Chapter 38 Part 1

After Yan Mian signed up, she began attending the Math Olympiad tutoring class. The flyer boasted lectures from renowned teachers, and when Zhu Lexing searched the instructor’s name, a long string of honors popped up.

She let out a deep sigh. 【As expected of the Female Protagonist.】

In her previous world, Zhu Lexing never could have imagined one day interacting with someone like this. Academia and the entertainment industry were separated by an insurmountable chasm. Standing before a person who had read so many books, she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of self-deprecation.

The System chimed in: 【As long as the Host wants to, you can become that kind of person too.】

Zhu Lexing thought it was far too optimistic. Once she earned enough points, she’d be on her way out. There was no room for all those lofty dreams—she still had her own life to get back to.

Zhu Lexing mulled over who to vent her feelings to.

In the end, she chose Qiao Qiao.

When it came to spilling grievances, Qiao Qiao had a whole bucketful of her own.

In just two days, it would be Xu He’s birthday. Last night, Qiao Qiao had pulled everyone except Xu He into a small group chat.

Zhu Lexing inwardly griped about the group chats popping up one after another, only to be immediately bombarded by the gift options Qiao Qiao sent.

Even after spamming the chat half the night, Qiao Qiao still hadn’t decided. Today, when they met up to chat, her first topic was the gift, and the second was the confession.

Zhu Lexing had assumed it was the same old story and planned to gloss right over it—

Until Qiao Qiao said, “I only found out a few days ago that the reason Xu He went out of province was to compete in a tournament.”

Zhu Lexing: “…Yeah. And?”

Xu He was something else.

“Moreover.” Qiao Qiao’s tone suddenly grew excited. “She specially bought me tickets to that dance troupe I love performing in S City. I was obsessed with them years ago—how long did she dig through my Star Net history? And they’re blowing up right now. You know how impossible those tickets are to snag? I never even dreamed I’d get my hands on any—”

Qiao Qiao’s emotions ran high, unusually so, but after hearing the full story, Zhu Lexing got fired up too. “And you still haven’t confessed? What are you waiting for!”

Qiao Qiao nodded solemnly. “You’re right! Perfect timing too—her birthday’s in a few days. I definitely will…”

“Wait.” Zhu Lexing suddenly looked down at her phone, fingers flying across the screen. “Gotta reply first.”

—Can you pick me up later? I’ll be done soon.

The message was from Yan Mian.

It was rare for Yan Mian to ask her directly, so Zhu Lexing fired back a quick, cool reply—

—.

—There’s a movie theater nearby. Want to catch a film after?

Zhu Lexing pondered for a few seconds, then sent another period in agreement.

Yan Mian responded with a cute emoji. Zhu Lexing’s face remained impassive, but inside she was thrilled as she added it to her favorites. She then tapped open an app to buy tickets.

On this sunny Friday, with autumn light crisp in the air, Bygone Youth hit theaters.

Zhu Lexing thought the movie screamed flop from a mile away, but it was Yan Mian’s debut work. Naturally, she had to support it wholeheartedly.

Qiao Qiao watched Zhu Lexing from the side. After a few minutes, seeing no sign of her looking up—and instead switching apps to fiddle with something—Qiao Qiao couldn’t hold back. “You—”

Zhu Lexing said, “Yan Mian’s class is ending soon. I’m going to pick her up.”

Qiao Qiao: “…”

Yan Mian’s participation in the competition wasn’t a secret in the group chat.

Ruofeng was very interested in the guaranteed admission that required no further studying, but she’d taken half a semester off last term. Her overall transcript wasn’t impressive enough to qualify, so she could only cheer Yan Mian on from afar online.

The tutoring class was near a middle school.

Zhu Lexing found a café by the roadside, ordered some sweets and a drink, and waited patiently for Yan Mian.

This wasn’t her first time picking up Yan Mian—the tutoring class wasn’t far from No. 1 High School, so she’d wait here after school. But being asked directly and “invited” like this was a first.

Zhu Lexing rubbed her face, forcibly suppressing her smile, and checked the time.

