Chapter 59: Be Honest—Do You… Like Him?

Tang Yu glanced at the back row. He was sitting there, tapping his fingers on his phone, clearly replying to messages. He looked as if he’d just woken up, carrying a hint of irritation, his eyes and brows exuding a lazy indifference.

Sensing her gaze, Bian Yang slowly lifted his eyes from the phone.

Their eyes met.

Tang Yu greeted him, “Good morning, Bian Yang. Can you take a look at my English test paper?”

The boy in the front row instantly cursed, slamming his book down so loudly it echoed.

Even Wang Qing couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that. Her deskmate was unbelievable—now, not only had she learned to refuse, but she’d also mastered double standards. She wouldn’t let the boy in front copy her paper, but she was actively asking the boy behind if he wanted to?

The little girl had probably finished the test last night and wanted him to check how she’d done.

He lifted his eyes lazily. “Sure, hand it over.”

Tang Yu passed all her completed test papers to him. “Thank you for your trouble!”

Bian Yang accepted the papers with a nasal “Mm.”

Wang Qing was speechless. Who exactly was being troubled here? She was letting someone copy her test paper and still worried it would be hard for them. What was wrong with her deskmate’s head?

“Xiaoyu, have you fallen for Bian Yang too?” Wang Qing tugged at her sleeve, their heads close together. “Just because he helped you earlier, and now you’re letting him copy your paper, you don’t need to thank him for it, do you?”

“Er…” Tang Yu felt she’d misunderstood. “Bian Yang isn’t copying my paper. I asked him to check how I did.”

“Oh, come on! He never pays attention in class, and you want him to check your answers? Do you take me for a fool? I’m impressed—you even came up with such an outlandish excuse for letting him copy your paper!”

“I really didn’t…”

“Fine, fine, he’s so handsome that it’s no wonder you’d want to impress him. Even the school forum is full of his fangirls. Desire is only human—I understand. It’s just a shame he’s such a playboy, with so many girlfriends. We don’t stand a chance.”

“He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Tang Yu muttered.

Wang Qing looked puzzled, “But didn’t you tell me before that he had a lot of them?”

Tang Yu’s voice grew sheepish. “That was just my wild guess.”

She glanced at Bian Yang in the back row, who was looking over the test papers, then, covering her mouth with her hand, whispered to Wang Qing, “This time I’m sure—he’s single, and he’s definitely not the kind of person you described… not a playboy.”

Wang Qing blinked. “How can you be sure? You sound as if you’ve spent time at his house and know him inside out.”

Tang Yu’s heart skipped a beat. She licked her lips and looked away, “Anyway, he’s not like that.”

“You’re too pure. You believe everything people say. Just think—wouldn’t it be a waste for someone with that face not to attract attention? Every guy likes having girls chase after him.”

“Bian Yang wouldn’t,” Tang Yu said, thinking of how she’d never seen any girls around him. “He’s different.”

Wang Qing gave her a long, searching look. “Xiaoyu, you think really highly of Bian Yang. Be honest—do you like him?”

Tang Yu froze.

Wang Qing narrowed her eyes at her. “Your face is all red! Oh, Xiaoyu, you really do—”

Tang Yu reached out to cover her mouth, shooting a glance at the boy in the back row. Thankfully, he hadn’t looked up. She let out a breath and whispered anxiously, “Don’t say such things!”

Wang Qing, her mouth still covered, blinked and pointed at Tang Yu’s hand, then nodded. Only then did Tang Yu let go.

Wang Qing sidled closer, bumping her head against Tang Yu’s as she buried herself in English vocabulary. “So, when will you confess?”

Tang Yu nearly buried her face in her book. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let’s focus on studying. The mock exams are coming up. You shouldn’t be distracted by such nonsense.”

“How can matters of lifelong importance be nonsense?” Wang Qing smiled meaningfully. “The early bird gets the worm, Xiaoyu. You’re the one closest to him. If you don’t make a move, someone else will beat you to it.”

