Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 81

Xia Tian’s brow furrowed instantly.

What was the reason this time that Little Ye didn’t come to school?

If he hadn’t asked Wang Qingshan for leave last night, wouldn’t that mean he wouldn’t have seen her this morning either?

At this thought, he decided to head to the restroom to secretly call Ye Ningyu and find out what she was really up to.

But as he turned around, he saw a familiar figure walking into the classroom with her head lowered through the back door.

Xia Tian shouted loudly, “Stop right there!”

Ye Ningyu trembled, freezing in place at the fierce tone. She didn’t dare move.

She carefully raised her head, her long, slightly curled lashes fluttering.

Seeing Xia Tian’s stern expression, she was so startled that she almost dropped her water bottle.

“X-Xia Tian… g-good afternoon…”

“Where were you this morning? Why didn’t you come to school?”

“I-I… had a bit of a fever.”

A fever?

Xia Tian blinked, dumbfounded. Isn’t that the exact excuse I gave Wang Qingshan for taking leave?

Did we catch some kind of digital flu?

Thinking this, he reached out his hand, intending to feel Ye Ningyu’s forehead.

But before his hand could reach her, she instinctively took a step back.

Seeing her overly cautious reaction, Xia Tian became even more annoyed.

He frowned. “What are you dodging for? Let me check. If you were really sick this morning, you should still be at home resting, not coming to school.”

“I-it’s fine. I’m already better…”

With her backpack on, Ye Ningyu hurriedly bypassed Xia Tian and returned to her seat.

She buried her face in the collar of her uniform and quietly took out her books from her bag, sitting obediently in her seat.

Watching her unusual behavior, Xia Tian’s suspicion deepened.

Something was wrong—very wrong!

Even though there weren’t any obvious changes in her demeanor, Xia Tian could clearly sense that she was deliberately keeping her distance from him.

Xia Tian wanted to question her further, but just then, the class bell rang.

And as luck would have it, it was a physics class—the strictest teacher of all. Anyone caught talking during his class would be sent to stand at the back of the room.

Determined to get to the bottom of this, Xia Tian propped up his book to shield himself from view.

“You’re acting weird. Come closer and let me check if you still have a fever.”

“I… I don’t…”

Ye Ningyu cautiously glanced at the physics teacher before slightly turning her head and whispering softly.

Unsatisfied, Xia Tian reached out and touched her forehead.

After confirming that her temperature was normal, he sighed in relief.

But he couldn’t help noticing her body tremble lightly at his touch. Her eyes darted forward nervously, a hint of worry flickering in them.

“Relax. The physics teacher is nearsighted—he can’t see us over here.”

“Mm…”

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. She straightened up and focused on the lecture, her demeanor as disciplined as ever.

Xia Tian, however, continued to stare at her with growing suspicion.

What on earth was going on with her?

When the class finally ended and the physics teacher left, Wang Qingshan entered the classroom moments later.

“Everyone, quiet down for a moment. After the second mock exam, I’ve decided to adjust the seating arrangement for a few students.”

“Jiang Shaofei, you’ll sit with Ma Yangyang… Yang Ming, you’ll sit with Chen Zexin… Ye Ningyu, you’ll sit with Qiu Shan, and Li Jiahui, you’ll sit with Xia Tian.”

“Those of you I mentioned, please move your books quickly and settle in before the next class starts.”

Wang Qingshan rattled off several names in one breath, shuffling pairs of students around.

Although some of the students being moved showed dissatisfaction, they knew better than to protest openly.

But Xia Tian was utterly stunned, staring at Wang Qingshan in disbelief.

The others being reassigned made sense—they were known for chatting with their deskmates or the students in front or behind them during class, disrupting their focus. It was reasonable for Wang Qingshan to separate them to help them concentrate.

But he and Ye Ningyu? They didn’t have that problem at all.

On the contrary, Xia Tian had openly credited his academic improvement to Little Ye’s help.

Why was Wang Qingshan splitting them up?

After the initial shock wore off, Xia Tian felt the urge to confront Wang Qingshan directly.

But he held back, realizing it would be inappropriate and might paint him as a troublemaker.

Instead, he turned to look at Ye Ningyu and saw her quietly packing up her belongings, preparing to move.

“Little Ye, I’ll go talk to Mr. Wang later. We’re model deskmates—he has no reason to separate us.”

“X-Xia Tian, p-please don’t talk to Mr. Wang… okay?”

“No. You can only be my deskmate!”

Xia Tian’s tone was firm as his gaze darted toward Wang Qingshan, who was busy talking to other students.

He didn’t notice Ye Ningyu’s hesitation and reluctance.

Once Wang Qingshan finished organizing things, he left the classroom.

Xia Tian didn’t hesitate and followed him straight to the office.

“Ah, I see you kept your word. You said you’d come in the afternoon, and here you are. I half-expected you’d spend the whole day out somewhere.”

Wang Qingshan didn’t seem surprised, sipping from his mug as he joked.

But Xia Tian’s expression was serious, his tone displeased.

“Mr. Wang, as the homeroom teacher, I know you focus on ensuring our academic success. Separating those students who disrupt each other’s learning makes sense—they do need to be moved. But Little Ye and I have been improving together. There’s no reason to split us up, is there?”

“Initially, I had no plans to separate you two. I’ve seen your progress in these past two exams.”

Wang Qingshan’s calm demeanor only deepened Xia Tian’s confusion.

“If that’s the case, why did you separate me and Ye Ningyu?”

At this, Wang Qingshan sighed with a wry smile. “You’ve misunderstood me. I didn’t plan to move you two at all. But just earlier, Ye Ningyu came to the office herself. She hesitated for a long time before finally asking to switch desks.”

“Why?”

“She said she was having trouble seeing the blackboard, so I moved her closer to the front. As one of the school’s prioritized students, I couldn’t ignore her request. Besides, it wasn’t an unreasonable one.”

Xia Tian’s face darkened.

Can’t see the blackboard? Impossible!

She was lying. If that were the real reason, she would’ve told him first, given her personality.

It suddenly clicked—her uneasy expression earlier when he mentioned talking to Wang Qingshan wasn’t out of shyness. She simply didn’t want Xia Tian to know she had requested the change.

“Thanks, Mr. Wang. I understand now.”

Xia Tian’s tone was subdued as he turned to leave the office.

But before he could step out, Wang Qingshan called after him:

“Xia Tian, I know what you’re thinking, but try not to disturb her for now. The college entrance exam is Ye Ningyu’s only chance to change her circumstances—there can’t be any distractions. I hope you’ll consider what’s best for her.

After the exam, you can express your feelings as much as you want, but not now. I trust you understand what I mean.”

“Mm, I understand. We might just have some misunderstandings between us.”

Xia Tian nodded, his gaze complicated as he left the office.

On his way back to the classroom, he couldn’t stop replaying the events in his mind.

What had led to this? What had changed?

Looking back, her failure to log into QQ during the holiday, her slow responses to calls, her excuse about getting on the wrong bus while buying medicine, and her sudden fever in the morning all seemed like excuses.

He quickened his pace back to the classroom.

Just as he was about to confront her and demand answers, the bell rang.

Frustrated, Xia Tian returned to his seat, where Li Jiahui had already moved her books and settled in.

The next two periods were dedicated to science practice exams, and class wouldn’t end until dinner time.

“What’s going on? Things have felt off since May Day. But that night, when I walked Little Ye home, nothing seemed unusual…”

“Could something have happened on her way home? But the walk from the intersection to her house only takes two minutes…”

Xia Tian frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on Ye Ningyu’s back.

Just then, Little Ye sneakily turned her head to glance at him.

Their eyes met.