Ever since the two of them arrived at school, the classmates in the class started discussing Ryuseki's new scarf.
"Your scarf is so pretty!"
"Was it knit by Meisha again? It's so nice! The gloves from last time were well-knit, too!"
"I'm so jealous."
"Meisha is really good to you!"
Facing everyone's discussion, Ryuseki could only smile helplessly. He really had no idea how to reply, honestly, this kind of situation was what he struggled with the most, and poor social skills were also one of his major flaws.
"Oh, Ryuseki, a teacher is looking for you for something!" Lin Yingbin shouted from outside the classroom, calling out Ryuseki, who was stuck in awkwardness and didn't know how to wrap it up.
Without a clue, Ryuseki put down his schoolbag and came out to ask which teacher was calling him.
Lin Yingbin shook his head without answering him, only leading him toward the rooftop. As they walked, he told him, "I've noticed that ever since that incident last time, I can often spot that guy wearing the red hat nearby. I reckon he might have some connection to Zhi."
The two walked one after the other, but they hadn't gone far before Ryuseki was grabbed from behind.
"What are you guys talking about?" That unsettling voice to Ryuseki came from behind; it was Meisha. "What are you discussing? Can't you let me listen in, too?"
"Please, you don't need to go this far just to keep an eye on your boyfriend," Lin Yingbin gestured and said.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey~ Don't go spouting nonsense," Ryuseki's face instantly turned bright red.
Lin Yingbin rolled his eyes at him and replied, "What nonsense? The whole class knows about you guys, no explanation needed."
"I..." Ryuseki was momentarily speechless, as Lin Yingbin, who had originally rescued him from his awkward predicament, had actually plunged him into an even more awkward one.
During the subsequent Chinese literature class, Ryuseki kept staring at Meisha beside him. Even he himself didn't know why he would do such a thing, watching her profile while reflecting on just when it was he had started to care.
"Why are you looking at me?" Meisha also noticed Ryuseki's abnormal behavior and turned her head to ask.
"N-nothing!" Ryuseki grabbed his Chinese literature textbook and pretended to read it with a straight face. Because of his nervousness, he didn't even notice that he was holding his book upside down.
Seeing his clumsy appearance, Meisha couldn't help but quietly remind him, "Your book is upside down!"
"Oh, oh, oh, sorry! My bad," Ryuseki replied awkwardly.
Meisha smiled and asked, "What are you apologizing to me for?"
The Chinese literature teacher was still chattering away incessantly on the podium, as if this were a stage, displaying himself to the fullest. But Ryuseki couldn't take in a single thing he was lecturing about. His mind was not on this class at all, but rather focused on Meisha. During the class, he would sneak a few glances at her from time to time.
Really? Is this real? Do I really like her? Ryuseki shook his head frantically, wanting to shake off this memory.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Meisha turned around and said to Ryuseki.
"Please! We're in class! Keep it down!" Ryuseki whispered.
With a look of I give up on you, Meisha said, "Hey! Please! School's already over, alright!"
"Huh? Really?" Ryuseki looked around, discovering that only the two of them were left.
"Let's talk about it this afternoon. I'm not going home this noon, I'm heading out first! Bye-bye!" Meisha dashed out of the classroom, leaving Ryuseki all alone.
Ryuseki stood there completely bewildered.
During the afternoon break, Ryuseki, Lin Yingbin, and Ryuu Mufei discussed recent events. Just as Ryuu Mufei had said before, that guy wearing a red hat had been appearing frequently lately, and this matter also made the three of them exceptionally concerned.
Yet right as they were discussing it heatedly, no one noticed her appearance.
Meisha ran up behind Ryuseki, wrapped her arms around his waist, and forcefully kissed him.
"Sorry, I kissed you without your consent. I'm really sorry, but I lost at Truth or Dare, so I was punished by kissing the person I like." Meisha mischievously stuck out her tongue and ran off.
"S-she, she just took advantage of me like that?" Ryuseki looked blankly at this unbelievable little girl.
However, it was also because of this farce that Lin Yingbin felt a lingering fear.
Because the three of them hadn't even noticed the person who came up behind them. Fortunately it was one of their own; if it had been someone who posed a threat to them, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
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