Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 72

When Xia Tian immediately mentioned Ye Ningyu, a hint of hurt flashed in Xu Yuan’s eyes.

But she took a few steps forward, forcing a smile and trying to remain composed as she spoke softly to Xia Tian:

“Oh, her? Chen Jiayi had a math problem she couldn’t solve, so she’s still in the classroom helping her.”

“I see.”

Xia Tian responded flatly, his attention shifting away from Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and continued in a gentle tone:

“Xia Tian, don’t you think it’s been a while since we’ve had a proper conversation?”

“Has it? I didn’t notice, since we’ve never had a proper conversation.”

“Yes… I admit, I rejected you many times when you confessed to me before. Maybe it hurt you, made you feel tired. But during this time, I’ve thought a lot… Without you talking to me every day, without you being nice to me, I’ve felt really empty inside. I think… I’ve truly started to like you…”

As she said this, Xu Yuan took another step closer to him, leaving less than a meter between them.

“So… can we make up, go back to how things were? After the college entrance exams, let’s try giving each other a chance, okay?”

“No.”

Xia Tian kept his hands in his pockets, his expression cold.

No matter how softly Xu Yuan spoke, no matter how ambiguous her words were, he remained unmoved.

In his previous life, he had long since seen through this woman’s true nature.

Playing this game again?

Xu Yuan’s expression stiffened, not expecting such a blunt rejection from him.

She had never been rejected so decisively before, and the feeling of being turned down stung deeply.

Her voice wavered, but she stubbornly lifted her head and stared directly into Xia Tian’s eyes:

“Xia Tian, you’ve been walking Ye Ningyu home after evening self-study for a while now. There’s a rumor going around that you’re pursuing her. But I know, it’s just because Ye Ningyu is helping you with your studies. You don’t actually like her…”

A rumor?

Just because she’s helping me study?

What nonsense!

I do like her—I’m completely infatuated with her!

Xia Tian’s expression darkened, and his voice turned icy as he replied:

“Oh, I think you’re misunderstanding. Let me clarify, it is not a rumor.”

Boom!

His words hit Xu Yuan like a thunderclap, shaking her to her core.

Tears streamed down her face, and she collapsed to the ground, hugging her knees as she sobbed.

“Xia Tian… You didn’t used to be like this! You said you would always like me, that you’d always be there for me. What is this now? Why do you like Ye Ningyu? Besides being good at studying, what else does she have that’s worth liking?”

“She’s beautiful, has a great figure, is gentle and caring. What’s not to like?”

“You’re lying! If you really liked her, why did you like me so much when she first transferred here?”

Xia Tian smirked. “I’m just slow to warm up.”

Xu Yuan abruptly stood up, tears streaming down her face as she choked out:

“Fine, maybe my rejections made you give up on me and stop liking me.”

“But you’ve seen how kind I’ve been to you lately… Are you heartless, Xia Tian?”

Xia Tian’s eyes twitched.

This girl really was relentless in her manipulation.

Even the most stoic soul would’ve taken a hit by now.

“Enough. I don’t have a heart, and I just don’t like you anymore.”

“Please don’t stop liking me! I… I promise, as soon as we graduate, we can be together! If you want, we can even be together right now… We just can’t make it public.”

“No thanks. You deserve someone better, not someone like me, who used to be your best option.”

“Then what about these past few days when I’ve been trying so hard to win you back?”

“Consider it you not realizing your place, and me realizing mine!”

Xia Tian’s icy response cut through the air.

At that moment, Xia Tian noticed Ye Ningyu, wearing her backpack, jogging toward them.

He quickly mounted his bike and rode past Xu Yuan, smiling at Little Ye.

Ye Ningyu was panting slightly, her cheeks flushed. “X-Xia Tian, I’m sorry! After you left, Chen—Chen Jiayi asked me to help her with a math problem, and I got held up…”

“It’s fine. Let’s grab our bikes and head home before your mom starts worrying.”

“O-okay… Uh, was that the class monitor?”

“Not sure.”

Xia Tian shrugged, and the two of them walked their bikes out of the shed, leaving Xu Yuan standing there, tears staining her face.

She watched as Xia Tian and Ye Ningyu disappeared into the distance, her body trembling with rage.

After a long pause, she wiped her tears away, a flash of hatred in her eyes.

She remembered overhearing a conversation between their homeroom teacher Wang Qingshan and Xia Tian in the hallway, and a new, unfamiliar emotion stirred inside her.

“Ye Ningyu… It’s all because of Ye Ningyu!”

“She’s just a bookworm who only knows how to study. Why is Xia Tian so smitten with her? Maybe all that innocence is just an act.”

“I’ll make Xia Tian see Ye Ningyu’s true nature. She doesn’t deserve his love!”

—

As Xia Tian walked Ye Ningyu home, he turned to her and said:

“What a coincidence… The last day of the second mock exams is on your birthday, and then it’s the May Day holiday right after. How about we celebrate your birthday the afternoon after the exams? Where do you want to go?”

“I-I was wondering if we could go out the next day instead? This is my 18th birthday, and I want to spend it with my mom. I don’t want to leave her alone at home.”

“No problem. You could bring your mom along, and I’ll treat you both to dinner. I bet your mom hasn’t been out in a while, has she?”

“Mm, but…”

Ye Ningyu hesitated, her expression conflicted.

Xia Tian immediately understood what was on her mind. “I get it, you’re worried your mom will feel awkward since it’ll just be me. If you have any other friends, they can come too. The more, the merrier!”

“I don’t have any other friends.”

“That’s okay. I’ll bring Fang Yu and Xia Shi along too.”

“R-Really?”

Ye Ningyu looked up, her eyes full of hope.

Xia Tian’s heart softened, and he couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle her hair, grinning.

“Of course.”

—

A week flew by, and before they knew it, it was April 29—the day of the second mock exams.

This time, Xia Tian wasn’t placed in the same exam room as Xu Yuan, so he didn’t have to pretend to sleep through the tests like last time.

In every subject exam, Xia Tian answered the questions seriously.

He wanted to use this mock exam as an opportunity to gauge his true abilities.

Out of the three mock exams, the first two were usually the most meaningful.

By the time the third mock exam rolled around, the school and higher-ups would intentionally make the questions easier and give more lenient scores, all in an effort to boost students’ confidence before the real exam.

But the second mock exam was the best chance for Xia Tian to test his actual skills.

After finishing the final English exam, Xia Tian let out a sigh of relief, feeling a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.

He quickly went to find Ye Ningyu’s exam room.

“When you get home, help your mom pack up and wait for me. I’m heading home to change clothes, then I’ll come over. I’ve already made a reservation at a restaurant.”

“O-okay.”

Little Ye nodded obediently.

She nervously fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, having spent the entire past week feeling anxious.

After all, she was about to introduce her mom to Xia Tian…