These past two days had turned Linhai No.1 High into a circus. First, Yumo pulled one outrageous stunt after another. Then, a case of school bullying was caught red-handed, stirring up several school administrators.
At the center of both incidents were Yumo and Liyu, both students in Class 3, Grade 11. Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Liu, was utterly numb. Only now did he regret pouring all his energy into his promotion evaluation lately. Yumo had even reported Liyu’s bullying to him before—but he’d brushed it off. If only he’d taken it seriously back then, he wouldn’t be dodging blame from half the administration now.
"Teacher, if you’re too busy," Yumo offered, a teasing lilt in his voice, "I can accompany her as class monitor."
So, under Yumo and the infirmary teacher’s watch, Liyu was rushed to the nearest hospital. She cried the entire way, her nerves frayed. All Yumo could do was gently rub her back, trying to soothe her.
At the hospital, another blow awaited her.
A jagged scar slashed across her forehead—from her hairline down to the corner of her eye. In short: her face was ruined.
"We need to stop the bleeding and stitch it up. Now," the ER doctor said flatly.
"Will the scar fade later?" Yumo asked.
"...Hard to say. Depends on the person."
"Oh..."
So it probably wouldn’t fade.
Liyu blankly accepted the local anesthetic. Thirty minutes later, she was wheeled out, her forehead swathed in bandages. Only then did her mother finally arrive.
"Auntie, I’m the class monitor of Class 3. Your daughter—"
"WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?!!!"
Liyu’s mother ignored Yumo completely, unleashing a torrent of abuse at her freshly stitched daughter.
"What’s wrong with you!? Fighting with classmates? At your age, can’t you even handle basic relationships!? You’ve always been like this... never giving me a moment’s peace! Do you know how busy I am!? You’re such an embarrassment—"
Even Yumo and the infirmary teacher were stunned.
*(What kind of mother is this...?)*
Her own daughter had just endured brutal bullying at school—and her first reaction was shame?
Yumo and the teacher explained the day’s events in detail, but Liyu’s mother grew increasingly impatient. She kept muttering, "What’s wrong with kids these days?" "Everyone’s so messed up," "So annoying," her voice shrill and erratic.
In the end, Liyu was dragged home by her mother.
Yumo worried—but what could he do? Play knight-errant and mediate her family drama? Impossible. His own home would be erased by that damned "Xu Yuan Si Guang" in two months. No time for strangers—wait.
A bizarre idea struck him.
————————————
That night, his father finally mustered a half-hearted lecture after much hesitation. Yumo tuned it out—he’d mastered noise cancellation long ago.
His younger sister stayed locked in her room all evening. Only when he bumped into her heading to the bathroom did he see her deliberately avoid his gaze before slipping back inside. It stung.
*(All three of you are in mortal danger...)*
The thought tangled his emotions.
Flawed as they were, his family was still better than Liyu’s mother.
As someone with basic morals—and as the eldest son—he couldn’t let tragedy strike.
Yumo spent the night drowning in muddy thoughts and nightmares. The next morning, Yusuozaai’s cheerful voice jolted him awake. He rushed to school to pack his textbooks and homework—but his mind was elsewhere.
Whispers now swirled around Liyu instead of him.
"Did you hear?" "Liyu’s face is scarred..." "That quiet, chubby girl?" "Yeah, her." "Heard she’s so traumatized she’s taking a leave of absence." "Poor thing..."
Just as morning reading ended—
"WHAT ARE YOU TEACHERS EVEN DOING!? ALL USELESS! BULLYING HAPPENING RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSES!? I’LL REPORT YOU TO THE EDUCATION BUREAU—"
A shrill voice echoed down the corridor. Yumo recognized it instantly: Liyu’s mother.
*(Is she angry her daughter was bullied? Or just annoyed her time was wasted? Or purely humiliated?)*
*(Probably all three. Human emotions are messy.)* Yusuozaai watched the drama unfold with glee.
More voices joined the fray—two women and a man.
"WHAT!? MY DAUGHTER’S THE BULLY!?" "There must be a mistake!" "Impossible! She’s been framed!"
The bullies’ parents were on their way to the principal’s office, their shouting match escalating like a public spectacle.
And Liyu herself?
Surprisingly, she came to school.
While the parents brawled, she shuffled into class, shoulders hunched, head down. A heavy gloom clung to her. She ignored the stares—curious, pitying, voyeuristic—and hurried to her seat to pack her things.
Yumo had just zipped his last workbook into his bag when he hesitated, then walked over. "That’s a lot. Need help?"
"Eh? Ah... I... um... thank you..."
Liyu flinched like a startled rabbit. Her eyes darted away for several seconds before she bowed her head in thanks. Yumo said nothing else. Ignoring the onlookers, he began gathering her books and stationery, stealing glances at her face.
A bandage circled her forehead.
Her eyes were swollen red—she’d cried all night.
Dark shadows pooled beneath them.
Even her round, soft cheeks looked hollowed out.
*(Poor thing... What do I do? Should I say it? How? Ugh...)*
As Yumo wrestled internally, someone else was equally torn.
Tanglingxue had entered class right after Liyu. Now, at her seat, she kept glancing between her phone and Yumo, twisting a strand of hair around her finger.
*(He’s leaving after packing today. Next time I’ll see him is next semester... Should I ask for his WeChat? But I’ve never asked a guy for his contact before... How to make it natural...?)*
She’d been so bold yesterday, sitting on his desk—but now, uncharacteristically hesitant.
*(Why do I even want his WeChat? We barely know each other—no, that’s exactly why I should add him! But... what after getting closer? What do I even... Ugh...)*
Miss Tang was flustered.
She’d always chased novelty and thrills—fashion, rock music, motorcycles. This was her first intense interest in a specific person... and a boy, no less. Letting it slip away felt unbearable.
Just then—
"I... I’ve got everything. Thank you... I’ll go now."
Liyu hoisted a bulky backpack onto her shoulders, a tote bag stuffed with exercise books slung across her chest. Head down, back bent, she shuffled toward the door. Her body, burdened by extra weight, sagged like a melted cake. Anyone could see a future utterly devoid of happiness written on her.
Yumo took a deep breath. He dropped his bag. Stood up.
*(Maybe that Demon was right... I really am scum.)*
"Oi, Liyu!"
His voice cut through the classroom silence.
"Eh?"
Liyu froze mid-step, one foot still in the hallway, and turned.
"Liyu, I like you. Go out with me?"
"OF COURSE I—WAIT, WHAAAAAT!?"
The gasp wasn’t just hers.
"WHAAAAAAAAAT!?"
The entire class erupted.
All except Tanglingxue.
Her gasp stayed trapped inside.
Seconds ago, she’d been rushing over, phone in hand, ready to ask for his WeChat.
January 5, 20xx. On an utterly ordinary day, Yumo—the average high school boy—got his first girlfriend.
His classmate. The quiet, timid, invisible girl with the round face: Liyu.
"No time like the present! Let’s deepen our bond!"
"WHOA—?!"
Ignoring the sea of stunned faces, Yumo grabbed Liyu’s hand and sprinted out of school without another word.
