Qiao Chu tried to retract her thank-you and scribbled on the note: “Tell me first what favor, then I’ll decide if I’ll help.”
At the podium, Ms. Regina cleared her throat and began taking attendance.
Bolang gave her a mischievous wink and silently mouthed, “I’ll tell you after class.”
Qiao Chu rolled her eyes, pulled back, and balled up the note, tossing it into her desk. She didn’t really want to be the gullible “good girl.”
But considering the guy had a cute face, looked obedient when he smiled, and was kind of endearing, she could tolerate him—as long as he didn’t ask for anything too extreme.
System Note: [Host, you’re strict with others but lenient with yourself!]
Qiao Chu raised an eyebrow. [I’ve been with more men than you’ve eaten grains of salt. Pretending morals follow appearances is just part of my plan. Shut up, I’ve got my own pace!]
System: [You’re cheating! I haven’t eaten any salt!]
After the long morning class, Bolang invited Qiao Chu to have lunch with him.
The young master politely handed her a menu. While waiting for the food, he loosened his shirt collar and pulled a jade Guanyin pendant from his chest pocket.
The jade was smooth and lustrous, color vibrant and natural. The only flaw was a prominent crack through the middle, reinforced with silver edging.
The stone carried the warmth of the boy’s hand, slippery and smooth—it felt oddly fun spinning in her palm.
Qiao Chu stared, wide-eyed. Oh my God, if this cracks, how many “small goals” is that worth?
“This Guanyin pendant is the only keepsake my mother left me. I accidentally broke it two weeks ago. I know the Qiao family is in the jewelry business—could you help me find a craftsman to repair it?”
The mention of “two weeks ago” triggered Qiao Chu’s internal alarm. Any time would do, but two weeks ago was the opening ceremony—no way it could be repaired then!
The person who caused the damage should also fix it. Qiao Chu knew immediately: the pendant had been broken by the female lead, so the female lead should handle the repair herself.
Moreover, such a valuable item: repair succeeds, everyone’s happy; repair fails, instant animosity. A hot potato—better not touch.
Qiao Chu ignored Bolang’s eager gaze and focused on her food. “Sorry, this favor I can’t—”
“No!”
With a shout, a figure rushed to the table and snatched the Guanyin from Qiao Chu’s hands, clutching it to her chest.
Jiang Yixuan was panting, her expression a mix of grievance, confusion, and anger.
“Bolang, I didn’t break this pendant on purpose! I promised I would fix it. Why are you asking someone else? Don’t you trust me?”
Somehow, she had managed to get out of the Academic Affairs Office and was now in a fresh uniform with the Dielun Academy emblem pinned neatly to her chest—looking much cleaner and more composed.
Qiao Chu shook her head silently. Wu Zhe really wasn’t doing his job. Such a messy fight should’ve resulted in at least a serious warning, if not expulsion. How was the female lead acting like nothing happened?
Ah, right—she had a plot aura. Wu Zhe wasn’t the male lead, so he had no say.
Bolang frowned and pried Jiang Yixuan’s fingers apart to retrieve the pendant. “You didn’t do it on purpose, but did my Guanyin intentionally hit you?”
The pendant had originally been part of a bracelet with a strand of bodhi beads. Two weeks ago, when he transferred to Dielun, Jiang Yixuan volunteered as a greeter and insisted on helping him with his luggage.
Bolang repeatedly refused, but she persisted. In the scuffle, his left hand accidentally hit the white stone railing.
The pendant was extremely meaningful to him. Though angry and hurt, he knew Jiang Yixuan meant well and didn’t hold her responsible.
But she clung to him like a stubborn plaster, following him after class to apologize and try to make amends.
His friends, who usually played around with him, started giving him strange looks, teasing him about “bullying a little girl.”
Having a valuable item broken was bad enough; now the culprit was in front of him, repeatedly fussing. Even Bolang’s patience strained.
“Jiang, I’m not saying I don’t trust you—I trust that you get what you pay for. Do you think I’d hand this to some half-baked scrap metal repairman?”
He had considered her suggestion, but the craftsman she recommended was basically a hack making a living off junk repairs.
Jiang Yixuan bit her lip, cheeks flushed. “Grandpa Sun is skilled! Everyone in the neighborhood takes broken things to him, and—”
“And you won’t let me fix it myself? Then I’d live the rest of my life feeling guilty. Maybe my guilt is worthless to you, but I want to do something for you.”
Bolang had grown up with a bunch of rowdy boys and wasn’t good with girls. Now he was even more at a loss, helplessly looking at Qiao Chu.
“Miss, just consider it for the sake of our revolutionary camaraderie as desk partners…”
In the original plot, Bolang couldn’t resist the female lead’s persistence and handed over his mother’s only keepsake for her to repair.
Unsurprisingly, the Guanyin was utterly ruined, shattered to pieces.
The male and female leads then naturally entered the “one hits, one takes it” forced-romance trope, with Bolang eventually falling in love and becoming her most loyal supporter.
Qiao Chu chewed a piece of beef and spat out the cultural truth: “Moral blackmailing your dad? Jiang Yixuan, all you can do for him now is back off and stop being a nuisance.”
Looking at it this way, losing her mom young was not so bad—her own mother had left her endless money and ensured it was well-managed.
Jiang Yixuan’s eyes reddened. She glared at Qiao Chu, unwilling to submit. “Who gave you the right to decide for Bolang? Just because you’re privileged doesn’t mean you can look down on others!”
Qiao Chu, chewing a shrimp, didn’t even look up. “Oh? Then it’s fine if I look down on dogs, right?”
“Why should you decide for him? Just because you know him? Jiang Yixuan, you’re clingy—you’re not trying to cozy up to him, are you?”
Strike where it hurts: since the female lead valued her dignity above all, Qiao Chu stomped on it. She didn’t believe she’d stop until Jiang Yixuan’s temper flared.
Sure enough, Jiang Yixuan shot her a vicious glare, speech faltering. “Y-you shameless! Disgraceful!”
Then, flustered and furious, she covered her face and stormed away.
Qiao Chu felt a burning gaze from across the table, set down her utensils, and struck a dramatic pose. “Don’t idolize me too much—I’m just a legend.”
System Note: [Host, stop pretending, your words slipped!]
Qiao Chu glanced at Bolang and noticed a faint blush on his face.
No way, really? Already flustered by the audacious female lead? In that case, he was doomed—he’d be working like a servant for this little white-flower heroine in the future.
System: [Host, did you just imply—you and Bolang have a thing?]
“Cough! Cough! Cough!”
Qiao Chu was suddenly choked by freshly squeezed strawberry juice, coughing so violently she couldn’t catch her breath. Juice sprayed onto Bolang’s uniform shirt, staining it red.
Bolang’s heart inexplicably raced, his cheeks warming uncontrollably.
He had no idea why he reacted this way—he just instinctively handed her a napkin and some warm water, and rose to pat her back and help her recover.
“…Food comes first, don’t talk with your mouth full.”
Pronunciation was off, making it easy to misunderstand—choking himself wasn’t pleasant either.