novelraw Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Vice-President Sakuramiya! You're here too.
Bai Yi's gaze slipped past Spencer and An Le and landed on Sakuramiya Hitomi sitting beside Yan Huan. Her face lit up; she waved and hurried over to claim the seat next to her.
"Are you running the study group today, Sakuramiya?"
Sakuramiya smiled and nodded. "That's right. Hashimoto's feeling under the weather, so I'm filling in."
"Then I'll be counting on you for tutoring!"
"Happy to~"
Yan Huan and An Le both watched the two girls chatter like besties, the same thought striking them at the same time.
So Sakuramiya and Bai Yi are actually on good terms?
As for Spencer—
Spencer was busy checking whether Yan Huan had brought her bubble tea.
That detail gave Yan Huan a rough plan. He murmured to Meow-chan on his shoulder.
"The so-called 'Three Heroes vs. Yan Huan' meme isn't quite accurate, Meow-chan."
"Meow?"
The little cat tilted its head, staring at the serious-faced Yan Huan.
"We already judged Bai Yi and An Le as low-threat. The one we need to handle first is Spencer."
"I get it, meow. So we can pull An Le and Bai Yi to our side and see what Spencer does?"
"Exactly."
With Sakuramiya Hitomi's background she could befriend anyone she wanted—if she felt like it. The reason she was unpopular had more to do with the pride of the Sakuramiya heiress and her habit of never looking people in the eye. That she was now getting along with Bai Yi was a pleasant surprise to Yan Huan. At least it showed she had changed since joining the student council.
Deciding to recruit Bai Yi, Yan Huan spoke up.
"Sakuramiya, you're in charge of tutoring Bai Yi today."
Next, An Le.
He turned to her. "An Le."
"Ah—Xiao Huan, I... I was thinking, maybe I could help tutor Spencer or something..."
Before he could ask, An Le glanced at the other three, forced a small smile, and offered the suggestion herself. Sakuramiya and Bai Yi were shining too brightly; she felt dowdy by comparison. Instinctively she edged closer to Spencer, seeking safety in numbers.
From Yan Huan's perspective, the clubroom had quietly split into two camps.
On one side: Yan Huan, Sakuramiya Hitomi, and Bai Yi.
On the other: Spencer and An Le.
By headcount his side should have crushed the opposition; add in the soft, mochi-like An Le and the balance looked lopsided. Yet Spencer, arms folded, stood like a lone pillar holding up the sky, her aura matching Sakuramiya and Bai Yi combined.
"That's right—An Le's here to help me."
Sakuramiya sneered inwardly. The President and the top two students weren't enough tutoring; you need a woman past forty to pitch in? What's the real plan?
Since everyone was already here, Yan Huan didn't refuse. He pulled out a test paper and handed it to An Le.
"This is the sheet Spencer has to finish. I'll grade it afterward; you explain the mistakes."
"O-okay."
An Le nodded, glanced at the difficulty, then looked at Spencer, who was already sitting with arms crossed.
Spencer flicked her chin toward Yan Huan: Get on with it—surely you're not here to make me do homework?
An Le pressed her lips and glanced at Sakuramiya and Bai Yi as they passed out their own papers: With them watching, I can't.
Spencer rolled her eyes. Guess I'll have to cook up something.
She raised her pen, thoughtful, then turned impatiently to Yan Huan.
"Hold on. Why is my paper still middle-school level while hers is high-school? I passed the Tuesday quizzes, didn't I?"
Yan Huan replied calmly, "You only finished three subjects on Tuesday; two remain. And scraping a pass on middle-school questions isn't something to brag about."
Spencer snorted, pointing at Bai Yi.
"Fine, my grades suck, I admit it. But is she really that much better? I bet we're about the same!"
"Me?" Bai Yi blinked, tapping her own chest, wondering why she'd been dragged in. She disliked Spencer, sure, but she'd kept it off her face—hadn't she?
Sakuramiya's brows drew together. "About the same? Bai Yi works two jobs and still outscores you by almost two-hundred-thirty points—how dare you?"
"Past scores don't matter. Give us the same test right now and see!"
Spencer waved her paper, then jabbed a finger at Sakuramiya.
"You referee. Watch us do it live. If I win, I get bumped up to the high-school sheet!"
