The Flaw and Resolve of a Tsundere

Jiang Xueli and He Qing looked at the class monitor as she waved her arm, erasing the chalk writing.

When the two of them looked into each other's eyes again, they realized something and both ended up laughing.

Because they could both tell that, even though the person in front of them usually wasn't the type to speak or act straightforwardly, neither of them was willing to back down even half a step on this matter. In that case, all they could do was see who would win in the end.

This time, it was Little He Qing who spoke first:

"Jiang Xueli, let's wipe the blackboard first."

The other girl nodded. "Okay."

The two of them each took a new Blackboard Eraser and started wiping the chalk off the board from opposite sides, sending dust flying.

Their speed went from slow to fast.

Little He Qing pressed her lips together, her eyes showing a rare firmness, while Jiang Xueli also bit her lip, her Double Ponytail swaying back and forth with the motion of wiping.

Caught in the middle, the class monitor watched the two of them get faster and faster, as if they were in a contest, and sighed. "Aren't you two actually pretty fast at wiping the blackboard?" But very quickly, she discovered neither of them was wiping very cleanly, so she reminded them:

"Hey! You can't only care about speed! Wipe it cleaner, or the teacher will scold us! Did you two hear me?!"

Little He Qing and Jiang Xueli shouted almost at the same time in their hearts: "I'm going to win!"

The war for Zhengran, a battle without smoke, officially began from this day onward, and once it started, it lasted an entire month.

Over the following month.

The fighting was relentless.

For example, when Lin Zhengran walked out of the dormitory in the morning, or when class ended and school let out, he would find He Qing and Jiang Xueli both waiting for him early at the same time.

The two of them were not only extremely synchronized, sometimes they would even bring him snacks and the like, and the varieties were different too.

Not to mention mealtimes. Under Han Wenwen's meaningful look, Little He Qing would even take the initiative to pick up a chopstickful of food for Lin Zhengran.

After giving it to him, she would even say softly and gently, "Lin Zhengran, eat more meat. Middle School boys are just at the age where they're growing."

Jiang Xueli refused to be outdone either, her face red as she said one thing while meaning another. "Big Dummy, I don't really have much of an appetite today. I'm giving you my meat, okay? Otherwise it'd just go to waste."

Seeing the other girl make a move, Little He Qing said softly, "I'll give you my vegetables too. Eating more of them is good for you."

Jiang Xueli also acted quickly. "I don't have any appetite at all today. I'll give you all my vegetables too."

Lin Zhengran watched their chopsticks move at lightning speed, and before long, his own plate was piled up like a small mountain, while both of their plates were completely empty.

Lin Zhengran's face darkened as he lost his temper. "Have you two been sick in the head lately? You do this every single time—how am I supposed to eat?! And are neither of you going to eat at all?!"

Han Wenwen chewed slowly and carefully on the side, smiling as she watched the show.

Both sides made frequent moves, and on Saturdays and Sundays they would each occupy a portion of Lin Zhengran's time. But amid this back-and-forth struggle, Han Wenwen, as an outsider, gradually began to see who held the greater advantage. The scales of victory had clearly begun to tilt.

That Fox propped her head up with one hand and looked at Jiang Xueli, who was standing to the side with her arms crossed over her chest, unconvinced after being scolded.

"I already gave it to you, so how am I supposed to take it back?! Big Dummy only knows how to be mean."

And then there was Little He Qing, who hurriedly apologized because of the reprimand. As soon as she saw Lin Zhengran was unhappy, she quickly picked her own food back into her plate, saying over and over, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, don't get mad."

As Han Wenwen chewed the Toothpick Meat in her mouth, she sighed inwardly. So this is why the standard pairing for a tsundere is a losing heroine. It's because that personality itself has a flaw. Since they won't take the initiative but refuse to admit defeat, they always end up unable to win. Looks like the outcome is already decided.

Reality was just as Han Wenwen thought. Because Jiang Xueli's personality meant she was destined to refuse to admit things out loud every time they fought over him, she ended up handing several excellent opportunities straight to Little He Qing, who, although she didn't speak loudly, was at least honest.

On top of that, although their advantages seemed the same, He Qing had, after all, appeared suddenly. For the past four years, Lin Zhengran had accompanied Jiang Xueli to practice singing, and the two of them had been together almost every week. But now, He Qing had taken away more than half of that time.

Finally, by the end of the month, this battle without smoke seemed to have finally reached its conclusion.

That day was Saturday morning. There were still three weeks left until the New Student Evening Gala. Originally, the New Student Evening Gala was not supposed to be this far away, but the town's Middle School was never punctual, and after delaying it again and again, it had dragged on until now. In order to be chosen by the music company, Jiang Xueli had no choice but to spare more time for practice.

