"So Lingyuan has a story like this too..."

"...Like this..."

The entire office sank into deathly silence.

After a long pause, Yixinxue finally spoke.

"Lingyuan... never told me about this."

Yanxi didn’t hide her disdain. "Still don’t get it? He doesn’t trust you. That’s why I won’t let you have him."

...

*Achoo!*

Lingyuan, napping in class, suddenly sneezed violently. Rubbing his nose, he glared at the open back door.

*[Why’s the back door open on such a freezing day? Trying to freeze the last row to death?]*

Muttering under his breath, he stood up and shuffled toward the door. Still half-asleep, he tripped over a chair leg near the back row.

"Whoa—shit—"

His body lurched forward. Arms flailing, he tumbled out the doorway—and glimpsed a figure standing right outside.

*[Sorry!*]

Eyes squeezed shut, he braced for impact, dragging the other person down with him.

*What’s this? So soft... like...*

A terrible realization struck. Lingyuan’s eyes flew open.

*Yep. Exactly what I thought. Those soft mounds.*

"Don’t stare... just get up..." Yixinxue averted her gaze, cheeks slightly flushed.

"Sorry! I’m so sorry!" Lingyuan scrambled to his feet. Turning back, he met forty pairs of eyes fixed on him from the classroom.

*[I flew out of the classroom... They couldn’t have seen me touch Yixinxue’s... right?]*

Heart pounding, he crept back to his seat.

"Unbelievable. The class rep didn’t even get mad," Lanfeng nudged him. "I told you there’s something between you two. When’s the wedding?"

"Mind your own love life," Lingyuan shot back. "Begging her all night? Pathetic. My advice? Quit while you’re ahead."

"She’s just testing me. Stringing me along," Lanfeng shrugged. "You wouldn’t understand."

Those three words silenced Lingyuan. After a long pause, he muttered: "Six."

Soon, Yixinxue reentered through the back door. Her expression was icy, tightening Lingyuan’s chest. Those fiery crimson eyes held a trace of melancholy—

*Just like that night on the park bench...*

She walked straight to her seat without a word, pulling out homework.

*[He doesn’t trust me...]*

The white-haired girl’s pen stabbed the paper, ink bleeding across the page.

*He kissed Yanxi... slept with her... touched her softness...*

Vivid images flooded her mind. *They must’ve been so happy together.*

*[No wonder he’s not interested in me. He’s got Yanxi...]*

Lost in her spiral, she didn’t feel the pain until a metallic tang flooded her mouth. She’d bitten her lip raw.

A hand appeared beside her, holding a crumpled note.

*You okay?*

*[Hmph.]*

Yixinxue arched one eyebrow and scribbled back: *Fine.*

Seeing the reply, Lingyuan panicked. Those two words screamed *not fine at all*.

Before he could write again, the dismissal bell rang. Yixinxue shoved her unfinished homework into her bag.

"Walk with me after school. You haven’t forgotten?"

Her voice was glacial. Lingyuan shrank back.

"Y-yeah..."

He followed like a scolded child. Silence stretched as they walked, the streets growing emptier.

"Class rep..." Lingyuan hesitated.

Yixinxue stopped. "Do you have someone you like?"

*Someone I like?*

Lingyuan froze.

*That sideways smile...*

*I did... once. But years have passed. It’s not love anymore—just guilt. If not for me, she’d still be here...*

"I... guess not."

The answer surprised her, but she didn’t press further.

"Then... besides me, have you ever kissed anyone else?"

Lingyuan understood instantly. His sister was Deputy Discipline Chief; Yixinxue was Chief. Something had happened during evening study hall.

"Yanxi was just bragging," he sighed. "I swear, Class Rep—I’ve never kissed anyone but you."

"Hmm..."

Her skeptical stare made him grit his teeth. "With you... it was my first time..."

"Your *first* time?" Yixinxue smirked, stepping closer. Her hand cupped his cheek. "Lingyuan, lying isn’t very... *good boy* of you~"

"I’d never lie to you!"

"So... only my taste lingers on your lips~?"

"Huh?" Lingyuan blinked. *What kind of question is that?*

"Then I’ve already crushed Yanxi~. The advantage is mine." She let out a derisive laugh. "When you kiss me, your eyes better not wander to other girls~"

"Wait, Class Rep—what did Yanxi tell you—"

"You don’t need to know."

She kissed him fiercely. Her tongue slid in—but the taste was wrong.

*Blood.*

Her probing tongue felt suffocating. Her breath grew ragged as she crushed him against her, uncaring of the street.

"C-C-lass Rep... can’t... breathe..."

Only then did she pull back. Lingyuan doubled over, gasping. Yixinxue leisurely licked a stray drop from her lip.

"I’m not running away."

In minutes, his soul felt relentlessly claimed.

"You never know."

"Why... does it taste like blood?" Lingyuan tried to spit, but she clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Swallow it."

Her voice thrummed with anger and possession. He obeyed.

Satisfied, she smoothed her rumpled uniform.

"What exactly... did Yanxi tell you?"