Bai Yi's temper flared. I never picked a fight, yet you keep pushing? Fine, bring it on. No way a girl who barely passes middle-school beats me.
She lifted her pen. "I'm in."
Sakuramiya's frown deepened. This girl charges in knowing she's outmatched—she must have a plan. Yet the shrewd Vice-President studied Spencer's blank-slate face and found nothing. No clue what she was thinking. Only one option: watch and see.
"All right."
Behind them, Xiao Muzi on An Le's shoulder whispered, "She actually self-destructed for you."
Hook, line, sinker.
Spencer had just taunted Bai Yi and Sakuramiya into a fierce duel. What should have been quiet study time had become a brutal exam battlefield. Bai Yi would give it her all to win; Sakuramiya, knowing Spencer's tricks, would stay vigilant to prevent cheating. Their full attention was now tied up—leaving Yan Huan and An Le alone.
Xiao Muzi stared at Spencer's back. "Sacrificing herself like this... when she reads NTR doujins, does she self-insert as the cuck?"
"What are you saying, Xiao Muzi?!"
"Ahem."
The little dragon stuck out its tongue, then seized the moment. "Whatever her motive, she's handed you an opening—grab it!"
"I-I'll do my best!"
An Le clenched her fists and looked at Yan Huan.
Yan Huan, meanwhile, was already two steps ahead. Knowing Spencer's Modifier, he realized she had turned herself into a decoy, drawing fire so the rest of them could maneuver.
Coupled with the fact that she'd dragged An Le to the scene today for no apparent reason...
"I get it, Meow-chan."
"Meow?"
Yan Huan's eyes lit up; he rubbed his chin and analyzed aloud.
"Spencer found out about me and An Le, so she deliberately created a chance for us to be alone. Once our relationship deepens, she'll have another 'imaginary victim'—An Le."
In Yan Huan's mind, memories of his past life's vast study materials surfaced.
Among them, stories featuring childhood sweethearts fell under the so-called "Plunder-type" category.
In such cases, the childhood sweethearts didn't even need to form a bond; if one of them simply 'changed heart,' the plunder would succeed.
"She's trying to plunder both Sakuramiya and An Le at once—meow?! How malicious!"
Xiao Muzi was horrified. So Spencer, who always looked clumsy on the surface, actually had a gift for scheming.
"So what do we do now, meow?"
"The plan stays the same. We can even give her what she wants—just make sure she can't win and force her to face the punishment. With her three-legged-cat skills, she'll probably just block the restroom."
Yan Huan, who seemed to see through everything, lifted his gaze and asked Spencer,
"Fine. But what happens if you lose the exam?"
Spencer's body stiffened.
Sweat dotted her forehead as she turned to him.
"W-what do you mean?"
"Weren't you saying you're about the same level as Bai Yi? If you score lower, you'll admit—out loud—that you're not as good as her."
"Huh?"
Spencer opened her mouth to argue, but Bai Yi spoke up coolly from the side,
"If I score lower than you, I'll admit I'm not as good."
Spencer stood rooted to the spot, feeling the triple death-stare from Yan Huan, Sakuramiya Hitomi, and Bai Yi. She started to tremble.
This...
is a guaranteed loss.
Spencer knew exactly how smart she wasn't.
In academics she was only one notch brighter than the gecko An Le kept as a pet—capable of basic reasoning, nothing more.
An Le's mouth hung open; she clearly understood Spencer's level too. She hurriedly reached out, trying to salvage something.
But Spencer spun away with the air of a warrior marching to her doom, leaving An Le with the silhouette of "a hero who will never return."
"Fine! It's a deal!!"
Xiao Muzi was stunned. It flicked its tail across its own face.
"D-d-did I misjudge her all along?!"
Yan Huan nodded in satisfaction and picked up another first-year test paper.
"Good. Then let's begin. Finish this quiz in thirty minutes."
Spencer clenched her teeth, snatched the paper from his hand, and walked—shaking—toward the execution ground... no, the exam room.
In Yan Huan's eyes, for someone who loved plundering, admitting she was "worse than others" was fatal.
To steal someone's beloved, she had to be superior in some way.
At the very least she needed "something to boast about."
Only then could she imagine using "external things" to crush "feelings," manufacturing a hollow sense of superiority over her victims.
