Sensing his probing gaze, the young man outside the house seemed to freeze for a moment as well, his deep black pupils concealing an unreadable emotion.
Their eyes met and then broke apart. Wen Ying closed the door.
On the screen, the favorability bar beside Huo Jueyue’s name hung conspicuously at -5.
And within just one minute, Qu Huo’s favorability had already risen from 0 to 7, and was still slowly climbing.
“He doesn’t seem like a villain.”
Wen Ying glanced at the favorability meter, clumsily tearing open the package while speaking to “Gentleman.”
In the book, although Qu Huo had good grades, he was a school bully just as infamous as Huo Jueyue skilled at fighting and frequently skipping class.
But the Qu Huo standing outside the door just now was not only well-groomed, but his demeanor showed no trace of a delinquent.
[Whether he’s a villain or not is just the author’s perception.]
“Gentleman” suggested helpfully.
[Coincidentally, he also attends Mingying. If Your Highness finds his character agreeable, you could try befriending him after school starts.]
In the past, many people liked the young prince, but he had very few friends, and he was always lonely.
It didn’t want the young prince to get into early romance, but it did hope he could make new friends in a new environment and no longer be alone.
Qu Huo, who had been admitted based on his grades, was certainly more reliable than the likes of Huo Jueyue, who got in by throwing money around.
Wen Ying’s hand paused briefly. “I’m not interested in him.”
In the future, Qu Huo would reclaim his roots and return to the Huo family, becoming the gloomy older brother Huo Jueyue hated most a stumbling block in Huo Jueyue’s romantic pursuits, locked in endless conflict with him.
But the Qu Huo of now was just a poor student who had earned his way into the elite boys’ school through excellent grades, delivering packages to support his sick adoptive mother.
Qu Huo was pitiful, so he would give this still-down-and-out villain a bit more delivery tip.
That was all.
Wen Ying was merely surprised that Qu Huo’s favorability had come so quickly even easier than obtaining the men’s clothing.
[Very well, Your Highness.]
“Gentleman” replied with a smile.
The young prince had grown up, but he was still a good child with a tough mouth and a soft heart.
It took Wen Ying a quarter of an hour to learn the process of tipping the delivery man.
In the remaining time, Wen Ying attempted to tidy up the mess in the bedroom, but due to his inexperience, his efficiency was extremely low.
After barely stuffing the exposed tulle skirt back into the wardrobe, he reluctantly washed up and got into bed.
Having finally gotten through the plot, Wen Ying stared blankly at the pink ceiling with lifeless eyes.
Tomorrow would be an even worse day.
[Your Highness, you only got four hours of effective sleep last night.]
“Gentleman” looked worriedly at Wen Ying in the mirror, who had faint dark circles under his eyes.
He wasn’t used to the bed, and he had too much information to process, so naturally he slept lightly.
Having failed at learning to toast bread, Wen Ying angrily bit into the burnt slice and stubbornly said, “I’m fine.”
The next plot node showed that Huo Jueyue would soon be forced by his old man to come pick him up, followed by a series of baffling behaviors.
These baffling behaviors included but were not limited to forcing him into the car, mocking him during the ride, and deliberately slowing down to make him late.
At that thought, Wen Ying lightly pinched his own wrist to stay alert.
Through the large villa’s glass window, he could see a flashy red convertible already parked steadily at the entrance.
In the car, Huo Jueyue wore his school uniform and large sunglasses, looking like a rooster with its tail raised high.
He couldn’t lose in presence.
Wen Ying’s fatigue and irritation vanished in an instant, replaced by a deliberately cold and aloof expression.
Outside, Huo Jueyue leaned back against the seat, his fingers rhythmically tapping the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
His brows were furrowed into deep creases, as if contemplating how to put Wen Ying in his place.
The sunlight happened to fall perfectly on his profile, dazzling to the eyes.
Thankfully, their young prince was averse to fools and hadn’t even given him a proper glance.
“Gentleman” secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Wen Ying slung his bag over one shoulder, wearing plain men’s clothing as he opened the front door.
