Page 18
"Your beautiful soul shines, too, Host~" A-Deng said suddenly.
Shen Baili said, "You're... being a little strange."
She turned toward the podium and said with easy confidence, "I know I'm pretty. If you want to compliment me, you can tell me to my face. That would make me even happier."
"Thank you."
Everyone looked at Shen Baili. Qiao Yi called out, "Shen Baili, you're gorgeous!"
Her classmates joined in with good-natured cheers.
"You're beautiful!"
"Your skin is so fair, and your eyes sparkle."
"I love your confidence, Shen Baili."
The hushed whispering gave way to a cheerful buzz.
Shen Baili was delighted and accepted the compliments graciously.
She actually agreed with the system. She had more than a pretty face—she had an interesting soul, too.
She stepped down from the podium and took Qiao Yi along to find seats.
Qiao Yi noticed that her ears had turned red, too.
"Are you shy after all?"
"Yeah," Shen Baili admitted. She pointed across the room. "Could we sit there?"
Qiao Yi had no objection and followed her. "Baili, I'd like the window seat."
"Sure," Shen Baili said.
"I'd like to sit by the window, too, so I'll find another seat."
Only one pair of adjacent seats by the window remained. If they both wanted a window seat, they would have to sit apart.
Shen Baili respected what Qiao Yi wanted, but she wasn't going to deny herself, either.
Qiao Yi was much the same. Otherwise, she wouldn't have spoken up about what she wanted. "Okay."
Zhu Zhitao overheard them and called out, "Shen Baili, sit with me!"
"I'll take the aisle seat." She moved over to leave the window seat free.
Sitting beside a great beauty was far more exciting than sitting by the window.
"Thank you," Shen Baili said.
Qiao Yi sat in front of them. Zhu Zhitao, already chatting like an old friend, said, "Shen Baili, you're so cool."
As an introvert, she envied anyone who could stand at the podium with such poise. And a beauty who knew she was beautiful? That was too cool.
She had liked Shen Baili at first sight. That was exactly the face she imagined for the heroine of her ideal novel.
"Thanks. Your eyes are beautiful," Shen Baili said, always quick to notice beauty in others.
Zhu Zhitao cupped her cheeks. "A beauty complimented me!"
"I'm so happy I could faint."
Shen Baili and Qiao Yi stared at her.
"She's always this dramatic around pretty girls. She nearly faints at least ten times a day."
All three looked up. Sang Fang adjusted her glasses and turned to Qiao Yi. "Hi. Is anyone sitting here?"
"No." Qiao Yi shook her head.
"Sang Fang!" Zhu Zhitao protested. "You're embarrassing me again!"
"Let me keep some dignity in front of Baili."
"Hi, I'm Sang Fang. It's nice to meet you both," Sang Fang said.
"She and I sat together in middle school."
Only then did Zhu Zhitao remember that she hadn't introduced herself. "I got so dazzled by the pretty faces that I forgot."
"I'm Zhu Zhitao, but you can call me Taotao. I hope we can be good friends."
"Nice to meet you," Qiao Yi and Shen Baili said together.
Zhu Zhitao looked between them. "Did you two know each other before?"
"We just met," Shen Baili said with a smile.
Qiao Yi nodded. "Mm-hmm."
"Wow, what a coincidence," Zhu Zhitao exclaimed. "It's such a coincidence that we met, too. Hehe."
"It is," Shen Baili said.
They're all such sweet, lively girls.
Was this what high school was like?
Warmth spread through Shen Baili's chest, as comforting as sitting in the sun.
"Oh, right, I brought fruit. Want some?" Zhu Zhitao pulled a lunchbox from her desk. Inside were sliced apples, strawberries, and large jujubes.
"A toothpick, please. Thanks," Sang Fang said without hesitation.
Zhu Zhitao handed them out one by one. "Good thing my dad packed plenty so I could share with my classmates."
"Your dad's so nice," Qiao Yi said as she ate a strawberry.
Shen Baili took some chocolates from her bag. "I have chocolate. Would you like some?"
Zhu Zhitao answered at once. "Chocolate is my favorite!!"
Shen Baili smiled and handed her one. Zhu Zhitao unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes widened in delight. "It's so good," she said around the chocolate.
"Where did you buy it?"
Sang Fang had just unwrapped hers. She put it in her mouth and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"My mom and I made it together. If you like it, I'll bring more tomorrow."
"I love it!!!!" Zhu Zhitao said.
"Baili, you're the best."
Qiao Yi gently poked Shen Baili's arm. Shen Baili turned with a smile and asked softly, "What is it?"
Qiao Yi looked a little embarrassed. "Could I have a chocolate?"
She had turned one down earlier and was asking for one now. It was embarrassing, but Shen Baili had made these chocolates herself.
Qiao Yi didn't like sweets, but she wanted to try one.
"Of course." Shen Baili handed her a chocolate. "You don't have to be so polite with me."
Qiao Yi nodded eagerly. "Mm-hmm."
She ate one. It wasn't as rich or sweet as she had expected; it had a refreshing hint of lemon. Her eyes lit up. "It's really good."
"Then have more," Shen Baili said happily.
Qiao Yi ate two more. She couldn't bear to throw away the wrappers and tucked them carefully into her notebook.
Shen Baili saw her do it and felt a tug at her heart.
Who wouldn't be touched to see their gift cherished?
Zhu Zhitao noticed, too. "Oh! I'm saving mine as a bookmark."
She tucked away her wrapper, then looked at Sang Fang.
Sang Fang understood immediately. She had no interest in keeping wrappers as bookmarks. "Here."