Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 4

After sticking the note onto Ye Ningyu’s bicycle, Xia Tian finally stood up, satisfied.

“Little Tian, why did you put that note on Ye Ningyu’s bike?”

“I told you, stay out of adult matters, kid. Knowing too much won’t do you any good.”

Xia Tian didn’t plan on explaining anything to Fang Yu. He was eager to get back to the classroom and sit next to Ye Ningyu as soon as possible.

“Little Tian, something’s definitely off with you today. Normally, you’re nowhere to be found after class. If I ever see you near your classroom, Xu Yuan is always within ten meters.”

As he spoke, Fang Yu glanced around deliberately.

“But where is she today?”

“Xu Yuan? Who’s that? I don’t know her.”

“Alright, alright, I get it. Let me guess—you gave her flowers during lunch break, confessed, and got rejected again. Now you’re playing it cool… Sigh, you’re even keeping up the act with your buddy. In a few days, once she gives you a little taste of affection, you’ll be back chasing her.”

Fang Yu had long since seen through his childhood friend.

Ever since Xia Tian had fallen for Xu Yuan, if Fang Yu went searching for him after class, he would always find Xia Tian busy courting her, rain or shine.

When she was hungry, he brought her food; when she was sick, he sent her medicine. If it rained, he arrived with an umbrella. On holidays, he planned surprises, and she expected gifts. When a new movie came out, he bought the tickets, and she and her friends enjoyed it.

A total sucker!

The worst part was, when Fang Yu pointed out that Xu Yuan was just stringing him along, Xia Tian wouldn’t listen. He insisted, “Why would Xu Yuan lead me on if she doesn’t do that to anyone else?”

“Fang Yu, you’re overthinking it. A woman like that is too shallow—she’s not worth my time or effort. From now on, I’m going to focus on studying, get into a good university, and serve my country!”

“You can fool your buddy, but don’t fool yourself…”

“Get lost! Believe it or not, I couldn’t care less!”

Xia Tian shot back, annoyed, giving Fang Yu another kick before running off back to the classroom.

But to Fang Yu, it just looked like Xia Tian was rushing back to see Xu Yuan.

“Little Tian, my friend… one day you’ll regret chasing that woman!”

—

Ring, ring, ring!

Xia Tian arrived back in the classroom just as the bell rang for the start of the next period.

Since they were in their final year, the last period of the day extended into evening self-study, with no break until 9 p.m.

In his previous life, Xia Tian would often sneak out halfway through evening self-study to play basketball with Fang Yu.

He’d return drenched in sweat just before the end, all for the chance to see Xu Yuan one last time before the day ended.

But now, having been reborn, Xia Tian wanted nothing more than to spend every second beside Ye Ningyu.

Forget about basketball.

Shortly after evening self-study began, the supervising teacher walked in.

“Alright, everyone, take out your English test papers from last week’s weekly exam.”

Ye Ningyu obediently opened her tattered bag and carefully laid her paper flat on the desk.

Xia Tian, meanwhile, rummaged through his desk and pulled out a crumpled stack of papers, so wrinkled they looked like a ball of trash. He couldn’t even tell which one was the English paper.

He furrowed his brow in frustration.

Was I really this sloppy in high school?

“Let me help you find it…”

At that moment, Ye Ningyu reached out her delicate hand and began gently searching through the mess of “junk” to find Xia Tian’s English paper.

As she leaned closer, her hair brushed against Xia Tian’s nose.

He instinctively took a sniff.

The scent of her shampoo, mixed with her natural fragrance, filled his senses.

Feeling the movement, Ye Ningyu’s ears turned red, and she hurried her search through the papers.

“No need to look anymore. I probably folded it into a paper plane and threw it away. How about we share your paper? You can explain the parts I don’t understand.”

“O-Okay…”

Ye Ningyu nodded blankly, pulling back a little before pushing her paper to the center of the desk.

Seeing her shy demeanor, Xia Tian couldn’t help but chuckle.

Why hadn’t he noticed how adorable she was in his previous life?

“Ye Ningyu, you smell really nice. What brand of perfume are you using?”

