Chapter 2: Seventh High School

Bai You couldn’t figure out who the “they” mentioned by the boy referred to. She could only roughly guess it might be the people who locked her in the classroom.

She didn’t yet understand her own background or know who “they” were. Rushing into an encounter carelessly would make it easy to expose her identity.

“Of course, let’s go.”

But before leaving, she needed to thoroughly check through Lin Songyue’s belongings. Earlier, she had assumed Lin was just an ordinary student. She casually flipped through a textbook without further thought, but now, knowing this was her identity, it warranted more attention.

There might be important information hidden somewhere.

“Wait a moment, let me find something.”

Saying this, Bai You began sifting through the books, pulling them out one by one and flipping through them to ensure nothing was missed—like papers tucked between the pages.

After all, back in her own school days, she used to stash random things in her books and struggle to find them later.

Because she was flipping through quickly, a pink letter suddenly slipped out of a book and landed near the boy’s feet.

Before Bai You could reach for it, the boy had already bent down to pick it up.

His lashes quivered slightly as he seemed to catch sight of something. With his cool voice, he read the words on the paper aloud, each syllable deliberate, his tone at the end tinged with a hint of curiosity.

“Dear Si Yu…”

Seeing the pink paper with a large heart drawn on the back, Bai You didn’t need to guess. It was undoubtedly a love letter Lin Songyue had written for someone. With a calm smile, she nodded, interrupting the boy before he could continue.

“Yes, that’s a love letter I wrote to him.”

After all, she had already been caught with Lin Songyue’s over-the-top CEO novel earlier. A love letter was hardly a big deal in comparison.

What’s the worst that could happen? Move to another planet and start fresh.

The boy finished reading the letter quickly, then raised his gaze. His dark eyes, shaded by long lashes, flickered with an unreadable light. The corners of his lips curled into a faint, mocking smile as he held the letter between his pale fingers and lightly swayed it.

“Funny. Why didn’t I know you were so deeply in love with me you couldn’t sleep at night?”

Bai You: “…??!”

What???

This was… the person the letter was meant for???

Facing the boy’s shadowy, probing eyes, Bai You mentally connected the dots between Lin Songyue’s knack for writing melodramatic CEO novels and the contents of the thin letter.

…She could already imagine just how much information was crammed into that small sheet of paper.

What a coincidence this turned out to be.

Bai You silently swallowed the expletive that almost escaped her lips, forcing a shy, girlish expression onto her face as her mind raced to come up with something to say.

“Well, um, that… I wrote that a while ago. Haha… you know, young and foolish…”

The boy leaned lazily against the desk, his fingers slowly unfolding the letter. His gaze shifted to the bottom of the page, where the date was written.

He suddenly let out a faint chuckle, though Bai You could see no trace of amusement in his eyes.

“…”

What’s happening here?

“…December 23rd.”

In the dim, uncertain light, his profile was partly hidden in shadow. His fingers tapped the desk twice in a slow rhythm, the sound soft but deliberate. His voice was cool, with a hint of lingering emphasis as if hinting at something.

“If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t that just yesterday?”

Bai You: “…”

Crap. She’d messed up.

Kid, why on earth would you put the date on a love letter?!

Bai You’s nerves began to fray as she noticed the suspicion growing in Si Yu’s gaze.

Of course, who wouldn’t remember the date they wrote their own love letter?

Except for her—a clueless fool who didn’t even know the letter existed until now.

This was bad. Really bad.

But Bai You didn’t let any of her panic show. In a heartbeat, she shifted to a delicate, wistful demeanor. Lowering her head, she let her lashes droop, hiding the emotions flickering in her eyes as she slowly began tidying the disorganized books, carefully placing them back in order on the shelf.

“I… just didn’t want to look so pathetic. Please don’t expose me.”

Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, so quiet that it would have been hard to hear if they weren’t standing close.

Her tone carried a faint trace of reproach, but mostly it was an attempt at feigned composure, a fragile act of pretending to be unaffected after being called out.

Si Yu didn’t respond, only watching her with calm detachment.

The air around them remained oppressively silent.

Seconds ticked by, and Bai You’s effort to act nonchalant started to falter. The more she tried to put the books back in order, the clumsier she became as her nerves unraveled. Finally, in her haste, she knocked the stack of books loose, sending textbooks tumbling noisily to the floor.

Flustered, she crouched down to gather them up. As she stood back up, clutching a few books in her arms, she unintentionally looked up—finally exposing the face she had been trying to keep hidden.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a glow on the girl’s tear-filled eyes. Her pale lavender pupils were veiled in a thin mist, shielding all light and rendering her gaze fragile, delicate—pitifully so.

Si Yu only glimpsed this expression for a second before the girl hastily lowered her head again, her fine strands of hair falling forward to obscure her face once more.

The silence in the air persisted, unbroken.

Out of sight, Bai You licked at the wound she had bitten into her lip. What a troublesome identity she had drawn, having to play the lovesick maiden. Such a hassle.

She deserved extra pay for this.

