Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 84

Tears still clung to the corners of Little Ye’s eyes, sparkling like crystals.

But they wouldn’t fall anymore, as Xia Tian reached out and gently wiped them away.

Standing so close to Xia Tian, Ye Ningyu could almost hear the sound of his heartbeat, “thump, thump,” resonating from his chest.

Her gaze was dazed, as though she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Xia Tian…”

“I’m here.”

“Why… why are you here too?”

With his bag slung over one shoulder, Xia Tian gave her a cheeky smile, his tone light and playful. “Didn’t I say before? You’re punished to let me walk you home every night.”

“But…”

“Why do you have so many ‘buts’? Are you ten thousand ‘buts’ in one person?”

Xia Tian frowned slightly, looking displeased.

He then casually slid her backpack off her shoulders and slung it across his chest.

Pulling a packet of tissues from his pocket, he handed it to her before walking ahead.

“Stop standing there like a fool. Let’s go—I’m taking you home.”

“O-okay…”

Although Ye Ningyu was still a little dazed, seeing Xia Tian already walking ahead with his bike, she quickly pushed her own bike and jogged to catch up.

She couldn’t quite describe the feeling in her heart.

It wasn’t until Xia Tian had walked her out of the darkest street that he stopped in front of the 24-hour convenience store where they had once played on the kiddie rides.

Little Ye stood there nervously, her face buried in her uniform collar.

Xia Tian turned and went into the store.

Not long after, he came back out and stood in front of her.

“Here, hold out your hand.”

“Huh? Oh.”

Like a little child, Little Ye obediently extended her hand from her sleeve.

When Xia Tian removed his hand, she saw a few pieces of White Rabbit milk candy in her palm.

She looked up, her almond-shaped eyes filled with confusion.

“Unwrap one and eat it.”

“Oh.”

“X-Xia Tian, I… I ate it…”

“Is it sweet?”

“It’s sweet…”

Xia Tian finally smiled, his tone calm.

“You see, sitting as my deskmate gets you sweet milk candy. Sitting with Qiu Shan, that big guy, won’t get you anything.”

“Actually, your reason for switching seats wasn’t because you couldn’t see the blackboard, right? That night, after we said goodbye at the intersection, did you run into Xu Yuan at the entrance to your apartment complex?”

Ye Ningyu suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with unease and doubt.

She instinctively took a step back.

But Xia Tian had anticipated her reaction. Quick as lightning, he grabbed the hem of her uniform and gently pulled her back to where she was.

“No stepping back. That half-step backward hurts people’s feelings! Now tell me the truth—did you see Xu Yuan?”

“Mm…”

Little Ye nodded.

Seeing that she didn’t deny it this time, Xia Tian gazed up at the night sky and spoke slowly.

“I can pretty much guess what she said. Back at the High School Affiliated with the Normal University, just because a few girls were jealous of you, they deliberately spread rumors that you had been to those places.

But those are just rumors. I know all about what happened with your dad and his gambling in Sichuan-Chongqing, and the truth is nothing like what they said.”

“You’re a very pure Ye Ningyu, and so is Auntie. All of this was your dad’s fault. Maybe he was a good father and husband once, but after he got hooked on gambling, he let you and Auntie down.

Baseless accusations never become facts. Of course, I can’t say I truly understand your pain, because I haven’t lived through it. But from now on, as long as I’m here, I promise you’ll never have to endure that kind of hurt again.”

“And whatever Xu Yuan said to threaten you, you don’t have to feel ashamed or scared. You don’t need to try to distance yourself from me—I’ll take care of it. I’ve never believed in any of those rumors about you, because in my heart, you will always be the best Ye Ningyu.”

“And don’t worry that I’ll look down on you after learning about these things. Those were just baseless rumors. It’s unnecessary for you to avoid me or refuse to see me.”

“So… can you be my deskmate again?”

As he spoke, Xia Tian purposely avoided looking at her, worried she might feel awkward or helpless. He softened his tone as much as possible.

When he finished, he looked back at her.

She was standing there, tears streaming down her face, dripping from her smooth chin and disappearing into the cracks in the ground.

Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were red, making her look heartbreakingly fragile.

Ye Ningyu quickly raised her hands to wipe away her tears, her soft voice trembling.

“Xia Tian… is everything you said true? You believe it’s all fake?”

“Mm, of course I believe it.”

Xia Tian had expected Little Ye to cry even harder after hearing this, but instead, she held back her tears and broke into a radiant smile.

It was as if her smile lit up the entire night.

“Xia Tian, thank you for believing in me. You’re the first… the first person to believe me.”

At that moment, Xia Tian felt a tightness in his chest.

He realized that beneath Ye Ningyu’s seemingly soft and timid exterior was a strength and resilience that most people didn’t possess.

Of course, this strength had been forged through years of suffering and misunderstanding.

Xia Tian felt an even deeper ache for the girl in front of him.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine how she had endured her battle with cancer in his past life, or what kind of mindset had carried her through those days.

—

Xia Tian bought another bag of White Rabbit milk candy for Little Ye before dropping her off at their usual goodbye spot at the intersection.

Tilting his head slightly, he teased her.

“So, the excuse you gave Mr. Wang about not being able to see the blackboard—that was fake, huh?”

“Mm…”

“And skipping school this morning because you said you had a fever—that was also because you wanted to keep your distance from me, wasn’t it?”

“Mm… s-sorry, Xia Tian.”

“Hmph. And during the evening study session after the holiday, when you said you got on the wrong bus buying medicine… was that a lie too?”

At this, Little Ye’s cheeks turned slightly red.

Her head lowered, and in a shy, soft voice, she said:

“N-no, that part wasn’t a lie. I really was too clumsy and got on the wrong bus…”