Truth was, Spencer's actions toward Yan Huan weren't about him at all.
Did she like his personality?
Not really.
Did she like his looks?
Not especially.
He was merely the medium through which Spencer could prove herself better than other girls—
proof that, despite her awful personality and dumb-rich-kid reputation, she could still grind you into dust without effort.
"So I'll be the one to shatter your superiority."
Watching her shivering back as she headed for the exam, Yan Huan thought exactly that.
Beside him, Sakuramiya Hitomi raised a stopwatch.
"The quiz is short. Thirty minutes. You can hand it in early; we'll only look at the final score."
Spencer's face glistened with cold sweat. Bai Yi, on the other hand, clicked her pen with confidence, ready to annihilate the loathsome Spencer.
While the front lines were locked in battle, the rear grew quiet.
Veteran Yan Huan's side was now empty save for An Le, who sat next to him clutching the water bottle.
"Superconducting Mode only lasts a dozen minutes, but this water's effects are different—much stronger!"
Perched on his shoulder, Xiao Muzi's breathing quickened as it stared at An Le's profile.
"An Le, with this water plus Superconducting Mode, I guarantee you'll reach home base tonight! And no one will notice anything afterward!"
"R-really?"
"Why would I lie? Whatever happens in the doujin happens in real life—easy win."
An Le bit her lip; her gaze drifted to Yan Huan's face, so close beside her.
He stood with arms folded, attention fixed on the exam table.
Soft bangs framed alert eyes; his lips, a little thin, looked delicious.
Because he usually smiled, the absence of one now made her want to kiss him until the corners of his mouth lifted.
Below his sharp jawline, his Adam's apple stood out—she wondered how enticing his voice would sound if pleasure rolled through that spot.
"Carrying a sharp weapon awakens the urge to kill."
Holding the bottle of mineral water, An Le felt the same.
Xiao Muzi, like the serpent describing the sweetness of the fruit to Eve, stoked the flames of her desire.
And so Eve, trembling, lifted the bottle to offer it—
But before she could speak, Yan Huan turned his head first.
Seeing her flushed cheeks, he said,
"An Le."
"Y-yes!"
"What are you? I haven't even said anything yet."
"O-oh... right."
She was too nervous.
Noticing the unopened bottle in her hands, Yan Huan asked,
"Has this water been opened?"
"No. It's... safe to drink."
For reasons she couldn't explain, that's what came out.
"Thanks."
Yan Huan was thirsty; he took the bottle from her.
He gave it a once-over—Golden Lion Group special edition.
The cap was half-twisted off. As he glanced at the label, something occurred to him, and he asked,
"How have things been in class lately?"
"You mean... Park Seo-mun and the others?"
"Mm. They bullied you before. They were punished, but it's hard to keep an eye on everything that happens in private."
An Le shook her head.
"Even back then it was just a couple of nasty remarks.
Before I transferred to Yuanyue my family worried about that, but ever since you became Student-Council President, Xiao Huan, it's been much better."
She laced her fingers together and added softly,
"And you openly told everyone about our relationship. You've already taken care of me—just like before."
Looking at her, Yan Huan couldn't help ruffling her hair.
She didn't resist, just sat there like a roly-poly toy, letting him rock her back and forth.
"Nnn~"
"And you're the same as ever—that's not a compliment."
"S-sorry."
"What are you apologizing for? Be stronger. Make more friends. Having only me doesn't count."
"Does that make me Xiao Huan's exclusive?"
"..."
Yan Huan paused, staring at the girl tilting her head up at him with those big eyes. A primal impulse flared.
He quickly looked away from the impressive view and gave a helpless laugh.
"Think about yourself once in a while instead of always worrying about others, okay?"
"I-I understand."
For herself, then?
She lifted her gaze to the bottle in Yan Huan's hand—the one already tilting toward his lips—and felt her heartbeat quicken.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Yes, Xiao Huan had said it too: think more about yourself.
So doing what you truly want... should be fine, right?
An Le parted her lips. The scene before her began to overlap with one from years ago in the South District.
She still remembered bringing chilled drinks from home for Yan Huan.
They had sat beneath the trees, letting flecks of sunlight and shadow chase each other across their bodies.
In that moment she had looked up at him, about to drink, and suddenly asked,
"Xiao Huan."
"Hm?"
