Lin Wei sat in the back row, staring at the test paper in Teacher’s hand with its dismal score. Then, thinking of Su Nuannuan’s quail-like expression, the irritation she’d felt from being watched suddenly faded.
A slow smile curved Lin Wei’s lips.
Hmph.
So that’s how it is.
She had been wondering what Su Nuannuan had been scheming by staying quiet all this time. Turns out, she wasn’t some cunning, manipulative villainess at all.
She was just a… foolish beauty!
A fool who couldn’t even pass an exam!
Looking at Teacher’s disappointed expression on the podium, and then at the front row where the Nuo Mi Tuan Zi seemed to want to disappear on the spot.
Is that it?
The opponent she had imagined as a formidable enemy after fantasizing about palace intrigues for hundreds of episodes… this was their level?
Lin Wei even found it a bit… amusing.
This Su Nuannuan was nothing like the malicious villainess she had pictured — worlds apart.
Lin Wei squinted slightly, watching the red flush on Su Nuannuan’s ears, growing curious about this Fake Little Sister.
At least she definitely wouldn’t fail her exams!
As soon as the bell rang, Su Nuannuan immediately sprang up from her desk, having held it in all lesson.
She didn’t dare glance back at Lin Wei, instead grabbing Zhou Qianqian, who was still packing her books, and lowered her voice, “Qianqian, come with me to the restroom.”
Zhou Qianqian stumbled slightly, confused, “Hey, Nuannuan, I’m not really that desperate to go.”
“Come… please,” Su Nuannuan begged, having decided she needed to keep her distance from Lin Wei, didn’t want to catch her eye.
But just as she pulled Zhou Qianqian out of the classroom and hadn’t even caught her breath, she felt a gaze fixed on her back.
She stiffened and glanced back to see Lin Wei strolling behind her with her hands in her school uniform pockets, walking leisurely with long strides.
Lin Wei was pretending not to know where the restroom was, taking the opportunity to familiarize herself with the campus.
Su Nuannuan: “!!!”
Why is she following me?! Is she going to the restroom too? Or… could it be that she wants to confront me there?!
Zhou Qianqian also noticed the intense atmosphere between Su Nuannuan and Lin Wei. She looked at the pale-faced Su Nuannuan, then at Lin Wei’s imposing, expressionless figure behind them, swallowed nervously, and whispered, “Your sister… she’s… going to the restroom too?”
Su Nuannuan wanted to cry but had no tears. How was she supposed to know what Lin Wei was thinking?!
They reached the girls’ restroom, which had only two stalls, both showing as vacant.
Zhou Qianqian darted into one and slammed the door shut.
Now only one stall remained empty.
Su Nuannuan and Lin Wei stood in the narrow restroom aisle, time seeming to freeze.
Su Nuannuan lowered her head, staring at her own toes, feeling her scalp tingle.
No, she had to maintain the Good Little Sister Persona, be humble, let her sister go first.
Taking a deep breath and summoning all her courage, Su Nuannuan raised her head and forced out a smile that was more painful than crying. Her voice was barely a whisper, “S-sister… you… you go first.”
She pointed shakily toward the only empty stall, her hand trembling.
Lin Wei didn’t move but tilted her head slightly, her beautiful but cold eyes scanning Su Nuannuan up and down.
Her gaze was like that of someone looking at a… strange little animal.
What hidden motive was behind this sudden “humility” from Su Nuannuan?
Being scrutinized so intensely made Su Nuannuan extremely uncomfortable; her smile was fading fast, and her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably.
Lin Wei stayed still, and Su Nuannuan dared not move either. They remained locked in this stalemate.
Seconds ticked by, and Su Nuannuan felt her urgency mounting. She had been desperate earlier, and now with Lin Wei blocking her, her nerves only made it worse.
“Ugh…” Su Nuannuan let out a faint groan, instinctively pressing her legs together and swaying slightly. Her face flushed even deeper.
Watching her embarrassed yet trying to stay composed, Lin Wei found it somewhat amusing.
Just when Su Nuannuan felt like she might explode on the spot, Lin Wei finally moved.
She didn’t speak, only lifted her chin slightly, signaling Su Nuannuan to go in.
Relieved as if pardoned from a great sentence, Su Nuannuan opened the stall door and slipped inside, locking it with a smooth “click.”
Sitting on the toilet, she felt a surprising sense of security amid the silence.
But the quieter it was, the more anxious she became. Lin Wei was right outside, just one door away! She could imagine Lin Wei crossing her arms, waiting.
Relax, relax, finish quickly. Su Nuannuan desperately psychologized herself.
“Nuannuan, are you done yet?” Zhou Qianqian called from outside.
“Almost… almost done,” Su Nuannuan replied shyly, cheeks burning.
Finally, physiological needs overpowered fear. The clear sound of rushing water echoed loudly in the quiet restroom.
Su Nuannuan’s face instantly turned bright red, like a boiled shrimp!
She wanted nothing more than to flush herself down the drain. Why was it so loud? Lin Wei must have heard everything. How embarrassing. Was she laughing at me outside?
Frantically, Su Nuannuan flushed several times to drown out the awkward noise.
Hands trembling, she straightened her clothes, took several deep breaths, and finally mustered the courage to unlock the door.
When it opened, Lin Wei was still standing there, barely having moved, but her cheeks were slightly flushed too—was she holding it in?
Yet those eyes remained fixed, unblinking, with a strange expression.
Su Nuannuan’s face was still burning; she didn’t dare meet Lin Wei’s gaze and just wanted to escape this social nightmare.
Zhou Qianqian saw Su Nuannuan’s tearful expression and looked at Lin Wei, standing there with an overwhelming presence.
She thought Su Nuannuan’s relationship with her sister wasn’t very good.
“Nuannuan? Are you okay?” Zhou Qianqian quickly stepped forward and held Su Nuannuan’s cold hand.
“N-no… I’m fine.”
Looking down, Su Nuannuan mumbled, “I… I’m done. Sister, you… you go ahead.”
Seeing Lin Wei make no move, Su Nuannuan grabbed Zhou Qianqian’s arm and hurriedly left the restroom without looking back, leaving Lin Wei standing alone.
Morning classes finally ended. Su Nuannuan rubbed her neck, and as soon as the bell rang, Zhou Qianqian came over, “Nuannuan, let’s eat.”
Su Nuannuan was a bit slow gathering her things, her gaze drifting involuntarily to the back row.
Lin Wei was still sitting there, head slightly bowed, fingers flipping through book pages as if still reading.
Biting her lip, Su Nuannuan wrestled internally. Su Mama’s words echoed in her ears again.
“Nuannuan, your sister just came back and isn’t familiar with the school. You should look after her more here…”
Look after? How? Take her to the cafeteria? But… Lin Wei looks so scary.
Would she think I’m being nosy? Annoying? That I’m purposely showing off how familiar I am with the school?
“Nuannuan, what are you spacing out for?” Zhou Qianqian, impatient, reached out to pull her.
Lin Wei seemed completely unaware it was time to eat. The little courage Su Nuannuan had just gathered shriveled instantly.
She quickly turned back, whispering to Zhou Qianqian, “O-okay, I’m coming.”
Forget it, Lin Wei’s so smart she’ll definitely find the cafeteria herself.
Maybe she doesn’t even bother eating there? Maybe she brought a fancy bentou?
Su Nuannuan tried hard to find excuses for herself.
Zhou Qianqian tugged her to leave. Fine, I’ll eat quickly, and after, I’ll pack a bentou for her. That way I fulfill Mom’s request without having to eat with Lin Wei and endure the pressure.
I’m so clever! Definitely deserve a thumbs-up! 👍