Chapter 9: How Did Everything Turn Out Like This

“小 Yan, when will you come back? Can you set a date?”

Wang Liusi’s harassing calls came in again.

“Our sisters really don’t mean to ignore you. It was just an accidental neglect back then.”

“You’ve lived in the Wang family all these years. Haven’t you felt our sincerity?”

Wang Yan set the phone aside, continuing to peel an apple for Pei Zhanxi, who lay on the pillow with a resigned expression, seemingly finally facing reality.

Yet above her head floated constant streams of [Fear +10] [Rejection +10]…

Clearly, her mind was far from calm.

Wang Yan peeled the apple skin in one long, continuous strip.

“Open your mouth. Eat the skin.”

Mechanically, Pei Zhanxi opened her mouth.

From morning until now, Wang Yan had been taking care of her—not out of obligation, but out of guilt. He wanted to care for his classmate.

[Satisfaction +10]

Wang Yan: ?

He had meant to trigger disgust, but after spending this much time with Pei Zhanxi, he had realized she was a true treasure.

The system’s emotion values went haywire.

This instantly wiped away his original intention of clarifying whatever misunderstanding or rumor there had been.

If a program can run, why interfere?

Chewing thoughtfully on the apple skin, Pei Zhanxi’s mind finally calmed a little.

“You can continue with the fruit flesh now.”

Wang Yan cut a small piece, pinched it with his hand, and put it into her mouth.

[Fear +10]

She really just liked the skin?

Wang Yan paused, mid-cut, thinking for a moment.

He chopped the rest of the apple into small pieces and fetched a toothpick from the bedside.

“Here, take this.”

Pei Zhanxi, puzzled, took it. Wang Yan then handed her the small plate of fruit he had prepared.

“Want some?” he asked suddenly.

She looked between the plate in her left hand and the toothpick in her right, hesitated, and shook her head.

“Fine, then you feed me.”

Wang Yan lowered the bed rail.

“You move a bit closer. I’ll lie here.”

Pei Zhanxi held the small fruit plate, twisting nervously, retreating a few centimeters.

She could only watch as Wang Yan squeezed his way onto the bed beside her small, delicate body. By the time she wanted to stop him, it was too late.

He smiled at her, friendly and casual.

Pei Zhanxi: !

[Resistance +10] [Rejection +10] [Fear +10] [Despair +10]

Wang Yan became more excited the longer he looked at her, even his gaze at Pei Zhanxi changed.

Just as he was reveling in this, he realized there was something in his mouth.

The taste—it was apple flesh!

He looked over, surprised, and saw Pei Zhanxi, with a look of humiliation, fiercely stabbing at the apple with her tiny toothpick before resolutely offering it to Wang Yan’s mouth.

As if she had made some enormous sacrifice.

Wang Yan didn’t ask unnecessary questions. He thought, well, this works fine.

He closed his eyes, lying back more comfortably.

He had already taken leave from school, ready to focus on his scoring.

Meanwhile, Pei Zhanxi was on the verge of being driven crazy by the glances from the two women on the other beds.

“Don’t look at me. Don’t notice me,” she silently repeated in her mind.

All she wanted was to be invisible, unnoticed by anyone.

Whether it was hopeful gazes or contemptuous stares, she wanted none of it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left her hometown to attend university here.

Pei Zhanxi had never been good at refusing. She had never rejected anyone’s request.

Whether it was her parents’ wishes or her teachers’ expectations, Pei Zhanxi would always agree and try her hardest to fulfill them.

Her mind seemed to have no room for the word “no.”

Bearing the weight of countless promises, even breathing felt burdensome.

She had come so far, wanting to start anew, to become a transparent person unnoticed by all.

How did everything turn out like this?