An Unwanted Confession

The next day, Luo Yao, as was his custom, rose first.As for his ‘bargain’ sister, no one could ever predict when she would finally stir.The moment his eyes fluttered open, Luo Yao felt an inexplicable twitching in his eyelid.

A premonition of ill fortune suddenly settled in Luo Yao’s heart.However, after a careful review, he realized all his homework was complete, leaving him puzzled.Clearly, Luo Yao had yet to grasp the gravity of the situation.

From his current perspective, the only unusual thing was that his parents hadn’t returned home the previous night.

Lost in thought, Luo Yao had already changed and made his way to the kitchen alone to prepare breakfast.However, the mere thought of breakfast was enough to give Luo Yao a headache.

In his daily life, to avoid appearing peculiar, Luo Yao had meticulously observed and understood the way men in this world conducted themselves.Thus, he simply chose to act like the version of himself from his memories, ensuring he wouldn’t inadvertently reveal his true nature.

The Luo Yao of his memories possessed an incredibly gentle disposition, as delicate as his physical form, seemingly fragile enough to shatter at a touch.This inherent softness had shaped Luo Yao’s distinctive appeal; he appeared truly captivating, possessing a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, yet inexplicably evoking a powerful desire in others to protect him.

While this personality differed slightly from his former self, Luo Yao found the spontaneity of it quite agreeable.

‘By the rules of this world, shouldn’t the girls be preparing the food?Yet here I am, still lighting the stove and heating the oil in the end.This worthless sister (TL Note: ‘屑妹妹’ (xiè mèimei) is a Chinese slang term for a ‘good-for-nothing’ or ‘useless’ younger sister, often used in a teasing or exasperated manner), utterly useless….’

As Luo Yao grumbled about his worthless sister, he busied himself preparing the rice and other ingredients.

After some time, Luo Tingting emerged noisily from her room.Still groggy with sleep, she slumped into a chair at the dining table, her gaze fixed on Luo Yao in the kitchen with an odd expression.

“What kind of look is that?” Luo Yao asked, carrying the pot from the kitchen with a disdainful expression.Observing Luo Tingting’s peculiar face, he surmised she was undoubtedly lost in some strange thought again.

“Nothing… It’s just that sometimes, big brother, you’re really beautiful,” Luo Tingting replied with a mischievous grin.She then picked up a bowl and ladled a generous scoop of steaming white porridge from the pot.

Luo Yao offered no reply to Luo Tingting.After a simple breakfast, he merely slung his bag over his shoulder, opened the front door, and departed.

To be honest, even now, Luo Yao had not fully adjusted to the pace of life in this world.

Soon, Luo Yao purchased his subway ticket and embarked on his journey to school.As for his worthless sister, he decided to let her fend for herself.

However, in this world, there was one more thing Luo Yao had to be wary of when taking the subway.

On the subway, there would be many perverts.

These individuals were known for their wandering hands; during rush hour, they would always seize any opportunity to grope.Their primary targets were students, especially those as strikingly attractive as Luo Yao, which was a constant source of vexation for him.Fortunately, this particular subway train was not crowded, and most passengers were students from the same school.Luo Yao arrived at the school gates without incident.However, no sooner had he exited the subway station than he encountered someone he wished to avoid.

“Luo Yao, you’re here?” Su Mengqi asked, standing before the subway station, her eyes fixed intently on Luo Yao.

It was springtime, and the weather was gradually turning warm and dry.Su Mengqi had already switched to a short skirt, her fair, slender legs exposed to the air.Her coffee-colored hair drifted in the spring breeze, and a light, delicate makeup adorned her exquisite face.Compared to the usual defiant expression she showed others, Su Mengqi’s face now carried a faint blush.

“Mm… Good morning, Su-classmate,” Luo Yao replied, offering a polite smile upon seeing Su Mengqi.

“Shall we walk together?” Su Mengqi asked, a hint of shyness in her voice, for the subway exit was indeed still some distance from the school.

“Alright…” Luo Yao reluctantly agreed to Su Mengqi’s invitation.He was acutely aware of Su Mengqi’s intentions.The reason Luo Yao had never responded to her subtle hints was quite simple.

Luo Yao’s heart had always held a place for someone else, which was the primary reason he had never accepted Su Mengqi’s advances.

Rather than saying his heart held someone, it was more accurate to say that this person had so thoroughly ravaged Luo Yao’s emotions that he had grown entirely indifferent to such things.

Moreover, Luo Yao had always feared, or perhaps been somewhat curious about, what ‘she’ in this world would be like.

