Chapter 66: Jealousy

The remaining two exams were just as tightly scheduled. Meng Shirui had expected Tang Yu to have Bian Yang pass her the answers again, but when it came time to turn in their papers, she was sweating with anxiety—yet he never gave her any answers. She kicked Bian Yang’s chair several times, but he simply reported her each time, earning her stern warnings from the proctor.

As a result, she did terribly on the science composite and English exams. Luckily, she’d finished copying the math answers beforehand, so Mr. Hou, who was in charge of the competitions, probably wouldn’t say anything. But Meng Shirui made a mental note of this debt!

After the final English exam, as the rustling sound of papers being collected filled the room, the first students out of the exam hall erupted in cheers. Tang Yu put her pen back in its case. As Meng Shirui walked past, she bumped Tang Yu’s desk and let out a cold snort. Tang Yu looked up, puzzled, but the other girl had already scowled and marched away, nose in the air.

Tang Yu didn’t take it to heart. After dinner, she went to the restroom and returned to find a crowd of students from other classes gathered in circles at her classroom door. The back door was blocked tight, and there were people leaning in through every window. Wang Qing, who sat by the window, couldn’t squeeze in any further. When she saw Tang Yu approaching, she immediately hurried over to gossip.

“Tang Yu, you’re just in time for a show!”

“What happened?” Tang Yu asked, curiosity piqued.

“It’s Bian Yang! He’s been super popular on the school forum lately, right? Well, after the exam, a girl from Class One waited outside our classroom. As soon as Bian Yang appeared, she handed him a love letter—she confessed right there!”

At this, Tang Yu coughed a few times, her cheeks flushing red. Wang Qing patted her back, concerned. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine…” Tang Yu’s gaze flickered, her lips pursed with a trace of bitterness. “Did Bian Yang… accept?”

Wang Qing shrugged. “I got pushed out of the crowd—I have no idea! But the girl’s still inside, so I guess he hasn’t rejected her. And you know her, too: Liu Shuran, the English class rep from Class One. She’s actually pretty, and she’s never gotten along with Liu Yingying. Last time Bian Yang had that spat with Liu Yingying and embarrassed her, Liu Shuran apparently started liking him… That’s just what I heard, not sure if it’s true… Want to go in and see for ourselves?”

The light in Tang Yu’s eyes dimmed. “I’ll pass—I just remembered something I need to do…” She turned to leave. Wang Qing didn’t stop her, still trying to squeeze past the crowd for a better view.

But unexpectedly, Tang Yu doubled back, and, small and delicate as she was, managed to slip through the gaps in the crowd even faster than Wang Qing.

Wang Qing could only exclaim inwardly, “Tang Yu, help me out! Don’t just watch the drama by yourself!” But Tang Yu didn’t look back, disappearing into the throng, leaving Wang Qing dumbfounded. Goodness, she usually looked so indifferent when Wang Qing tried to gossip, but now that Bian Yang was involved, she was all in! And she says she doesn’t like him? If she didn’t, would she have squeezed through so quickly?

When Tang Yu finally made it to the front, she saw Bian Yang’s back. He was sitting at her desk, one arm propped on it, chin resting on his hand. With the other hand, he twirled her pen languidly between his fingers, his gaze lowered to the book on her desk, which the wind had flipped open. He didn’t look at the girl in front of him at all.

Standing before him was Liu Shuran, her cheeks tinged with red, visibly nervous. She held out a pink envelope with trembling hands. “Bian Yang! I like you! Please accept my confession—let me be your girlfriend!”

He glanced at the envelope, but didn’t take it. Instead, he lazily lifted his eyelids. The confession was aimed at him, yet standing to the side, Tang Yu found herself holding her breath.

Around them, students started chanting, “Together! Together!”

Liu Shuran’s face grew redder, anxiously awaiting his reply.

Catching a glimpse of a certain figure out of the corner of his eye, Bian Yang abruptly pressed the pen down on the table with a soft clack. He turned and crooked a finger at Tang Yu, beckoning her over.

Tang Yu froze. In an instant, all eyes—including Liu Shuran’s—fell on her. Under the intense scrutiny, she felt awkward. Bian Yang, still propping his chin with his hand, grinned at her, “Tang Xiaoyu, someone’s confessing to me here—what should I do?”

Tang Yu pressed her lips together, silent.

Liu Shuran glanced from Tang Yu to Bian Yang, hesitating. “Bian Yang, what do you mean…? What does Tang Yu have to do with us?”

Bian Yang languidly withdrew his gaze, his tone careless. “Oh, Tang Yu’s my study supervisor. She told me, with the college entrance exams coming up, our top priority is studying hard. No distractions, just focus on exams, and even reviewing mistakes afterward—she’s strict. So…”

He gave the girl a crooked smile, looking every bit the rascal. “Even though I know I’m irresistibly charming and it’s perfectly natural for you to like me, I can’t accept your confession. I’ve got to study and get into college.”

At these words, Tang Yu inexplicably felt a wave of relief. Then a pang of guilt for feeling that way.

Why should she feel guilty…?

Liu Shuran was startled, her voice a bit stiff. “So… you’re rejecting me?” With so many people watching, she was embarrassed and leaned in to whisper, “But Bian Yang, can’t you give me a little dignity? If I get rejected, everyone will talk about it tomorrow…”

Bian Yang shot her a sidelong glance. “If I agree, then I’ll be gossiped about too. You’re good at looking out for yourself.”

Liu Shuran awkwardly persisted, “How about you let me owe you a favor…?”

She looked so pitiful, defeated before she’d even begun.

Bian Yang raised an eyebrow, then pinched the love letter between two fingers and scrawled a flamboyant signature on it with her pen before handing it back. “So you just wanted an autograph, right? I admit I’m pretty famous, but you don’t need to confess just to get my signature.”

Realizing his intent, Liu Shuran quickly played along, raising her voice, “Yes, exactly! I’m your fan! You were so cool putting Liu Yingying in her place, I came up with this silly way to get your signature! Thank you, Bian Yang!”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, satisfied with her quick thinking.

The surrounding crowd was left scratching their heads. Weren’t they here for a confession? How did it turn into getting an autograph?

Embarrassed, Liu Shuran seized her chance, clutching the “autograph” and slipping away before a teacher could arrive.

With the excitement over, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Bian Yang stood and walked over to Tang Yu, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall, looking as if he expected praise. “How did I do just now?”

Tang Yu was speechless. She didn’t believe for a second that Liu Shuran really just wanted an autograph.

“And to think someone told me last night that if anyone confessed, just write a single word for them.”

But when it’s his turn, he puts on a different face, smiling at her like a flower.

It was rare for her to be so sarcastic. Bian Yang clicked his tongue, grinning, “True enough. I’ll go catch her and write ‘Scram’ for her instead.”