Volume 4 Chapter 13

Volume 4 + Chapter 13: How Should I Punish You?

“Thank you for helping me, a complete stranger!” At that moment, the girl whom Qianxue had saved earlier ran up to him and said gratefully.  

“Don’t… get in my way!” However, Qianxue didn’t bother to exchange more than a few words with the girl, he simply shoved her aside.  

In truth, Qianxue had wanted to say, “Don’t worry about it,” but remembering the rule he had set for himself before enrolling, he forcibly changed his words halfway through.  

What followed unfolded just as it had when he first arrived at Sakura Academy. When he entered his new class, his classmates were very warm toward him because of his appearance. As soon as the first class ended, they immediately crowded around, asking all sorts of questions.  

But this time, facing the enthusiasm of his new classmates, Qianxue only replied coldly, “You’re so annoying,” then kept his face expressionless and fell silent. The result was exactly as he had expected. From then on, no classmates ever came near him again.  

Though he was ostracized by his classmates, this was exactly the outcome he wanted, to have no ties with anyone. That way, even when parting came, he wouldn’t hurt others, let alone suffer the deep guilt of having deceived them.  

Yet Qianxue underestimated the terror of loneliness, especially for someone far from home.  

Living away from his hometown and in an unfamiliar environment, his heart was already somewhat saddened and unsettled. Whenever he saw his classmates chatting and laughing, he thought of his own friends from Xijiang, his schoolmates, his juniors from the club. He realized he had never missed them as much as he did now.  

After arriving in the capital, his training continued. Whenever he left the training venue, he would instinctively search the crowd for that black-clad, long-haired youth. And when he realized he was no longer in Xijiang, he would shake his head, sigh, and walk back to his dormitory.  

Meanwhile, in a hotel somewhere in the capital, a figure was browsing the forums of various schools on a tablet. When he came across a post titled “School Shocked: Golden-Haired, Cool Beauty Appeared Yesterday,” a sly smile emerged on his porcelain-white face.  

“Just as I thought, my Qianxue shines so brightly no matter where he is. Finding him was effortless! Only…” Bai Yuxuan scrolled through the descriptions and the secretly taken photos of the student.  

“Being cold and aloof doesn’t suit you. Sealing yourself off hurts no one more than yourself. Just like… the old me. No, it’s different. When I shut myself away, it was out of fear of being deceived and hurt. Qianxue closes himself off probably to avoid hurting others. As expected, Qianxue is a gentle person. But that’s exactly what I both love and hate about him, clearly, he’s the one who most needs to be cared for!”  

A few days later, Qianxue was previewing lessons before class as usual. For some reason that day, from the moment he arrived at school, his eyelids wouldn’t stop twitching. And then…

“Everyone, please return to your seats.” As the homeroom teacher entered the classroom, the room immediately fell silent.  

“Today, before we begin the lesson, I’d like to introduce a new student.”  

As soon as the teacher finished speaking, Qianxue’s heart gave a jolt. The face of Bai Yuxuan instinctively appeared in his mind. But Bai Yuxuan didn’t know which school he attended. Moreover… he had already told her all his secrets. Even if Bai Yuxuan did know his school, she wouldn’t come chasing after him, would she?  

But reality dealt him a harsh slap. Amid the screams of the girls in the class, Bai Yuxuan stepped onto the podium with a wickedly charming smile.  

“How… How did you find me here?” Seeing that familiar face, Ouyang Qianxue instinctively stood up, slamming his hand on the desk. Only when the teacher and classmates all turned to stare at him did he realize his loss of composure. Blushing deeply, he quickly sat back down. But then…   

“Ouyang, do you know our new classmate?” the homeroom teacher suddenly asked him.  

Panic seized Qianxue. If he said yes, then his relationship with Bai Yuxuan would surely become the subject of gossip. If he said no, how could he explain his reaction just now? To outsiders, it would look like he was trying to cover up the obvious…  

Just as Qianxue was caught between a rock and a hard place, Bai Yuxuan spoke up.  

“Teacher, the relationship between Qianxue and me isn’t the kind that can be stated outright.”  

The classroom instantly exploded.  

“What kind of relationship can’t be stated outright?”  

“Do you even have to ask? They’re definitely boyfriend and girlfriend!”  

“No, no, even boyfriend and girlfriend wouldn’t need to be described so ambiguously. I think the transfer student is probably Ouyang’s fiancé or something!”  

“You’re all wrong!” A lecherous-looking boy pushed up his glasses and said to his classmates.  

“The only kind of relationship between a man and a woman that can’t be stated outright is probably the physical…”  

“Slap!” Before he could finish, a sneaker smacked him right in the face.  

“If anyone dares to spout any more nonsense, I’ll skin them alive!” Qianxue was still in his throwing pose as he shouted.  

Bai Yuxuan, smiling radiantly, walked to the podium, casually snatched the shoe from the boy who was still trying to sniff the “beauty’s” used footwear, then walked over to Qianxue.  

“Not allowed,” Bai Yuxuan said, looking at Qianxue, who now seemed slightly afraid of her.  

“If you casually take off your shoes in front of me, I can’t help but remember the first time you came to my house, when you were wearing a maid outfit…”  

“Stop it!” Qianxue cried out, but it was too late.  

“Came to his house? Maid outfit? So the ‘relationship that can’t be stated outright’ among the boarding students really is that kind of relationship!”  

“Who would have thought that Ouyang, usually so cold and aloof, would be up to… tsk tsk…”  

“So bold!”  

By now, even the homeroom teacher was too stunned by Bai Yuxuan’s words to speak. First an unmentionable relationship, then a maid roleplay, even though she, the teacher, had never tried such embarrassing games herself!  

The classmates’ chatter made Ouyang Qianxue’s face burn red. Pointing angrily at Bai Yuxuan, he said,  

“Stop talking nonsense! Do you have any proof, ” Just as he was about to say the word “proof,” he saw Bai Yuxuan pull out her phone and immediately clamped his mouth shut. Because Bai Yuxuan really did have proof! She had always kept that photo of Qianxue in a maid dress.  

In the end, it was only after Bai Yuxuan admitted she was joking that the uproar calmed down. But Qianxue’s flustered reaction made many classmates wonder whether Bai Yuxuan’s words really were just a joke.  

“Teacher, Qianxue and I actually studied together at the same school before, we’re both classmates and friends. So, could I sit next to her? With Qianxue by my side, I’m sure I can fit into the class and the school more quickly.” Hearing Bai Yuxuan’s words, the homeroom teacher, still recovering from the commotion, nodded instinctively.  

And so Bai Yuxuan sat down beside Qianxue. As she took his seat, she tilted her head and whispered mischievously into Qianxue’s ear:  

“Tell me, how should I punish you for deceiving me for so long?”

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