Chapter 14: That Delicate Flower (14)

Qin Xiao looked at Song Qi and took a deep breath. “Class monitor, do you know the saying, ‘Learn from the enemy to beat the enemy’?”

Song Qi raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you knew that one.”

“I pay attention in class!” Qin Xiao protested. “That’s not the point. I, uh… There are a few questions I can’t figure out. I wanted to ask you. I’m coming to you with an open mind.”

“Oh.” Song Qi nodded.

Qin Xiao looked so tense that it was almost painful. “So, are you free after evening study? I can buy you something to eat.”

“No. I have plans tonight.” Song Qi said. “I get to class at six every morning. If there’s something you want to ask me, come find me then.”

“Six?” Qin Xiao’s voice shot up an octave. He was the kind of person who showed up at the last possible minute—and sometimes even late. Six was far too early.

“You can’t get up, can you?”

Song Qi’s eyes took on a clear note of challenge.

“Of course I can. Five-thirty is fine too,” Qin Xiao said.

“Five-thirty works.”

???

No, it doesn’t!

“Then I’ll wait for you in the classroom at five-thirty.” Song Qi smiled brightly.

Qin Xiao opened his mouth, then steeled himself. “Fine.”

“Yangnuan, what are you two talking about?”

Song Qi glanced at Gu Si, who had suddenly stepped between her and Qin Xiao. Then she looked at Qin Xiao. He shook his head at her, his eyes full of pleading.

“Qin Xiao has a few questions he can’t figure out. He’s going to ask me before morning study tomorrow,” Song Qi said.

Qin Xiao looked utterly defeated.

“What time?” Gu Si’s eyes lit up. She glanced at Qin Xiao. “Can I come too? I’ve been home for days, so I’m a little behind. High school moves so fast.”

“Five-thirty. You can come along if you want.”

The light had gone out of Qin Xiao’s eyes.

“Sure. Brother Qin Xiao, you won’t mind if I come too, will you?”

Qin Xiao: …

I know she’s fragile right now, but I still really want to snap at her.

“Would you stay away if I said I minded?” He finally couldn’t hold back.

Gu Si’s expression stiffened. She bit her lip, eyes filling with tears as she looked at Song Qi.

“You can come too.” Song Qi shot Qin Xiao a look. “I’m the one teaching you, not him. If you have a problem with it, keep it to yourself—or find someone else to teach you.”

Qin Xiao stared at Song Qi, utterly baffled.

Weren’t girls supposed to be good at spotting this kind of act?

This girl is so fake it’s practically radiating off her!

“Brother Qin Xiao, don’t hate me. I’ll bring you breakfast.”

Qin Xiao shivered at her cloying voice. He glanced at Song Qi, whose expression hadn’t changed, and grew irritated. “No. I don’t need your money.”

With that, he walked off as if a monster were chasing him.

Gu Si sighed. Noticing Song Qi watching her, she hugged her arm affectionately. “Yangnuan, what do you want for breakfast tomorrow? I’ll bring you something.”

“No thanks. I’m not used to eating in the classroom.” Song Qi shook her head.

Gu Si looked at her. “All right… By the way, do you know why Brother Qin Xiao doesn’t like me?”

Was she trying to stir up trouble again?

“Don’t you know?” Song Qi asked in return.

Gu Si blinked, surprised. She clearly hadn’t expected Song Qi to answer like that.

“Come on. Everyone’s going inside.”

“Oh… okay.” Gu Si nodded as Song Qi pulled her along at a brisk pace.

Once they entered the auditorium, they went their separate ways. Song Qi looked around. The only empty seat was beside Qin Xiao.

They looked at each other. Song Qi sat down next to him and pulled out her vocabulary notebook.

Noticing Qin Xiao watching her, she tore a sheet off the notebook and handed it to him. “Memorize these. An hour should be plenty.”

“Just some vocabulary? Who do you think I am?” Qin Xiao glanced down at the page.

Song Qi didn’t answer. She just looked at him.

Qin Xiao frowned. When Song Qi looked down, he suddenly realized what she meant.

“Shit.”

As he started on the first word, he realized something else was off.

Why am I listening to her?

He glanced at Song Qi, then at the paper in his hand.

Whatever. I might as well memorize it. If I can’t, she’ll mock me for a month.

An hour later, Qin Xiao waited confidently for Song Qi to quiz him. She didn’t even look his way before leaving.

He was a little annoyed.

That annoyance lingered all through evening study. Song Qi didn’t notice it at all.

“Don’t be late,” she said before leaving.

This is starting to feel like a no-CP story, the system remarked.

Song Qi went to Gu Si’s classroom and saw a group of people around her. She waited for three seconds. When Gu Si didn’t look toward the door, Song Qi headed back to the dormitory.

Host, aren’t you going to wait for her?

“No,” Song Qi said coolly. I wouldn’t want to ruin the girl’s little scheme.

Though she was still struggling with the lingering fear from some of her past experiences, she remained committed to her duties as a villainess.

The dedication was honestly admirable.

Gu Si glanced toward the door, then lowered her voice to the girl beside her. “But she sits with Brother Qin Xiao. If she likes him, why doesn’t she tell me? I don’t know what she said to him, but now he really hates me.”

“Sisi, you’re wonderful. Qin Xiao will realize it eventually. And listen, I know a few people off campus. Want me to ask them to teach her a lesson and make her stay away from Qin Xiao?”

But… I don’t think your people could beat her.

Gu Si bit her lip, looking conflicted. In the end, she nodded and said timidly, “Just don’t hurt her.” I hope you go easy on her.

“Okay.” The girl nodded. “I’ve never liked her anyway. This is only a warning. We won’t take it too far.”

When Gu Si passed Song Qi’s classroom and saw her seat was empty, she frowned.

Why did she leave early?