Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 63

Seeing how determined Little Ye was to buy the tickets, Xia Tian pressed his lips together, thinking that this girl was just too honest.

Unable to find another way out, he decided to tell a small, harmless lie:

“Don’t worry about buying the tickets. I was just teasing you earlier. Actually, this Heartbreak Museum is owned by my second uncle—you know, the father of my cousin who came to see me at school that one time.”

“So, since it’s my uncle’s place, I can take you inside for free. Otherwise, why do you think the security guard didn’t stop us?”

“O-oh, I see.”

Ye Ningyu’s expression relaxed as understanding dawned upon her.

Wow, Xia Tian’s uncle is really impressive. He owns such a big Heartbreak Museum!

Xia Tian smiled softly, deciding not to reveal the truth just yet—that the museum was actually his. It was too unbelievable, and Little Ye would definitely insist on paying for the tickets if she knew.

Inside the museum, the place was crowded, and from time to time, they could hear the sound of people sobbing.

Clearly, some visitors had found emotional resonance in the heartbreaking words on the walls and couldn’t hold back their tears.

“Xia Tian, they all seem so sad… Why don’t I feel anything?”

“That’s because you haven’t tasted the bitterness of love yet. If you ever want to try it, just come find me.”

Xia Tian raised an eyebrow, teasing Little Ye out of habit.

He glanced around.

Most of the visitors clearly had gone through breakups. But mixed amongst them were those who had just come for the fun of it, curious and eager to witness others’ emotional drama.

These people were just here to find a thrill in someone else’s love story.

But as far as Xia Tian was concerned, as long as they were paying customers, they were all welcome!

—

As they walked through the museum, Ye Ningyu’s eyes darted around curiously like a little explorer.

She kept glancing at the walls and the objects on display. Many were breakup mementos or short quotes about pain and loss.

But the more she looked, the more something felt familiar to her.

This… didn’t these sentences seem a lot like the ones Xia Tian was writing a month ago?

“X-Xia Tian, why do so many of the quotes here look like the ones you wrote down some time ago?”

“Hmm?”

Xia Tian raised an eyebrow, surprised by her observation.

She remembered that? Not bad for the top student of the grade!

“Yep, they’re mine. Well, since my uncle owns the place, I figured I’d lend a hand and contribute some content.”

“That makes sense… But are all these quotes your original work? I tried looking up a few of them on my phone before, but I couldn’t find any of them online.”

“That’s right, they’re all my own creation. You can call me the Prince of Heartbreak Literature.”

“Xia Tian, you’re amazing.”

“Shh, let’s keep it low-key.”

Xia Tian grinned with satisfaction.

If it weren’t for all the people around, he would’ve fist-pumped in victory.

Most of these quotes wouldn’t even exist until 2020, but since it was currently 2013, Xia Tian was the first to write them down, making him the undisputed original author!

Perhaps, one day in the future, a struggling writer might pull their hair out in frustration, thinking:

“I feel like I’m living in Xia Tian’s shadow…”

—

After wandering through most of the museum, they arrived at a wall where visitors could leave their own messages on sticky notes.

“Here, do you want to write something and stick it up?”

Xia Tian, lying on the table and scribbling, handed a note to Ye Ningyu.

But Little Ye stood hesitantly, her beautiful eyes full of apprehension. She nervously bit her lip, clearly too shy to approach the crowded wall of sticky notes.

Her social anxiety had kicked in, and she was too scared to go near the other visitors.

“Even when you’re scared, you look so cute. I just want to hold your face and kiss you hard!”

Xia Tian’s gaze grew more intense.

In his mind, he had already imagined kissing Ye Ningyu in every possible way, but he reluctantly tore his eyes away from her lips and said:

“Don’t be afraid. Once you’re done, give it to me, and I’ll put both of ours up together.”

Ye Ningyu hesitated for a moment before softly replying, “Th-then, just don’t look at what I write, okay?”

“Don’t worry! Old Pig… er, Old Xia isn’t that kind of person!” (Note: “Pig” (豬, Zhū) refers to Zhu Bajie, a character from Journey to the West.)

Xia Tian patted his chest, making a solemn promise.

Hmph, I might not be “that kind of person,” but I’m not a person at all when it comes to this! And besides, once we’re officially a couple, there shouldn’t be any secrets between us…

Both Xia Tian and Ye Ningyu began writing on their sticky notes.

After finishing, Ye Ningyu carefully handed hers to Xia Tian.

“Don’t peek…”

“You don’t trust my integrity?”

“Then… why are your eyes wandering like that?”

Xia Tian flinched.

Was I being that obvious?

“Ahem, just give it to me. I promise I won’t look.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

Finally, Xia Tian took the sticky note from Ye Ningyu, keeping his word not to sneak a glance.

He walked over to the wall, standing out with his height of 1.83 meters, and placed both sticky notes as high up as possible.

Then, he quickly turned back to Ye Ningyu with a proud grin.

Just as Xia Tian was about to suggest leaving the Heartbreak Museum, a hesitant voice called out from behind him.

“Brother?”

Turning around, he saw Xia Shi, his cousin with her signature twin ponytails, standing behind him.

“Brother, it really is you! I’ve been watching you for a while, but I didn’t dare call out in case I got the wrong person.”

Xia Shi beamed, happily bounding over to Xia Tian.

“Tsk, what are you doing here? This isn’t the kind of place for kids. Did you finish your homework? How did Uncle even let you come out to a place like this?”

“Pfft~ It’s Friday! Besides, I’m in the top three in my class. If a slacker like you can slack off outside, why can’t I?”

Xia Shi stuck her tongue out playfully at Xia Tian.

It was only then that she noticed the beautiful girl standing softly beside her cousin. The girl seemed a bit shy and reserved, but her beauty was undeniable.

Xia Shi’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Xia Tian.

“Brother, are you dating?! Is she… is she my sister-in-law?”

Before Xia Tian could respond, Xia Shi, grinning from ear to ear, reached out to shake Ye Ningyu’s hand.

“Hehe, hello, Sister-in-law! I’m Xia Shi, Xia Tian’s cousin!”

S-Sister-in-law?

Little Ye was startled by the title. She waved her hands frantically, trying to explain.

“I-I’m not your sister-in-law… I’m Ye Ningyu, Xia Tian’s deskmate.”

“Deskmate?”

Xia Shi was even more surprised.

From what she knew, Xia Tian’s deskmate was the top student in the third year. She was always known for hiding her face in her collar, and there were many rumors that this top student wasn’t very attractive.

But the gorgeous girl standing in front of her now? She didn’t match that image at all.

Could it be… just like in those novels, where once a beautiful girl takes off her school uniform, it’s like removing a magical seal and revealing her true form?

No wonder, then, that every time Xia Shi had visited Xia Tian’s classroom over the past month, he had been sitting quietly at his desk.

He’d been hiding a little sweetheart all along!

“Sister Ye, you’re so pretty! I’ve seen you at school a few times before, and I thought you were shy and hiding your face because you weren’t confident about your looks. But wow… turns out you’re a hidden gem!”

“T-thank you.”

Ye Ningyu was still a bit nervous around new people and took a small step back, shy and reserved. But knowing that this was Xia Tian’s cousin, she mustered up some courage to respond.

“Xia Shi, your dad is amazing for opening such a huge museum.”

Hearing this, Xia Tian’s face instantly changed.

Crap!

She’s going to figure it out!