Chapter 16: I Can’t Be Soft-Hearted Today

The sky was colorless.

The surroundings were quiet. The empty street showed no signs of life, yet an invisible crowd seemed to press in, making it hard to breathe.

I stared blankly at everything before me. It all felt familiar, yet I couldn’t recall where I’d seen it.

In the next moment, a girl’s figure appeared in the middle of the road.

“You’re…”

I could feel that I knew her.

Her silhouette was so familiar, but no matter how hard I tried, her name wouldn’t come.

She turned slightly, giving a natural smile.

Bang—

“No—”

***

“Huff—”

Ling Yuan’s eyes snapped open. Seeing the stark white ceiling, his racing heart slowly calmed.

His body was soaked in cold sweat… or maybe it was just too hot from being held so tightly…

He glanced, exasperated, at Yan Xi, who was fast asleep, her arms wrapped around his neck.

Where was the refined young lady in her sleeping form? She clung to him like a vine.

Was she treating him like her teddy bear?

Ling Yuan tried to pry her arms off his neck, but she held on tight. No wonder he’d felt suffocated in his dream.

What was he going to do with her?

It was morning already. He had no idea what time it was. With some effort, he reached for his phone charging on the nightstand.

Nine o’clock…

Yixin Xue had sent him a ton of messages, asking if he was awake, when he’d arrive, and saying the kitten looked hungry and kept meowing…

The class president was so impatient. Made sense, though—he was a slacker, and she was a top student. His laziness probably drove her nuts.

With some struggle, Ling Yuan freed himself from Yan Xi’s grip. He looked at her, sprawled across the bed with zero grace, and sighed. If she hadn’t clung to him, he’d have slept soundly until one in the afternoon.

“Ah~”

Ling Yuan yawned, stretching hard.

Who in their right mind got up this early on a weekend?

“Mm—”

His movement seemed to wake Yan Xi. Like a cat, she buried her face in the blanket before slowly opening her dark eyes.

Her sleepy gaze gradually turned to confusion.

“Big Brother’s up this early?”

The sun might as well have risen in the west.

“Got stuff to do, so I’m up early.”

Yan Xi looked skeptical.

“What could possibly get you up early?”

School didn’t even manage that. What was making him rise early today? A strange premonition told her this wasn’t simple.

“Going to a classmate’s place for tutoring, I guess?”

Ling Yuan said while getting dressed.

“Tutoring at a classmate’s place?”

Yan Xi grew even more puzzled.

“Guy or girl?”

“Uh…”

Ling Yuan felt a chill of murderous intent.  Yan Xi was glaring at him.

“Why… are you looking at me like that…?”

“Please answer directly. Don’t dodge the question.”

Yan Xi clutched the blanket, asking with dead seriousness.

“It’s a girl… but it’s our class president! If I don’t go, she might hit me again.”

Unable to hide it, Ling Yuan spilled the truth.

“Your class president?”

Yan Xi tilted her head, thinking.

“You mean Yixin Xue?”

“Yup.”

That ice queen, huh? It made sense he’d be scared of her. A lofty woman like that wouldn’t fall for her brother. She probably wouldn’t make a move on him.

“Alright, when’ll you be back?”

“Probably this afternoon.”

Ling Yuan scratched his head, relieved she didn’t press further. He’d expected her to cling and nag.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

Yan Xi flopped back onto the bed, pulling the blanket up.

“It’s not warm without your blanket!”

Ling Yuan stared at her, dumbfounded.

What was she blabbering about?

He skipped breakfast, washed up, and headed out. First stop wasn’t Yixin Xue’s place—it was the pet store.

He wondered how the kitten was doing.

“Welcome! What do you need?”

The pet store owner greeted him warmly.

Ling Yuan glanced at the dazzling array of products.

“What cat food’s good for a newly weaned kitten?”

“I recommend this one. It’s imported from Australia, with deer meat and other nutrient-rich ingredients…”

The owner rambled on about the cat food.

It felt like a teacher lecturing in class. Within minutes, Ling Yuan was drowsy.

“Alright, alright, I’ll take it. How much?”

“Great choice! That’ll be 267.”

“Two…”

Ling Yuan nearly choked. 267 for 1.5 kilograms? His daily food budget was under 25—this was over ten days’ worth.

But he’d promised. No backing out now.

267 it was, even if it hurt.

Holding the not-so-heavy bag of cat food, his heart bled. He stood alone in the wind, a mess.

267 wasn’t chump change. That could’ve bought two game skins or sixteen card pulls…

“Ugh, the class president better make this worth my while.”

Ling Yuan muttered to himself, shrugging helplessly as he headed to Yixin Xue’s place.

***

Yixin Xue sat at the dining table, stirring a glass of milk. She propped her head up, idly staring at her chat with Ling Yuan on her phone.

“Why’s he still not here… It’s been almost an hour.”

Was he not coming…?

Her flame-red eyes dimmed, like distant starlight in a foggy night, hazy and unreadable.

No one could guess what the girl was thinking.

After a moment, she picked up her phone and called Ling Yuan.

The call connected quickly, his panting voice coming through.

“What’s up, Class President?”

“Oh… nothing. Just wondering when you’ll get here.”

“I’m at your door.”

“Oh! I’ll open it, I’ll open it!”

The moment she hung up, the door swung open with a *whoosh*.

“Class President…”

Ling Yuan’s eyes widened.

“What’s wrong? Why’re you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing…”

Ling Yuan quickly looked away.

If she didn’t think it was a problem, then it wasn’t a problem.

Yixin Xue was wearing an off-shoulder white dress, her delicate collarbone fully exposed, along with a breathtaking cleavage.

Not as prominent as his sister’s, but Yixin Xue’s curves were far from small.

“Eh?”

She noticed his reaction. His guilty glance made her smirk.

“What’s up, Ling Yuan~?”

“Nothing, nothing… Here’s the cat food.”

“Come in first~”

Like last night, the door slammed shut behind him with a *bang* and locked.

[You’re not getting away so easily this time. I can’t be soft-hearted today.]