Still, there was no sound from above her. Bai You wasn’t sure if her acting had passed muster. Just as she was about to up the ante and put on an even more pitiful display, a shadow suddenly fell over the stack of books in front of her.

Si Yu had crouched down. The boy’s voice was low and slightly hoarse, yet it carried a faintly soothing tone.

“What are you crying for?”

Success!

Bai You’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of amusement flashing within them.

She knew it! Kids like him were so easy to fool. All she had to do was say something pitiable, pull off a hurt expression, and bam—he’d be completely hoodwinked…

The boy’s pale fingers picked up the book lying in front of her. His voice was indifferent, neither warm nor cold.

“I never said I wouldn’t agree.”

…Wait.

Bai You: “???”

What now?!

She was stunned.

I never said I wouldn’t agree.

Was he saying what she thought he was saying???

What???

Her head shot up, locking eyes with the boy. She searched his gaze meticulously, but there was no trace of jest in his expression.

Staring at the boy’s sincere demeanor, Bai You was momentarily silent before offering a heartfelt suggestion:

“You really don’t have to force yourself. It’s your right to say no…”

“Why would I be forcing myself?”

The boy’s jet-black eyes gleamed with genuine confusion, leaving Bai You completely speechless.

Panicking, she darted her eyes around in search of an excuse. Finally, she found something that sounded reasonable and blurted it out with righteous conviction:

“Underage relationships are wrong! They interfere with studying!”

“I’m already over 18.”

Bai You immediately straightened her back, speaking without the slightest hint of guilt, and quickly stated Lin Songyue’s age: “I’m only 17!”

So what, are you trying to say my studies are affected by early relationships?

You better watch out, or I’ll tell your parents!

Si Yu suddenly chuckled, his brows and eyes softened under the moonlight, taking on a warmth, like winter snow melting away—innocently beautiful.

“After tonight, I won’t be.”

Bai You was slightly stunned.

What… does that mean?

However, Si Yu no longer focused on the age issue. Instead, he shifted the conversation, shaking the folded letter in his hand, his burning gaze fixed on her, not letting any of her reactions slip by. He asked, each word deliberate.

“But why, when I’ve agreed, does your reaction not seem as eager as what was written in the letter?”

Bai You: “…”

Help.

Bai You had already figured out in her mind that based on his understanding of Lin Songyue and the surrounding environment, it was unlikely that he was from the same instance as her.

Because other players, upon entering the instance, would have about the same amount of information as her. They wouldn’t be so forward in talking to others. Like her, they would be quietly gathering information, and that would be the correct course of action.

Yet, he was the one who first helped her open the door, then casually found her desk and picked up her notebook to browse through it.

This wasn’t something an uninformed player would do.

So, Si Yu’s identity became clear.

He was an NPC in the instance.

Bai You didn’t plan to reveal her identity to an NPC just yet, or else she wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of playing along. She sighed quietly, deciding to follow the boy’s lead.

It’s just a relationship!

Who doesn’t know how to play along!

Anyway, she would be saying goodbye to this instance in less than six hours, so Bai You decided to throw caution to the wind.

“…It’s just that I didn’t expect you to actually agree. It didn’t feel real, and I didn’t react in time.”

And wasn’t it unreal?

To be playing some child’s love game with an NPC in this instance.

Although the boy in front of her was… quite good-looking.

Before Si Yu could speak again, Bai You coughed lightly and changed the subject, “Didn’t you say they were coming up? We should leave quickly.”

While collecting the books and picking things up, Bai You had already rummaged through Lin Songyue’s belongings. She found a crumpled piece of paper in the pencil case. To avoid arousing suspicion from Si Yu, she secretly slipped it into her pocket.

Now, she just needed to get out quickly and find an opportunity to see what was written on it.

“Also, it’s late, so staying at school isn’t good. The lights are off, and if the gates close later, we won’t be able to get out.” Bai You pretended to be scared, reaching out to tug on Si Yu’s clothes, taking the opportunity to establish her “fragile girl” persona.

But before her fingers could even touch the boy’s clothes, he had already taken a step back, avoiding her hand.

And he coldly uttered a word, directed at her.

“Dirty.”

Bai You’s hand froze mid-air, and a question mark slowly formed in her mind.

“?!”

What the hell?

It was just a little chalk dust, does he have to be so blatantly disgusted by his new girlfriend?!

No wonder he can’t find a partner! I’ll dump you as soon as we get out of here!

Bai You closed her eyes. Although she thought this in her mind, she decided to hold back for now.

She didn’t care about Si Yu anymore and turned to leave the classroom.

In the corridor, the only light was coming from the safety exit sign at the corner of the staircase, its green glow illuminating the path, allowing her to see the entire hallway.

This teaching building had six floors, with the senior year classes on the fifth and sixth floors. Bai You understood this arrangement; her previous school was the same, as they didn’t want lower-year students disturbing the senior students on the lower floors.

Class 3A of the senior year was located inside on the sixth floor, quite a distance from the stairs.

As Bai You was considering where to ditch Si Yu, she suddenly saw several beams of flashlight light flicker by near the stairs.

Someone was coming up.