Chapter 10: Mei, Alone and Helpless
What good could tormenting Raiden Mei until she had a mental breakdown possibly do for them? The homeroom teacher couldn't understand.
She wanted to help Raiden Mei, but the administration was putting pressure on her and forbidding her from lending Mei a hand.
"What... should I do?" The homeroom teacher looked troubled.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Hello, teacher."
A handsome, refined-looking boy stood in the doorway and greeted her. It was Su Moqian.
"Oh, you're the new auditing student, right?"
The homeroom teacher seemed to remember something. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she beckoned him over warmly.
"Come on in, Su."
It suddenly occurred to the homeroom teacher that this new auditing student had been arranged by a school board member, who had specifically requested that he be placed in the same class as Raiden Mei.
From what she knew, that board member had considerable influence.
If Su Moqian could help Mei in her place, then she could feel a little more at ease...
With that in mind, the homeroom teacher warmly led Su Moqian to the podium and said with a smile:
"I'll be your homeroom teacher for the time being."
"If you run into any trouble, feel free to tell me. I'll do what I can to help."
"Actually, there is something I need your help with, teacher." Su Moqian smiled slightly.
"I'm new here and don't really know anyone yet. Could I trouble you for a list of the students? It'd help me get to know everyone."
Su Moqian hadn't forgotten his goal.
He needed to build good relationships with his classmates first. That would make it easier to gather information.
"No problem. I'll send the class contact list to your phone later," the homeroom teacher said with a nod.
"Okay, thank you, teacher," Su Moqian replied with a smile.
Then he turned around and quickly scanned the class, soon spotting Raiden Mei sitting in the front row.
Raiden Mei wore a white school uniform, her long purple hair tied in a high ponytail. She stared straight ahead with a stern expression, looking utterly aloof.
Most people would simply assume that the young lady of Me Corp had suddenly become cold and distant.
But Su Moqian knew her well. Whenever Mei put on that expression, she was always trying to hide something.
When he saw the confusion and hurt buried in her eyes, Su Moqian's gaze sharpened. He surveyed the entire class.
They had no grudges against her, and they were all classmates, yet more than one person was casting a cold, sidelong glance at Raiden Mei in the front row.
Seeing this, Su Moqian couldn't help shaking his head inwardly.
It seemed Raiden Mei's situation at school was even worse than his parents had imagined.
Raiden Mei had already returned to her seat, but she hadn't noticed a new student had arrived—and didn't care to.
As far as she was concerned, the new student would be just as cold and indifferent as everyone else.
After all, it wasn't only her classmates who were targeting her. The entire academy was against her.
The only person she cared about now was Su Moqian.
No one else mattered.
Heh, even if Moqian really has come, I still have to keep my distance from him...
At the thought, Raiden Mei couldn't help sighing.
Here at Senba Academy, she was truly all alone now.
Mei had prepared herself for all the isolation and mockery when she learned what the future held.
But now that she was actually living through it, she realized it was far harder to bear than she'd imagined.
In the past, even if she had faced a situation like this, Raiden Mei would never have wavered.
Because she knew that no matter what happened, Su Moqian would stand by her without hesitation.
But now, as part of her plan, she had broken up with him.
She would have to endure this period of loneliness all by herself...
As these thoughts ran through her mind, Raiden Mei felt the hurt in her eyes growing harder and harder to suppress.
She hurriedly closed her eyes, not wanting anyone to see her lose control.
But just then, the teacher's voice rang out:
"This is our new auditing student, Su Moqian. Let's give him a round of applause!"
"Who?"
The moment she heard his name, Raiden Mei's eyes flew open, and she looked toward the podium.
A handsome, refined-looking boy stood there, introducing himself in a gentle voice.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Su Moqian. I'm from Shenzhou. I hope we'll get along."
Then he bowed as applause broke out.
Looking at the familiar boy, Raiden Mei couldn't help feeling confused.
Why has Moqian joined my class? Could it be...
Raiden Mei instinctively assumed he had come for her.
That was right. She hadn't given him any reason when she broke up with him.
And she hadn't replied to a single one of the messages he'd sent, either. He must be terribly anxious.
But even so, did he really have to transfer directly into my class?
I knew it. Even after I treated him like that, Moqian still cares so much about me.
