After cleaning off in the bathroom, I headed back to class.
As I stepped out, I ran into Chen Haoyu again. He’d changed his clothes and was holding another pack of tissues.
Before I could speak, he pulled out a tissue and tried to help me clean up.
“Sorry, I was too careless earlier. Let me help you.”
I jumped back, putting distance between us.
He froze, awkwardly adjusting his glasses—a gesture that triggered a memory.
Whenever Chen Haoyu was upset, he’d push up his glasses. I used to rush to apologize whenever I saw that gesture, even though I never really liked him.
But just now, I realized—I’d been played!
“No, it was my fault. I need to get to class.”
With that, I dashed away before he could stop me.
I made it back to class just as the bell rang. To my surprise, Zhao Wenqing had switched seats to sit next to me.
She smiled and tugged me into my seat.
“I’ll sit with you this period, Suyin!”
I frowned. “Why don’t you go back to your own seat? I can’t concentrate with you here.”
She ignored my tone and clung to my arm.
“It’s just one class! You’re so smart, you don’t even need to pay attention.”
If this had been my last life, I would have been flattered by her words.
I opened my mouth to protest, but the teacher walked in. Too late...
This was math class, and high school math was tough. Missing even one lesson could mean hours of extra work.
I focused on the textbook, but Wenqing kept trying to chat.
“Suyin, you scared me this morning. I’m just glad you weren’t burned. I would have been so worried.”
I ignored her.
“By the way, the guy you bumped into—wasn’t he super handsome? That’s the guy I wanted you to meet yesterday.”
I forced a smile. “He’s very handsome. If you like him, do you want me to help you chase him?”
Her smile faltered, but she ignored my question and continued,
“He’s Chen Haoyu, a transfer student from Class 8. I was chatting with him about you the other day—”
I raised my hand and pointed to a problem in the textbook.
The teacher, an elderly man, looked delighted.
“Excellent, Liang Suyin! Let’s talk about this problem. In fact, let’s start from a hundred years ago...”
I stared in disbelief as he launched into a history lecture. By the time class ended, I still didn’t have the answer to my math problem.
After class, as the teacher hurried out, Wenqing jumped in,
“Suyin, if you don’t understand, I can ask Haoyu to help you. He’s great at math—”
Before she could finish, a math textbook appeared in front of me.
It was Lin Yichen. He yawned and sat down across from me.
“Which problem?”
I blinked. “Huh?”
“Which problem didn’t you get?”
I realized what he meant and opened my book to the example. His elegant fingers traced the page, and he quickly scribbled out the solution on a blank sheet.
Wenqing watched in awe, leaning closer.
Lin Yichen finished and slid the paper to me. The solution was so clear, I understood instantly.
He stretched and patted my head. “Wait for me after school. We’ll go home together.”
I nodded, and he got up to leave. Wenqing shot up from her seat.
“Yichen, I have a question too. Can you help me?”
“The math office is downstairs,” he replied without looking back.
Wenqing froze, and my heart pounded in my chest.
How did I ever manage to dislike Lin Yichen so much in my last life?
After school, as I packed up, Lin Yichen was already waiting at the door.
I smiled and walked over, but Wenqing jumped out again.
“Suyin, my stomach hurts. I feel awful.”
I ignored her and kept walking toward Lin Yichen. She grabbed my hand,
“Suyin, I really don’t feel well.”
I was speechless. Did she really think I was that gullible?
“If you’re sick, go see a doctor. Why are you pulling me? Am I a doctor?”
She let go and started crying.
I was exasperated. Lin Yichen walked over.
“I’ll take you.”
Wenqing looked up. “Huh?”
“You’re not feeling well, right? I’ll take you to the hospital.”
He repeated himself, and Wenqing, after a moment, agreed in a pitiful voice.
She walked around me and followed Lin Yichen out.
I stood there, stunned. After a moment, my chest tightened with a strange ache.
After a few deep breaths, I watched the classroom empty out and left with the crowd.
On the way home, I kicked at the stones on the sidewalk, venting my frustration. I kicked one too hard and twisted my ankle.
All my pent-up emotions erupted, and I sat down on the curb. “Why is everything going wrong? This is all Lin Yichen’s fault! He promised we’d walk home together. Liar! I’ll make sure you never get what you want from me in this life.”
“Never get what I want?”
Startled, I looked up to see Lin Yichen. My anger flared, and I tried to walk away despite the pain.
He followed me. “Stay away from me,” I snapped.
He raised an eyebrow, glancing at my limping. “Suit yourself.”
Fine, don’t explain. See if I care.
I kept walking, not noticing the warning sign for a construction zone. I nearly stepped onto a loose metal plate covering a drain when Lin Yichen yanked me back.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed? Didn’t you see the sign?”
Realizing what almost happened, my eyes filled with tears.
“Leave me alone. I’m not talking to liars. Even if I die, I won’t forgive you.”
Lin Yichen chuckled, but I was furious.
Seeing he still wouldn’t explain, I turned away.
But he caught my arm again.
“Fine, I’m a liar.”
Hearing that, my anger faded a bit, but I still refused to look at him, hobbling away on my sore ankle.
Suddenly, Lin Yichen crouched down in front of me.
“Get on. I’ll carry you.”
I secretly felt happy, but pretended to be annoyed. “Do you carry everyone, or just me?”
He laughed softly. “Only you.”
Satisfied, I climbed onto his back.
He walked slowly, and I whispered in his ear, “Aren’t you going to explain?”
He replied calmly, “Why bother with people who don’t matter?”
I snorted and hugged him tighter. “She might not matter, but you ditched me today.”
He stopped and looked back at me. My face flushed again.
I expected him to deny everything, but instead, he asked, “Liang Suyin, are you possessed?”
The air grew still, and my jaw nearly dropped.
“Alright, enough jokes. I dropped her off at the psychiatric hospital and came right back.”
I burst out laughing.
Chapter 03
*