“I-I don’t use perfume… It’s probably just the scent of my laundry detergent.”

“Oh.”

Xia Tian nodded.

Of course, he knew Ye Ningyu’s family couldn’t afford such things. He just wanted to have an excuse to talk to her more.

He was reminded of a saying he’d seen online in his past life:

What’s the biggest regret of your school days?

Probably the fact that her uniform always smelled so nice. She said it was laundry detergent, but no matter how many brands I tried, I could never find that scent again.

—

And so, Xia Tian continued to share the test paper with Ye Ningyu.

Every now and then, he would take an exaggerated sniff, a satisfied smile on his face.

Anyone who didn’t know better would’ve thought he was a weirdo…

But before long, Xia Tian, who hadn’t sat through a class in ages, began to feel drowsy. He soon dozed off, slumping onto the desk, his arm covering half of Ye Ningyu’s paper.

At first, Ye Ningyu instinctively leaned back. But soon she needed to turn the page to review more questions.

She hesitated for several seconds before finally gathering the courage to reach out and gently poke Xia Tian.

“Xia Tian… Aren’t you going to play basketball today?”

“Play basketball? How could that ever be more fun than spending time with you?”

Xia Tian mumbled sleepily, adjusting the way he was lying on the desk.

Just as he was about to drift off again, he suddenly realized what he’d said. He shot up from the desk, wide awake.

Ye Ningyu, flustered, had practically buried her entire face in her collar, her embarrassment palpable.

Crap, I’m too used to it!

“Cough, cough, cough!”

“What I meant was, basketball’s not that fun. It’s much more fun studying with you!”

Xia Tian quickly corrected himself, though he couldn’t believe he’d let his true feelings slip out.

I’m hopeless!

With that little episode, Xia Tian was now wide awake.

Just as he was about to focus on the lesson, the classmate sitting in front of him turned around and handed him a note.

“This is from Chen Jiayi.”

“Oh?”

Xia Tian’s first instinct was to throw it away, but after a moment of thought, he decided to open it.

—

Xia Tian, you upset Little Yuan today. If you want to make it up to her, buy her the latest watch. It’s not expensive, just ¥298!

—

“What the heck? Did this girl get her brain stuck in a door? She’s punishing me by making me buy her a watch?”

I bought a watch last year!

Xia Tian cursed under his breath. He quickly scribbled a reply on the note before handing it back to the classmate to return to Chen Jiayi.

Sitting in the front row, Chen Jiayi received the note, and Xu Yuan leaned in to read it as well.

—

Alright, let her pick her favorite color. Tell me after evening self-study.

—

Seeing the reply, Chen Jiayi’s face lit up. “See, Little Yuan? I told you Xia Tian was just pretending earlier. He didn’t even hesitate—he’s going to buy you the newest model! Think about what color you want and tell him after class… I’m so jealous of you.”

“Hmph! Since he agreed so easily, I’ll reward him by letting him walk me home tonight.”

Xu Yuan smiled, her mood lifting after reading the note.

Thankfully, Xia Tian was still willing to chase after her!

—

Ding, ding!

The bell signaling the end of evening self-study rang, and the English teacher left in her high heels.

Xu Yuan immediately made her way over to Xia Tian’s desk, flashing him a sweet smile.

“Xia Tian, I’ll take the blue one. I just bought a new outfit, and the color will match perfectly~”

“Huh? Blue? What are you talking about?”

Xia Tian’s confusion caught Xu Yuan off guard, making her stomp her foot in frustration.

“The latest watch! You just promised me! Didn’t you say I could pick a color and tell you after class?”

Xia Tian suddenly remembered: “Oh, right! I remember now. Blue it is. I think it’ll look great, too.”

Xu Yuan smiled brightly at his response.

“So, when are you going to give it to me?”

Xia Tian scratched his ear with his pinky, giving Xu Yuan a strange look.

“Give it to you? Who said I was giving it to you?”

“I just asked what color you liked. I never said I was going to buy it for you… If you really want it, go home and get some sleep. You can have anything you want in your dreams!”