Yet, curiosity notwithstanding, Luo Yao truly wished not to encounter her again in this lifetime.

‘Please, no.’

Furthermore, Luo Yao believed that dating in high school was unnecessary, a pure waste of time.He also felt little for Su Mengqi standing before him; she was merely a high school student still months away from adulthood, incapable of stirring any significant ripples in Luo Yao’s heart.

While such feelings might be understandable for someone who had yet to experience life, for Luo Yao, who had already lived through high school once, the novelty of adolescent romance had long since faded.

Perhaps it was more accurate to say Luo Yao preferred something a little more stimulating.

“Luo Yao, are you tired carrying your bag?Should I take it for you?” Su Mengqi suddenly asked mid-way, extending a fair, slender arm towards Luo Yao.

“This… that might cause a misunderstanding, let’s just forget it,” Luo Yao said, furrowing his brow and declining Su Mengqi’s offer.He was perfectly aware of Su Mengqi’s intentions.

“I’m not afraid of any misunderstandings, Luo Yao.There’s something you absolutely must know.”Just as Luo Yao refused her, Su Mengqi abruptly stopped, positioning herself in front of him and blocking his path.

“What is it?” Luo Yao’s brow furrowed, sensing that this matter was not so simple.

“Hmph… Luo… Luo Yao, I like you.Will you go out with me?” Su Mengqi, standing before Luo Yao, adjusted her breathing, appearing outwardly composed but inwardly flustered, as she finally uttered the words she had longed to say.

Su Mengqi wasn’t sure why she had suddenly confessed, yet her subconscious mind told her this seemed to be the perfect moment for a declaration.

Regarding this confession, Su Mengqi had actually intended to make it tomorrow, hoping to surprise Luo Yao.However, she found herself unable to hold back, blurting it out impulsively.

Along the path, quite a few students from the same school were present.While they had initially been drawn by the sight of Luo Yao or Su Mengqi, they were now all stunned into silence by Su Mengqi’s sudden, heartfelt confession.

Luo Yao, meanwhile, was famously known as the ‘Campus Heartthrob’ among the local schools.

Most students from the same school were aware of Su Mengqi’s family background.However, no one minded the spectacle; they all stood rooted to the spot, awaiting Luo Yao’s response.

Luo Yao, too, was well aware of Su Mengqi’s family background, knowing that apart from his own appearance, the two of them were practically from different worlds.

At this moment, Luo Yao’s eyelid twitched even more rapidly.Moreover, faint dark lines were subtly visible on his face, indicating his displeasure.

At this very moment, the crowd began to stir with jeers and cheers.Onlookers started to encircle Luo Yao and Su Mengqi.

A cacophony of voices erupted from the crowd, a mix of every conceivable sound, and the scene was rapidly spiraling out of control.

People, naturally, loved to egg on and gossip, especially when it involved popular campus figures.

“Luo Yao, I truly like you, please just say yes, okay?” Seeing Luo Yao’s face gradually darken, Su Mengqi felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

“Mengqi, we’re still high school students.As for dating, I plan to consider it once I’m in university.As students, our focus should be on our studies.However, I appreciate your feelings, and thank you for your affection.”For a moment, Luo Yao was at a loss for how to reject Su Mengqi.He resorted to this classic rejection template, effectively giving Su Mengqi the ‘friend zone’ card.

Furthermore, Luo Yao had no intention of leading Su Mengqi on, as he genuinely did not like her.

‘Affection should be a mutual feeling, not something forced, right?’

“If that’s the case… then we…”

“We can still be friends.”

Seeing Su Mengqi so disheartened, Luo Yao could only try to comfort her by offering friendship.

Upon hearing this, Su Mengqi was suddenly overcome with a sense of disappointment.She wanted to say more, but Luo Yao cut her off.

Without waiting for Su Mengqi to speak, Luo Yao intended to bypass her and leave alone.However, the moment Luo Yao started to walk away, Su Mengqi quickly followed, leaving the bewildered crowd behind.

What followed was the ‘man-eating incident’ (TL Note: ‘吃人事件’ (chīrén shìjiàn) is a Chinese idiom for a scandalous event that spreads rapidly through gossip, metaphorically ‘devouring’ reputations or attention), which spread like wildfire and gave Luo Yao a massive headache.

He estimated that the events of this morning would likely be retold in several different versions.

This might also be the reason Luo Yao’s eyelid had been twitching since he woke up that morning.Or perhaps there were other reasons, but at the very least, Luo Yao’s scalp was already prickling with dread.