"From now on, you'll be the dad and I'll be the mom, okay?"
Thinking it was just make-believe, Yan Huan had raised his bottle.
Between sips he answered,
"Sure."
Only An Le knew she hadn't been talking about make-believe at all.
She had meant... a lifetime.
"I-I'll work hard to keep Xiao Huan happy forever!"
Right now, those once-crystal eyes darkened with a heavy shadow.
The tiny Xiao Muzi coiled on her shoulder flicked its tongue; the heart-shaped pink scales along its back glowed brighter.
Sss~
Drink up, Xiao Huan.
I'll make you comfortable, happy—
She didn't notice that Sakuramiya Hitomi, proctoring nearby, had sensed something and turned around.
What she saw was An Le holding the water, sweetly chatting with the President.
The President even reached out to ruffle An Le's hair, looking utterly indulgent.
...Not good—home turf invaded?!
Sakuramiya's eyes flashed red, especially at the childhood-sweetheart display; jealousy gnawed at her.
She strode straight toward Yan Huan to mount a defense.
Right as An Le watched, heart pounding, Yan Huan lifted the cup for a sip of the sweet water—
Sakuramiya arrived.
"President, what were you and An Le just talking about?"
Yan Huan blinked.
The bottle blocked Sakuramiya's black thigh-highs, so he set it back on the desk.
"We were discussing Park Seo-mun. An Le, the Seo-mun matter was handled by Sakuramiya, who oversees discipline."
"...Thank you."
An Le stared as the almost-hers bottle was set down again, dumbstruck.
Foiled—and now she had to thank the foiler?
"Um, Vice-President Sakuramiya, don't you need to... keep proctoring over there?"
Sakuramiya smiled behind her hand at An Le's obvious urgency.
"It's fine. At this level, neither side would bother cheating."
Then she turned the question around.
"Or do you not trust your friend Spencer?"
"N-no!"
"Then you don't trust Bai Yi?"
"N-not that either!"
Little dumpling An Le had never faced Sakuramiya's artillery; two simple reversals nearly had her swearing her innocence on the spot.
While An Le waved her hands frantically, Sakuramiya laughed.
"Just teasing. President, isn't An Le adorable~"
Yan Huan smiled, screwed the cap back on the bottle, and thought that for someone as shy as An Le, making more friends could only help.
Sakuramiya wasn't exactly worshipped, but her standing was solid.
Everyone knew she was the Sakuramiya family's heiress, power incarnate.
Knowing such a "normal" friend could only be a plus—definitely better than that airhead Spencer.
So Yan Huan decided to play matchmaker.
"An Le has been cute since we were kids. A bit socially anxious, but a really good person."
Cute?
The President called her cute?
He used to say that only to me!
Just because you're childhood friends doesn't mean you can do whatever you want!
Let me tell you, Yuanyue Academy isn't lawless territory!!
Sakuramiya's smile never wavered, but inside she was already plotting An Le's demise.
She seized the topic, gentle as silk.
"Little An Le was cute back then too? Tell me more about when you were kids."
The question started with "little An Le," but the key word was "you two," not "you."
What Sakuramiya really wanted was stories about Yan Huan's childhood.
An Le sensed the attack beneath the velvet and started to sweat.
Definitely a lightweight.
Stammering, she glanced desperately toward Spencer, who was still bent over her test.
Save me—nobody said I'd have to duel the Vice-President herself!
Spencer chewed her pen like it was torture.
Suddenly the blonde antenna on her head pinged upright, gleaming.
She spotted An Le getting steamrolled.
...Seriously?
Given a chance and you still botch it!
Fine—Buddha helps those who help themselves.
Spencer decided to trust her teammate and booted up her exam-overloaded CPU.
She turned to Bai Yi, who was scribbling away, obsessed with victory.
Poor thing, so fixated on winning—pitiful, tragic.
Spencer cast a pitying glance at the girl "single-minded on sages' books," and an idea bloomed.
For once, inspiration rained down like cherry blossoms; even she felt smarter.
Snap!
"Ugh, forget it. I'm done."
Just as An Le buckled under Sakuramiya's onslaught, Spencer tossed her pen aside and leaned back.
Bai Yi blinked up.
Even the trio chatting nearby looked over.
An Le exhaled; Sakuramiya's face darkened.
