lullaby.

He’d sleep like a baby.

The rest were Math, Physics, and a self-study period.

If he wasn’t sleeping through those, he’d be teaming up with his buddies nearby for a five-man gaming session.

And just like that, another full day passed—packed, yet somehow empty.

As soon as he got back to his seat, Lan Feng and a few other buddies crowded around.

“No way I saw that right. The class president fed you herself?”

Lan Feng’s voice trembled, whether from excitement or jealousy.

The others were clearly itching for gossip.

“You saw wrong.”

Ling Yuan waved them off, shoving the scattered test papers into his desk drawer, ready for a nap.

“Come on, Yuan, don’t sleep! Spill the beans! Some of us chased the class president and got nowhere, but you? You actually scored?”

“Yeah, at lunch, she was feeding you with that look in her eyes. Why were you acting all shy?”

“If it were me, I’d be eating off the floor!”

“…”

Ling Yuan rolled his eyes, annoyed.

“I’m tired. Guess whatever you want. I’m sleeping.”

His words carried a hint of something.

Lan Feng seemed to catch on, lowering his voice.

“Did you… sleep with the class president last night?”

“No, I didn’t—ugh, I’m suing you for slander! Slander! I was grinding ranked matches all night!”

“He’s right. I saw Yuan lose fifteen games in a row.”

Lan Feng nodded in agreement.

[Yuan had it rough. First time I’ve seen someone lose fifteen straight, every match a hard carry.]

“I say we play PC games tonight. We can mess around together.”

“I just wanna play lying down.”

Ling Yuan yawned, sleepiness hitting hard. His vision blurred, and he waved irritably.

“Sleep now, talk later.”

“Tch.”

Lan Feng clicked his tongue.

How could a guy their age sleep so much?

He’d slept all morning and was still this worn out.

His body must be shot. As a good bro, Lan Feng decided to gift him some goji berries come Monday.

But seriously, what did this guy have that caught the class president’s eye?

Feeding him herself?

That scene had everyone grinding their teeth in envy.

Before the class officers returned, the room was a chaotic buzz. The noise faded as Ling Yuan’s consciousness slipped away.

When he woke, it was five minutes before the first afternoon class.

The homeroom teacher tapped the desk, startling the nappers awake, then cleared his throat.

“I have an announcement about seat changes.”

Seat changes?

That had nothing to do with Ling Yuan.

His head, briefly raised, sank back into his arms.

As long as he stayed dead last in grades, his corner spot was untouchable.

“Yixin Xue and Lan Feng, swap seats. Everyone else stays put.”

The teacher’s words hit like a thunderclap.

Sleepiness vanished.

Ling Yuan froze like a statue, and Lan Feng’s reaction mirrored his.

“I agree with Yixin Xue’s reasoning. We can’t give up on any student. She’ll keep a close eye on Ling Yuan’s studies, so, Ling Yuan, work hard and stop sleeping in class.”

Why!?

What for!?

Ling Yuan screamed internally.

“Good bro, farewell. I’ll miss you!”

Lan Feng gripped Ling Yuan’s hand, distraught. Their spots were prime—tucked in the classroom’s corner, ignored by teachers.

But Yixin Xue’s seat was in the front row.

Lan Feng’s days of slacking were over.

“You gotta be happy with the class president!”

“Wait, the first part’s fine, but what’s that last bit?”

Ling Yuan, teary and snotty, bristled at the implication.

“I don’t have anything going on with her! I swear on your ten years of life!”

“Pfft, swear on my life, but in your name.”

“Get lost!”

Ling Yuan shoved his hand away, sulking as he watched Yixin Xue move her desk over.

“Ling Yuan, don’t just sit there. Help Yixin Xue with her desk.”

“No need, teacher. I’ve got it.”

After Lan Feng left, Yixin Xue brought her desk and books over. Noticing Ling Yuan’s sour expression, her lips curved slightly.

No question—this seat swap was her doing.

“Class President, I’m really over you yelling at me. You don’t have to go this far.”

“Oh, I’m just eager to help a classmate. By the way, Wang Aoran and Zhang Tao, who were supposed to mop today, have to leave early. Can you cover for them?”

“…Uh, sure.”

Ling Yuan agreed absentmindedly, then realized something was off.

Sure, there were plenty of people cleaning daily, but they all left after their tasks.

Mopping, though, came after most of the cleaning was done.

The moppers were usually the last to leave, alongside the group leader.

If he remembered right, today’s group leader was Yixin Xue…

Seeing his pensive look, Yixin Xue stretched lazily and said, “Looking forward to working with you.”

“Uh… huh…?”

Her greeting made him glance her way.

Her school uniform’s white shirt was a bit short.

As she stretched, her pale, slender waist was on full display, like a work of art.

The stretch lasted a while, almost deliberate.

Her waist was so slim… the lines so perfectly sculpted, her skin glowing translucently.

Ling Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

‘This isn’t good to stare at…’

He forced his greedy gaze away, looking out the window, but the image lingered in his mind.

His sister’s waist was just as striking.

No surprise—they were two of the school’s four renowned beauties.

Seeing him turn away, Yixin Xue stopped stretching, whispering with a smile.

“So cute.”

He acted like he wasn’t interested in girls, but he still had a guy’s instincts.

“What’s cute?”

“Oh, I meant the stickers on your desk.”

Yixin Xue brushed her hair behind her shoulder.

“Didn’t expect you to have white-haired girls on them.”

“Well, yeah. I’m a white-hair stan.”

When it came to anime, Ling Yuan lit up.

He pulled a stack of unposted cards from his desk.

“Want some? You’ve got white hair too.”

“Hmm…”

Yixin Xue twirled a strand of hair around her finger.

“So, compared to the girls on these cards, who’s prettier—me or them?”

‘Holy crap! A death-trap question!’