Vol2 Chapter 46: Like you

Cassell College, Infirmary.

Xia Mi pushed open the door, lazily sitting on the chair beside the bed. The bedside was piled with condolence fruit baskets from visitors. She picked up an apple, peeling it in a spiral with a small knife. As she finished, Chu Zihang turned his head, and she naturally handed it to him.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” Xia Mi said, flashing her little tiger teeth, grinning like a mischievous sprite.

“I think I still need a doctor right now.”

“Whatever, Senior Brother.” Xia Mi pulled a file from her bag, flipping it open for him. “Senior Sister Bai’s report. She took two of Fenrir’s bones and some scales, handed them to the school, saying we fought a brutal battle to kill him. The school confirmed they’re Fenrir’s remains. She also said we fought side by side, that you were gravely injured slaying the enemy, and me… well, she said Fenrir stripped my bloodline. I’m weak as hell now, probably… C-rank.”

“That’s pretty bad,” Chu Zihang commented, biting into the apple.

“Bad? It’s awful! Lu Mingfei’s practically a demon—he drained me dry! I’m barely stronger than a normal person now. I can’t even fend off a few thugs anymore. One punch on a windowsill, and I’m crying from the pain,” Xia Mi said, pouting dramatically, looking ready to cry.

“A C-rank bloodline can still handle a few thugs,” Chu Zihang said, eating the apple. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Ugh, you…” Xia Mi gave him a resentful look. “I’m trying to act cute here—can’t you say something comforting?”

Chu Zihang paused, looking down. “Sorry… but if that day comes, I’ll still protect you…”

Xia Mi flinched, her ear tips turning red.

“Uh… thanks.” She grabbed a banana, peeled it, and stuffed it in her mouth, suddenly wanting to change the topic despite starting it. Her heart tingled, like it’d been shocked.

“Senior Brother, I thought with your personality, you’d have stabbed me in the heart back then. Why didn’t you…”

“Not killing you would betray the Academy. Killing you would betray myself and you. So I chose a middle path—one that doesn’t betray the Academy or you.”

“So you thought leaving me to grieve alone was the answer?” Xia Mi stared at him, her small fist tapping his back. “Do you know how much that hurt, you jerk?!”

“Sorry for making you sad.”

“And now, me being here—doesn’t that count as betraying the Academy?” Xia Mi looked at him expectantly.

“No. You’re not a threat anymore, and you’re not a Dragon King,” Chu Zihang paused. “As Lu Mingfei put it, you’re like a husky with its teeth and claws pulled.”

“Why a husky?! A kitten’s a better comparison!” Xia Mi huffed, glaring.

“Lu Mingfei said cats hiss. Huskies don’t. Plus, huskies are goofy and cute—without teeth or claws, that’s all they’ve got.”

“Where am I goofy? He’s the goofy one!” Xia Mi stuck out her tongue, angrily chewing her banana.

Finishing it, she pulled out a thermos, opening it to release the rich aroma of tremella soup. She scooped a spoonful and held it to Chu Zihang’s mouth. “Try it, Senior Brother. I made it myself—way better than the cafeteria’s machine-made stuff.”

Chu Zihang took the spoon, the warm, sweet broth melting on his tongue. He nodded slightly. “It’s really good.”

“Eat more—it’s good for recovery. Look at me now, I need all the nourishment I can get,” Xia Mi said, scooping a bite for herself. “Oh, Senior Brother…” Her eyes curved into crescents, looking at him expectantly. “How’re you gonna pursue me?”

Chu Zihang’s hand froze mid-spoonful, the steam from the soup blurring his view. His hair brushed his forehead, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if grappling with a complex equation. For the Lionheart president, confessing feelings was harder than slaying a Deadpool or dragon.

“Shout it in the Academy’s radio room? Or rent a billboard?”

“How about grabbing a megaphone in the cafeteria and yelling, ‘Xia Mi, I like you’?”

“That works, if you’d like.”

“No way! Have you read too many CEO novels?!”

“I read a bit when I’m bored.”

“Isn’t that embarrassing?”

“In the novels, bystanders are always moved to tears.”

“Don’t you know the average IQ in CEO novels is rock-bottom?” Xia Mi said, exasperated. “If you do that, I’ll pretend I don’t know you.”

Chu Zihang fell silent.

Xia Mi propped her chin, her eyes glowing under the warm light, like honeyed springs. She tapped the bowl’s edge with her spoon, sighing. “You really don’t know how to chase a girl, Senior Brother.”

“Sorry.”

“All you say is sorry, sorry, sorry. What did you do wrong? It’s infuriating.”

“Sorry.”

“Enough! Topic closed!” Xia Mi made a “shush” gesture.

Chu Zihang’s grip tightened, a rare smile flickering, like a crack in ice revealing spring water. “What should I say then?”

“Anything,” Xia Mi tilted her head, eyes crescent-shaped. “Just not ‘sorry.’”

He nodded, thinking.

After about ten seconds, Xia Mi couldn’t take it.

“Senior Brother, let me teach you the dumbest method.” She leaned in close.

“What?”

Chu Zihang looked up.

Xia Mi threw herself into his arms. “Like me a little more each day, spend more time with me, make me laugh more. Until one day I realize—” she whispered in his ear, “I can’t live without this blockhead who only says ‘sorry’ but wants to protect me forever.”

Their closeness was too much—Chu Zihang froze. He’d barely hugged guys, let alone girls. His usual calm wavered, his eyes widening slightly, nervous.

So Chu Zihang can make that face! Xia Mi had always wanted to see it—this spark of life! There was only one answer: confess to him!

“I like you, just like you said you liked me! Even if the sky falls or the world ends today, I’d still say I like you. I’ve liked you for so long—since Shilan High!” Xia Mi clung to him, ignoring his injuries. “I know you’re like a monk, bad at expressing or responding to feelings, scared you can’t make me happy. It’s okay—every day with you makes me happy, even if we die together, because before you, I wasn’t even happy with myself! You want revenge? I’ll go with you. Just don’t leave me to die alone—I’d cry…”

Chu Zihang’s brain short-circuited. Think, damn it! Faces flashed through his mind. Lu Mingfei? No, too clueless in love—Xia Mi called him an idiot, so he’s out. Fingel? No, his personality’s no help with girls either…

Then a familiar figure appeared—a blond, muscular Italian.

Caesar. Yes, Caesar!

The guy who knew women best. Mimicking him couldn’t go wrong—he’d charmed countless girls, a skill Chu Zihang found godlike, unattainable. What would Caesar do? From that Summer Palace video, he’d close his eyes and kiss deeply. Should he kiss her? Really?

So Chu Zihang pushed Xia Mi away.

She froze, her eyes dimming.

Didn’t you say you liked me, Senior Brother…?

Then he swiftly kissed her cheek, lightning-fast, less than a second, as if it never happened.

Xia Mi’s eyes widened, stunned. Three seconds later, she processed it, covering her face, blushing furiously, fingers clutching the kissed spot, shrinking like a startled rabbit, ears burning red.

“Y-You—!” she stammered, unable to form a sentence.

“I like you too,” Chu Zihang said, smiling.

Whoosh! It was like a kettle boiling over.

Xia Mi’s composure shattered, and she fled, slamming the door.

Chu Zihang reached out, puzzled, staring at the door. He picked up his phone and called Caesar.

“Chu Zihang? What’s up?” Caesar lounged in a pool, sipping champagne, surrounded by young women.

“How do you chase a girl?”

“What’s that?!”

Holy crap! I must be drunk or dreaming!