"I think I heard a familiar voice." Yixinxue stopped petting Xinxin Miao. The cat flipped over, leapt to the door, and sat down with its tail curled around itself.
Just then, the door slowly creaked open. A head peeked through the gap.
"Class rep, I came to see you..."
"Ah! Lingyuan!" Yixinxue beamed. "I didn’t expect you’d really come!"
*[...I didn’t exactly have a choice.]*
Lingyuan sat beside her with a wry smile. "How bad is your fever?"
"Just a chill. I’ll be back at school tomorrow." She cupped his face with both hands, gently pulling him closer. "I missed you so much~ Haven’t seen you all day."
"R-really..."
So close. Her crimson eyes were clear and tender—beautiful beyond grasp.
*So this is... real crimson eyes...*
"Why did you ignore me during evening study hall~? Were you with Yanxi~?" She pinched his cheeks and tugged. "Confess!"
"Eep! Ah—! That hurts..."
(It didn’t, really. He exaggerated just to cheer her up.)
"The teacher caught me on my phone. I begged like crazy to get it back!"
"Hmm." She released him, but doubt lingered. *If the teacher confiscated it, how could he possibly get it back?*
"Lying has consequences."
"I’m not lying—"
Before she could press further, Yiyingnan’s voice floated from the doorway: "Lingyuan brought you chocolate. He picked it out carefully~"
"Really?" Surprise and delight lit Yixinxue’s face.
"Ah... yeah..." *Bless you, Yiyingnan. Lifesaver.*
"Thank you." Her earlier annoyance vanished. "What’s this?" She frowned at the ornate box covered in Russian text. Unfamiliar with the language, she glanced at Yiyingnan for help.
"Chocolate~ He bought it specially at the Russian pavilion. White chocolate—super sweet~" Yiyingnan leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, her soft smile hiding mischievous thoughts.
"Oh~ So thoughtful! White chocolate’s my favorite!"
"Ah... yeah..." Lingyuan sat stiffly, mind racing. *How do I thank Yiyingnan later?* Yixinxue was thrilled—punishments forgotten. *Maybe I’ll get out of here easy tonight!*
Inside the box, gold foil-wrapped chocolates formed a heart. Yixinxue’s heart melted completely.
"You’re so sweet~" She peeled the foil off a white orb and popped it into her mouth.
"Mmm~ It’s filled~" A strange liquid spread across her tongue—bitter, unfamiliar.
"This tastes... weird?" *Not cocoa-bitter. Something else.*
"Weird?" Lingyuan blinked.
"Mmm..." Her head felt light.
"Try another... maybe that one was bad..." She unwrapped a second piece.
"Mmm—! Is my fever messing with my taste? Both are awful..." She slumped against the pillow, dizziness intensifying. Her limbs grew heavy.
"Not good?" Lingyuan turned toward the door—Yiyingnan was gone. The door had closed silently.
*Damn it! Something’s wrong!*
He stood to chase after Yiyingnan, but a dreamy voice stopped him.
"Lingyuan~ Sit down~"
"Class rep?" He froze, then obeyed.
"Mmm... feels so strange~" She bowed her head, snow-white hair spilling over her face.
"Huh?" He sat rigid, utterly lost.
"So hot..." Her fingers fumbled with her pajama buttons.
"Class rep! Don’t!" He grabbed her wrist—too hastily. His palm landed squarely on her chest.
"Mmm?" She looked up, crimson eyes hazy like stars in fog.
"You want to touch?"
"N-no!" He yanked his hand back. *How could I—* He swallowed hard. Sweat clung her thin pajamas to her skin, outlining soft curves. And the warmth lingering on his palm...
*Is this heaven...?*
"...Don’t want to touch..." He pulled away, but the sensation clung to his mind. Her damp clothes made her look dangerously alluring.
"Mmm?" Her eyes narrowed. "You’re... dishonest!" The last three words snapped like a whip. Before he could react, her hands seized his face. Strength surged—she yanked him off-balance.
*Two years of karate training really shows...*
He collapsed against her chest. She stroked his cheek like a mother cradling a child.
"Lying children get punished~"
"Class rep... what’s... happening to you..." His heart hammered. *Two chocolates did this?*
"Kisses make our love’s crystallization solid~"
He watched helplessly as she lowered her head. Resistance was futile. Lips met, pressed, lingered—she devoured him.
*That bitter taste... alcohol? These are liquor-filled chocolates!*
