"No thanks."

Lingyuan really wanted to say that.

Phones? Dignity mattered far more.

He turned to speak—but Yixinxue had ghosted right in front of him.

Lingyuan jumped.

Why did her footsteps make no sound at all?

"The phone... you don’t want it anymore~"

Yixinxue drew out the last syllable, her unique tone clear. A strange smile spread across her face.

A wicked grin, maybe...?

"N-no... I don’t... want it..."

Lingyuan’s mouth twitched. Who’d dare ask in this situation?

"I see," Yixinxue said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Using phones at school breaks the rules. Always."

I wasn’t even using it! That damn phone was Lanfeng’s!

"I was sleeping! Not on my phone!" Lingyuan defended himself. His argument felt solid, his expression confident and serious.

Her pale, slender fingers gently lifted his chin. Lingyuan stumbled back a step or two.

He wiped the spot she’d touched, as if defiled.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

Yixinxue’s lips curled slightly, a teasing smile like she was toying with prey.

"What’s wrong?"

Lingyuan had developed a psychological shadow from her scolding. Since joining this class, he’d ignored her coldly whenever she chased him for homework—acting utterly uninterested in women.

Truth was, he really wasn’t interested.

Yixinxue was stunning, making nearly every boy—and many girls—swoon.

But Lingyuan was different. He treated her with icy indifference, like he was asexual.

Yesterday, she’d snapped. Fueled by monthly exam stress, her pent-up rage exploded in front of the whole class.

"Ummm... I’m just scared of the monitor getting mad..."

Lingyuan rubbed his chest dramatically, as if heartbroken.

"...Ah..." Yixinxue placed her hands on her hips, eyebrows lifting slightly.

Am I really that scary?

She frowned, recalling yesterday. She was confident in her looks—even after rejecting countless confessions, she still cared deeply about her appearance. Mornings were spent grooming meticulously.

Yet Lingyuan was the only one immune to her charm. He didn’t take her seriously at all.

That indifference stung.

Yixinxue clenched her fists, then slowly uncurled them.

"You deserve this. Others would kill for it." She picked up Lingyuan’s phone from the desk. "Skipping evening study or sleeping? Both break school rules. Should I report you to the teacher... or..."

She paused deliberately. Her gaze over her shoulder made Lingyuan gasp.

He’d never seen such eyes before—gem-like crimson hiding terrifying danger.

But her smile masked it perfectly.

"Come to my place this weekend. I’ll tutor you. I live alone~ no worries."

"Your place? Tutoring?"

"Mhm, yes~"

"Can I refuse...?"

"Ahem." Yixinxue coughed lightly, waving his anime-style phone. "Your last phone-related punishment hasn’t been lifted yet, right?"

She leaned close, whispering in his ear: "Being tutored by me? A rare chance. Do you really have the heart to say no?"

He wouldn’t have refused before. But now, Yixinxue radiated unknown fear.

"Fine..."

Lingyuan replied timidly. He had no choice—he couldn’t risk an unremovable punishment. He just wanted to survive high school peacefully.

Yixinxue smiled, satisfied, and handed back his phone.

"Head home early."

"Okay..." Lingyuan stepped out—then bolted back to class like a thief.

"...Hmm..." Yixinxue watched his retreating back from the doorway, a sinister smile forming. "Handsome face, perfect build... he’d look adorable in a skirt."

...

"So scary, so scary." Lingyuan muttered in class, still shaken.

"Got your phone back?" Lanfeng had been waiting. Lingyuan’s ghost-white face screamed panic.

"Got it back, but the monitor’s terrifying." Lingyuan grabbed his backpack, shoving books in haphazardly. "I’m out. Don’t wanna see her again."

Lanfeng had witnessed yesterday’s explosion. He could guess what Yixinxue had done this time.

"Whoa, Brother Yuan! How’d she yell at you? Did she hit you?"

Lingyuan zipped his bag, shot Lanfeng a fierce glare, and stormed off without a word.

"Hey, don’t be mad!" Lanfeng hurried after him. "What’d she do? Spill it—"

"She gave my phone back. End of story." Lingyuan just wanted to escape. No chit-chat.

"Details! Details—"

At the stairwell, Lingyuan froze. Yixinxue stood there, staring at the downpour outside, her expression troubled.

"Ah, Lingyuan. I forgot my umbrella. Got one?" She’d spotted him trying to slip away.

"Y-yes. Didn’t you check the forecast, Monitor?"

No escape. Lingyuan forced a smile and approached.

"Not my habit. Walk me home?" Yixinxue looked genuinely hesitant.

"Dude, say yes! I’ll get soaked—I don’t care! But grab this chance!" Lanfeng elbowed him hard.

An unattainable beauty like Yixinxue—silver-haired, dreamy—asking a guy to walk her home? Any sane person would jump at it.

Lanfeng was more desperate than Lingyuan.

"Take my umbrella. I’ll manage."

Lanfeng gaped, stunned—as if Lingyuan had tossed away a winning lottery ticket.

"Huh? What about you?"

Lingyuan faced the pouring rain with a bitter smile, squeezing out four words:

"Just a little rain."