"Xulu, you really are something else."

After returning to their seats, Liming sincerely praised Xulu. But this sudden compliment left her slightly confused. She released his hand, her composed demeanor returning.

"Something else? If anyone’s impressive here, it’s you, Liming. Why praise me out of nowhere? Are you mocking me~?"

"No, you truly are. Like with Liqianying earlier—you really saved me back there."

Liming wasn’t an idiot. When he’d been stuck, unsure how to handle things, Xulu had clearly stepped in to help. Without her, he might’ve remained helpless against Liqianying.

He always treaded carefully with girls’ feelings, avoiding mutual hurt.

Thinking of emotions, Liming vaguely recalled middle school. His overuse of his talent had caused quite a mess. The details were now hazy, distorted—but he remembered Senior Bailin appearing somehow. He instinctively shied away from those blurred memories.

"That wasn’t me being impressive. Without you there, Liqianying and I might’ve stayed locked in that standoff forever."

Xulu touched her thick braid, as if pondering something. But Liming couldn’t grasp her meaning.

"Well... I didn’t do much..."

"No, you did a lot."

Without Liming as the buffer, both would’ve clung to their pride, refusing to back down first.

Liming was the perfect neutral point. In high school, where crushes bloomed naturally, he hadn’t noticed his own appeal. He was so exceptional that girls liked him instantly—even without his talent.

Liqianying felt it. Xulu felt it. Only someone as flawless as Liming could win them over.

Truthfully, Xulu had held the upper hand during their standoff. Liqianying’s aloofness left her passive.

It wasn’t some absurd love triangle—just a shared, favorable impression of Liming.

"Someone like Liqianying, who keeps everyone at arm’s length? You’re the one who should handle her. I’ll step back after this—next time, we might really clash."

"Don’t worry. As class rep, I’ll take care of it."

Liming rubbed his nose, feeling uneasy. The class beauty queen showed no mercy. Several officers had already been humiliated by her, dumping the task onto him.

"But Xulu, you’ve gotta teach me how to deal with her. Or I’ll end up kicked across the room like Qianxing."

Every chat with Liqianying made Liming nervous. One flying kick, and his authority as rep would vanish.

"...It’s simple. Be firm with her, Liming. Leave no room for ambiguity. Someone like her? She’d rather avoid that type altogether."

"Hey, that’s terrible advice! If she avoids me, how do I do my job?"

"Haha! As class rep, no one can dodge you. Since she can’t escape, she’ll just hurry to get rid of you. Your tasks won’t drag on."

Her words hit like a revelation. Liming felt a sudden clarity.

But this approach bred resentment. Any sane person wouldn’t choose it—it clashed with what he’d learned from Bai Ling.

Xulu watched Liming’s conflicted expression, smiling inwardly. With her sharp mind, reading Liqianying was effortless.

Anyone could see Liqianying never snapped "Get lost!" or "You disgust me!" at Liming. She treated the class rep differently.

To stop her teasing, Xulu’s method would work: make Liqianying despise him.

The other way? Become her genuine friend. Someone so prickly would soften for a true confidant. Xulu knew this—but why should Liming bend over backward for that girl?

"Hey! Class rep! Someone’s looking for you!"

"Ah, right."

Before Liming and Xulu could linger, a call interrupted them. As rep, the start and end of term were chaotic. He gave Xulu an apologetic smile and hurried off.

Only after he left did Xulu slowly sit down.

Her brow furrowed. Her gaze drifted—and locked with Liqianying’s icy stare. With Liming gone, lightning crackled between their eyes.

Xulu lowered her side-swept bangs, shielding herself from prying looks. Her hidden smile was mysterious, beautiful.

Yes. They were natural opposites. Xulu hated Liqianying’s pretentiousness; Liqianying loathed Xulu’s self-righteousness. Some people needed only one glance to know they despised each other.

Liming was both buffer and battleground. Their mutual fondness for him bred deep dislike for the other.

Xulu didn’t mind playing small tricks. Liming was too soft-hearted.

Connecting with Senior Bailin through him? That goal had shifted. Now, Xulu wanted to stay one step ahead of Liqianying. How delightful—to make someone feel perpetually outpaced.

That ache? Far worse than isolation or slander.

Xulu knew it well. Once, she’d been the beautiful outcast. Only hearing Senior Bailin’s legendary story had saved her from despair.

Inspired, Xulu had pushed herself to perfection, molding herself closer to Bai Ling’s image. Sweat and tears had paved that path. She admired Senior Bailin deeply.

Who’d believe the stunning Xulu of junior high had been nothing but a pretty face?

Liming was Bai Ling’s protégé. That alone made Xulu favor him more than others. Such kinship could easily blossom into something tender.