No, wait.

You ditch your bro, fine—but taking his lunch too? What the hell?

Lingyuan stared dumbfounded as Lanfeng sprinted to another table, cheerfully sharing Lingyuan’s tray with strangers.

“Haven’t you had lunch, Lingyuan?”

“…Ah. Yeah. Skipped breakfast too…” Lingyuan’s voice cracked. He wanted to bolt. But manners pinned him to his seat.

“I see…” Yixinxue nodded thoughtfully. Dark circles under his eyes screamed *one step from dropping dead*.

*The hungrier they are, the easier to tame. If looks won’t hook him… I’ll conquer him slowly.*

She ladled rich braised pork gravy over rice, swirling it until every grain glistened.

“Want a bite?”

“Huh?” Lingyuan blinked at her.

“What?”

“Well~ Lunch lines are gone now. Share mine.”

A spoon hovered before him—steaming rice soaked in savory sauce, crowned with a tender pork chunk.

“Ahhh—”

Lingyuan’s exhausted brain short-circuited.

*Wait—hadn’t that spoon just been in her mouth? Does this count as an indirect kiss? Why would Yixinxue do this? She’s not into guys! Is she… sucking up? Apologizing for snapping at me the other day?!*

“Why won’t you eat~? Open up. Ahhh—”

As she said “ahh,” her pearly teeth and pink tongue flashed—paired with a face most guys couldn’t refuse.

*Hssk—*

*If I take this bite, I’ll make enemies of every guy here. This is a privilege they’d kill for.*

“Not hungry?”

Lingyuan sucked in a deep breath.

*Surrender.*

*Survival first.*

“Ahhh—Mmph—”

The cafeteria rice was decent, sure. But this spoon had been in that silver-haired girl’s mouth…

*Is that… a hint of sweet floral scent? Is this… what a girl tastes like?*

Lingyuan’s thoughts spiraled weirdly.

Yixinxue beamed as he finished. “Took you forever to eat. More?”

“Yeah! Guys have big appetites, y’know?”

“True.”

Under envious stares, Lingyuan swallowed spoonful after spoonful. *I wish that were me*, the onlookers silently screamed.

Watching him chew, Yixinxue tilted her head. “Do you… like boys?”

“!?”

Rice nearly shot out his nose. He choked it down, wiping sweat from his brow.

“What makes you think I like guys?!”

“You hesitated so long when I fed you. I wondered… maybe you’re not into girls?” She shrugged innocently. Lingyuan was the first to make her doubt her own charm.

*He acts totally uninterested in girls. But he’s always glued to Lanfeng… (In Yixinxue’s eyes: disgustingly clingy.)*

“Don’t spout nonsense! I’m straight.”

Lingyuan genuinely didn’t get it. *Why would she think I’m into guys? Impossible! Bros cuddling just creeps me out.*

“Here. Take the rest.”

“You’re not eating?”

She’d only fed *him*. Not once had she touched her own meal since sitting down.

*Was this just teasing? That spoon won’t go near her mouth again, right?*

The lunch lines were gone. Only sad leftovers remained.

*Unless… she grabs a new spoon?*

“Me?” Yixinxue smiled faintly. She took two small bites, then slid the tray toward him. “I eat little. You finish it.”

Lingyuan froze.

*One: She didn’t care his saliva was on the spoon.

Two: Two bites was enough? Like Yanxi—do all girls eat this little? No wonder they stay slim…*

*Thank god Yanxi left early. If she saw this feeding scene…*

*【Brother doesn’t love Yanxi anymore! No fair! Yanxi wants to feed Brother too!】*

His lips twitched. *Yanxi’s watched too many anime. Calling herself by name? That’s loli-talk. At 1.65m, she’s no loli…*

Yixinxue realized her boldness. She glanced away, cheeks warming. *Why did I do that?* Yet… she didn’t hate being near him. Unlike other boys, he didn’t make her skin crawl.

Mostly, it was just… first-time shyness.

*But—*

Her eyes flicked back to him. A mischievous grin crept up.

“Eat up. I’ve got bread in my bag if you’re still hungry.”

“Class rep,” Lingyuan swallowed hard, “I’ve forgotten about you snapping at me before. You don’t need to do this.”

*Keep this up and those glaring guys will murder me.*

“I know. Just eat. And rest well tonight—I doubt you’ll survive tomorrow otherwise.”

Lingyuan stiffened. He stared at her, voice trembling. “Class rep… tomorrow’s *really* just tutoring?”

“Mhm~ Of course~”

“Oh…”

*Sounded like this was my last meal.*

“Uh… what subject, exactly?”

“A custom plan just for you. Rest up. If you fall asleep, I won’t be as merciful as the teachers.”

“Can I refuse…?”

“Then I’ll tutor you at home. You live alone, right?”

“…” Lingyuan bit his tongue. *She’s the teacher’s pet. If I refuse, she’ll call my parents…*

*Fine. Keep it simple. She said it’s just tutoring.*

*Class reps don’t lie…*

He scraped the tray clean, desperate to escape.

“I’m done. I’ll go now?”

“Mhm~ Go. Rest well at noon. No sleeping in class this afternoon.”