Yan Mian’s class wasn’t over yet, so she decided to treat herself by scrolling the social platform. After liking a bunch of cat and dog posts, she was about to log off when she noticed #Shi Song Apology# hanging on the hot search list.

After the incident where he apologized and immediately deleted it, Shi Song had gone quiet for a while. In fans’ eyes, the Shi Family “selling off” their daughter had nothing to do with him. Sure, he was a partial beneficiary, but he hadn’t made the decision.

With the backing of his braindead fans, Shi Song started live-streaming to reel in a new batch of fans who cared more about looks than character. He climbed a few minor hot searches that way. The tactic worked wonders, and soon he landed a spot on a small variety show.

Unfortunately, his co-stars this time were all big-name, rabid-fan “drama queens,” each more demanding than the last. Perhaps at Liu Su’s behest, Shi Song was run ragged on the show until he finally snapped and got into a public spat with one of the guests.

The result? Shi Song got dragged by the other girl’s fans onto the hot search and slunk away with a pathetic apology.

The real-time trending topics were packed with onlookers munching on the drama.

Zhu Lexing scrolled casually and spotted a user with Yan Mian’s avatar saying: 【Why not check out #Youth Reminiscences Premiere# instead~】

Zhu Lexing quietly liked the post.

A fan willing to plug you right in the thick of the gossip? Cherish them!

Only then did Zhu Lexing remember Yan Mian’s Star Net.

Ever since her own account got dug up, Zhu Lexing had deliberately avoided following to steer clear of suspicion. When she finally tapped into Yan Mian’s profile, she discovered that Yan Mian had followed her at some point.

Zhu Lexing paused for a few seconds, then followed back quietly.

She scrolled down a bit. It looked like Liu Su had handed Yan Mian’s account over to someone else to manage—the posts from that account clearly came from a different phone model than the selfies Yan Mian posted herself, which made up the majority.

Standing girls, sitting girls, some in school uniforms and others in casual clothes—their features were delicate, their noses straight and refined. After some simple editing, the photos made their faces look even more pure and innocent.

Zhu Lexing felt her heart skip a beat.

The next second, she quietly saved a few of the images, a single thought dominating her mind.

How is she so gorgeous!

She wasn’t alone in the comment section; plenty of other netizens felt the same. But most just spammed 【AHHHH】 to vent their excitement.

Lost in her daze, Zhu Lexing heard the coffee shop door swing open. The sensor bell chimed automatically: “Welcome.”

She glanced up and spotted Qiao Qiao and Xu He ordering casually at the counter. “…”

“You—”

Xu He had already plopped down across from her. “I just realized—isn’t today the premiere of Yan Mian’s movie? Why didn’t you call me? I wanna buy a ticket too!”

Zhu Lexing: “…”

Zhu Lexing said, “Don’t you two think this is kinda awkward?”

Xu He replied, “We can do a two-person date anytime. How could we skip supporting the premiere? Right?”

She turned to Qiao Qiao as she spoke.

Qiao Qiao nodded solemnly.

Zhu Lexing had to admit Xu He had a point, but she also suspected Qiao Qiao was just there to get back at her.

Qiao Qiao still hadn’t confessed her feelings, but lately her interactions with Xu He had gotten oddly intimate. A shared glance or a brush of hands, and the air would practically shimmer with that springtime flirtation vibe.

Zhu Lexing thought, it’s already fall—the veggies are all wilted—and yet they’re still bubbling over with pink hearts.

She kept her face blank while griping internally, then fired off a message to Yan Mian.

-Xu He and Qiao Qiao showed up too.

Yan Mian didn’t reply for a few minutes.

-Good.

Zhu Lexing: “…”

Good? Good for what? Weren’t we supposed to go just the two of us? Now it’s suddenly “good”?

Zhu Lexing was sulking, thumb hovering over the power button, when another message popped up: Next time it’ll just be us two. Same difference.

Zhu Lexing: “…”

The words mended her mood instantly. She nibbled her donut and peered out the window.

Before long, the end-of-class bell rang in the tutoring class next door. Students trickled out. Sipping through her straw, Zhu Lexing stepped into the coffee shop doorway—just in time to see Yan Mian emerge from the tutoring center.

