CHAPTER 9

Xu Yi forgave her youthful ignorance, but at the same time, he felt it was necessary to establish his authority in front of this girl.

“Do you know who you’re dealing with? A truly incredible figure.”

“Speak while eating, stay silent while sleeping. Haven’t young masters of big families learned such basic manners?” Wen Yang interrupted him unintentionally. She just wanted to finish her meal quietly.

The area was full of mosquitoes. Under the dim light, she looked down at her legs, now dotted with red bites, and scratched them, producing a soft rustling sound.

Xu Yi’s mocking gaze inadvertently shifted to the back of her neck. She was really thin—so much so that the exposed curve of her back and neck resembled a string of delicate pearls beneath her smooth skin. She was slender but not frail; despite her hair giving a bit of a messy impression, she didn’t look malnourished at all.

Wen Yang straightened up, and Xu Yi quickly retracted his gaze. He recalled the supplies he had Zhang Yuan deliver last time. Just as he was about to speak, Wen Yang leaned her folding stool against the wall, picked up her porcelain bowl, and walked into the house. The bottom of the bowl was slightly hot, and she rotated her fingers as she carried it.

Outside, only Xu Yi remained. The air felt a bit desolate, but he leisurely blew on his noodles. Suddenly, he chuckled. Perhaps it wasn’t so boring after all.

After a while—

Smack!

Xu Yi flipped his hand over, and in his palm lay the crushed remains of a blood-filled mosquito. The blood splattered like a flower bursting into bloom.

With the stools now leaning against each other, Xu Yi carried a basin upstairs.

---

The next morning, a loud commotion woke Xu Yi from his sleep. With his hair in a mess and annoyance thick in his expression, he sat up, suppressing his early-morning grumpiness.

Glancing at his phone, it was only 6:02 AM.

Irritated, he tossed the phone toward the headboard. It clattered to the floor, but he ignored it and went back to sleep.

When he finally woke up naturally and went downstairs to look for food, he noticed a fried egg on the table.

He paused mid-step, then strode over, finding a small note under the plate. The words breakfast were scrawled on it. His lips curled into an involuntary smile, and he muttered, “Making peace, huh?” Still, as he examined the note, he thought to himself that her handwriting could use some work.

“So she’s not really arrogant. She still knows better than to offend me.” Feeling quite pleased, Xu Yi ate the fried egg, then left for school under the midday sun.

When he arrived, it was already lunchtime. A long line of students stretched outside the classrooms, waiting for food. As Xu Yi walked by, conversations died down, and all eyes trailed after him.

Wearing sunglasses, with his hands in his pockets, he strolled leisurely like a big shot. His white shirt and black trousers gave the impression of a leader inspecting his domain.

Xiao Yan, who had spent the morning charging her phone in the teacher’s dormitory, caught sight of Xu Yi’s flamboyant outfit. She muttered under her breath, “What a show-off.”

When Xu Yi entered the classroom, the smell of cafeteria food made him wrinkle his nose slightly. He noticed Wen Yang slumped over her desk while, next to her, the new transfer student sat.

“Wen Yang, you’re amazing! I couldn’t understand this question no matter how hard I tried!”

“Hmm, just pay closer attention when reading the question.”

“There’s another one I don’t get. Could you explain it again? Qi Chen has been busy helping Xiao Yan, and I didn’t want to bother them.” Lin Minjing bit her lip as she spoke, her eyes darting toward the back of the room.

Wen Yang’s expression was dull, her eyelids half-lowered. She didn’t feel like playing along with this performance, debating whether to feign jealousy to match the act.

At that moment, Xu Yi stepped forward and tapped the desk.

Wen Yang glanced at him, then immediately propped her arms up and slumped down again, thinking to herself, Finally, some relief.

Lin Minjing looked up at Xu Yi’s proud expression and internally rolled her eyes but forced a polite smile as she moved aside to give him room.

