A Winner in Life since Kindergarten

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

The field's grass was lush and green; when she asked this question, Xu Feifei's hands nervously gripped her pants.

Her heartbeat sped up by half a beat.

Liu Wenjie ate chocolate: "Do you even have to ask? I don't know about others, but I still understand you a bit—you're the last person who'd steal the measly class fund; that money isn't even worth as much as these chocolates. I can't picture it either."

Xu Feifei froze, didn't answer right away, and instead buried her head in her knees again.

Her pupils rippled with touched emotion.

But soon she lifted her head, straightened her back, waved her little fists, and feigned indignation:

"See! Even a nasty guy like you gets it—so why can't those people figure it out! I, Xu Feifei, hate sneaky, petty theft the most—how could I ever steal the class fund! And they say I hit the vice president!"

Xu Feifei looked at Liu Wenjie, clutched her chest, and yelled in a tsundere tone:

"How could I hit the vice president?! I'm someone who loves making friends—wanting to be friends with every student in the whole school! What good would hitting the vice president do me! Those idiots have no brains at all! Right, nasty guy?!"

Liu Wenjie glanced sideways at Xu Feifei.

Xu Feifei corrected herself, her voice quieter: "Right, class president?"

Only then did Liu Wenjie answer, "Exactly."

Xu Feifei thought Liu Wenjie looked exceptionally handsome today, dazzling and tall in the sunlight. Surprised, she said, "Though I wanted to hear you say 'exactly,' it still feels weird when you go along with me—it's not like you."

Liu Wenjie looked at her speechlessly: "Why are you so picky? It's wrong if I agree and wrong if I don't."

Xu Feifei quickly waved her little fists in protest: "I'm not picky! A nasty guy really is a nasty guy!"

Soon she hugged her legs again, resting her chin on her knees in a daze. A breeze often swept across the field.

It made the twin ponytails behind her sway.

Perhaps because she'd cried, her cheeks were faintly red. Xu Feifei stared at the grass:

"But I never expected the only person in class who believes me would be you. I thought you've always hated me—opposing me since kindergarten."

Liu Wenjie didn't know what to say: "I oppose you? Aren't you the one who's been bothering me all the time? When did I ever take the initiative to mess with you?"

Xu Feifei was tongue-tied: "I... how is that bothering! I saw how amazing you were and wanted to be good friends with you, but you're different from everyone else! I can't figure you out—would you lose a piece of flesh by being my friend?!"

"Cut the nonsense. How are you planning to handle this? Hand it over to the teacher or solve it yourself? Any idea who's trying to mess with you?"

Xu Feifei gave a soft humph:

"I won't leave something this important to the teacher—I'll investigate it myself! As for who's after me, it's definitely not the vice president; she's usually timid. Yesterday she was acting out of character—clearly someone put her up to it."

"I never thought you actually had a brain."

She swiftly shook her fist again: "Do you really think I'm an idiot? I, Xu Feifei, am super smart, okay?!"

After that she dropped her arms and bluntly gave the name:

"Eighty percent sure it's Jiang Rao. Ever since she transferred here she's been bullying classmates and breaking rules, so I keep writing her name on the blackboard to tell the teacher. No one else would dare."

Xu Feifei sounded puzzled: "But what's strange is you also write her name on the board all the time—you're the least sentimental person ever—yet she only messes with me, never argues with you."

"That's true. I find it odd too."

Xu Feifei asked quietly, "Do you know her?"

Liu Wenjie said flatly, "Do you think I'm like you, always making friends? I hate talking to little girls the most."

"Yeah, I can tell."

Xu Feifei went on, "But asking Jiang Rao directly won't work—I still have to ask the vice president what's going on."

.....

That afternoon, Xu Feifei went straight to Jiang Rao and, in front of the whole class, confronted her at her desk: "Was it you? You told the vice president to put the money in my cafeteria drawer, didn't you?!"

Jiang Rao froze for a moment, seemed guilty because she knew this was serious, and quickly snapped back: "Do you have proof or are you just spouting nonsense?! Don't steal the money yourself and then blame others!"

"Who's spouting nonsense! And what money did I steal?!"

Half an hour later, Xu Feifei and Liu Wenjie huddled in a corner; Liu Wenjie couldn't help smacking the dummy on the head.

Xu Feifei yelped and clutched her head: "Why'd you hit me?!"

Liu Wenjie was stunned: "I actually believed that nonsense about you having a brain—who was it at noon that said she'd ask the vice president first? Even if Jiang Rao did it, do you think she'd admit it in front of the whole class?!"

Xu Feifei hesitated: "Wha... what if? I always thought she wasn't that bright—maybe if I asked she'd just confess. Who knew she'd be too scared to admit it." She gave a contemptuous snort: "What a coward!"

Liu Wenjie wondered if there were any normal people around him—or if all kids were like this.

Each one more outrageous than the last.

The next morning.

Liu Wenjie and little Xia Ying arrived at school and parted ways.

Liu Wenjie set down his bag and headed to the boys' restroom, only to spot a certain twin-tailed little girl leaning alone against the wall by the boys' bathroom.

Her hands were behind her back, head lowered, legs swinging idly.

Liu Wenjie suddenly felt uneasy: "What are you doing outside the boys' restroom?"

Other boys passing by were curious too.

Hearing the familiar voice, Xu Feifei looked up and stood straight: "You're here—I was waiting for you."

"Waiting for me? Why?"

After Liu Wenjie finished in the restroom, they went to an empty corner.

After a single sentence Liu Wenjie was dumbstruck: "You want me to help you? Weren't you saying yesterday you could handle it yourself?"

Xu Feifei awkwardly clasped her hands behind her back, cheeks red: "I... when did I ever say I could solve it myself? I only said I'd investigate—an investigation needs a partner."

"So?"

"Sour? What smells sour?" She twitched her nose and sniffed the air and Liu Wenjie; he still had that special scent. Realizing, Xu Feifei said, "I think you've said that word before."

Liu Wenjie pushed her away like a puppy: "'So' is English—it means 'therefore.'"

"Oh, so that's it—show-off."

Liu Wenjie said impatiently, "I'm leaving."

She grabbed him again, now truly scared:

"No, no! Just help me, okay? I can't do it alone—I know how much I weigh. Please, Liu Wenjie, the most amazing class president! If I ask the vice president myself she definitely won't tell me—give me an idea!"

Liu Wenjie turned back: "Let me ask you first—how did you know I'd go to the restroom this morning?"

Xu Feifei tugged his sleeve as if it were obvious:

"Because the first thing you do every morning after arriving at school is go to the restroom. To beat you I used to watch you every day—I even got influenced, so now the first thing I do is use the restroom too."

Somebody call the cops and take this girl away...