Yan Mian had a pristine white bag slung over her shoulder. October in Rong City meant half-hearted autumn, nothing chilly yet, so she wore a khaki long skirt that hugged her waist and bared a stretch of slender, pale leg. In the fading twilight, her silhouette stood out strikingly.

She scanned the area, clearly searching for Zhu Lexing. Her eyes swept the surroundings and were about to cross to the opposite side of the street when—

A voice from behind shattered her focus.

“Yan Mian.”

It was a guy’s voice. Yan Mian turned, puzzled, and found a male Alpha standing right there, flashing a smile. “If it’s okay… could I get your contact info? I’ve been noticing you for a while, but I never worked up the nerve at school…”

Yan Mian froze on the spot.

The boy kept rambling in fits and starts, circling back to how he’d first spotted her and fallen for her.

This wasn’t her first time getting hit on, but it was the first outright confession to her face.

Back at No. 1 High School, sure, people knew her and stared—but nobody had ever straight-up said they “liked” her.

As she hesitated over her response, she caught sight of Zhu Lexing across the street.

Zhu Lexing’s brows were furrowed.

In her ear, the System amplified the boy’s voice: “I know you’re kind-hearted and gentle. These past few days in tutoring class, getting to know you… you’re exactly like I pictured…”

Zhu Lexing seethed inwardly. What do you mean “getting to know” in tutoring class? You’re there to study, not speed-date. Who even talked to you?

It was just sharing a classroom—did he have to polish it up like that?

Her anger built with every word, her frown deepening.

Finally, the light turned green. Zhu Lexing charged across the street in a huff.

Yan Mian’s lashes fluttered. She cut in abruptly: “Actually, there’s already an Alpha I like.”

“…”

The boy faltered, his expression souring. “Who? That Zhu Lexing everyone’s buzzing about on the forum? But you two weren’t on good terms before—she always acted like she was above you…”

Yan Mian’s gaze dimmed. She shot back bluntly, “Whether she looks down on me or not is between us. You don’t get to weigh in.”

The boy’s tone softened. “But you two… you’re not a match, are you?”

Yan Mian said, “Even without anyone I like, I’m not dating right now. Thanks for the interest.”

He grew flustered as her demeanor stayed cool. “You like Zhu Lexing—does she like you back? Yan Mian, you—”

“You what?”

A sharper, more irritated female voice cut through. The boy whipped around in shock. Zhu Lexing had already snatched Yan Mian’s bag and shoved her drink into Yan Mian’s hands.

“Let’s go,” Zhu Lexing said.

Yan Mian nodded, her sharp eyes catching the flush creeping up Zhu Lexing’s ears.

“What’re you waiting for?” Zhu Lexing prodded, snatching the love letter from the boy’s grip with a glance. “Thanks, but no need for these next time.”

Even after differentiating into an Alpha, not all Alphas were created equal.

The boy stood rooted as the two walked off, too stunned to utter another word.

The moment they turned away, Zhu Lexing demanded of Yan Mian, “What’d he say? Confess to you? You say yes?”

She’d heard every detail crystal-clear from the System moments ago—

But Zhu Lexing had to ask again, true to form.

Yan Mian said, “No.”

She paused. “I don’t even know his name.”

Zhu Lexing: “…………”

Zhu Lexing recalled the boy’s cocky assurance from before. “You don’t know him at all, and you let him yap that much?”

Yan Mian said, “I remember his face—he’s from the class next door. If something really came up, paying attention is the bare minimum.”

Zhu Lexing pouted. “I don’t even remember him, but you recognized his face.”

Yan Mian answered honestly, “Because he talks nonstop during class. He’s incredibly annoying.”

Zhu Lexing: “…”

Such a refreshingly straightforward reason.

As expected of you, Yan Mian!

Seeing that Zhu Lexing had fallen silent, Yan Mian asked, “What about Xu He? Weren’t we all going together?”

Zhu Lexing replied offhandedly, “They’re enjoying some alone time as a couple.”