“……”
“……”
They stared at each other.
No, it should be described as six eyes locking.
Yin Xiaomeng watched as Bai Ruoxi gripped her own hand with a possessive look that screamed ‘This is my wife.’
For some reason, the corner of her vision couldn’t help but drift—
To the girl sitting on the hospital bed, one hand with an IV drip and the other holding a paper cup, sipping hot water.
She was a little panicked now.
She also had no idea what the perfect move would be in this kind of scene.
The girl had never imagined that in just two weeks…
No, in just four short days, there would be someone who could catch her off guard twice in a row.
“…Xiaomeng?”
Bai Ruoxi, completely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, tried to interlock fingers with the other girl just like she had during that ‘date’ not long ago.
Her face was full of energy and rosy, far from the weak appearance she had claimed when they met outside the hospital earlier, saying she’d ‘eaten something she was allergic to and came for an IV.’
It was as if Yin Xiaomeng were some all-purpose tonic that could cure any illness if you just got close and took a big whiff…
“Babe… you never replied to my messages. Turns out it was because your classmate was sick…”
“Babe, you’re so caring.”
Whether it was an illusion or not, despite the conversation being perfectly ordinary, Situ Ling, half-leaning against the raised hospital bed, could smell an incredibly strong sourness in the exchange between the two girls.
Combined with the long-haired girl in casual clothes occasionally glancing toward her, and the curve of her lips when she spoke…
The sneer was like a jar of vinegar that had just been uncorked—
Bam!—
rushing straight up her nostrils.
The girl struggled to control her expression, placing the paper cup she had barely sipped from on the high stool beside the bed.
‘Did she see through me?’
‘Probably not…’
‘Xiaomeng told me about this girl named Bai Ruoxi. Is she No. 4?’
‘…’
If she remembered correctly, she was a girl whose stance on ‘cheating’ had always been wavering, right? What was this now?
Wasn’t she just complaining last week that this girl was still hesitant and would take a while to conquer? How had it already become like this—
Like they wanted to stick together?
She silently grumbled about the rapidly developing relationship between the two, forcing down the faint, barely perceptible disappointment in her heart.
Struggling to suppress the urge to grab Yin Xiaomeng by the collar and demand to know what happened during the weekend when she hadn’t been around, she put on a polite smile and looked at the girl who was still stubbornly trying to hold hands.
“Mm, today’s events were indeed troublesome for the class monitor… I guess I haven’t been resting well lately, so I ended up getting heatstroke…”
“By the way, this… classmate?”
“Are you very familiar with our class monitor? This is the first time I’ve seen…”
To be honest, being stared at like that by someone with the eyes of a cat caught stealing—
Even the nicest person would feel a bit annoyed…
But in public…
You still need to manage your image.
Even if the words coming out were tinged with a bit of revenge.
‘Really annoying.’
‘And giving me that look. If I actually got my hands on something, you think I’d share a bite with the likes of you?’
‘By seniority, I should be the main wife here.’
“……”
Yin Xiaomeng on the side struggled to maintain her ‘pure little white flower’ image.
But when she heard the two girls’ conversation, which was clearly a bit of a catfight, the corner of her mouth couldn’t help twitching.
‘Damn, what a sin.’
‘How did these two end up fighting?’
“?”
“Of course we’re close! Xiaomeng and I have been—”
“……”
Just as she was hesitating about whether to separate the two—
One big and one small—
Her body moved faster than her brain.
She quickly used her free hand to cover the mouth of that bastard who seemed about to say something shocking.
‘Damn it, Bai Ruoxi! Can’t you keep your mouth shut?’
That was close.
She almost lost her last shred of dignity to live in this society.
Instinctively avoiding the probing gaze of the girl lying in bed, Yin Xiaomeng struggled to keep her expression in check.
After confirming that Bai Ruoxi wouldn’t say anything else outrageous that would socially kill her, she let out a long sigh.
Her little hand, which had been entangled, broke free from the ‘shameless’ palm that kept trying to cling to it.
After gathering strength, she quickly pinched the soft flesh of the girl’s waist.
“If you dare run your mouth…”
“Be careful—I’ll never talk to you again in this life!”
That kind of humiliating experience was meant to stay buried deep in the stomach.
If anyone dared to dig it up—
Especially in front of her only good friend…
Yin Xiaomeng swore that even if she had to risk her own life, she would tear that bastard into a thousand pieces!
“……”
Watching the two whispering together right in front of her, Situ Ling took a deep breath.
Her hand, which she had placed back under the blanket, clenched into a fist.
But then, reluctantly, she loosened it again.
The anger from being ‘provoked’ just moments ago vanished in an instant.
She was just a good friend.
“……”
And Bai Ruoxi?
Seeing the flicker of disappointment that flashed through the eyes of the beautiful blonde girl in the bed, who was prettier and cuter than herself, she only further confirmed her suspicion—
The intuition that had been ringing nonstop ever since she saw that girl.
‘This girl definitely has designs on my Xiaomeng.’
Though, to be honest, there was probably a bit of resentment from seeing the other’s looks mixed in there.
…
“……”
“Spill it.”
“What happened during the weekend off?”
After sending off Bai Ruoxi, who had only taken a half-day leave, and reporting back to the homeroom teacher, the girl sitting back down in the chair faced an unavoidable interrogation.
Yin Xiaomeng lowered her head, one hand propping up her knee, the other subconsciously twirling a strand of hair that fell by her temple.
Her wandering eyes laid her guilt bare.
“…It’s really nothing much.”
Unlike her usual habit of excitedly telling her best friend about every little bit of progress, this time she was avoiding the topic, which honestly…
Only made the other even more curious.
What happened?
What could make her thick-skinned best friend, who could calmly say ‘What’s more exciting than being the third wheel?’
Not want to mention it?
“Come on~ Tell me~”
“Class monitor~ Xiaomeng~”
“I really want to hear~”
The girl didn’t beat around the bush.
She simply relied on her stunningly pretty face to make the most fitting pleading expression.
That pitiful look, combined with her pale, languid face from just having woken up, created a fragile appearance that was a critical hit to that old pervert.
“……”
“Nothing really happened.”
“Seriously.”
“I just… last Saturday… I asked her out to see a movie.”
“Nothing else happened! Really!”
But this was about dignity.
Begging wouldn’t work.
She had already lost all face in front of that bastard Bai Ruoxi.
In front of her adorable little Ling’er, she had to hold onto her grandiose image of being in control of everything!
(Though, given her usual teasing behavior, that image was already a bit pervy to begin with.)