Raiden Mei lowered her head and gently pressed her right hand against her chest.
Just then, the teacher spoke again:
"Let's see... Raiden Mei's neighbor's seat is still empty. Su, would you mind sitting there?"
Hearing the teacher's suggestion, Su Moqian nodded with a smile.
"Of course not."
But even as he smiled, seeing Mei's situation made his heart sink.
Senba Academy had individual desks. How could no one want to sit next to Raiden Mei, even so?
Su Moqian didn't understand human nature, and he couldn't think of any profound words to say. He just found the whole thing disgusting.
He's here!
Hearing that the homeroom teacher had assigned Su Moqian to the seat beside her, Raiden Mei couldn't help feeling a little happy.
Great. If he sits next to me, I don't have to worry about him getting close to other girls.
But even as she rejoiced, she couldn't help worrying.
What should I do? Moqian came here for me. If he asks why I broke up with him later, what am I supposed to say?
Raiden Mei was deeply in love with him, so she was afraid that if Su Moqian questioned her, she might let something slip.
And if she dared to think even further, if Su Moqian launched a determined pursuit, she might not be able to hold out.
No. For the sake of our future, I have to see this through, no matter what!
Raiden Mei shook her head and steeled her resolve.
No matter how Su Moqian tried to talk to her, she would act cold and show no sign of weakness!
With her mind made up, Raiden Mei immediately sat up straight and began reading.
Even so, she couldn't focus on the book. Instead, she kept sneaking glances at Su Moqian from the corner of her eye.
Whenever she noticed him move, Raiden Mei immediately went on alert.
Chapter 11: Mei: Stay Away from Him!
Raiden Mei made it through the entire class like this.
But right up until the end of the lesson, Su Moqian kept watching the board and listening, without any sign that he wanted to talk to her.
It was as though he had really come here just to study.
The outcome left Raiden Mei utterly puzzled.
Strange. What's going on with Moqian? Didn't he come here because of me, his ex-girlfriend?
At the thought, Raiden Mei's resolve began to waver.
From Raiden Mei's perspective, Su Moqian was simply watching the board and listening to the lesson. But that wasn't what was really happening.
Su Moqian was usually composed, but how could he sit through class as if nothing were wrong when his ex-girlfriend was right beside him?
He was an ordinary young man. There was no way he could keep his mind perfectly calm; he was simply forcing himself not to look at Mei.
Su Moqian knew very well that the worst thing he could do in this situation was cling to her.
Only by keeping a clear head could he gain the upper hand.
If he thought of his clash with Raiden Mei as a war, then he had only just transferred into her class. She was bound to be on her guard!
So the best move now was to appear weak and find out what he could from the other students first.
Once Raiden Mei let down her guard, he could sound her out and find out why. It was clearly the approach most likely to succeed.
"Ring—"
At last, the bell rang, and lunchtime began.
As Raiden Mei took her lunchbox out of her schoolbag, she secretly glanced at Su Moqian from the corner of her eye.
Damn it. It's lunchtime already, and Moqian still hasn't made any effort to talk to me. This isn't how I imagined it...
At that moment, Mei began to panic. For a moment, she even felt an urge to speak up and ask him about it.
But Raiden Mei's reason quickly suppressed that impulse.
No. I have to hold back. It'd be ridiculous if I were the one to let my guard down first.
Raiden Mei bit her lip, then looked away and prepared to eat.
Just then, she noticed several girls from the row behind her walking in her direction.
Tch. Here they come again? Raiden Mei pursed her lips.
She knew they were just coming to mock her again, as usual. They always stood right beside her and talked about those things, as if they wanted to make sure she heard.
But she had already prepared herself. No matter what they said, Mei wouldn't let it affect her in the slightest.
Heh. I don't care what those people do.
But as Raiden Mei thought this, she realized the girls weren't coming for her. They were going to Su Moqian!
In the time it took her to blink, the girls in the class had crowded all around him.
"Wow, I can't believe you're from Shenzhou, Su! I heard the boys there are really considerate toward girls!"
"Yeah, unlike all the chauvinists around here."
"By the way, Su, do you have a girlfriend? You're so handsome, you must have one, right?"
"If some girl could date Su, she'd definitely treat him really well!"
Raiden Mei: "..."
Raiden Mei was devastated.
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