11
Pei Jiamu had lost his appetite these past few days and felt like life had no meaning.
Right after the first class ended on those two afternoons, International Class 2 immediately became lively.
No. 1 High School adhered to the educational philosophy of “entertaining while teaching, comprehensive development.” Not only did their rate of students entering top-tier universities surpass other high school in the city, but they also had more student clubs activities than other schools.
The next class was a unified club period for the senior year, and everyone was tidying up their appearance and preparing what they needed for the class.
Pei Jiamu was on the swimming team. Normally, he would have already dashed out of the classroom with his gym bag.
But now…
He lay sprawled across his desk, daydreaming, like a giant plush toy hugging a desk toy. A regular-sized desk could no longer contain him.
“What’s up, Classmate Pei? You haven’t been going out or even scrolling on your phone for days. Is it your ‘man period’?”
“I don’t know, either.”
He flipped over and continued lying there, mumbling to himself: “No fun. Nothing’s fun.”
Even bickering with Wu Jiao was more interesting.
Ever since finding out that day that Wu Jiao liked him, Pei Jiamu had also started avoiding her.
He didn’t know what attitude he should take toward her.
Who would have thought that Wu Jiao had such deep feelings for him?
They had been at odds with each other all these years. She should be able to tell that he wasn’t interested in her, right?
If Wu Jiao actually confessed to him, how was he supposed to refuse?
He didn’t like her, but he also didn’t want to make a girl sad.
Still, continuing to avoid her like this wasn’t a solution. After not arguing with Wu Jiao for a while, he kind of missed it.
Pei Jiamu suddenly sat up straight, shaking the desk.
“Oh my god, what am I thinking!”
How could he feel that arguing with Wu Jiao was interesting?! Had his brain been eaten by a dog?!
“What’s wrong, bro? You scared me!”
Ge Cheng’an, who had been playing on his phone on Pei Jiamu’s desk, nearly got knocked over.
Pei Jiamu had a strange look on his face.
He spoke up: “If you like arguing with someone, what psychology is behind that?”
Ge Cheng’an perked up immediately upon hearing this and put down his phone.
“Bro, you’ve definitely come to the right person.”
“This person you’re arguing with—are they male or female? Are they pretty?”
Ge Cheng’an looked eagerly curious.
“She’s definitely—” Pei Jiamu almost fell for it. “What difference does it make? It’s for a buddy of mine who recently keeps wanting to argue with a girl.”
“The difference is huge!” Ge Cheng’an looked experienced and worldly. “If a guy likes arguing with other guys, that’s just being full of energy and having nothing better to do, stirring up trouble. But if a guy likes arguing with a girl—”
“Then what?”
“Then it’s definitely, absolutely, without a doubt, one hundred percent because he likes her.”
“…That’s impossible!”
“What’s so impossible about it? At this age, if a guy doesn’t like someone, he wouldn’t even want to talk to her. He’d slap her away. Let alone be willing to argue with her. Lots of couples only get sweeter the more they argue. Not being able to argue anymore is the real sign of not liking someone.”
“Bro, go back and tell your buddy,” Ge Cheng’an said, acting like he was in an opera, his expressions over-the-top as he began to sing, “Love always pops up without you realizing it. Love begins with arguing.”
“…I’m going to class.”
Pei Jiamu looked speechless, slung his gym bag over his shoulder, and left.
Across the way in the other teaching building, Classroom 7.
Many students had already left the classroom, each heading to their club activities, but Wu Jiao was still dawdling.
She really didn’t want to go to club.
Xiao E: “Host, skipping class on your own initiative will deduct morality points. Hurry up.”
“But I feel like throwing up every time I see that guy.”
The “that guy” Wu Jiao was talking about was Luo Yihuan, the vice president of the Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) club.
Before Wu Jiao had awakened, in this brainless restrictive story, the person Wu Jiao liked the most was him. She had even defied the “young lady” for him.
Wu Jiao was completely done.
“The author wants me to like him. There should be some reason for it, right? I’d like Pei Jiamu before I’d ever like him.”
Pei Jiamu was way better looking than him. Comparing the two, Pei Jiamu was on a completely different level.
Besides his face being hard to look at, Luo Yihuan wasn’t even tall. But because he worked out, he had a decent muscular physique, so overall, he was barely passable.