“I only care about the college entrance exams right now. Nothing else,” Tang Yu stammered, failing to memorize a single word. “That’s what matters most. Bian Yang and I are just good friends, nothing like what you think.”

“You really mean that?” Wang Qing sounded skeptical.

Tang Yu nodded. “Really.”

Just then, Teacher Gao came by for inspection, and Wang Qing didn’t dare keep whispering.

—

Since Meng Shirui tore up the math competition registration form, she hadn’t come to class again. Rumor had it she’d had a falling out with Zhou Xunwen, but nobody knew the details. Liu Yaojie was still recuperating in the hospital, Fan Yuebing was nowhere to be found, and even Sun Xue-min, the homeroom teacher, had taken a week’s leave.

For now, math lessons for Class One and Class Two were being taught by Teacher Hou.

With no one causing trouble, Tang Yu found both life and study unusually smooth—she’d never felt so at ease.

The only exception was her meal companion, Bian Yang, who had become quite picky lately.

He couldn’t be bothered to go to the cafeteria for breakfast, and only went when Tang Yu dragged him along. For lunch, he hopped from restaurant to restaurant. Any place with a bit of a reputation in Liangcheng, he’d taken Tang Yu to try.

He picked both the place and the dishes. Anything he didn’t like, Tang Yu had to pick out for him, one by one, before he’d reluctantly eat a few bites.

After evening self-study, Tang Yu would always go to her part-time job at the milk tea shop, then hurry back to cook dinner for him at his apartment.

Life was busy but peaceful.

—

Until the night before the mock exams. Tang Yu’s shift was nearly over; she was putting chairs up on tables, getting ready to lock up so she could cook dinner at Bian Yang’s apartment and then return to the dormitory to review.

It was then that Zhou Xunwen appeared with Meng Shirui, shattering the tranquility.

“Tang Yu.”

The familiar voice made her pause. At the sight of Meng Shirui, all the old fear pressed down on her heart again.

Meng Shirui stood beside the elegant Zhou Xunwen, holding out a bouquet of flowers, looking so docile and gentle she even smiled at Tang Yu.

“Tang Yu, Xunwen and I have something we’d like to talk to you about. Is that alright?”

Tang Yu’s pupils contracted. She instinctively took a step back, covering her arm.

Whenever Meng Shirui smiled like that, it was always followed by a beating.

Zhou Xunwen quickly stepped forward, helping her set the last chair on the table, his gaze gentle as he looked at her.

“Tang Yu, I brought Shirui to apologize to you.”

Tang Yu lowered her eyes without raising her head.

“Shirui was the one who tore up the math competition registration form, but don’t worry—I’ve already asked Teacher Hou for a new one. I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”

He glanced at Meng Shirui, signaling her to come over.

Meng Shirui walked up to Tang Yu, reaching out to take her hand, but Tang Yu stepped back to avoid her.

Her hand hung in the air, the smile on her face stiffening for a moment before growing even more radiant.

“Tang Yu, I’m sorry. I really did tear up the registration form. I wanted to compete too, but Xunwen only gave the form to you. I was so angry then that I did something reckless. Please don’t take it to heart, alright?”

Tang Yu forced a smile. She truly didn’t care—not because of Meng Shirui’s insincere apology, but because the registration form was unimportant.

“There’s more,” Zhou Xunwen said coldly, signaling Meng Shirui to continue.

Meng Shirui dug her nails into her palms, struggling to keep up the appearance of remorse, and finally bowed her head.

“And… although I was close to Liu Yaojie and Fan Yuebing, I really didn’t know the details of what they did to you. Tang Yu, if they did anything to hurt you, I apologize on their behalf.” She nearly had to grit her teeth to force out the words, “I’m sorry.”

With that, she bent ninety degrees at the waist.

But as she lowered her head, her eyes clouded with sudden malice.