"Spencer, what stunt now?"
Yan Huan tensed, wondering if the foreplay was over and Spencer was about to hack the exam.
"...So you forfeit?"
Seeing Yan Huan's calm, almost dismissive face, Spencer's temper flared.
But glancing at An Le behind him, she forced it down, turned to Bai Yi, and grated out,
"Yes, I surrender. You win. Satisfied?"
"Huh?"
Bai Yi was utterly bewildered and pointed at herself.
Behind her, Sakuramiya Hitomi was equally confused. She rubbed her temples and sighed.
"Spencer, this is the study group the student council volunteered its own time for. If you don't want to attend, just say so—why throw a childish tantrum? What's the point?"
Bai Yi set down her pen and stared at the arms-folded, utterly uncooperative Spencer.
"Exactly. Why are you doing this, Spencer?"
Yan Huan stayed on the sidelines; he alone knew Spencer's real motive. He unscrewed his water bottle and took a casual sip, waiting for her answer.
An Le clenched her fists, eyes locked on the space between Yan Huan's lips and the bottle.
"Short-Brain's drinking it!!"
Xiao Muzi popped an imaginary cork and cheered,
"Spencer, you legend! You absolute legend!"
A second later Yan Huan tilted the bottle to his mouth. Tiny bubbles rose as the liquid slid past his lips.
He drank it!!
Which hotel tonight?
Ugh, the underwear I wore today—
While An Le's face flamed crimson, Spencer spun around, jabbed a finger at Bai Yi, and shouted,
"It's all because of you! Dragging Yan Huan into shooting that... that A-whatever-V with you! You even said he'd be the male lead and you'd be the female lead!"
"Pfft—!"
Yan Huan, still mid-sip, sprayed water across the table.
The faint smile on An Le's face and Xiao Muzi's premature celebration froze as they watched every drop leave Yan Huan's mouth.
Sakuramiya's complexion turned sheet-white, her gaze sharpening into a thousand invisible knives aimed at Bai Yi.
Smack!
Bai Yi shot to her feet, face scarlet.
"Spencer, what nonsense are you spouting?! Shameless!"
"Hah? You dare do it but not own up?"
Spencer rose even more aggressively, the picture of righteous fury.
The question left Bai Yi flustered.
"Me? Are you talking about me?"
A scholar ambushed by a soldier.
She choked on imaginary blood. Beside her, Sakuramiya's aura shifted to something demonic. Calm—terrifyingly calm—she asked,
"Bai Yi, explain."
"N-no, I didn't, it's not—!"
Bai Yi, cheeks burning, wrapped her arms around herself and pointed accusingly at Spencer.
"It's all Spencer, Sakuramiya—"
Spencer, still under the finger, straightened with inexplicable confidence.
Yan Huan rose, face dark. Behind him, An Le finally cracked.
"It's an MV! An MV, not an A-whatever—mph!"
Bai Yi seized the lifeline, clutching a pocket watch as if she might activate Indifference to escape.
"Yes, just an MV!"
Sakuramiya's horrific aura dissolved. She exhaled, patted Bai Yi's shoulder, and smiled.
"My mistake. I thought Yuanyue had slipped into chaos. So... an MV? What MV?"
Halfway through the sentence, realization dawned.
Under Sakuramiya's questioning, Bai Yi nodded frantically.
"It's the new song you heard at the con! Because Yan Huan inspired it, I asked him to be the male lead!"
"..."
Sakuramiya's face, which had just paled, began to darken again.
She was no moderate. An adult video—no. A music video—yes?
No middle ground.
First you pretended not to care about the President to get closer and fish for intel.
Now you're actually letting her star opposite him?!
Bai Yi finally relaxed, sure she'd cleared things up.
Yet the room felt colder than before.
Yan Huan glared at Spencer.
"Are you brain-dead? Think before you speak!"
Spencer glared back—then noticed An Le beside him, practically ascending to heaven. Only then did she realize she'd ruined everything.
She pressed her lips together, unable to retort.
"Sit down, finish the worksheet, and keep quiet," Yan Huan ordered, surveying the water-splattered floor with a sigh. He tightened the bottle cap, accepted tissues from Sakuramiya, and wiped the desk.
Since the room lacked a trash can, he announced,
"I'm heading to the restroom."
