Broken… completely broken.

Waaah—

Lin Lin stumbled back to the classroom like a soulless puppet, swaying unsteadily before her vision went black.

She buried her face in her hands, shutting down.

Gao Liang glanced at the girl who’d just slumped into her seat. Her eyes were hollow, the light gone, a faint trace of gloom clinging to her expression. He quickly waved a hand in front of her face.

“Lin Lin? You okay? What did she say to you?”

“S-she said… she said…”

Lin Lin froze, shuddering involuntarily as the memory of that relentless verbal barrage flashed back—still chilling.

So… terrifying.

That smile hiding daggers. One moment laughing warmly, acting all friendly; the next, fierce and menacing. Shattering her hope of making a friend, then tearing her down to nothing.

Waaah—

Broken. Truly broken.

I can’t do this anymore!

Unfriendly classmates, terrible grades, stuck next to her arch-rival, threatened by that delinquent girl…

This school? Not worth it!

Tears welling, Lin Lin tossed the love letter—written by Blondie for Gao Liang—onto his desk, then turned away, retreating into silence.

Gao Liang noticed the envelope. Well… technically an envelope? How could anyone know it was a love letter without opening it?

…Actually, yeah.

Because—there was a tiny heart sticker right on it.

His lips twitched. Who on earth sent this via Lin Lin?

That blond delinquent girl? Tch…

Could *she* pull off something this… two-faced?

As for his little desk mate?

Pfft. Honestly, kinda cute contrast. The girl who usually glares at him with dark, murderous eyes—writing a love letter? Nah.

Judging by her current wrecked state? Definitely not her.

Probably forced to deliver it after Blondie bullied her.

So… reading it or not? Didn’t matter.

He casually stuffed the envelope into his desk drawer, planning to trash it later.

But Lin Lin, catching the motion from the corner of her eye, paled. She spun around, waving frantically.

“No no no! Don’t just stash it! Blondie’ll think I messed up! Absolutely not—!"

“Well…”

Seeing her pitiful panic, Gao Liang smirked. He pulled out the letter, tapped it lightly before her, tilting his head.

“Sorry, Lin Lin. You’re a good person… but I feel we’re not quite familiar enough yet, so…”

Pfft.

By the end, his lips curled despite himself. A mischievous thrill bloomed in his chest—he barely held back a laugh.

*Hope my silly desk mate didn’t notice~*

Tch. He watched her reaction: confusion flickered, then frantic head-shaking.

“Not me! It’s from Blondie—ah! Han Kui! *Her* love letter! I was just delivering it! Not me, not me!”

Lin Lin slowly lowered her head. Her eyes dimmed. She muttered under her breath, over and over:

*Got the “you’re a good person” card from my arch-rival… Got the “you’re a good person” card from my arch-rival… Got the “you’re a good person” card from my arch-rival…*

She’d actually been friend-zoned by *him*?! Damn it!

Why?! Why get the card when I don’t even like you?! Waaah…

“Huh?” Gao Liang hadn’t caught her muttering.

Lin Lin whipped her head around, tears and murderous intent blazing in her eyes. “NOTHING!”

She silently pulled out her phone, typed into Notes:

*Another life humiliation: friend-zoned by arch-rival. [Date]. This grudge—I’m logging it.*

Phew…

Writing it down helped.

Logically, since Gao Liang misunderstood the letter’s source—and she didn’t like him anyway—getting rejected shouldn’t sting.

If he’d *accepted*? That’d be horrifying.

But… being randomly friend-zoned? A fatal blow to her already fragile confidence. Waaah—

Lin Lin surrendered completely.

With a helpless sigh, she’d decided.

This school? Not worth it.

Skipping evening study hall. Taking leave.

Mind made up, she brainstormed her evening:

Hmm… What to do?

Studying?

Not happening.

Going home = fun time~

Also—couldn’t neglect the System. One million fans in a year? Hard KPI.

Might as well stream.

Streaming’s kinda fun… right?

Just… what to stream?

Ask fans?

She opened her phone, posted from her 100-follower account:

*[Going live at 8 PM! Got stream ideas or submissions? DM Ari-chan early~ I’ll read a few tonight. Life updates? Uh… y’know… gossip a bit~]*

Smirking at the chaos-to-come, she pocketed her phone.

*If the head teacher catches me… yikes.*

Mhm~

The rest of class? Pure countdown to dismissal.

*Tonight’s stream~ Tonight’s stream~*

To Lin Lin, cheerful planning.

To Gao Liang? Weird.

She sat silent as a clam—no moving, no talking.

Bored, he scrolled his feed.

Paused.

A post from Ari-chan—the new streamer he’d followed last night.

Huh?

*She’s streaming tonight?*

“Teacher Zhu, I need leave!”

Lin Lin stood before him, face perfectly calm.

Teacher Zhu blinked. His lips twitched.

“You… weren’t you just lectured?”

He sighed helplessly. “Reason?”

“Not feeling well!”

She dramatically clutched her stomach.

*So unconvincing. Classic excuse.*

Teacher Zhu sighed again. Since she was dead set… fine.

He scribbled the slip. “Be safe home. And *study*.”

“Got it!”

Lin Lin snatched it, skipping out happily.

Teacher Zhu sighed, gaze drifting to the door—

Suddenly—

Gao Liang stood there. *Where he absolutely shouldn’t be.*

His heart sank.

A cold dread crept in.

*This kid…*

*…He’s not asking for leave too, is he?*