“Do you have any idea why May’s gone completely silent right now? She’s been quiet for a while…”
“Huh? Huh? Huh? Shouldn’t she be sobbing her heart out?”
“Just not talking.”
“Uh… the psych ward’s got more—”
Click. Yaya’s call cut off.
It started with a feeding scene in the cafeteria—not just the suddenly-appeared beauty feeding gentle-mannered male lead Zhao Xiaoluo, but Zhao being pressured to feed her back too.
Naturally, a crowd gathered. So of course, Zhao tried pulling the new girl out of that gossip hotspot—but tripped almost immediately after bolting.
He scraped her knee. Flustered and knowing it was his fault, Zhao didn’t hesitate: hoisted her up and sprinted straight for the nurse’s office.
The teacher’s office sat on the first floor. From the hallway’s large, glassless window frames, you could see everything—the cafeteria, classroom building, playground—clear as day.
So the moment May ran out, she slammed right into Zhao Xiaoluo dashing across the playground with the new girl on his back. Talk about terrible timing.
Long story short: that’s how it happened.
Yet for some reason, May wasn’t even crying now.
“How about moving somewhere else?”
“Or should I escort you there myself?”
“If you stay here with me, it won’t solve anything, right?”
This was the teacher’s office. Empty now, but someone would show up soon. Chen Yaoyi really didn’t want more misunderstandings.
May just hugged herself, silent, forehead gently bumping the plastic chair back.
“It doesn’t mean they’re *together*, okay? If *your* knee got hurt, I’d carry you too! Totally normal! Zhao Xiaoluo was probably just being helpful—”
“Really?”
“Hey, hey, hey! Don’t get all reactive the second Zhao Xiaoluo’s name comes up!”
Chen Yaoyi grumbled. But the moment hope flickered, May spun around instantly.
“How’d you even know she was hurt?”
“I’ve got sharp eyes. Unlike *someone* hunched over her phone every night checking if Zhao Xiaoluo texted.”
“Hey! No! Don’t make stuff up! I don’t!”
Her cheeks flushed slightly—but yeah, obviously she did.
Chen Yaoyi had seen her light up over a simple “See you tomorrow” from Zhao. Truth was, though May and Zhao had exchanged contacts, they’d never chatted past ten minutes—shyness, plus zero topics.
“Fine, whatever…”
“No… well, there *were* times… but—” She ducked her head, flustered. *How did he know?* “But Xiao Luo… what if he actually likes that girl?”
“Dude, go talk to your bestie! Why drag *me*—the guy who once crossed the line with you—into this?!”
“But you *said* you’d help!”
“Ugh. Fine. Go ask him yourself. He’s at the nurse’s office. Say I sent you. I’m the teacher—I can say anything.”
“But what if Xiao Luo’s really… you-know-who-ing with her?”
She curled tightly around her knees. A slight push spun the office chair. Risky move—but she’d been doing it for ages.
“Wanna go check?”
Chen Yaoyi paused. *Zhao Xiaoluo? Too timid to overstep.*
“You come with me.”
“I told *you* to bring *him*. Why would *I* go?”
“I… I’m scared…”
Her face flushed. Eyes wide with unease, timidity.
“…Fine.”
After a long sigh, Chen Yaoyi caved. Work waited. And if things *were* getting weird? He’d step in. Teacher privileges—he could even threaten the girl into being his “velvet ball” if needed.
“Thank you! Let’s go!”
She perked up, charging ahead—then ducked behind Chen Yaoyi the second they neared the nurse’s office corridor.
“You go first—”
“Move.”
Chen Yaoyi snagged her nape. May let out a squeaky protest before he plunked her firmly in front.
“Nooo…”
“It’s fine—wait, hold up. Quick detour.”
“Huh?”
May glanced back. Chen Yaoyi bent down, slipped off his shoe, wiggled his blue-socked toes… then lifted his foot straight toward her butt.
“HEY! PERVERT! YOU—!”
*Thwack.* A solid kick sent her stumbling straight into the nurse’s office door.
Silence inside. Waiting felt useless. After sixty seconds, Chen Yaoyi turned to leave—but barely took three steps before a sobbing girl overtook him on the curve.
May, tears and snot streaking her face, shot past him like lightning and bolted for the playground. *Whoa—* first shock at her speed, then dread: *Something happened.*
“May! Wait, let me explai—!”
Zhao Xiaoluo appeared beside Chen Yaoyi, uniform rumpled, collarbone exposed. He’d been chasing her.
“Huh? Kid, why’s your—”
“Uh—*Teacher*? What are *you* doing here?!”
Their eyes locked. Chen Yaoyi strode straight for the nurse’s office. Zhao lunged to stop him—too late.
Inside, the suddenly-appeared beauty clutched the sheet tightly over her upper body—bare except for her underwear.
