"Um… Let me ask first. Gao Liang, you… you're not here to ask for leave too, are you?"

Teacher Zhu's expression tightened slightly, the leave slip still pinched between her fingers. Gao Liang froze—she'd already guessed his purpose. He gave a puzzled nod.

"Yeah… But how did you know?"

"Ah! Lin Lin just came to request leave too. You two… did you plan this together?"

Teacher Zhu adjusted her glasses. *Could tutoring have already started?*

*Tsk tsk… Why skip class together for tutoring? Too crowded in the classroom?*

*Where on earth are they going…?*

*Ahem…*

Gao Liang quickly shook his head. "No, I didn't even know she took leave… What's she up to?"

"Oh, I see." Relief softened Teacher Zhu's features. She pushed up her glasses and began drafting his slip without pause. "Lin Lin said she felt unwell and needed to go home… Wait—what's *your* reason?"

She glanced up, pen hovering. Gao Liang stiffened.

*Oops.*

*This…*

*A little awkward.*

*Why'd our excuses collide?*

*He'd planned to say "not feeling well" too—it's the most common reason. But now… uh…*

*Gotta improvise. Can't say "going home to watch Yali-chan's stream," cough…*

*No time. Teacher Zhu's eyes are getting suspicious. Just say it!*

"I'm… not feeling well either."

"You two… caught something from each other?"

Teacher Zhu gave a wry smirk, sighed, and stamped the slip. As he turned to leave, she added gently, "Keep proper distance from your deskmate. Don't catch a cold, okay."

"Got it."

Gao Liang nodded and headed back to class to pack his bag.

*Weird. Why'd Lin Lin skip evening self-study? She never skips. Didn't seem actually sick today either…*

*Shaken up?*

*No way she's home watching streams… Pfft. Could she be a Little Sweet Pear too?*

*Even her excuse can't be weirder than mine.*

*Well…*

He lowered his head while walking.

*Why do I care so much about that streamer… and my little deskmate?*

*One's a girl I can't see or touch. The other's a quirky little fool.*

*Neither's perfect. Could it be…*

*I like this imperfection? Like appreciating the Venus de Milo?*

*Mmm…*

Back in class, Gao Liang said nothing. He slid into his seat, pulled his backpack out—and the hidden love letter slipped to the floor. He picked it up, face icy, and walked toward Han Kui, the blond girl laughing with her girlfriends.

"Hey hey, Sister Kui! Look—it's Gao Liang!"

A friend tapped Han Kui's shoulder. She turned, blinked in surprise, then spotted the unopened letter in his hand—*her* letter. Her heart leaped.

*Yes! He finally gets it?!*

But as excitement settled… unease crept in.

*Why's his face so cold?*

*And the letter's still sealed…*

Gao Liang placed it on her desk. "Sorry. I have no interest in this letter—or in you. I'm returning it."

"B-but you didn't even open it?!"

Han Kui stared blankly at the envelope, then at him, confusion twisting her features.

*Wrong. Something's wrong.*

*He's always been the nice guy… Why reject me like this?*

*Everyone's watching…*

*So humiliating.*

Her chest tightened. *Why me? My looks aren't bad…*

Humiliation flared into fury. "Y-you should at least *look*!"

"No need. I'm not interested. And…" He slung his backpack on, voice low but clear. "Stop bullying classmates. I hate it. Cross that line again, and I'll protect them my way."

He turned and left.

Silence swallowed the classroom.

Han Kui felt their stares—*mocking, definitely mocking*. Fists clenched, teeth gritted, breath ragged. She snatched the envelope, shredded it violently, and hurled the pieces into the trash.

*It's Lin Lin. That damn bitch.*

*She tattled. Twisted everything. Ruined my image completely.*

*All her fault. Gao Liang had no reason to hate me otherwise…*

*Shit. Soft on the outside, snake underneath.*

*Good. Real good.*

*Just wait. Once your "innocent sweet girl" act shatters in his eyes… I'll step right in.*

*This rich kid? Mine.*

*You'll see.*

"I'm home—"

Lin Lin pushed the door open. Her mom, washing veggies in the kitchen, peeked out with a frown. "Back so early? Skipping evening self-study?"

"Not feeling well. Resting at home."

"Oh…" Mom nodded, resuming her chopping. "Rest up. Dinner soon."

"Mm." Lin Lin trudged to her room, flopped onto the bed, and sighed deeply.

*Home feels amazing.*

*Bro's still stuck in self-study. I'm already chilling, ready to play.*

*Pfft pfft~ Weirdly happy.*

*Mmm~*

She rolled across the mattress, stretched her legs, and giggled. *So tiny now—even a two-meter bed feels huge.*

Later, after dinner, she locked her bedroom door, booted up her computer, and rubbed her hands together eagerly.

*System, starting stream!*

【Ding! Host going live. Popularity rewards calculated post-stream!】

*Yes! Ahem—live!*

Thanks to her preview post, over a dozen viewers already waited. Lin Lin smiled, clicked "Go Live," and chirped:

"Hello everyone! I'm your Yali-chan~ Good evening! Let's begin today's stream~"