As a transfer student, he still needed to pick up his school uniform from the school, so he could only wear his own clothes.
“No parking here.”
Before Huo Jueyue could open his mouth to mock him, Wen Ying pointed at the red sign not far away. “You should drive off quickly.”
Few people ever reminded him about parking regulations.
Huo Jueyue was embarrassed for a moment, then steadied himself and looked up.
He put on a fierce expression, but the moment he saw Wen Ying, he swallowed the sarcastic words on the tip of his tongue.
Damn, this shorty was actually quite tall… and quite good-looking too.
Because no one had helped him, Wen Ying’s hair was carelessly managed, simply tied into a low ponytail at the back of his head.
But his messy bangs couldn’t hide his delicate features.
Wen Ying wore a cold, standoffish expression, yet he had a pair of big, expressive eyes that seemed to speak.
He looked just like a pretty girl.
An inexplicable restlessness stirred in his heart. Huo Jueyue curled his lips into a smile and snapped his fingers.
“Rules? I’m the rule around here.”
He graciously decided not to make things difficult for the shorty.
Huo Jueyue extended his pampered hand, knocking his knuckles against the window to signal Wen Ying to get in.
“Oh.”
Wen Ying merely glanced at him and walked straight past the car.
The place he lived in seemed to have no one managing it.
So if Huo Jueyue parked illegally, there was nothing he could do about it for now.
“Hey, where are you going?”
Huo Jueyue panicked.
He stretched out his long arm, about to grab Wen Ying’s wrist.
Feeling the weight on her arm, Wen Ying’s eyes sharpened.
She instinctively shifted her body slightly to the side, her forearm muscles tensing, veins bulging on her hand as she grabbed Huo Jueyue’s wrist, ready to twist it down.
Young Highness, be careful!]
The gentleman quickly warned.
Touching the young Highness recklessly Huo Jueyue was stepping on a steel plate.
Wen Ying had never served in the military, but she had undergone proper training at the military headquarters for a few months. The last man who harassed the young Highness had suffered a comminuted fracture of his leg bones and was still lying in bed.
Wen Ying reacted quickly enough, releasing her grip the moment she turned Huo Jueyue’s wrist red, pushing him away.
She said nothing, merely stepping back from the flashy red Maybach, watching Huo Jueyue with calm composure.
Huo Jueyue’s wrist throbbed with pain, and under Wen Ying’s gaze, an odd flush crept across his face.
“I didn’t want to deal with you either.”
He withdrew his hand, stammering, “It’s my old man who told me to pick you up for school.”
“Get in the car.”
“I’ll go on my own, no need to trouble you.”
Hearing Wen Ying’s indifferent reply, Huo Jueyue grew anxious, his brows knitting into a frown again.
“Shorty, you dare refuse me?”
Wen Ying was so disgusted by his cheesiness that goosebumps broke out all over.
“Shorty” was Huo Jueyue’s “pet name” for the original female lead disrespectful, and it felt jarring when applied to him.
“You speed, and I’m worried about getting into a car accident.”
From the descriptions in the book, Huo Jueyue treated speed limits as if they didn’t exist, often driving so fast that he scared Wen Yingying into screaming.
And most importantly, he didn’t have a driver’s license.
Wen Ying had a sensitive stomach, didn’t want to put herself through that, and was too lazy to come up with excuses to spare Huo Jueyue’s pride.
Huo Jueyue was caught off guard by her blunt jab, momentarily at a loss for words.
Wen Ying ignored him, turning and walking away briskly.
Anyway, Huo Jueyue couldn’t touch her, and he didn’t really want to share a car with her either.
At worst, she’d just deduct a few more points from Huo Jueyue’s favorability…
[Young Highness, Huo Jueyue’s favorability toward you has increased.]
The “gentleman” drew in a sharp breath.
If it remembered correctly, the young Highness had clearly never given him a kind look.
Human emotions were just too complex.
It didn’t understand; it was deeply shocked.
Getting scolded and still gaining favorability.
Did Huo Jueyue have some kind of special fetish?