Although Wu Jiao was superficial about looks, she didn’t judge people by their faces alone.
Luo Yihuan’s personality was just awful. He was narcissistic, had low emotional intelligence, was stupid but loved showing off, and spoke to girls in an oily, rude manner.
He was like a walking, horny little dog. During class, he would often use the excuse of teaching girls moves to cop a feel.
Although Pei Jiamu could sometimes act like a kid who didn’t understand boundaries between boys and girls—like suddenly putting her in a headlock from behind, or tugging at her hair when he couldn’t win an argument—it was always because she had provoked him first.
He would just put on an act, but he never actually fought back.
When Pei Jiamu kept his mouth shut, he could actually look pretty decent.
So, Wu Jiao couldn’t understand why she was supposed to like Luo Yihuan. Not only did she sign up for Sanda club because of him, even though she wasn’t good at it at all, but she also privately gave him various handmade gifts to show her feelings.
She felt like dying.
On top of that, this guy looked down on her with contempt and threw away all the gifts she gave him.
He even said to her, “A stupid, ugly woman like you? I wouldn’t want you even if you paid me to sleep with you.”
Last club meeting, Wu Jiao had kept her distance from him.
But then he specifically sought her out, wearing an expression that said, “Can’t get rid of her, so annoying,” and then went on and on telling her not to come to class anymore.
It was completely baffling.
Xiao E: “Host, you’re so unlucky. You fell and hurt your arm and leg last time and they’re still not healed, and now you have to go practice Sanda again.”
“It’s fine, just a little injury. It doesn’t matter, and thanks to the class monitor.”
Wu Jiao raised her elbow. Because it had been treated promptly, only a bruise remained.
Just then, several exclamations suddenly erupted in the classroom.
“Oh my god, Class Monitor, is your hand okay?!”
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry! It was my fault for being careless. I shouldn’t have asked you for help, Class Monitor. You still have to go practice piano!”
The girl who spoke looked like she was about to cry from guilt.
“Stop talking. Who has antiseptic and band-aids?”
Only a few people were left in the classroom.
Wu Jiao looked toward the source of the noise. Several girls were gathered around Si Xiuyuan, staring at something. One of them was holding a mechanical bow and looking helplessly at Si Xiuyuan’s hand.
The girl was from the archery club. She had accidentally knocked a part off her mechanical bow and had asked Si Xiuyuan for help. He had managed to fix the part, but in the process, he had gotten a large cut on his finger.
Si Xiuyuan put his hand behind his back, blocking their view.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry. Just a small cut. The archery range is quite far from here. You all should go to class first. I’ll take care of it myself.”
“But, but…”
“It really is nothing. There are only a few minutes until class starts. Don’t be late, or you might lose participation points.”
Si Xiuyuan smiled at them and gently coaxed them away.
As soon as they left, he casually grabbed a piece of tissue to wipe the cut as if that counted as treating it, then strapped on his violin case and prepared to go to class.
At the same time, Xiao E: [Triggered transformation task – “His pain, my heart.” Treat Si Xiuyuan’s wound. Morality points +5.]
“Class Monitor, wait.”
Si Xiuyuan stopped and turned around. Wu Jiao had appeared out of nowhere, holding a large bag.
Inside the bag were antiseptic, cotton swabs, band-aids, gauze, ointment, and spray.
On the day of the “Middle Finger Apology,” after Wu Jiao fell, she had forgotten about the pain herself. It was Si Xiuyuan who had brought this bag of supplies from the nurse’s office to treat her.
Her injury hadn’t been serious, just looked scary. But she hadn’t expected Si Xiuyuan to notice that she was hurt.
This person was too attentive. He was perfect for the role of class monitor.
“Class Monitor, this is the bag you gave me after I fell last time. I just happened to forget to return it. You should at least treat your hand.”
Si Xiuyuan met her eyes. They were full of worry, just like those other girls.
Ah, so annoying.
He didn’t want to deal with it.
Si Xiuyuan subtly masked his annoyance and looked up at her with a smile. “It’s fine. I’ve already treated it. There are only four minutes until class. The Sanda club is quite far from here. You should hurry.”
The same words, the same desire to reject someone.
