“R-Return the favor?”

The girl squirmed desperately on the desk—but to no avail. Gao Liang, the so-called “Dark Lord,” still had her pinned firmly beneath him, calmly insisting on payment for tonight’s tutoring.

“This is… way too much! What ‘payment’? You’re only bullying me ‘cause no one’s here to expose your perverted side! Just… just like in the teacher’s office!”

She whimpered, clearly unwilling. Gao Liang smirked; his gentle eyes now sharp as a leopard’s. He even gave a slow nod.

“Exactly. This spot’s perfect for teasing a little kitty~”

“You shamelessly admit it?! Who… who taught you such twisted games?! And ‘kitty’… I’m not little!”

Fuming, she gritted her teeth but couldn’t move. Helpless, she burst out:

“I’ll tell Teacher Zhu the second I’m out! I’ll call the police! Let me go—now! Or… or else!”

“Or else? Ah, but isn’t this mutual?”

“Mutual with *you*?! I’m just powerless to resist!”

Gao Liang chuckled. “But if the police take me away… who’ll tutor you? Sure, you could find someone else—but I doubt anyone’d lecture nonstop for hours.”

Uh…

He had a point.

And once he’s out… damn, I’d still be the IQ-twenty idiot.

Hiss—

Even more dangerous. Would he lure me off with just a lollipop?

A shiver ran through her. Gao Liang smiled. “So… ready to return the favor?”

“W-What do you even want?! Fine! You can have my body—but never my heart! Waaah—!”

*I used to be a hot-blooded young man! I like girls!* Lin Lin wailed inwardly.

She’d even braced for a groin kick—but Gao Liang just stood there, bewildered, staring at her flushed face.

*Deskmate… does it mean sharing the same desk?*

“Ahem…” Gao Liang cleared his throat awkwardly. “Lin Lin, you misunderstood. I just want to hear you meow.”

“…Huh?”

Lin Lin opened her eyes, silent a moment, then muttered stiffly: “Again… that ‘meow’?”

“Yep. Two more times. Sincere. Cute. Like a kitten begging its owner~ ‘Meow~’.”

Gao Liang beamed. Lin Lin twitched her lips. *You meow just fine yourself!*

*Obsessed with catgirls? Go find a fursuiter! Anime stuff doesn’t exist IRL! Stop forcing me into this!*

Mmph…

She lowered her head, voice barely a whisper: “Y-You… let me go first.”

“Nope. This pose heightens the embarrassment.”

E-Embarrassment?!

Lin Lin froze.

Why… *why*?

What changed this perfect social butterfly she once admired?

Humiliating a girl, forcing shy words from her—was this bullying’s peak?

*Gao Liang… please, go back to being the warm, popular guy…*

*Yeah, you were a show-off pretty boy before… but better than a scheming pervert…*

“It’s… not embarrassing. Just uncomfortable… Being with you feels awful…” she insisted stubbornly.

“Hmm… Then I really can’t let go. You’d run the second I do.”

Gao Liang spoke calmly. Lin Lin fell silent, lying there with a pitiful, wronged look, lips pursed—hoping her helpless expression would soften him.

*Wait it out? Maybe someone’ll come… Uh…*

*Better negotiate.*

“Um… other options? I already meowed earlier.”

“Sure. Your choice. But without that cute reward… I might lose motivation to tutor you.”

“N-No! That won’t work!” Lin Lin shook her head frantically. Gao Liang smiled—he’d found her weak spot.

*Fine. Time to let go.*

He suddenly released her, grabbed his textbook, and walked to the window. Glancing down, he turned back to the disoriented Lin Lin.

“Enough fun. It’s just the second floor—not too high. I can climb down the downspout. Heading home. Bye, Lin Lin?”

“What?!”

She scrambled up. “Y-You’re leaving?! What about *me*?!”

“For you? Might be risky… Guess you’ll spend the night alone in this abandoned classroom. Heard there are creepy school legends here~ But don’t worry—someone’ll open up tomorrow.”

C-Creepy legends?!

“Hey! At least call Teacher Zhu! You can’t leave! *You can’t!*”

She lunged, grabbing his arm and yanking him from the window.

“Eh? Lin Lin, why’re you pulling me?”

Gao Liang turned, suppressing laughter, face perfectly serious.

“Y-You… I’m worried you’ll fall!”

She looked away. Gao Liang let out a choked chuckle—Lin Lin’s fists clenched tight.

He continued theatrically:

“Ah, but staying’s pointless if I can’t hear your meows. I lectured all night… throat’s hoarse. Can’t even call Teacher Zhu to say my deskmate’s locked in…”

Lin Lin bowed her head, jaw tight. *He’s doing this on purpose… Waaah—*

After a long silence, she gritted her teeth, raised her fists…

…then held them under her chin like tiny cat paws.

“Mmph… Meow~” she whispered, trying to sound cute.

“Hm? Didn’t catch that. Again, Lin Lin. No one’s here.”

“Ugh—”

Tears welled in her eyes. She sniffled, then murmured pitifully:

“Meow~ Meow~ Meow~”

“Pfft— So cute~ More, please. I’ll never get tired of it.” Gao Liang ruffled her hair like a triumphant Dark Lord, grinning smugly.

“Meow~ Meow~ Meow…”

Lin Lin hung her head, the picture of wronged innocence.

*My pride… my dignity… Meow… Waaah—*

Meow.