Chapter 5: Acting
A Persistent Pursuit
“Ye Sheng, please stop pestering me. I’m really not interested.” Lan Yi sounded exasperated, her rejection firm, but Ye Sheng wouldn’t back off.
“Lan Yi, I really like you! I’m the young master of the Ye family—what’s not good enough for you?” Her indifference only made Ye Sheng more agitated.
“Ugh… you…” Lan Yi frowned, clearly frustrated. She didn’t like him, plain and simple—no reasons needed. She wanted to snap but held back, wary of angering the heir of the powerful Ye family. After all, she was just an ordinary student.
A Timely Intervention
“Sister! I finally found you! Why are you here?” A cheerful voice cut through the tension. A cute black-haired girl rushed over, her face lit with joy, as if she’d found her savior.
“You promised to take me to report today! This place is huge—I got lost!” The black-haired girl flung herself into Lan Yi’s arms, nuzzling her chest and squeezing out a few crocodile tears. She looked up with teary eyes, appearing pitiful.
Lan Yi, startled by the stranger’s dramatic entrance, froze. But seeing the girl’s teary expression, she instinctively patted her head to comfort her. At an angle hidden from Ye Sheng, the black-haired girl winked mischievously at Lan Yi.
“Oh… sorry, I…” Catching on, Lan Yi awkwardly played along.
“Who’s that?” Ye Sheng, interrupted, glared, his voice sharp with irritation before Lan Yi could finish.
“Eek!” The black-haired girl yelped, as if just noticing Ye Sheng. She shrank behind Lan Yi, trembling in “fear.”
“S-Sorry, I-I-I…” Seeing the girl’s apparent fear, Lan Yi stepped protectively in front of her. She shot Ye Sheng an angry look. “This is… my sister. I promised to take her to report today.”
The Act Deepens
Seeing Lan Yi’s apparent anger, Ye Sheng realized he’d blundered. He forced a smile and stepped closer. “So, she’s your sister! I’m—” As he approached, the black-haired girl trembled harder, hiding completely behind Lan Yi.
“Please don’t come closer.” Lan Yi raised a hand to stop Ye Sheng.
“No, I didn’t know! I can help—” “We can manage. Stay back—you’re scaring her.” Lan Yi’s voice lost its earlier softness, her eyes cold as ice, radiating a fierce protectiveness. She gripped the trembling girl’s hand firmly.
“Let’s go, Ye Sheng. We’re off to report.” Lan Yi pulled the black-haired girl along, leaving the park without a backward glance.
Ye Sheng stood frozen, watching Lan Yi’s retreating figure. Yesterday, he’d been thrilled, certain the blue gem he’d bought at auction would win her heart. Instead, he’d not only failed but also upset her “sister,” making their relationship worse than ever.
“Damn it!” Furious, Ye Sheng hurled the carefully wrapped gift to the ground and stormed off.
A Relieved Escape
In the vast campus, Lan Yi hurried along, pulling the black-haired girl as if fleeing a beast. She stopped only after ensuring no one followed, exhaling in relief. Turning to the stranger, she smiled gratefully. “Thank you, um… junior?”
“No big deal, senior. Just call me Yu Li.” Yu Li smiled, shaking her head as she introduced herself. She glanced at their joined hands.
Lan Yi realized she’d been gripping Yu Li’s hand tightly out of nerves. Yu Li’s hand was cool and soft, almost too pleasant to release. Unconsciously, Lan Yi squeezed it twice more.
“…?” “Oh, s-sorry, Junior Yu! I’m not usually like this…” Lan Yi’s face flushed as she saw Yu Li’s puzzled expression. She quickly let go, scrambling to explain.
“Pfft, haha, it’s fine, senior! We’re basically acting buddies now. Relax!” Yu Li laughed, charmed by Lan Yi’s flustered state. Even when bothered by Ye Sheng, Lan Yi had stayed calm, but now she was adorably frantic.
Lan Yi’s Embarrassment
“Ugh…” Lan Yi’s cheeks burned, her hands covering her face. The usually poised girl wished she could vanish into the ground.
Slap— “Senior?!” Lan Yi clapped her hands to her cheeks, forcing herself to calm down. The sudden action startled Yu Li into a shout.
“I’m fine, Junior Yu. Thank you so much for today. I don’t know how to repay you.” Despite her still-red cheeks—whether from the slap or lingering embarrassment—Lan Yi regained her composure.
“Are you sure you’re okay, senior?” Yu Li eyed Lan Yi’s flushed face with concern.
“I’m fine. It’s just… a trick to calm myself quickly.” Lan Yi shook her head, her expression turning serious as a thought hit her. “Junior Yu, that guy chasing me was Ye Sheng from the Ye family. I’m worried… if he finds out you tricked him, he might retaliate. I’m sorry for dragging you into this.” Her tone grew solemn.
A Carefree Assurance
“It’s okay, senior! As long as he doesn’t find out, we’re fine. We pulled it off perfectly, and that senior looked pretty clueless!” Yu Li grinned optimistically. “Besides, I wanted to help you. How could I blame you?”
“Ugh…” Lan Yi’s expression didn’t lighten; it grew graver. She seemed to think Yu Li underestimated the situation. After all, foolish or not, Ye Sheng was a young master from a prominent family.
“Come on, senior, don’t stress about things that haven’t happened!” Yu Li smiled, taking Lan Yi’s hand again. “Instead, let’s hurry! If I don’t report soon, I’m done for.”