A Tense Start at School

Because Qin Haiyue had already prepaid a full year of phone bills for the girl, she had no need to worry about data or minutes running out.

On the way to school, the girl didn’t touch her phone. She carefully stashed it in her backpack, hiding it away—after all, the school banned phones, and the thought of getting caught terrified her.

The girl clutched her backpack, her eyes sparkling like pink crystals shimmering with light, full of hope for the future.

Even though beside her sat Qin Haiyue, the one she both feared and dreaded.

Perhaps if things continued like this, Qin Haiyue would actually achieve the plan she had in mind. Fooling everyone, keeping the girl imprisoned at home like a pet. Yet, in just one short morning, she was already losing patience.

Looking at the smiling girl beside her, she felt a twinge of irritation.

She pressed her lips together, but decided to wait a little longer. After all, it was only the beginning.

****

They drove all the way to the school gate, ready to get out. The school entrance was crowded with students. Ye Xingmian instinctively reached for the hood of her jacket, but Qin Haiyue noticed the motion.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah? I… putting on my hood…”

“Are you cold?”

“Not really…”

“If you’re not cold, don’t wear it. I don’t like it.”

“Ah? Is that so…”

Though the girl didn’t actually care what Qin Haiyue liked, it was an order, and she didn’t dare disobey. After hesitating, she let go of the hood she had already half-raised.

“Mm, you look pretty good like this.” Qin Haiyue kept staring at her, making her feel immense pressure. The girl pressed her lips together and slung her backpack, which she had been hugging, onto her back.

“Don’t ever wear a hood again, got it? And if I find out you used my money to secretly cut your hair, I’ll break your legs.” Qin Haiyue emphasized again.

“Ah… okay…”

Seeing the girl nod in obedience, Qin Haiyue opened the car door and got out without waiting. Ye Xingmian followed after her.

It felt easier than she had expected. She had thought her appearance would attract attention and was very nervous, but most students entering and leaving the school were in groups, chatting with each other, too busy to notice her. This gave her some relief.

Well… it would be even better if she didn’t run into anyone she knew.

After all, she looked nothing like a boy in this state.

Qin Haiyue stood waiting at the school gate. The girl walked over to her side, and as soon as she arrived, Qin Haiyue coldly extended her hand.

“Huh?”

“What are you standing there for? You’re my lover now; naturally, you should hold my hand.”

“Ah? Is that really a thing?”

It was the first time she had heard of such a custom. After hesitating, the girl gently placed her small hand in Qin Haiyue’s palm. Together, they entered the school.

Honestly, it was very uncomfortable. Qin Haiyue walked without any consideration for her feelings. Because of the height difference, the girl had to expend much more energy to keep up. Moreover, Qin Haiyue held her hand very tightly, making her feel like she was being dragged along.

Finally, they reached the point where their paths split. Qin Haiyue stopped, and Ye Xingmian could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to pull her hand free, she looked up to meet Qin Haiyue’s icy blue eyes.

“Um… can you let go of me now?” She weakly attempted to withdraw her hand, testing the waters.

“Mm…” Qin Haiyue released her hand. She stared at the girl for a long moment. Ye Xingmian didn’t know what she was looking at and nervously twisted her fingers.

“You have my contact on your phone. If something comes up, you can call me.”

“Oh, okay.” Though she agreed, the girl couldn’t think of any situation where she would need Qin Haiyue’s help. It would be good enough if she didn’t bully her.

“Also…” For some reason, Qin Haiyue frowned, her usually sharp brow furrowing with slight confusion. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Mm, I’ll come find you at noon to take you out for lunch. Don’t wander off.”

“Okay.”

The air fell silent, and it was awkward. They had nothing to talk about, and Qin Haiyue felt she wasn’t good at handling this atmosphere. Frowning, she continued.

“Alright, you can go now.”

The girl nodded and walked away.

Watching her retreating figure, Qin Haiyue felt like she had forgotten something. What was it? Did she have someone coming over at noon?

Probably nothing important, or she wouldn’t have forgotten. Qin Haiyue sighed and walked in the opposite direction from the girl.

On the other side, Ye Xingmian had only gone halfway when she suddenly realized she had run into a problem.

What kind of problem? Specifically, she found that a familiar person was following her.

And that person… as luck would have it, wasn’t hiding it at all. After parting from Qin Haiyue, they came straight up to her.

Ye Xingmian had no choice but to stop. She shrank her head and tentatively greeted the person in front of her.

“Cla… class monitor…? Good morning…”

The newcomer was none other than Liu Yinuo.

She looked terrible, with heavy dark circles under her eyes, clearly not having slept well last night. Her face was haggard, and she gazed at the girl with a complicated expression.

What had happened to the class monitor? What had she been doing yesterday? The girl couldn’t help but worry.

“Monitor… did you have insomnia?”

Liu Yinuo didn’t answer her question. Instead, she took Ye Xingmian’s hand. Since they were of similar height, she could lean in right in front of the girl’s face.

“Why were you with Qin Haiyue just now? Did she do anything to you?” Liu Yinuo’s tone was off, but the girl didn’t notice. Staring at the monitor, who was so close to her, her heart suddenly fluttered, and a blush crept onto her cheeks.

Her heart was beating so fast…

The girl tried to pull her hand out of Liu Yinuo’s grip, but Liu Yinuo was holding too tightly, and she didn’t have the heart to use force. Lowering her head, she said softly, “No… she didn’t do anything to me…”

“Then what about the clothes you’re wearing? Those aren’t yours, are they? Did she buy them for you? Did you stay at her house last night?!”

Liu Yinuo’s tone grew more agitated, her voice louder, drawing sidelong glances from many people. The girl’s expression turned bitter. Liu Yinuo quickly realized her outburst, glanced around, and then tugged Ye Xingmian’s hand, roughly dragging her to a secluded spot.

“W-wait, monitor… you’re hurting me!”

Liu Yinuo’s grip was much stronger than her appearance suggested. She squeezed the girl’s wrist until it turned red and hurt. This was a corner by the science building, almost always empty.

Liu Yinuo ignored her complaint. Instead, she pressed the girl’s hand against the cold, rough wall, staring at her bewildered pink eyes. “Talk!” she shouted in a hoarse voice.

Ye Xingmian stared at her blankly. She had never seen the class monitor like this, and she was terrified.