Catching a glimpse of Huo Jueyue’s favorability rising from -5 to 0, Wen Ying’s Adam’s apple bobbed as she decisively quickened her pace to leave.
What a creep.
Left behind, Huo Jueyue snapped back to reality in the car, wiping his face and licking his lips.
He stared intently at Wen Ying, the faint flush on his face yet to fade.
He hadn’t seen Wen Ying before, only learned a few days ago that he was the son of his father’s old friend, who had been studying abroad all this time.
Little thing, quite interesting.
“Master Huo he, he’s already gone.”
Huo Jueyue’s lackey, wearing an expression of someone enjoying the show, reminded him in a low voice.
He had originally come to help Young Master Huo cause trouble for the guy, so why was Huo’s attitude so strange?
It seemed like he was pleased.
“I know! None of your business.”
Exposed, Huo Jueyue was embarrassed, but still tucked two strands of hair behind his ears, grinding his molars in frustration.
With Wen Ying gone, he lost all interest in driving.
“Let’s go.”
Mingying Academy was decorated in lavish splendor, with European-style teaching buildings and even a sports field designed like a Roman Colosseum.
It wasn’t yet the season for cherry blossoms, so the cherry trees outside the school were lush and green, leaves rustling in the morning breeze.
The entrance was packed with luxury cars, various extended models clogging the already congested road.
Students were coming and going in a steady stream, and Wen Ying blended in among them, secretly relieved.
Good thing she hadn’t ridden with Huo Jueyue, or she’d probably still be stuck halfway there.
Wen Ying had a good sense of direction and quickly found the classroom for Class 1, Year 2 in the sprawling campus.
Most students were still stuck in their extended limousines, so the classroom wasn’t crowded.
A few boys chatting in small groups cast glances at her, their gazes filled with curiosity and a hint of admiration.
“He’s new.”
Whispers drifted over faintly.
Wen Ying was in a hurry to get her uniform, so she only gave them a brief nod in greeting.
Following the descriptions in the book, she found an empty seat in the corner and set down her bag.
The spot was too close to Huo Jueyue; she’d need to find a way to change it later.
Lost in thought, Wen Ying naturally didn’t notice that in another corner, a boy dozing on his desk lifted his head casually, his dark eyes fixed on Wen Ying.
The tall boy’s British-style uniform was washed to a faded shade, but his outfit was neat and clean.
“…”
The youth only glanced for a moment, then lowered his head again.
After putting away her bag, Wen Ying hurried out of the classroom.
As time passed, more and more students gathered in the hallway.
Free from the confines of the classroom, the students chatted more boldly than indoors, all kinds of voices flooding into Wen Ying’s ears.
“Daddy bought me a new phone it folds!”
“So what? Mommy said if I get good grades this semester, she’ll take me to Madagascar for a vacation.”
“But I’ve been to Madagascar like a dozen times already. It’s so boring.”
Wen Ying:
At eighteen, he was placed into the second year as a transfer student, which meant that even the youngest students in this school, the first-years, were sixteen or seventeen.
Sixteen or seventeen, and they were still calling out “Daddy” and “Mommy.”
[The school has a three-year system and is a full-time undergraduate program, but judging by the curriculum and class divisions, it resembles more of an aristocratic high school.]
[It’s just that in this worldview, high school students enroll at a younger age, have very little access to electronic devices, follow a more packed schedule, and don’t have the same freedom in their daily routines as Ming Ying.]
“Gentleman” sighed.
[The settings were all written by the author perhaps that “Xixi Baobao” lady yearned for this kind of school life.]
“Also, the platform where the author writes underwent a rectification, and it’s stipulated that high school students can’t be in relationships.”
Wen Ying had read the first volume twice more last night and was already numb: “You can’t apply common sense here; I’ve gotten used to it.”
[Exactly. From the author’s interview, it’s clear that setting Ming Ying as a college student also made it easier for her to write about students who can date and play on their phones every day, and who appear even more foolish, naive, and eager to join in on the excitement than high schoolers.]
“Gentleman” paused, then said.
[Because big data tells me that college students really are like that.]