Xiaolu’s Jealousy

(Xiao Lu’s Perspective)

“Pfft, pfft…”

I desperately splashed cold water on my face, trying to calm myself down, but I couldn’t do it at all.

Just thinking about what I said to Xiao Xi earlier, I didn’t know how to face Ling Yan. She didn’t even say anything, and I got all worked up on my own. Wouldn’t that make it seem like I had something going on with Zhou Chen? Even though that’s true, I’ve never dared to show it. After all, I’m just Zhou Chen’s friend, while Ling Yan is his girlfriend.

(But Ling Yan… damn it!)

I clenched my fist and slammed it hard on the sink. My fingers ached, but the anger in my heart just wouldn’t fade.

As Zhou Chen’s girlfriend, shouldn’t she have the awareness to act like one? That Xiao Xi was getting so close to him—even if she trusted him completely, she couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. What if Zhou Chen couldn’t resist the temptation and got snatched away?

(If only Zhou Chen were my boyfriend. I’d never let another girl get anywhere near him.)

And that Xiao Xi was shameless. From the moment she met Zhou Chen yesterday, she’d been clinging to him. So what if he helped her? It wasn’t a big deal.

If I’d known, I would never have let her join the swimming club.

“Sigh…”

I sighed, scooped up another handful of water, and splashed it on my face. The cold sensation slightly cooled my agitated mood.

Anyway, at least Zhou Chen only had eyes for Ling Yan. Even if I had no chance, neither did anyone else.

After splashing cold water on my face a few more times, I turned off the tap and looked up at myself in the mirror.

My fair, delicate face was covered in crystal-clear droplets, and my bangs were wet and stuck together. No matter how you looked at it, I was a pleasant-looking, pretty girl.

But Zhou Chen had never been moved. I’d always been by his side. Maybe I wasn’t as beautiful as Ling Yan, but among pretty girls, I was still top-notch.

I hate this. I really hate this feeling.

But I could only endure it. If Zhou Chen and Ling Yan found out about my feelings, Zhou Chen would definitely distance himself from me, and Ling Yan would make me stay away from him too.

I absolutely couldn’t let that happen.

Just thinking about it made me want to see Zhou Chen, to be with him. So I’d better go back quickly.

I roughly wiped my face with my sleeve and hurried back to the classroom.

“…When Xiao Xi said she’d make you a bento earlier, did you want it or not?”

Just as I reached the classroom door and was about to enter, I heard Ling Yan’s indifferent voice.

I originally planned to walk straight in, but for some reason, I inexplicably hid beside the door outside the classroom.

Maybe it was because Ling Yan had started hiding things between her and Zhou Chen, making me feel left out.

So now I’d find out what was going on between them in my own way.

I was also a bit angry. Ling Yan was too sneaky. When I was around, she pretended not to care and made me play the bad guy. The moment I left, she started getting jealous over Zhou Chen.

But how would Zhou Chen answer?

If he dared to say he wanted it, I’d drag Ling Yan away and ignore him for a whole day… No, would one day be too cruel? Maybe half a day.

I poked my head out and secretly observed Ling Yan and Zhou Chen.

Ling Yan sat upright as usual, her expression cold, but I knew she was definitely nervous. She always had a habit of touching her bangs when she was nervous.

As for Zhou Chen, tsk, the more I looked, the angrier I got. Faced with Ling Yan’s question, he shrank his neck and hunched his back. What was he so scared of? She wasn’t going to eat him. He never acted like that with me.

I gripped the doorframe tightly, feeling a bit sour inside.

This wasn’t jealousy. It was just… yes, it was like seeing a disappointing child.

“Well, Ling Yan, why are you suddenly asking? Of course I don’t want it.”

Zhou Chen didn’t hesitate at all. He waved his hands frantically and shouted, loud enough for me to hear clearly.

Even though I couldn’t see his expression from this angle, I could guess. He must have looked terrified. He liked Ling Yan so much that he was always extra serious about anything involving her.

“Mm, I was just wondering if Zhou Chen rejected my bento but wanted Xiao Xi’s.”

Ling Yan put down the hand touching her bangs. Though her tone still sounded unchanged, she was probably relieved.

And just like Ling Yan, I felt a slight relief after hearing Zhou Chen’s words. I didn’t want any other girl to take a piece of Zhou Chen away from me.

But what shocked me most was that Zhou Chen actually rejected Ling Yan’s bento. I thought he would have happily accepted it.

What was going on? I really wanted to ask.

But judging by Ling Yan’s demeanor, she probably wasn’t going to dig deeper. This was important, you know. What if Zhou Chen actually liked someone else’s bento?

But there wasn’t anyone else he ate with… wait, there was one more.

Could it be that Zhou Chen actually liked my bento? Thinking about it, that seemed right. After all, my bento was full of meat, and Zhou Chen once told me he really liked eating meat.

So should I make a bento for Zhou Chen? But I don’t know how to cook. No, I could ask Grandma to teach me. Grandma made my bento every day, and Zhou Chen had always praised her cooking.

Okay, it was decided. Just thinking about Zhou Chen eating a bento I made with my own hands made my heart leap with joy.

“I’m back.”

I came out from the corner and greeted Ling Yan and Zhou Chen.

I no longer cared about how they were when they were alone together. Now all I could think about was how to make a good bento.

“I told you not to eat so much. You just finished eating and went to the bathroom.”

Zhou Chen turned around and said rudely. If it were before, I would have made him apologize properly.

But now, no matter how I looked at it, Zhou Chen just seemed to want to eat my bento.

Hmph, if you want to eat, just say it. It’s not like I won’t give you any.

“None of your business. I can eat Ling Yan’s bento, and I can eat Xiao Xi’s, but you can’t, Zhou Chen. So jealous?”

I walked to my seat and sat down, turning to look at Zhou Chen. His expression showed a hint of envy.

“But don’t worry, Zhou Chen. You’ll get to eat it soon.”