"Hah... The type I like?"

If we're talking manga heroines, I'd probably lean toward the Yamato Nadeshiko type.

Quiet, gentle, dignified girls... Like in *Nisekoi*, I'd pick Kosaki Onodera over Chitoge Kirisaki any day.

Jilianbing’s face suddenly flashed through my mind.

No no no! That sadistic girl is absolutely *not* my type!

"Isn’t Jilianbing perfect? She’s basically the dictionary definition of flawless."

"Yeah... I guess she’s technically without flaws."

Like hell she is!

That’s all thanks to Miss Shirley.

Under that perfect Head Maid’s training, even a wild child like Lianbing would’ve turned into a proper young lady.

Though the fact that even Miss Shirley didn’t stop her warped worldview... hints at something deeper.

I’ve always thought this:

Women are utterly incomprehensible creatures.

Their brains must be wired completely differently from mine. How else to explain such massive gaps in thinking?

Just guessing what ordinary girls think is hard enough—let alone the *anything-but-ordinary* girls I know...

Are these people even human?

Too harsh? No. At least for me... every girl I know defies normalcy.

Seeing Lianbing always brings this thought rushing back.

"Right? Jilianbing’s every guy’s dream girl."

"Is she? What’s so great about *that* woman..."

"Huh? *That* woman? Weird reaction. Aren’t you dating her, Juncheng?"

Crap. That sounded way too resentful. Can I take it back?

"Well... technically yes, but—"

If they knew her true nature, fear would drown out any affection.

She’s a venomous beauty—deadly poison wrapped in gorgeous skin.

If I blindly threw myself into her arms? I’d be doomed.

"So tell me—what’s *actually* good about her?"

"Mainly her face. It’s criminally cute. That kind of beauty shakes your core. Humans are visual creatures, after all. We instinctively crave what’s pleasing to the eye."

"Ugh. I’ve lost hope in this looks-obsessed world..."

"And her figure’s amazing too. Hard to tell under the uniform, but Lan Hua let slip Jilianbing’s seriously stacked. No judgment here—but *you’ve* sampled the goods, right? Heh heh."

"Impossible... We’ve only been dating a week..."

"Really?"

We’d done some... intense things. But normal couples don’t do *that* on week one.

Those were just perks I earned nearly face-planting into pavement.

Still, even half as wild as what Xinran did while I slept made my heart race. Just remembering it sent chills down my spine.

"...Ah. Bell’s about to ring. Let’s head to class."

Desperate to avoid admitting Jilianbing fit my type, I cut the conversation short. I shrugged off Yingliang’s arm on my shoulder and headed for the back door first.

"Whoa! Watch out!"

A pretty-faced girl came sprinting toward me, panic flashing in her eyes.

Next second—shoulders collided. I toppled like a bowling pin. She barely stumbled.

She windmilled her arms to stop, then backtracked, offering a hand with a bright, apologetic smile.

"Ahaha! Sorry! Bell’s ringing—I was rushing! My bad~"

"...".

Her boundless energy made anger impossible. I sighed and took her hand.

Ice-cold!—like grabbing frozen water. I shivered involuntarily.

Before I could react, she yanked me up, dusted my sleeves, and chirped:

"Oh? If it isn’t Little Invisible Guy! Watch your step next time! I’m heading in!"

What the—*she* crashed into *me*, yet *I* should watch my step?

And "Little Invisible Guy"? My new nickname? ...Kinda accurate.

Wait—this was Li Nai, my seatmate, right?

Her title was "Awakened Zombie." That named Undead Corpse I met in the graveyard also had "Awakened" in its title. Could they be connected?

No wonder her skin was freezing... Had she already died once?

Another chill ran through me—not from cold, but dread. Like a ghost story in broad daylight.

"Hey, Juncheng. You okay?"

"Yeah..."

"You know Li Nai? Oh right—you sit together."

"No. First time talking today. Never even spoken before."

From what I recall, she’s super energetic... and *always* eating.

Li Nai nibbles bread since morning, finishes her bento before lunch, orders double portions at the cafeteria, and chats about food with her two glutton friends after school. A monster born of pure appetite.

Where does all that food *go*? Do girls’ stomachs lead to pocket dimensions?

"Huh? Even Li Nai—the social butterfly—ignores you?"

"She’s popular?"

"Gets along with everyone. Her sunny personality makes her more well-liked than Jilianbing in class."

"...Impressive."

I shrugged, hands in pockets, feigning disinterest.

*Energetic Girl Li Nai*, huh...

After morning classes, lunchtime arrived—the highlight of my day.

Why? Because today’s bento was made by Miss Shirley!

Learning from last time, I’d eat right here in class.

I pushed my desk against Lianbing’s and lifted the lid—then froze.

"Ah! Wait—I left my handkerchief in the restroom."

That handkerchief was a gift from the maids. Plus, it wiped Lianbing’s drool. I *had* to retrieve it.

"I’ll go with you."

"Seriously? You won’t follow me into the *boys’* restroom again?"

"Heh heh heh. I don’t mind~"

"*I* mind... Whatever. Do what you want."

"Then let’s go~"

Zero sense of propriety. She sprang up, looped her arm through mine, pressed her chest against my elbow, and leaned her whole body into me—playing the doting girlfriend.

Lianbing’s been weird today... forcing intimacy. And it feels like she’s *performing* for an audience.

What’s she scheming now?

Walking to the restroom, I felt more stares clinging to my back.

On the stairs, we brushed past a girl—Bai Yuhui.

I remembered her from the library incident where I accidentally made her cry.

But I still didn’t understand why she cried... or what that cryptic note meant.

I glanced back—just as she turned to look at me.

Our eyes met. No awkwardness. Just a strange, wordless understanding.

Her large eyes crinkled with warmth. A soft, radiant smile played on her lips before she turned and descended the stairs.

I was stunned. I never knew she could smile like that.

"Master Cheng?"

"Ah..."

"Ho ho~ Your *real* girlfriend’s right here, yet you’re gazing dreamily at another girl? Bold move."

"I wasn’t—"

"Still. Bai Yuhui *smiling*? Unbelievable."

"You know her?"

"Never underestimate my intel network. She’s a year younger. Recently became the talk of the school. Used to be invisible—until she ditched her glasses and let down that frumpy ponytail. Turns out she’s a beauty rivaling *me*. Must’ve fallen for someone. Love transforms girls completely~ Heh heh heh~"

She stroked her cheek.

"Since *I* was conquered by you, she’s become the new center of attention."

"Conquered? What are you—"

"Literally~ Heh heh~"

...She’s in a terrifyingly good mood today. My life might actually be safe.

"Though I hear she’s colder than me. Rejects confessions brutally. Unlike my gentle refusals."

You sadistic fox! You string those boys along, feeding false hope while they drown in delusion... A clean rejection would be kinder!

"So when she smiled at you just now? I nearly jumped. Maybe *you’re* the one she likes?"

"Don’t be absurd."

"Confidence, darling! You’re *my* chosen man, after all?"

"Honored to be chosen by the young lady."

"Cheeky~"

Her cutesy act was flawless...

Worse—I actually found it charming.

Tch. This sinful woman!