Mu Yao didn’t understand what Xia Xi meant. What did “she had it coming” even mean? Could it be that the bullied boy had committed some crime, and that was why he deserved it? Other than that, she really couldn’t think of any reason for Xia Xi to use violence.

Because of their height difference, Mu Yao only had to lower her head to see Xia Xi’s full, perky chest. She couldn’t help but shut her eyes.

Her whole field of vision was filled by those two soft mounds. If she kept looking, it’d trigger a man’s instinctive reaction. This wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.

“Mu Yao, are you interested in my chest?”

Xia Xi laughed as if she’d discovered a whole new world. In her impression, only boys were interested in that part of her body, the symbol of a woman’s charm. Even the occasional curious girl would never stare for long. Mu Yao’s reaction was obviously unusual.

“No...” Afraid Xia Xi would get the wrong idea, Mu Yao opened her eyes again. The “beast” was baring its fangs at her once more.

“No? Fine, let’s drop that. I’ll tell you why I kicked that guy into the water.”

Xia Xi wasn’t the type to talk nonsense. Mu Yao could tell that much. The chances of her making this up were low.

“First, I’m not someone who likes picking fights. To explain it, I have to go back to something that happened a few days ago.” Xia Xi leaned closer and lowered her voice. “That second-year I kicked into the water... when I saw him, he was holding a girl down, and his pants... were already off...”

“Ah?! Something like that really happened?!”

Mu Yao thought of Yang Xu and his lackeys. Nangong Ruihui had been right. In an academy with over a thousand students, there were bound to be some rotten apples. If no one stepped in, something evil might happen every single day.

“Of course it happened. My personality wasn’t exactly hot-tempered before. Yingshengya Academy is a good school, but sadly, not every corner is touched by sunlight. I just can’t stand seeing women humiliated. It is an elite private high school, after all. A small number still get in through connections and backdoor deals. Private schools need enough money to keep up their glamorous image on the surface. I think the Nangong Clan has done nothing wrong. Compared to other private schools, this place is already much cleaner,” Xia Xi said.

“Sister Xia Xi, are you telling the truth?”

“Of course. I’d lie to anyone before I lied to you.”

“...”

Mu Yao’s suspicion toward Xia Xi vanished.

Realizing her words had sounded too ambiguous, Xia Xi panicked a little and quickly added, “I was arguing with Nangong Ruihui this morning too. He didn’t know why I hit someone. But the truth is, I’ve never bullied a single kind person. Anyone who builds their happiness on someone else’s pain doesn’t deserve to beg me for mercy.”

“Then why explain it to me?” Mu Yao didn’t understand.

“Because, because I like you... no, I mean, I admire you. Your eyes are very beautiful.”

“Sister Xia Xi, you’re too close... Do people here always talk this close...” Mu Yao was trapped in Xia Xi’s arms like a little sparrow caught in the rain. Her soft chest pressed against her so firmly that she couldn’t even escape.

Xia Xi had seen prettier girls than Mu Yao. But without exception, they all seemed affected and artificial. Only Mu Yao had that pure, innocent smile. And that was the most important thing on Xia Xi’s list when it came to choosing a partner.

“I want...” Xia Xi’s breathing grew heavier and heavier.

“No, you don’t!”

Mu Yao’s resistance was completely useless. Xia Xi pinned her down, then lightly licked her earlobe with the tip of her tongue, drawing out a trace of clear, sticky ripples.

Her alluring eyes curved slightly. Under Xia Xi’s fixed, burning gaze, Mu Yao let down all her defenses. Her face flushed all the way to her neck. Warm breath escaped her lips as she said weakly, “Sister Xia Xi, don’t do this. I’m not even a boy...”

“Oh hoho~ If you were a boy, I definitely wouldn’t be satisfied with just this. Mu Yao, Nangong Ruihui is a pretty good guy. He’s the young master of the Nangong Clan, and he’s outstanding in every way. If you’re with him, your future will be bright.” Xia Xi finally let the shy Mu Yao go.

“Sister Xia Xi, you’ve got it wrong. When I like someone, I never look at things like that.”

“Good. Just as expected from someone I’ve taken a liking to. Since I said that, it means I’ve already checked his character. And from what I can see, he seems deeply devoted to you too. Did you forget how serious he looked when he played the piano for you yesterday?”

“I didn’t forget, mm... But let’s talk about you instead, Sister Xia Xi. I know your intentions were good, but hitting people whenever you want is still wrong, right?” Mu Yao looked up at her.

“Mhm. You mean I shouldn’t use violence anymore, right?”

“Right.”

“Okay. I promise you. I won’t hit people anymore.”

To leave a good impression on Mu Yao, Xia Xi accepted her view. Not hitting people shouldn’t be that hard. If she endured a little, it would pass.

...

Class 1-C classroom.

“Ruihui, that’s what happened. Sister Xia Xi didn’t hit people for no reason. Several people in your student council already had a record. Theft, doing obscene things to girls, bullying classmates, extortion... almost every one of them had at least one of those. She’s just quick-tempered. Can you try to understand her?” Wanting to clear up a misunderstanding that shouldn’t have existed in the first place, Mu Yao stepped in as the mediator.

“Got it. I’ll start investigating the truth myself. If she didn’t lie to you, I’ll reconsider letting her become the student council secretary. But that violent streak of hers really does need fixing.” After hearing Mu Yao out, Nangong Ruihui nodded.

“I already told you. She promised me she won’t fight anymore. I believe her.”

“That’s weird, Yaoyao. She’s always been arrogant and untamed. Why would she listen to you?” Nangong Ruihui asked one more question, hoping he was just being overly suspicious.

“Uh... Ruihui, that’s something you should ask her.” Mu Yao was at a loss for words.

“Oh my god, she can’t be a lesbian, can she?! No wonder she’s never interested in me. In this academy, she’s the only girl from start to finish who’s never wanted to throw herself at me. Even super popular fashion models aren’t exceptions. So I really guessed right!”

“Ruihui, that’s enough. When have I ever thrown myself at you?”

Nangong Ruihui was really good at making sly digs. Take out “super popular,” and wasn’t “fashion model” just him?

“You dare say you haven’t? What about the time you secretly kissed me without my permission?” Nangong Ruihui just wanted to see how much longer Mu Yao could keep pretending.

“Fine, fine, you win, okay? I already told you a long time ago that I like you. Since I like you, what’s wrong with kissing and hugging?” Mu Yao gave up and admitted everything in one go.

The “throwing herself at him” Nangong Ruihui mentioned was probably that time when she had just met him, tripped, and fell against him because she couldn’t steady herself. As for the “secret kiss”... that didn’t count either. He’d won a violin competition in the city, and she’d kissed him on the cheek as a reward. And she’d done it openly. How was that secret?

“Hehe, Yaoyao, I’m not joking with you this time. You need to keep your distance from Xia Xi from now on. I really don’t want something as ridiculous as my fiancée getting stolen away by another girl. You get how I feel, right?” Nangong Ruihui said with exaggerated seriousness.

“Even if she is a lesbian, I’m not. Don’t worry, Ruihui. I belong only to you~”

Mu Yao sounded especially confident when she said that. He did like girls, after all. But whether Nangong Ruihui thought he liked boys or not was Nangong Ruihui’s problem.