Rejecting someone face-to-face turned out to be this painful.

So Yao Star妍 had been doing this all along? Even after receiving confessions, she’d never dated anyone till now.

Truly impressive.

Even I felt a pang in my chest just voicing rejection today—let alone Yao Star妍’s explosive reactions. Last time, I nearly got punched.

Unreasonable. Slightly violent. Beyond her pure, pretty face, she was honestly an unlikable girl.

And my current mission? To win over this very girl… then have her draw H-doujins of me.

This wasn’t just for me—it was revenge for the countless brothers brutally rejected by her!

Still… after deciding to confront the love letter she gave me, such scenes would only multiply, wouldn’t they?

The thought left my mood oddly tangled.

Hesitating, I suddenly spotted Yao Star妍 near the field exit, seemingly heading toward the school gate.

Catching my gaze, she whirled away.

I wouldn’t let my target escape. I chased after her.

"Yao Star妍!"

To my surprise, she stopped instead of ignoring me.

"What?" She turned back, face stiff.

Girls were truly puzzling. Last meeting, she’d chatted nonstop—now she acted like a stranger.

"A-ah… nothing. Just wanted to say your name."

"…Who was that person just now?"

Straight to the point.

She’d seen the whole scene. Her asking meant she cared, right?

"Just a classmate from my big lecture… needed help with something."

"Oh? *Something*? You’re quite popular, huh!"

Though her back was turned, her voice dripped with thorns.

Yao Star妍—unreasonable, rough-edged—yet this jealous reaction was oddly cute.

But I couldn’t let her know.

Not just for my revenge plan. For Guo Jia’s sake too. Who’d want their rejection broadcasted?

"It’s not what you think! Truly just ordinary stuff!"

Arms crossed, she turned her cute face away, smiling:

"Really? Then why did that classmate run off crying?"

"Eh?"

She’d seen *everything*. This was bad—I’d wanted to keep it secret, yet Yao Star妍 witnessed it all…

*All* of it?

Which meant…

"You’ve been spying on me since earlier?"

Like I’d struck a nerve, her body jolted as if electrocuted.

I closed the distance.

"N-nonsense! I just happened to see!"

"If you *just happened*—"

Before I finished, she deliberately twisted her fingers over my hand.

"Ow! That hurts!"

"*Ahem*. I was passing by. Accidentally saw… Besides, what if you got *starving for attention* again? I was ensuring that girl’s safety."

That excuse… I’d heard it this morning.

Was I really that dangerous in her eyes?

If so, why stand so calmly before me? Did she think I couldn’t touch her? Probably the latter.

Tch. This woman!

"…But…"

Her tone shifted—soft yet petulant:

"Why reject her? She was cute."

*You know why.* I wanted to win *you* over! Yao Star妍 had a talent for playing dumb too.

Time for a straightforward approach.

I answered with a bright, puzzled smile: "…Well, she’s not the one I like. How could I accept?"

"…Then who *is*?"

"What if I said… you?"

To avoid repeating history, I took a detour this time.

"I mean—I want to go out. Just the two of us."

Yao Star妍 halted. Her porcelain-perfect face lifted toward me. My palms slicked with sweat.

Black hair fluttered in the wind. Her lips curved into a flawless smile.

"I refuse."

*This!*

Such whiplash!

You really are something, Yao Star妍!

…

Back home.

Body and soul drained like a soldier fresh from battle, I collapsed onto my bed.

"Of course it wouldn’t be that easy—"

After everything, I’d thought it’d be smoother. She even owed me a favor—shouldn’t she have agreed out of obligation?

Then, during our outing, sparks would fly… Many novels used this trope! Even my old manuscripts did. Elder Sister Liu欣 had called it viable!

Reality and fiction truly diverged.

"Willow然’s theory was right after all—"

Was admitting it this late pointless?

But maybe it wasn’t my fault. Yao Star妍 was extraordinary—the first woman to reject my perfect looks!

Yes! The weird one is *her*! Not me!

Clutching the mantra *"The world’s at fault, not me,"* I soothed myself. Once calmer, I booted my computer, checked my blog, and replied to fan comments.

Days spent juggling Willow然 and Yao Star妍 left my inbox flooded. Fans had gone wild, fearing I’d vanished.

Only after my replies did the chaos settle.

Then, foolishly, I clicked Teacher Cha’s blog. Predictably, today’s drama was already posted. Comments all sang the same tune: *"pervert," "inappropriate."*

"Inappropriate" aside—"pervert"? Yao Star妍, the H-doujin master, outdid me easily.

Whatever. No need to argue with brainless fans.

Daily tasks done—novel drafting excluded for now—I launched *Godslayer*.

Only this could numb today’s sting…