NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10
Tang Jia's fingers danced with the plastic tip of her ice popsicle, teeth grazing it thoughtfully as she observed Xu Yue's focused movements. The kitchen's warmth contrasted with the coolness of the treat in her mouth. With a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of her boredom, she let out her complaint into the air, her voice bouncing off the walls of the bustling kitchen.
“I’m so bored!”
Xu Yue's response was almost mechanical. Her hands never paused in their task as she flicked an extra peeler toward her friend without sparing her a glance. The peeler spun through the air, landing with a soft thud next to Tang Jia, who looked at it like an alien object.
“Get to work then,” Xu Yue suggested, her tone straightforward, betraying no emotion.
“What the hell? I came to visit you out of the goodness of my heart, and you put me to work like a dog? You black-hearted bully!” Tang Jia’s exaggerated shock contrasted with the sparkle in her eyes, hinting at the playful nature of her complaint.
“I didn’t ask you to come,” Xu Yue responded, not even bothering to look up, her hands moving with practiced efficiency.
“Anyway, that’s not what I meant. I have too much free time now that Li Miao’s stopped harassing you.” She finished the popsicle and flicked it towards the bin in a smooth motion before grabbing a juice box. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“You were complaining just now.” Xu Yue finally gave Tang Jia a look, a silent challenge to her earlier words.
“That’s…” Tang Jia hesitated, caught off-guard by Xu Yue's direct stare. She quickly averted her eyes and shifted the conversation away from her complaints.
“Anyway, do you really think Li Miao has changed? It’s been almost a month. I swear that she's plotting something in the background!” Tang Jia's forehead furrowed with suspicion, and her worry was genuine despite her previously playful demeanor.
Li Miao: Why does no one believe me!!! QAQ
Speaking of plots, Xu Yue was reminded of the letter in her locker. She wondered why Li Miao had sent it to her.
“She sent me a love letter,” Xu Yue's admission was as calm as it was unexpected, dropping into the conversation like a stone into still water.
Tang Jia was caught off guard and involuntarily spat out the juice she was drinking.
“S-she sent you a what?” Tang Jia, wiping her mouth, stared directly at Xu Yue, her eyes widening.
“A love letter, full of little heart stickers.” Xu Yue's delivery was matter-of-fact, her hands pausing momentarily as she let the information settle.
“That Li Miao? The one that’s so in love with Zhang Wei that she bullied you for even interacting with him? That one?” Tang Jia’s disbelief was apparent, her voice tinged with incredulity as she struggled to reconcile this new development with their past experiences.
“Is there another Li Miao?” Xu Yue’s rhetorical question hung in the air as she finished with the vegetables and stood up, signaling the end of her task but not the end of their conversation.
“D-does she really like you?” Tang Jia stuttered.
“Who knows?” Xu Yue’s response was noncommittal, her expression unreadable as she pondered the same question.
I still don’t know how to feel about Li Miao.
“If she really loves you, I’ll work like a dog here until I die!”
Tang Jia's declaration was bold. After all, Li Miao loving her archnemesis was absolutely impossible.
Maybe it wasn’t impossible after all.
Xu Yue thought to herself.
In the stillness of the classroom, Xu Yue's discerning eyes caught the slightest movement—Li Miao, seemingly ensnared in a moment of indecision, her hand hovering awkwardly over Xu Yue's backpack. The sight was oddly reminiscent of a cat caught under the abrupt glare of headlights, frozen and exposed.
“What are you doing with that?” Xu Yue's calm and detached voice broke the silence. Her posture was relaxed yet observant against the nearby desk.
Li Miao, caught in the act, floundered for an explanation. Her hands, betraying her nervousness, moved with uncertain urgency.
“O-oh! I saw it on your desk and thought it was yours. I didn’t want anyone to steal it, so I put it into your bag.” Avoiding Xu Yue's gaze, Li Miao's voice faltered, her excuse as transparent as glass.
This girl is horrible at lying.
Xu Yue, skeptical, decided to investigate Li Miao's intentions further. She retrieved the package from her backpack, which was wrapped carefully and adorned with a pink ribbon.
She unveiled an acrylic keychain. The figures captured in the keychain- two anime girls in frilly dresses locked in a moment of shared intimacy- seemed to whisper of a bond far more profound than mere friendship.
The accompanying card read, “To give to someone special,” its message a whisper of potential unspoken feelings.
Someone special?
Anyone else in this position would think that Li Miao actually had romantic feelings toward Xu Yue. She gazed at the terrified Li Miao. Her beauty and frailty would cause anyone else to be smitten with her. However, Xu Yue’s heart, encased within walls built from years of self-reliance and cautious introspection, was not easily swayed.
Alright, let’s test it, shall we?
Under Xu Yue's scrutiny, Li Miao seemed to shrink, her usual confidence replaced by a visible unease. Xu Yue, moving closer, placed her hand on Li Miao's chin gently.
“First the letter, next this present. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought you fell in love with me.”
Li Miao felt the coldness of Xu Yue's hand and finally registered her words.
W-wait letter? What letter?
Xu Yue swiftly reached out and firmly grasped Li Miao's head, directing it towards her own. With a cold gaze, she locked eyes with Li Miao. Li Miao reacted immediately; a crimson tide washed over her face, and she could not withstand the female protagonist's aura.
Oh my god, she’s so beautiful, ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!
Li Miao quickly devised an excuse, her brain working overtime as smoke billowed from her ears.
“N-no! I was just trying to… um… makeup with you!” she stammered, her attempt at defiance weak against Xu Yue's careful observation.
Xu Yue's cold and mocking laughter filled the space between them. “With a phone strap? I don’t even have a phone.”
Li Miao, desperate, proposed a solution, her voice a mix of hope and anxiety. “Y-yeah! As a gift I want to buy you a phone t-this weekend! I-Is that alright?”
Is she inviting me on a date?
Xu Yue wanted to see how far Li Miao would take this act.
“Okay.”
“Y-yep! I knew you would say no… wait what?”
Before even hearing Xu Yue’s response, Li Miao had already prepared to be rejected. However, this unexpected answer left her perplexed.
Xu Yue, removing her hand from Li Miao’s chin, grabbed her bag in one smooth motion.
“I’ll see you at Station A, Saturday, 8:00 A.M.” She left, box in hand, leaving Li Miao completely stunned.
She said okay?
Kitty Maomao: “There’s no way the female protagonist would say okay to a date with the villainess!”
Protagonist Xu Yue: “Maomao, let’s go on a date~”
Kitty Maomao: ???
