Chapter 13: Confession
After the Sparring
As time passed, Class A’s sparring session concluded.
Teacher Wu, frowning, stretched his muscles.
“Heh, looks like you lot didn’t slack off over the break. Good. Dismissed!”
Under his intimidating presence, every student had given their all, leaving most of them panting.
At the word “dismissed,” they scattered like freed animals.
Yu Li lay sprawled across Ai Xinglan’s lap, looking utterly content.
“Okay… you’ve rested enough, right? I need to head to the student council.”
Ai Xinglan’s face was slightly flushed, clearly uncomfortable with such intimacy in public.
“Huh? I haven’t had my fill yet~”
Yu Li put on a reluctant act, squirming and refusing to get up.
“Then… next time…”
Ai Xinglan’s voice trailed off, too quiet for Yu Li to catch.
“Hm? What?”
“Ahem, nothing! If you didn’t hear, it’s not important. This was just compensation for going overboard earlier, so don’t get any ideas. I’ve got work to do!”
Before Yu Li could react, Ai Xinglan rattled off her excuse and bolted.
“…She’s so fast.”
Yu Li muttered helplessly, watching Ai Xinglan’s flustered retreat.
Perhaps noticing Ai Xinglan’s departure, a black shadow darted out, landing squarely on Yu Li’s lap.
[You two sure know how to heal each other! What about me?!]
Liuli’s voice carried a hint of grievance, as if it had been waiting forever.
It stayed still, signaling it needed “healing” too.
[I controlled all those flames in one go—I’m exhausted! And I couldn’t interrupt you two. Now, you owe me a reward!]
Yu Li, slightly exasperated, stroked Liuli’s fur.
“So… what reward do you want?”
Liuli’s eyes lit up, its paws rubbing together eagerly.
[Hmph, I worked so hard for you! Can we skip today’s training?!]
“Waiting to ambush me with that? No way~”
Yu Li smiled, rejecting the request.
[Ugh, touch your heart! Doesn’t it hurt to deny a cute, devoted fox like me?!]
“Hm… I can’t cancel the training, but I can ask Feng to make you a big fruit cake after.”
[Huh? Really?! Awesome, I want grape flavor!]
Forgetting its fatigue, Liuli wagged its tail excitedly at the promise of cake.
Yu Li smiled gently, petting the black fox.
The scene was so heartwarming that the students who’d invited her to spar earlier approached again.
“Yu Li, you’re a summoner? This fox is so cute! Does it have a name?”
A girl stepped forward, asking eagerly.
Yu Li looked at her, puzzled.
She’d assumed they’d avoid her, like they did Ai Xinglan.
“Oh, sorry, I haven’t introduced myself! I’m Chen Ya, I sit just behind you in class~”
The girl didn’t notice Yu Li’s confusion, introducing herself cheerfully.
“And me! I’m Liu Yixing. You were so cool, Yu Li, holding your own against the vice president!”
A boy pushed past Chen Ya, eager to introduce himself, unwilling to be outdone.
“Vice president?”
“That’s Ai Xinglan. She’s only a first-year but became the student council vice president with her strength. Super scary!”
Liu Yixing rubbed his head, explaining to Yu Li.
“Scary, huh…”
“You idiot, what nonsense are you spouting to Yu Li?”
Chen Ya grabbed Liu Yixing’s face from behind, yanking him back.
“What are you—” Liu Yixing mumbled, his words muffled.
“Shut up.”
“Uh… Yu Li, don’t mind him. Ai isn’t that scary, just… her aura’s too strong, hard to approach.”
Unlike the carefree Liu Yixing, Chen Ya sensed a connection between Yu Li and Ai Xinglan—maybe even friendship—so she quickly silenced him.
“Didn’t notice earlier, but you two seem pretty close?”
Yu Li smiled, brushing off their comments about Ai Xinglan.
“Close? With him? No way! Stinky guys can’t compare to cute, dainty girls!”
“Pfft, close with her? I only like gentle, adorable girls!”
Hearing Yu Li call them close, Liu Yixing broke free, both he and Chen Ya protesting in sync, their reasons eerily similar.
Yu Li realized why they approached her despite the earlier awkwardness—she fit their “type.”
“Ha? Who’re you calling a violent girl?”
“You! Always hitting people—classic violent girl!”
“Oh yeah?”
Thud—
Chen Ya’s fist landed on Liu Yixing’s head, sending him crumpling to the ground.
“That’s real violence for you, hmph.”
Chen Ya rubbed her fist, then turned back to Yu Li with a gentle smile.
“Yu Li, let’s go!”
Yu Li glanced at Liu Yixing, sprawled on the ground, and asked instinctively.
“Uh… is he okay?”
“Oh, he’s fine, just thick-skinned. Forget him—let’s go, or the cafeteria will be packed!”
Chen Ya didn’t spare Liu Yixing a glance, pulling Yu Li along.
A Crowded Scene
The two newly acquainted girls headed to the cafeteria but were stopped by a massive crowd.
“Huh? What’s with all these people today?”
Chen Ya tugged Yu Li along, pushing through the throng.
“Excuse us, make way, please!”
Wow… she’s really strong…
Yu Li mentally noted, watching Chen Ya muscle through the crowd.
Finally reaching the front, they saw the cause.
A huge crowd had formed a tight circle around a boy holding a bouquet of flowers, surrounded by piles of gifts.
“Wow, a confession? What a spectacle… Oh, it’s him.”
Chen Ya’s initial surprise turned to resignation, as if she’d seen this before.
Ye Sheng…
Yu Li recognized the boy in the center—the same Ye Sheng who’d pestered Lan Yi relentlessly.
So… the confession’s for…
As she thought this, the crowd erupted in gasps.
A blue-haired girl approached Ye Sheng, her face expressionless but tinged with exasperation.
Her eyes flickered with irritation at the noisy crowd and excited boy.
“Ye Sheng, what do you need to say?”
Though Lan Yi knew what this grand display was about, she asked anyway, clinging to a sliver of hope it might be different.
Seeing Lan Yi, Ye Sheng grew ecstatic, dropping to one knee and offering the bouquet.
“Lan Yi, be with me!”
Lan Yi didn’t take the flowers, standing still with a furrowed brow.
“Ugh… I’ve told you, Ye Sheng, I only want to be classmates.”
She sighed deeply, explaining patiently.
“Why make such a big scene? This just makes it awkward for both of us.”
Her tone remained gentle, but to Ye Sheng, it felt like a slap.
“No… look, I got all these people to witness our love, and… and these!”
Panicking at her apparent rejection, Ye Sheng gestured to the gifts.
“These are all for you…”
Lan Yi didn’t even glance at them, shaking her head.
“What… Why? Why would you reject me?”
Ye Sheng’s face twisted in disbelief.
Despite her repeated rejections, he’d been certain this time would work.
“You’re so gentle with me!” he shouted, breaking down.
The crowd fell silent.
A Familiar Taste
Pain, anxiety, irritation…
Yu Li, watching from the crowd, tasted these emotions radiating from Lan Yi.
She wiped her empty mouth, adjusted her expression, and prepared to step in.
She couldn’t just feed off Lan Yi’s emotions without helping—besides, she’d promised to “put on a show” with her.