Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 36

Ye Ningyu nodded and lowered her head, focusing on her food.

Noticing that Little Ye seemed a bit down, Xia Tian gently patted her head and spoke softly to comfort her.

“Really, don’t take that guy’s words to heart. Besides, didn’t we end up getting free steak?” he said with a playful smile.

Ye Ningyu looked up at Xia Tian, her eyes shimmering. It was rare for her to show her face fully like this, her large, watery eyes filled with emotion.

“I-I know, I didn’t take what that uncle said to heart…”

Xia Tian was puzzled. “Then why do you still look upset?”

Ye Ningyu hesitated, clutching the edge of her coat. In truth, she wanted to ask Xia Tian if they could take a photo together using the phone he gave her, but she was too shy to bring it up, worrying that he might refuse.

In the end, Ye Ningyu couldn’t muster the courage to voice her thoughts. She simply shook her head and smiled sweetly at him.

“I’m not upset. Being with you makes me really happy, Xia Tian.”

Xia Tian looked at her, knowing she hadn’t told him the whole truth.

But he didn’t push further and instead quietly finished the steak with her. They left the “Eighth Day” restaurant and made their way back to school.

On the way, Ye Ningyu followed closely behind Xia Tian, feeling a deep sense of security. She had never felt this at ease before.

Her heart fluttered as she thought back to how Xia Tian had stood up for her in the restaurant, completely unafraid of confronting an adult. It reminded her of that night a few months ago.

She had been walking home when a group of thugs cornered her in a dark alley. Just as she was paralyzed with fear, unsure of what to do, Xia Tian appeared and single-handedly chased them off. He had taken her hand and led her out of that pitch-black alley…

But all this time, his heart had belonged to Xu Yuan.

However, in the past few days, it felt like something had changed.

As they neared the school gates, Ye Ningyu mustered up her courage, tugged at Xia Tian’s sleeve, and looked up at him with her head slightly tilted.

“Xia Tian…”

“Hmm? What’s up? Do you want some tanghulu?” Xia Tian pointed at a nearby cart selling tanghulu, misunderstanding her.

Ye Ningyu’s face turned a deeper shade of red, and she shook her head gently.

“Then what is it?”

“I… I want to know… Why are you so nice to me?”

Xia Tian’s eyes softened. He reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately.

“Because we’re deskmates, of course! If I’m not nice to you, who else should I be nice to?”

“Oh…”

Hearing his response, Ye Ningyu felt as though all the strength had left her body.

So, it was just because they were deskmates.

It seemed she had been overthinking things…

Her gaze dimmed, and the little face that had just emerged from her collar shrank back into it. She continued walking with her head down, looking dejected.

Watching her retreating figure, Xia Tian sighed inwardly.

He knew exactly what Ye Ningyu had been hoping for with her question. But he also knew it wasn’t the right time yet.

He didn’t want Little Ye to feel so insecure and small. He wanted her to gain confidence and, one day, proudly proclaim her feelings for him.

She was a beautiful flower, meant to bloom brightly and confidently, not to wilt in the shadows, meekly testing the waters.

On top of that, Xia Tian still didn’t know everything about her past.

If he were to confess too soon, it might hurt her or complicate things.

“Little Ye, I’ll wait for you to tell me you like me. And you wait for me—I’ll make sure everything is ready so we can move forward together.”

His resolve hardened. In the coming days, he’d figure out everything about her past and prepare for what was to come.

He quickly caught up with Ye Ningyu, playfully pinching her cheek to lighten the mood.

—

When they returned to the classroom for evening self-study, Xia Tian found a few more love letters stuffed into his desk.

“Geez, don’t these junior girls have homework? They just keep writing love letters without taking a break.”

“Too bad for them, I’m a man they’ll never win over…”

He sighed dramatically before tossing the letters straight into the trash.

Seeing this, Ye Ningyu’s spirits lifted a little, though she still felt a bit down.

That night, their class teacher, Wang Qingshan, entered with a stack of papers to distribute.

He called on Chen Jiayi and Ma Dongguai to help pass them out.

When they reached Xia Tian’s desk, Chen Jiayi shot him an intense glare.

If looks could kill, Xia Tian would’ve been dead ten times over by now.

Xia Tian couldn’t help but mutter to himself. What’s her problem this time? I haven’t even talked to Xu Yuan or Chen Jiayi today.

After the homework was distributed, Wang Qingshan cleared his throat.

“Everyone, put down your pens for a moment. Tomorrow is the mock exam, so I have a few things to say.”

“The mock exam is a significant milestone, meaning we’re one step closer to the college entrance exam. This mock exam is a province-wide standardized test, and your results will be an important indicator of your academic performance over the last three years of high school.”

“The testing procedures will follow those of the college entrance exam, so I hope everyone takes this seriously. Don’t let your guard down. You should already know your exam rooms and seat numbers. Make sure to arrive early tomorrow and don’t get lost.”

The class responded in unison.

Most students looked solemn, knowing how important the mock exam was.

Only a few, like Ma Dongguai and the other underachievers, seemed completely unfazed.

After his speech, Wang Qingshan adjusted his glasses and called out a few names, including Xia Tian’s.

“I know some of you haven’t taken things seriously up until now, but I hope you’ll approach this exam with a different mindset. I want to see all of you make it into the universities you’re aiming for, and I don’t want anyone to fall behind.”

Xia Tian gave a playful salute. “Don’t worry, Mr. Wang. This time, I’m aiming for the top 20 in the class. It’s the mock exam, after all—I can’t drag our class down.”

“You wish! I’d be happy if you didn’t finish at the bottom again,” Wang Qingshan replied, waving Xia Tian off without giving his words another thought.

This gave Chen Jiayi the perfect opportunity to jump in with a sarcastic remark.

“Xia Tian, are you serious about aiming for the top 20? If I remember correctly, weren’t you fifth from the bottom last time?”

Xia Tian rolled his eyes at her, not even bothering to respond. Instead, he turned to Ye Ningyu to ask for help with the science problems, leaving Chen Jiayi feeling like she had just punched a pillow.

Her anger seethed.

Meanwhile, Xu Yuan, who still had red eyes from crying, felt completely wronged.

She whispered to Chen Jiayi, “Even though I sometimes didn’t want to eat the breakfast Xia Tian brought me, I would never give it to someone else or throw it away.”

“But Xia Tian went too far! He gave away the breakfast I bought for him. That was supposed to be my heartfelt, caring gesture…”