Sakuramiya nodded, watching him leave.
Still wanting to make amends, Spencer stood.
"I need the restroom too."
Sakuramiya frowned and rose.
"Same here."
"I'll join," Bai Yi chimed in.
"I... I need air," An Le whispered.
And so the entire room emptied.
In the corridor, Sakuramiya watched Spencer duck into the girls' restroom without detouring and relaxed slightly.
Then Bai Yi poked her shoulder just as she reached the door.
"Sakuramiya... do you like President Yan Huan?"
Sakuramiya spun around, startled.
Bai Yi studied the other girl's eyes—first contracted, then carefully composed—and heard her ask,
"Why bring this up now?"
"You seemed upset when you heard Yan Huan and I were shooting an MV."
Sharp instincts.
A hairline crack had appeared in her mask of shock, and Bai Yi had sensed it.
What to do?
Admit it?
The President was still in the restroom—would he overhear?
If he did, should she just confess?
But what about the persona she'd built?
And the reasons? Too many—things she wasn't supposed to know from the cameras.
She'd once declared she'd never fall in love; changing her mind required justification.
There were still loose ends—those cameras—if she got closer to the President, exposure was inevitable.
What then?
How was she supposed to explain things at home? Was her current persona even compatible with walking beside the President? If she agreed now, she'd never have another chance to adjust her mask. She'd need more lies, more excuses, just to keep the story straight.
Question after question, doubt after doubt—all pressing down on Sakuramiya Hitomi's carefully crafted mask.
But in the next second, everything fell silent.
Because every single question, every doubt, was suddenly overshadowed by one simple question.
"Do you like Yan Huan?"
Looking at Bai Yi's sincere face, Hitomi felt the world grow quiet. All that remained was her rising body temperature, her accelerating heartbeat.
Ba-dum.
Amid the sweet, cloying scent of pudding, amid the dazzling burst of fireworks, amid the soft meows of a fluffy cat, Sakuramiya Hitomi's delicate face flushed from pale to pink.
The next second, she turned her head slightly, eyes darting away as she whispered in a small, hesitant voice, "I-I can only say... there's a little... that kind of feeling."
Bai Yi's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat.
Spencer, who'd been standing behind them, finally emerged. She shot the two by the door an annoyed look. "Move it, move it. You said you weren't here for the restroom. So? If you're not using the bathroom, what are you doing here?"
Hitomi's expression instantly cooled. She shot Spencer a glare before stepping into the restroom. Bai Yi followed, looking somewhat dazed, lost in thought.
Spencer wasn't sure if Yan Huan had come out yet, but with those two inside the women's restroom, she couldn't very well barge in. Opportunity lost.
"Ugh, how annoying."
Hands in her pockets, she returned alone to classroom L501.
Inside, An Le had apparently stepped out for air, leaving Spencer by herself. That's when the water bottle on the desk caught her eye.
Earlier, when Yan Huan had been drinking, Spencer had been focused on Bai Yi. Then the atmosphere had grown tense, her CPU overloaded—she hadn't noticed Yan Huan had drunk from it. She only remembered how An Le had cradled the bottle like a treasure earlier.
Spencer assumed the bottle had always been in An Le's hands.
She stood before the desk, that suppressed urge to claim bubbling up again like a cat's scratch. Glancing around to confirm she was alone, she examined the seemingly ordinary mineral water.
"What's so special about this water?"
It looked identical to any other bottle. Maybe it tasted sweeter?
Spencer picked it up, unscrewed the cap, thinking An Le might have added something delicious to hide it. So the next second, she tipped the bottle back and gulped.
The cold water slid down her throat. She blinked. "Just water, but why does it taste better than mine? What brand is this?"
Though it was mineral water, it had a crisp, refreshing sweetness that seemed to seep into her bones. One sip wasn't enough. She put the bottle to her lips again and drained it in one go.
Gulp-gulp-gulp~
Mega-gulp~
"Ahh!"
Spencer swallowed contentedly, looking at the empty bottle in her hand, still craving more.
Thud!
Then came the sound of something dropping by the door. Spencer turned to see An Le, who'd gone to buy a drink from the vending machine, standing frozen with empty hands.
Empty because the drink she'd just bought had slipped from her grasp when she saw Spencer finish the bottle.