Chapter 2: That Delicate Flower (2)

Qin Xiao had never been snapped at so bluntly before. If she’d been a boy, he could’ve handled it in his own way. But she was a girl, so all he could do was sit there, speechless.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

Song Qi went back to what she’d been doing and ignored him completely.

The system issued a new quest: [Ask Qin Xiao about his studies and offer to help him. If you fail to complete this task, the quest duration will be extended.]

If Song Qi wouldn’t take the initiative, the system would have to force her into it.

Song Qi frowned. She hated being threatened. It was an awful feeling. She glanced at Qin Xiao, who had fallen asleep again, then at the math teacher, who kept looking over at him. She raised a foot and kicked Qin Xiao in the leg.

He woke instantly, irritation flashing in his eyes. He glared at Song Qi. “What are you doing?”

“Pay attention in class.” Song Qi lowered her voice and looked at him. “Show some respect for the teacher.”

“Weren’t you going to leave me alone, Class Monitor?” Qin Xiao curled his lip, though at least he sat up.

The math teacher finally stopped glancing over so often.

Song Qi realized Qin Xiao had a problem. Ever since she’d woken him up, he’d been staring at her.

Intently.

It made her want to pluck his eyes out.

But she wasn’t uncomfortable under his gaze. Her position had made her the center of attention wherever she went.

Qin Xiao kept staring at Song Qi until class ended.

She had to admit, he was a talent.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me,” Song Qi said, turning toward Qin Xiao and delivering the line the system wanted her to say.

Qin Xiao raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think I understand anything.”

“Then I suggest you drop out and go back to middle school,” Song Qi said.

Qin Xiao: …

At lunchtime, the girl who’d made plans with Qin Xiao all by herself was waiting excitedly at the classroom door. The moment Qin Xiao came out, she rushed over.

“Brother Qin Xiao.” Gu Si looked at him as if her eyes were shining.

Qin Xiao glanced at her and ignored her completely. He looked around, spotted Song Qi just as she turned a corner, and hurried after her.

Gu Si frowned and called after Qin Xiao several times, but nobody answered. She stamped her foot twice, then followed.

Song Qi could’ve shaken Qin Xiao easily, but he kept trailing her. When he lost her, it felt as if he’d only blinked and she’d vanished.

The cafeteria at No. 4 High School had three huge floors. Finding someone in there wasn’t easy.

Song Qi went to the second floor, bought something to eat, and found a corner.

[Host, I think you should interact more with your classmates.]

“I don’t want to.” Song Qi looked at the food on her plate, frowning slightly, but said nothing.

Just as she was nearly finished, a girl crashed into her.

Song Qi reacted at once. Her right hand caught the girl by the arm and tugged her closer, while her left flipped the tray full of food.

Clatter!

The food spilled across the floor.

It all happened in an instant.

Gu Si landed on Song Qi’s lap, dazed. She looked at Song Qi, who was right in front of her, with a confused expression.

“You got soup on your pants.” Song Qi met Gu Si’s eyes, her hand still resting on the girl’s waist.

The girl weighed about as much as you’d expect for her height. Not much at all.

“Ah, I…” Gu Si hurriedly removed Song Qi’s hand and tried to get up. Her foot slipped, and she nearly fell—only for Song Qi to pull her right back onto her lap.

Song Qi looked at her with an amused smile.

Gu Si swallowed. The look on Song Qi’s face gave her goosebumps. For some reason, she felt a little uneasy.

“Careful.” Song Qi took Gu Si’s hand. “Come on, get up.”

“Huh?” Gu Si blinked. “Oh.”

Song Qi led her away from the mess. “Going back to your dorm to change?”

“Yeah.” Gu Si nodded. Only after answering did she realize something was off. She looked up at Song Qi. “You’re not coming with me, are you?”

“I need to change too.” Song Qi pointed to the oil splattered on her jacket.

Gu Si: …

She’d come over hoping to embarrass the heroine. How had things ended up like this?

She glanced at her hand, still held by Song Qi, and quietly pulled it free.

Song Qi looked at her but said nothing.

This girl really doesn’t seem too bright.

They went back to their dorms, which were close to each other.

Song Qi tossed her jacket onto her bed, pulled on another one, and went to Gu Si’s dorm. She raised a hand to knock, then lowered it again.

She leaned against the wall and stood there expressionlessly.

[Host, what are you planning?] The system had a bad feeling.

Song Qi rubbed her thumb. There should have been a ring there. She still wasn’t used to the bare skin. “Nothing. I’m just having a little fun.”

[Host, don’t do anything reckless.]

“She seems to hate me, but she’s not very bright.” Song Qi smiled, a hint of mischief in the curve of her lips. “It’s cute.”

The system nearly blurted out, What is wrong with you? Thankfully, it managed to swallow the words.

Gu Si changed and opened the door. She jumped when she saw Song Qi. “You… you haven’t left?”

“I’m waiting for you.” Song Qi said it as if it were obvious. “We came here together. Shouldn’t we leave together?”

Gu Si frowned as she studied Song Qi, as if trying to figure something out. But soon she smiled at her. “Sure. Let’s go.”

She even took Song Qi’s arm. “Um, could we be friends?”

“Sure.” Song Qi looked down at the fair hand on her arm, then glanced at Gu Si’s profile.

“Can I call you Yangnuan?”

“Sure.”

“Could you get me Brother Qin Xiao’s contact information?” Gu Si looked at Song Qi with wide, pleading eyes. “We were really close when we were little, but we haven’t seen each other in ages, so he doesn’t remember me anymore. It really hurts, Yangnuan. Could you help me?”

“Sure.”

Gu Si froze. She’d prepared a whole string of lines, and now they were all stuck in her throat.