“For me?”

Nangong Ruihui found it strange that Gu Shasha had something to give her, and even stranger that she had to pass it through Mu Yao.

When she opened the envelope, Nangong Ruihui frowned and held it farther away. Then she crumpled both the envelope and the beautifully handwritten letter into a ball.

She tossed it out of the third-floor window.

If anyone accused her, the dignified student council president, of littering, she’d accept it. This thing simply couldn’t let Mu Yao see it. Who knew what he’d think?

The letter read:

Nangong, I quite like you. If you don’t mind, would you like to have lunch with me after classes today?~

…

Gu Shasha’s face turned red, then green, when Nangong Ruihui showed her no mercy.

Even if she wasn’t famous yet, she was still Tianfei Media’s future idol in the capital. If Nangong Ruihui didn’t agree, she didn’t have to tear up the letter and throw it down right in front of her!

That was way too disrespectful.

It was easy for a girl to pursue a guy. But when a boy reacted this strongly, there was usually no chance.

This time, however, it wasn’t about whether Nangong Ruihui agreed.

It was a contest between her and Mu Yao. How could she be knocked down at the very first move?

Her two braids nearly stood straight up from anger. Then she reconsidered.

There was no need to panic. She had been a little too aggressive. A pretty girl as handsome as Nangong Ruihui had surely met plenty of admirers.

It was normal for her to need time to accept this.

This was destined to be a long campaign.

With that thought, Gu Shasha felt relieved. She took several deep breaths and began listening to the lesson seriously.

“Ruihui, what did it say?” Mu Yao asked, intrigued by Nangong Ruihui’s intense reaction.

“Nothing…”

“Are you going to tell me or not? You’re not even letting me ask about your business now, are you? Look at you, getting all grown-up.” Mu Yao smiled with hidden menace.

“It’s nothing like that. She invited me to lunch. That’s all.”

Nangong Ruihui surrendered at once. There was no point turning nothing into a huge fight.

Gu Shasha’s appearance had already caused enough trouble between them.

The paper ball was still downstairs. It hadn’t been torn to pieces, so Mu Yao could go down and retrieve it.

Of course, there was also a chance the cleaning lady had already swept it away as trash.

“Hmph!”

Mu Yao raised his fair hand and slapped it against his desk to show his anger.

He was right here, yet Gu Shasha had completely ignored his existence.

It gave him the distinct feeling of, “I may not want him, but nobody else is allowed to have him!”

“Calm down, calm down~”

Nangong Ruihui stroked Mu Yao’s chest and tried to soothe him.

“Where exactly do you think you’re touching?” Mu Yao’s eyes narrowed toward her.

“It’s not even that big. You won’t let me touch it?”

“You’re asking to die!”

Mu Yao shouted almost instinctively.

Teacher Zhou noticed that Mu Yao was the one disrupting the class, then pretended not to see it. After a brief pause, she continued teaching.

Mu Yao was less tolerant in public.

He was dressed as a girl right now. Being openly groped by Nangong Ruihui under the excuse of “having a reason” was completely unacceptable!

Besides, even if he had a flat chest, Nangong Ruihui had no right to dislike it.

If she disliked it, then she shouldn’t touch it!

Realizing that he’d lost control in class, Mu Yao’s pretty face flushed.

He lowered his head slightly toward Teacher Zhou in apology, then went back to his own work.

Mu Yao would never abuse someone’s favor, no matter the situation.

He simply no longer needed to grovel like he used to. Still, Nangong Ruihui remained the person he knew best in the academy.

That would never change.

The morning passed quickly.

At noon, Nangong Ruihui wanted to eat with Mu Yao, but Mu Yao said helplessly, “You should think about how to deal with her first. If you don’t make things clear, she’ll keep pestering you, won’t she?”

“Yao-Yao—!”

Nangong Ruihui leaned forward and reached for Mu Yao.

Mu Yao hardened his heart and left with a carefree stride.

Gu Shasha was clearly not an easy girl to handle. The person who tied the knot had to untie it. If Nangong Ruihui didn’t like her, she should make that clear as soon as possible.

*I see… Girl, you’ve successfully piqued my interest.*

This was even more unfair than Dou E’s case.

The invitation had been Gu Shasha’s own decision. It had nothing to do with Nangong Ruihui.

Since she couldn’t avoid it, she might as well face it.

Nangong Ruihui wanted to see what Gu Shasha planned to do. She was determined to meet her today.

They chose the first floor of the cafeteria.

Nangong Ruihui felt there was no need to go all the way to the elegant fourth floor for a meal with Gu Shasha. They could eat something simple and fill their stomachs.

“Nangong, wait here for a moment. I’ll buy your food. What would you like?” Gu Shasha asked, flattered.

“Anything. Just don’t get the same thing as yours.”

She might as well eat for free. Nangong Ruihui couldn’t be bothered to look at Gu Shasha, despite her considerable beauty.

Instead, she searched for Mu Yao.

Just as she thought Mu Yao might be hiding somewhere, a large pink bow caught her eye in one corner of the cafeteria.

She’d found him!

Mu Yao was eating on the first floor too—and he was alone!

*Oh no! It’s Xia Xi! She went over to Yao-Yao! Why is she eating on the first floor too? Did she see Yao-Yao? Damn it!*

Nangong Ruihui nearly jumped up when she saw the scene.

Elsewhere—

“Mu Yao?! How can the esteemed Elder Sister be eating alone? Where’s Nangong Ruihui?” Xia Xi asked in surprise after looking around.

“Oh, it’s you, Sister Xia Xi. Sit down~ Ruihui… He caught the attention of another girl.” Mu Yao spoke slowly, his face lacking its usual smile.

“What’s wrong with him? What girl could possibly be better than you? Is there something wrong with Nangong Ruihui’s eyes?”

Xia Xi waved the matter away.

“Forget him. If he won’t eat with you, I will. After lunch, let’s go skateboarding. I just brought my board to the academy.”

“Okay.”

Xia Xi was simply curious.

Even if Nangong Ruihui and Mu Yao broke off their friendship, it had nothing to do with her.

Mu Yao was a boy, after all. No girl in the academy had what it took to compete with her for him.

…

“Nangong, this one’s yours. This one’s mine.”

Just as Nangong Ruihui stared at Xia Xi and Mu Yao, laughing and chatting together, Gu Shasha carefully approached with two trays.

Everything she’d bought for Nangong Ruihui was the most expensive food available on the first floor.

Her own tray, meanwhile, was plain and watery, except for one dish of stir-fried meat with edamame that had a little oil in it.

“You…” Nangong Ruihui felt a little embarrassed.

Gu Shasha had invited her to lunch, yet she was clearly bullying the girl.

“Don’t be like that. You can have my chicken leg and braised egg~”

Nangong Ruihui transferred the chicken leg and richly seasoned egg from her own tray to Gu Shasha’s.

“Thank you, Nangong. You’re so kind to me…”

“…”

Looking at Gu Shasha’s smiling face, Nangong Ruihui suddenly found herself unable to be harsh.

If she gave this girl even half a tissue, wouldn’t she put on a whole tragedy about Chen Shimei and Qin Xianglian?

But she wasn’t some heartless man who’d abandoned her!