As for Little He Qing, after coming back, she had also signed up at the town's Taekwondo Hall, and had even met a powerful opponent there, so she also needed Lin Zhengran to practice with her.

Early in the morning, before the four of them went home, they gathered together.

Han Wenwen held He Qing's arm and asked, "It's Saturday and Sunday again. Lin Zhengran, are you planning to accompany Jiang Xueli this weekend, or Little Qing Qing?"

She asked this right in front of Little He Qing and Jiang Xueli. Both girls looked at Lin Zhengran.

But Lin Zhengran said, "I can't accompany you every single week, can I? This week, I plan to sleep at home and rest for a week."

When Jiang Xueli heard he wanted to rest, she naturally clasped her hands behind her back, turned her head, and blurted out, "If you want to rest, then just rest. It's not like you absolutely have to accompany me. Anyway, the competition is still far away. I can practice by myself."

Little He Qing said, "Have you been a little tired recently? Then rest. But can I go to your house this week to see Uncle and Aunt? When the time comes, I can also massage your shoulders and stuff." She waved her hand. "Don't worry, I definitely won't cause you any trouble."

Hearing this, Han Wenwen looked curiously at Jiang Xueli.

But Jiang Xueli froze there. Because of what she had just said, she now didn't know how to speak.

Lin Zhengran looked completely indifferent. "Do whatever you want. Anyway, today I'm not accompanying anyone to practice. I'll only be lying on my bed sleeping."

Little He Qing smiled and nodded. "Mm, don't worry, I definitely won't disturb you." She even turned her head blankly and asked Jiang Xueli, "Jiang Xueli, are you coming too?"

Jiang Xueli said tsundere-style, "W-who wants to go? Didn't Big Dummy just say he wanted to rest? Unless he really needs someone to massage his shoulders, who would massage him?" But after saying it, she actually regretted it.

Lin Zhengran walked out of the school with his bag. "It'd be best if none of you came."

Little He Qing, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli watched his figure recede into the distance.

He Qing even asked Jiang Xueli again, "You're really not going?"

Jiang Xueli forced a smile. "I'm not going. Actually, I have other things to do today too, and I don't know how to massage anyway. You go."

Little He Qing smiled and nodded goodbye to Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli, then caught up with Lin Zhengran. "Lin Zhengran, wait for me! If I'm going to your house, I need to buy some gifts first. Can you wait while I go to the supermarket?"

Little He Qing walked side by side with him. "I remember Uncle likes bananas. How about I buy some bananas to bring over?"

The two of them walked farther and farther away. Han Wenwen asked Jiang Xueli, who was standing where she was:

"This week is different from the other weeks. It's not practice or anything, but time alone. It's the best chance to build feelings. Are you really just giving that chance to Little Qing Qing? Actually, if you insisted on going, I don't think Lin Zhengran would say anything."

Jiang Xueli stared at the two figures, then looked at Han Wenwen curiously. "Aren't you on He Qing's side? Aren't you her best friend? Why are you worrying about me?"

Han Wenwen tilted her head and smiled. "After all, we're all so familiar with each other now, so we count as friends too. I was just asking." She waved. "I'm going back to the dorm. See you next week."

She turned and left, leaving only Jiang Xueli standing there. For some reason, it was as if all the strength had gone out of her.

She wondered how many times this made that she had given He Qing a chance.

"If this keeps going, I'll lose, won't I... No, I'll definitely lose..."

She took two movie tickets for a romance film out of her pocket.

She had actually bought these two tickets several days ago. The date was tomorrow, because tomorrow was Jiang Xueli's birthday.

But just as Han Wenwen had said, being a tsundere was the kind of personality that could only play along with others on the condition that the other person spoke first. A tsundere herself had no way to take the initiative and invite someone first. It was a flawed personality.

Unless that person could, at a crucial moment, take that step forward on her own, she could only hand her own happiness over to someone else.

Jiang Xueli lifted her head and looked toward where the two had long since vanished. Holding the movie tickets, she spread her arms and stepped onto the curb beside the grass, slowly walking in the direction of home.

"Big Dummy, Big Dummy... Big Dummy."

Thank you to the big boss "Feng Wanxing" for the 500 Qidian Coin tip. Bowing in thanks.

Thank you to the big bosses "Qingchuan's Lifetime Exclusive Favor," "Stop Blabbering," "Free of Worldly Desires," "Feng Wanxing," "Ran Under the Moon," "A Ke 719," "Cat Rice GG," "Vast Righteousness 519," "Sky and Hela," "Xing Kong Xuan Qi," "Meng Meng, Belia, Deviluke" for the monthly tickets.

As usual, asking for follow-up reads and tickets.