But Wu Jiao had seen it with her own eyes. Could wiping it like one wipes their hand really count as treating it?
How could someone who played the violin be so careless with their own hands?
[He’s so kind and gentle to others, yet so impatient with himself. Sigh, Si Xiuyuan, what kind of person are you really?]
Wu Jiao lamented to herself. Even with her god’s-eye view, she still couldn’t figure Si Xiuyuan out.
But fortunately, she wasn’t the female lead, so she didn’t need to understand him.
Xiao E urged her: [Host, speed it up. Don’t be late just for morality points. If you get caught, they’ll deduct participation points!]
Wu Jiao: I know, I know. Isn’t that what I’m hurrying for?
Wu Jiao didn’t say another word. She stepped forward and grabbed Si Xiuyuan’s hand.
She moved quickly. Si Xiuyuan hadn’t seen it coming, and his injured hand was already taken by her.
He instinctively tried to pull away, but his hand tightened as Wu Jiao firmly grabbed it with both hands and held it in her palms.
Xiao E: [Host! Si Xiuyuan hates physical contact!]
Wu Jiao: What does him hating physical contact have to do with me getting morality points?
“Don’t move. Be careful with the wound. I’ll be done quickly.”
Wu Jiao didn’t realize that her tone was a bit harsh, like a command or like she was scolding him for not being more careful.
Si Xiuyuan’s attempt to pull away paused. This time, Wu Jiao held on even tighter.
“Class Monitor, you don’t want me to be late either, right? So, let’s not waste time. Let’s get this done quickly.”
Wu Jiao deftly tore open a cotton swab and began treating his wound.
The cut was quite deep, a long gash slanting from the back of his hand down to the middle of his index finger. It was still oozing blood and looked somewhat alarming.
Wu Jiao didn’t dare apply too much pressure. She handled it very gently, cradling his hand in hers, her eyes wide open as she treated it with the same care someone might use while panning for gold.
He had only ever seen that expression on her face when she was working on a math problem.
Si Xiuyuan stared at the girl’s earnest face. His arm, which had stiffened at her touch, gradually relaxed.
But the sensation of contact with her skin was too noticeable. He felt uncomfortable, and his fingers unconsciously curled slightly.
Wu Jiao caught his movement and asked, “Does it hurt? Want me to go lighter?”
After saying that, Wu Jiao suddenly gave him a very quick wink.
[Wait, that sounded so weird! Feels like I’m coming onto him or something. Is he going to think I’m some kind of perv? Well, so be it if he does! I mean, it’s not wrong! It’s just a little awkward.]
Si Xiuyuan, who had heard Wu Jiao’s inner thoughts: “…”
Just when he started to think differently of Wu Jiao, she always found a way to make him change his mind.
“…It doesn’t hurt.”
“Good that it doesn’t hurt.”
She let go of his hand, wrapped a bandage around it, and finally tied a small bow.
“Done, Class Monitor. My skills are limited. You should probably still go to the nurse’s office and have the school nurse take a look at it later. Here, I’m returning this medical kit to you. I’m off!”
Wu Jiao packed up, grabbed her Sanda gloves and foot target, and turned to leave.
“Wait.”
The corner of her shirt was gently caught and released by Si Xiuyuan. He reached out with his long arm and smoothly slipped the medical kit into her bag.
“You need this more for your Sanda practice. Although I hope you never have to use it, you should still keep it, just in case. If I need it later, I’ll ask you for it.”
Si Xiuyuan’s voice was clear and melodious.
Xiao E: [Host, Si Xiuyuan is really thoughtful toward you! I kind of feel like he treats you differently than he treats others.]
Wu Jiao: You’re overthinking it. He’s like this with everyone he’s not close to. He’ll only act differently with the female lead. Of course, he’ll also be way more twisted with her.
[I’m just a side character. My relationship with Si Xiuyuan will only ever be that of ordinary classmates. I’ll only ever see his friendly, gentle side. I’ll never get the chance to witness his twisted side.]
Wu Jiao thanked Si Xiuyuan and ran off, leaving him standing there alone, thinking about the inner thought he had just heard.
He raised his hand and looked at the little bow, curling his lips into a smile that was hard to interpret.
Only ordinary classmates, huh?
What if he didn’t want that?
**