“Xu Yi, I’m here to ask for help with some questions. Sorry to trouble you.”

Xu Yi lazily responded and grabbed a book to use as a seat cushion. Resting his chin on one hand, he observed Wen Yang. Her pretending-to-be-dead attitude amused him—it was probably because last night she’d insisted she wouldn’t cook for him, only to contradict herself with breakfast this morning.

Watching her absentmindedly twirl a pen between her fingers, Xu Yi casually reached over and grabbed the test paper tucked under her arm. Glancing through it, he smirked. “So, you’ve even started changing your handwriting now.”

Though she pretended not to care last night, she was clearly intimidated by his presence. All that defiance was just her struggling against her own discomfort.

Thinking he’d figured out her thoughts, Xu Yi chose not to expose her. He also recalled the suitcase of snacks he hadn’t delivered yet. Perhaps it was time for a second visit.

The lunch bell rang, and the younger students stretched and yawned, slowly lifting their heads before groggily collapsing back down on their desks.

Wen Yang rubbed her eyelids, wiping away the dampness left by a yawn. She lazily shuffled her things around and pulled out her textbook for the next class.

“Here’s another one,” Xu Yi remarked meaningfully, handing her a note. “Your handwriting’s not bad. How long did you practice?”

Wen Yang took it without a word, her expression drained of energy. Earlier that morning, one of Xu Yi’s younger followers had woken her up to deliver him breakfast. When she opened the door, the boy had looked disappointed, instructing her like a little adult that the egg was meant for his “big brother.” Then he’d scampered off to cut grass, leaving her frustrated. That’s why she didn’t have a single kind look for Xu Yi now.

Seeing her weary demeanor, Xu Yi decided it wasn’t the time to talk. He closed his mouth.

Later, the principal came by to inspect the classrooms. Ignoring Xu Yi openly playing on his phone, he instead scolded a few dozing younger students, making them stand at the back of the room. Among them was the boy who’d delivered Xu Yi’s egg that morning.

Wen Yang suddenly remembered his name was Liu Qunsheng. He had an older sister but didn’t follow the group she led.

---

After the first class ended, Wen Yang gathered her thoughts and picked up the test paper the teacher had just reviewed. She turned toward Qi Chen for “help.”

“Qi Chen, I didn’t quite understand the last question the teacher explained. How did they arrive at that answer?”

Before Qi Chen could respond, Xiao Yan interjected eagerly. “Oh, I know this one! Let me explain!”

“No need,” Wen Yang replied flatly. “I’m used to discussing problems with Qi Chen. I’m afraid I might not follow your explanation.”

Lin Minjing, eavesdropping from the back, perked up with excitement. Let the drama between the protagonist and supporting female lead begin!

“Oh, okay,” Xiao Yan said softly, retreating a little. She missed Qi Chen’s reassuring glance, feeling slightly dejected at being turned down.

“What part didn’t you understand?” Qi Chen asked.

Just as he was about to take the paper, Xu Yi’s long arm intercepted it. The faint scent of lemon from his white shirt brushed past Wen Yang’s nose. He snatched the paper away effortlessly.

“Why bother going to him when your deskmate knows the answer?”

Xiao Yan scoffed at his arrogance, her earlier gloom replaced by a sarcastic sneer. “If you can solve that problem, pigs could fly.”

“Give it back!” Wen Yang raised her voice, drawing curious looks from the giggling younger students nearby.

The system chimed in: [Host, stay on track and stick to the plot!]

“I’ll explain it to you.” The boy’s voice was naturally deeper than a girl’s, and now, his tone was domineering, almost overpowering hers.

Wen Yang nearly cursed him. What was Xu Yi’s problem? He was really trying to add drama to this.

Xu Yi didn’t even know why he felt the need to explain the question to her. “You don’t understand the last question, right?” He slapped the exam paper onto Wen Yang’s desk, pressing it down with his fingers, the joints of his hand clearly visible. With his other hand, he reached for the pen she was holding. “Let me see.”

