Becoming the School Heartthrob

But for some reason, seeing the expectant look on Jiang Mo's face, she agreed:

"Fine."

The other students had long since left the classroom.

Bronya sat alone at her desk, taking a thick book from her schoolbag and flipping through it.

Second by second, time passed, and the hour hand on the wall clock moved to the next mark.

She raised her wrist to check the time, her lovely brows knitting slightly.

"Why is it taking so long...?"

Although impatience had begun to stir within her, since she had promised him, she would wait until the end.

It was what she had been taught since childhood: without trustworthiness, a person could not stand.

Even if Jiang Mo did not return until tomorrow, she thought, she should still keep her promise and wait here.

Just as her patience was about to run out and she was preparing to get up and look for Jiang Mo, the classroom door creaked open.

Bronya looked up.

Jiang Mo walked in, carrying something carefully wrapped in an insulated bag.

He walked straight up to her and handed her the cup-shaped item in his hand, which gave off wisps of cool air and a faint sweet fragrance.

Bronya's gaze fell on the cup.

Its contents were layered and colorful, with a delicate little wooden spoon stuck into the top.

Beneath the crystalline crushed ice were syrups and jams of varying colors, woven together into dreamlike hues.

"This is...?"

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Mo's face. "Soda Ice Mountain."

"Soda Ice Mountain?"

Bronya repeated the unfamiliar name, her eyes full of confusion.

"Why... are you giving this to me?"

She had never seen anything like it in any high-end dessert shop or banquet in the Upper District.

"Try it. It's delicious."

But Bronya shook her head. "No, thank you."

"Mother said snacks like this are bad for your teeth, and they're too high in calories. They make you gain weight easily, which isn't good for maintaining proper bearing."

Though she said that, her gaze remained drawn to the misty ice mountain in the cup, and her throat bobbed faintly on its own.

Hearing that, Jiang Mo sighed inwardly. What kind of rigid, dull life had she been living in the Upper District?

She did not even have the freedom to eat snacks. Every day, all she faced were dry books and cumbersome etiquette...

Perhaps it was not even as good as her days at the orphanage...

At least back then, there had been light in her eyes.

Jiang Mo could only coax her patiently.

"Just one little bite. It'll be fine."

"I went through a lot to get this. You could call it an 'out-of-print specialty' from the Lower District."

He truly had put considerable thought into obtaining this Soda Ice Mountain.

Jiang Mo had Natasha send people on several detours before they found the vendor who had once made Soda Ice Mountains at a drifter camp on the edge of Boulder Town.

The vendor's skills had grown rusty as well. Only after Natasha's people used both threats and persuasion did he reluctantly return to his old trade, specially making this one for Jiang Mo and delivering it to him in the Upper District as quickly as possible.

"Your mother isn't here anyway. Go on, eat it. No one will know." Jiang Mo lowered his voice. "Let it be... our little secret."

His voice seemed to carry some kind of magic, easily plucking at the string in Bronya's heart called "rules."

"A secret?"

Bronya's eyelashes trembled gently.

Chapter 56: Becoming the School Heartthrob

She looked at Jiang Mo's dark eyes, then at the tempting Soda Ice Mountain.

The scales in her heart began to sway violently.

For a long time, she had been suppressing herself.

A girl's curiosity, her craving for sweets, and Jiang Mo's persistence.

All of it ultimately made her accept the cup somewhat awkwardly.

Using the little wooden spoon, she gently scooped up a small piece of crushed ice from the top.

The colored syrup and shaved ice were hesitantly brought to her mouth.

Cold.

Sweet and sour.

Bubbles bursting.

The marvelous sensation bloomed across her taste buds in an instant.

Bronya's eyes widened sharply as an inexplicable sense of familiarity surged through her body.

"Mmm... delicious..."

She murmured it unconsciously.

Then she quickly scooped a second spoonful, then a third.

She looked completely unlike her usual stern and unsmiling self.

Jiang Mo watched her quietly. Her cheeks had flushed from surprise and delight, and a childlike, pure joy flashed through her eyes.

"This taste... somehow, it feels a little familiar..."

Bronya put down the spoon.

She looked at Jiang Mo with slight confusion.

She did not even notice the inexplicable emotion in her eyes.

"Did you remember something?"

Jiang Mo asked while the moment was right.

Bronya frowned and thought for a moment, but ultimately shook her head.

"Nothing... it was probably just an illusion."

But the expression with which she looked at Jiang Mo had clearly softened.

There was less coldness, and more of an indescribable closeness, along with a trace of confusion.

"Is that so... Since you can't remember, then forget it."

Jiang Mo did not press her further.

"It's getting late. I'll be going."

"See you tomorrow, Bronya."

He turned and left, leaving Bronya sitting there alone.

Holding the remaining Soda Ice Mountain, she looked once more at Jiang Mo's departing back.

Somewhere deep in her heart, a place that had been frozen for a long time seemed to crack open by the tiniest sliver.

A week later, the midterm results were announced.

Jiang Mo and Bronya had both done very well.

Bronya's grades had improved from before, putting her in a good mood.

Jiang Mo's study methods had been very effective, making her see him in a new light.

After class that day, Jiang Mo felt the time had come.

He stopped Bronya.

"Bronya, are you free tonight?"

"I have two tickets to the opera house. It's a newly staged fairy-tale play, 'Leisha and Mrs. Tru.'"

"I heard it's getting great reviews."

The moment Jiang Mo finished speaking, the classroom erupted!

The students who had not yet left all turned to look at them.

"No way?!"

"That guy Jiang Mo actually invited Miss Bronya to the opera?!"

"Has he lost his mind? So many young noblemen tried to ask Miss Bronya out before, and she rejected them outright. They couldn't even get a word in!"

One boy said sourly, "I thought he was just a bookworm who only knew how to study. When did he suddenly figure things out?"

"More importantly... what makes him worthy?!"

"Miss Bronya definitely won't agree!"

"If she agrees, then what were all the rejections we got before? Are we really going to lose to a transfer student from the Lower District?"

Quite a few girls stared at Bronya, their feelings complicated.

The girls in the class felt a little resentful.

Jiang Mo had been here for over a month. He might have come from the Lower District... but he was handsome.

And he was always very gentle with girls and easy to talk to. He was universally acknowledged as the class heartthrob.

Some girls had even confessed to him, only to be firmly rejected.

Hearing Jiang Mo's invitation, Bronya froze, her cheeks turning red.

She had originally wanted to refuse.

Her mother had taught her to keep her distance from classmates and attend fewer private gatherings.

But as she looked at Jiang Mo's smile, some hazy images suddenly appeared in her mind... the orphanage at dusk, a broken swing, and a cup of sweet Soda Ice Mountain.

An inexplicable feeling of closeness welled up in her heart.

Bronya looked at Jiang Mo and wavered.

Jiang Mo was far too handsome, far too refined...

Although her mother had taught her since childhood not to judge people by appearances, there was not another face like Jiang Mo's in the entire academy.

He was not merely handsome. There was also something... captivating about him.

There was an indescribable allure around him, especially when he smiled.

Bronya's heart trembled, and she nodded as if possessed.

"Mhm..."

"You agree?" Jiang Mo asked.

Bronya's face reddened further.

Avoiding Jiang Mo's gaze, she said softly:

"Mhm... Consider it a return gift. Thank you for yesterday's Soda Ice Mountain."

"How much were the two tickets? I'll treat you to the show."

Jiang Mo noticed that the boys around them were practically about to breathe fire, while the girls' gazes were resentful and unwilling.

He turned to Bronya, smiled, and said: