Since Zhou Yuan had already said that, Mu Yao didn’t push further. After all, his help carried no hint of charity. If she refused it, there was nothing he could do—tutoring her wouldn’t affect his grades anyway.
“Um… Mu Yao, do you have any plans to get a girlfriend lately?” Zhou Yuan asked, feigning casualness.
“Not at all. During the idol reboot project, having a girlfriend would basically sabotage your own career, right?”
His words sounded harsh, but Mu Yao only meant to show resolve. With his sister’s health still not fully recovered, how could he—as her older brother—possibly think about romance?
Even setting that aside, no girl at the academy had caught his eye, let alone someone he’d pine for day and night. His path with Nangong Ruihui would inevitably diverge. Someday, he’d look back on it as a beautiful dream from Yingshengya Academy. They’d each build their own families. How could two boys be together? If only that “jerk” were a girl… maybe then…
*Ew, why am I even thinking this? Even if that bully were a girl… I still wouldn’t consider it!* Mu Yao shook off the stray thought.
Before Mu Yao could react, Zhou Yuan stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him, and nuzzled his cheek.
“Hope you don’t mind this~”
“The monthly exam stressing you out? Go ahead and hug it out. Just do your best and remember to rest.”
Mu Yao didn’t pull away. He froze for a moment, then let her hug him freely—treating it as comforting a friend. It was clear she’d been battling pre-exam anxiety, often pacing restlessly in the dorm.
Their thoughts couldn’t have been more different. Zhou Yuan knew exactly what Mu Yao was thinking. Mu Yao had no clue about hers.
...
“Xia Xi, the student council secretary’s duties fall into two main categories: upholding school rules and helping students resolve issues in studies or daily life.”
“Is that all?”
“There’s more, of course. We’ll cover the rest later—like representing the academy at events and ceremonies.”
The next day in the student council room, Nangong Ruihui carefully pinned the bright red secretary armband onto Xia Xi.
“President, you can’t let her be secretary!” Several boys stepped forward together, defying Xia Xi’s intimidating presence to block the appointment.
“What did you just say, punk? Say it again if you dare!” Xia Xi’s fists clenched tight. Seemed she was ready to assert authority on day one.
The central boy swallowed his fear and approached them. Today, he’d expose every one of Xia Xi’s wrongdoings—even if it meant leaving the council himself.
“President, she… she does nothing but bully classmates! I won’t accept this!”
He glared at Xia Xi. Her knuckles whitened. Without Nangong Ruihui there, she’d have knocked him senseless already. *Know your place. My patience has limits—even Nangong Ruihui couldn’t stop me if I snapped.*
“This is the student council. No shouting. One at a time—how exactly has Xia Xi bullied anyone?” Nangong Ruihui placed a hand on the fuming Xia Xi.
“More than a few have suffered! President, you don’t know—she once made me, a grown man, kowtow on my knees! Who could work with someone like that?”
Thud—crack!
Hot-tempered Xia Xi finally snapped. A full-force punch sent the boy flying four or five meters, skidding across the floor before stopping, blood gushing from his nose.
She never needed restraint. She could dismiss Long Yue, Yingshengya Academy’s principal, with a word. How dare this weak, powerless boy talk down to her? One bad mood, and he’d be gone. He’d never stand a chance against Xia Xi, young mistress of the Xia Clan.
“Xia Xi, you—!” Nangong Ruihui froze. You couldn’t just hit people! How would she explain this? As president, she had to protect her members.
This time, Xia Xi held *her* back. “I tried staying calm. He just didn’t know when to stop.”
She shot the remaining two boys a glare. They scrambled to help their friend flee in panic. Nangong Ruihui gave a subtle nod—*infirmary*.
“At this rate, you won’t join the council anytime soon. Why hit him? If he was wrong, speak up—I’d judge fairly. Now look…” Nangong Ruihui sighed in exasperation.
Just as she’d thought: Xia Xi only respected those stronger than herself. As an outsider, Nangong Ruihui was safe—even if she didn’t understand.
Xia Xi pursed her lips, words dying unspoken. Their eyes locked for seconds.
“Nangong Ruihui… do you believe me?”
“I…” Shorter than Xia Xi, Nangong Ruihui fell silent. How could she?
Xia Xi removed the armband, voice icy. “I understand. President Nangong… farewell.”
“You… sigh…”
Nangong Ruihui groaned inwardly. Great. Lost council members *and* the newly appointed secretary quitting on the spot. Just what she needed.
That afternoon, walking the cobblestone path to class, Mu Yao saw Xia Xi stepping on an unfamiliar boy’s head. He froze, hand flying to his mouth, eyes wide.
Dirt, snot, and tears smeared the boy’s face, twisted in agony.
“Shall I kick you in, or crawl yourself?” Xia Xi showed no mercy. “Guess I’ll kick you in.”
The heel of her white knee-high boots slammed into his stomach. Destination: the academy pond. *Splash.* Her expression visibly lightened.
“Senior Xia Xi, what are you *doing*?!” Mu Yao shouted, heart sinking—she was the campus bully?
“Mu—Mu Yao?!”
Xia Xi turned. Seeing him run, she chased immediately. Moments later, the soaked boy clawed his way out of the 1.5-meter-deep pond.
Less athletic, Mu Yao was quickly caught. Xia Xi gripped his arms, breath steady. “Why run?”
“I thought Senior Xia Xi was reasonable! I never knew someone could be so two-faced! Doing something this cruel to a classmate—unforgivable!”
“Just for this… do you… hate me now?” Xia Xi asked softly.
“I hate it! I hate it so much!”
“What if he deserved it?”
Moments ago calm, Xia Xi’s breathing now hitched. She didn’t want Mu Yao to misunderstand. For the first time, facing him, she felt the urge—to explain.
