Catch a golden hamster!

Finally, an opportunity presented itself.

Tang Yawen seemed to have fallen asleep—her breathing steady, her posture relaxed.

The biology teacher began calling on students to answer questions.

“A multiple-choice question: Why does a white-haired mouse and a golden-haired mouse still produce white-haired offspring? Who can tell me?”

Lin Yuxuan quickly nudged Tang Yawen with her elbow.

Startled awake in an instant.

“Wenwen! The teacher called your name! Hurry up and stand!”

Tang Yawen panicked—she shot up faster than lightning.

“Hmm? You want to answer this one? Great! What’s your choice?”

The teacher was surprised—someone from the back row raising their hand?
This was rare enough to deserve recognition!

Tang Yawen was still half-asleep.
What?! I didn’t even hear the question! How do I answer this?! Waaaaah!

“Choose C—it’s the dominant gene.”

Yuxuan whispered quickly.

“C… I choose C…”

“Correct! Please sit down~”

The teacher was stunned.
Who would’ve thought the quiet girl in the back row knew the answer?

“Great job! Everyone, let’s follow her example and take learning seriously!”

The class clapped.

Tang Yawen blushed so hard her face looked like a red-hot iron plate—
one drop of water and she’d steam up the whole room.

She shot a shy, slightly annoyed look at Yuxuan,
only to find Yuxuan smiling at her proudly—clapping along with the rest.

Lin Yuxuan meant well.
She wanted Tang Yawen to step out of her corner and shine in the open.

But there was also a bit of self-interest in her heart…

Why was Wenwen suddenly avoiding her like this?
She had been making progress—what if she ran away again?

I have to catch her after school today!

After biology class, Yuxuan returned to her original seat.

It was still in the back row—but near the window, where the light was warm and the air was fresh.
Wenwen’s seat was all the way in the farthest, darkest corner of the classroom.

Yuxuan decided to keep some distance for now.
She didn’t want Wenwen to panic and say something weird.

Knowing how insecure Wenwen was,
she probably thought she didn’t deserve to have friends at all.

Better to let her think it over for now.
They’d talk tonight.

After class, the popular girls in class approached her for a chat.

Yuxuan had started to get the hang of socializing with them.

The secret was simple:
When girls talk, they don’t want advice—they just want someone to listen.

Be supportive, don’t judge, don’t interrupt.
Let them express themselves.

Over time, that kind of attitude earned you good reputation among girls.

Yuxuan occasionally glanced toward Wenwen’s seat.

She was watching too—stealing glances when she thought no one was looking.

She clearly wanted friends too…
She must’ve been tired of hiding in that dark, lonely corner.

If she wanted to change…
then Yuxuan would help her.

But first, she needed to understand what made her tick.

Evening rolled around. Time to go home.

“Xuanxuan, you coming with us?”

Xie Liting asked, her bag slung over her shoulder.

“You guys go ahead—I need to pack up slowly.”

Yuxuan deliberately took her time, waiting for the others to leave.

Once the classroom was empty, she turned her gaze to the back row.

Tang Yawen, who had been about to sneak out, froze mid-step.

“Wenwen… Teacher~ Where do you think you’re going~?”

Yuxuan said slowly, her voice dripping with sweetness.

But for Tang Yawen, that tone was more terrifying than a monster’s roar.

Just hearing that soft voice sent chills down her spine.
And that nickname—“Wenwen Teacher”?!
She was already on the verge of melting from embarrassment!

“I… I’m going home…”

“Can I walk with you~?”

Yuxuan leaned in close, their faces just inches apart.
Her tone was playful, teasing.

Wenwen blushed furiously.

“Th-That’s… that’s a big decision… I can’t just say yes…”

“I meant for drawing lessons, Teacher Wenwen~ Hehe~”

“I… I didn’t mean it like that……”

Tang Yawen was on the verge of tears.

She felt like Yuxuan was always just out of reach—
close enough to make her heart race,
distant enough to make her feel uneasy.

She was scared of her, yet…
those moments when she teased her made her heart flutter.

Am I… sick?

Tang Yawen couldn’t even describe how she felt.
These tangled emotions were like a bucket of mixed paint—
splashing across her heart in chaotic, beautiful colors.

“Give me your address, Wenwen Teacher. I need to stop by somewhere first. You can go home now—I’ll visit later~”

“Okay…”

Tang Yawen practically spilled her address in one breath—
every detail, no omissions.
She didn’t dare to hide anything, afraid the white-haired demon would come haunt her tomorrow.

“Got it~ I’ll remember~ See you soon, Wenwen Teacher~”

“See you…”

The moment Yuxuan left, Tang Yawen bolted like a golden hamster escaping a white cat.

“Hurry hurry! I need to clean up! Xuanxuan is coming over soon!”

She ran home in a flash, panicking.

“I can’t make a bad impression! Why is my room such a mess?! I should’ve thrown out all these takeout boxes earlier…”

She became a cleaning octopus—tidying everything from top to bottom.
Even the bathroom got a full deodorizing treatment with perfume.