A long silence followed, and Wen Yang turned away.

System: [Host, this isn’t going well!]

“Given… this line…”

“Shut up.”

The former stopped speaking, but the latter continued reading aloud.

Lin Minjing: I think I’ve discovered something. Xu Yi is standing up for the female lead. He must have raised her child before… Wow! Silent and restrained love…

Xiao Yan: I’m just quietly watching you fail at showing off.

Qi Chen: Focus on studying, not getting involved in classmates’ conflicts.

Wen Yang’s icy gaze cut through his long, pale fingers like a blade, as though they were a fragile work of art, about to break free from their owner at any moment.

Xu Yi secretly glanced at her, and for some inexplicable reason, he felt a sense of relief. His voice became more rhythmic as he explained the question.

But Wen Yang wasn’t listening. She was following the plot and trying to complete her tasks. All she wanted now was to smash that arrogant head of his.

“Did you understand? If not, I’ll explain it again,” Xu Yi couldn’t hide the smugness in his tone.

Xiao Yan’s bright eyes were filled with disbelief. He was right! He had been hiding his abilities… hiding his abilities! Oh my gosh, when you think about it, it’s terrifying. He’s not planning to do anything bad, is he?

Xiao Yan grabbed Qi Chen’s arm, shivering uncontrollably.

“What’s wrong with you?” Qi Chen felt her nails digging into his arm.

“It’s nothing, I just discovered a secret.”

Lin Minjing: What secret? Do you know Xu Yi likes you?

“Mm.” Qi Chen didn’t think the secret had much to do with him.

---

Xu Yi only enjoyed his moment of triumph in the classroom during the afternoon. By the time school ended, he understood what it meant to “ask for trouble.”

Since the beginning of the explanation, Wen Yang hadn’t said a word to him. They had become like strangers, distant and indifferent.

The standoff lasted until Saturday evening.

A black shadow stealthily slipped into the small courtyard. Occasionally, there were a few barks from the dog. The figure glanced around in panic, clearly inexperienced.

The dark, starless night cast an eerie atmosphere over the quiet yard.

People in the mountains didn’t lock their doors or gates. The shadow entered smoothly, tiptoeing to find a good hiding spot. He squinted his eyes and quickly slipped behind a corner. There was a faint light coming from the second floor; it seemed like a few people were still awake.

Xu Yi heard a faint sound of a door opening and, by the rhythm of the footsteps, guessed it was Wen Yang.

The cold white light of her phone shone directly into his eyes, and his dark pupils contracted. At first, he thought it wasn’t a big deal, but as the cold war continued, he began to feel increasingly restless.

Xu Yi was used to being arrogant. No one dared to keep provoking him like this and still have him smile at them.

But Wen Yang was the exception. She wasn’t afraid of slapping the tiger’s whiskers repeatedly.

He thought it would be better for them to return to their previous amicable atmosphere. Communication between them was necessary. He quietly opened the door and walked into the living room.

Wen Yang came out of the bathroom and turned off the light. Suddenly, she heard a faint rustling sound. Something rushed toward her, brushing past her head and arm, giving her the chance to escape.

“Who’s there!” Xu Yi shouted as he heard the movement in the distance, running toward it.

Xu Yi: “Hiss~”

Wen Yang: “Cough~”

Wen Yang collided with Xu Yi, who had come to rescue her. Her slender body couldn’t match his strong and powerful frame. She couldn’t even defend herself. She felt like she had crashed into a hard bronze wall. The pain shot through her forehead, nose, chest, and shoulders. In an instant, she was slammed back by the impact.

Xu Yi quickly wrapped his arm around her and they both fell to the ground. For a brief moment, their bodies collided, but before anyone could notice, they separated again.

Wen Yang’s back wasn’t severely injured, but a muffled grunt came from above her head. Xu Yi, ignoring his own pain, quickly stood up and kicked the dazed figure in front of him.