Chapter 20

A week later, Yan Xiao had finally recovered.
Fueled by the anxiety of nearly ten point-less days, and the burning determination to restore her pride, she returned to school.
The moment she stepped out of the car, she spotted Qiu Li waiting by the gate.
He froze for a second when he saw her, then lifted his hand and waved.
“…”
Was that a provocation?!
She frowned, hoisted her backpack, said goodbye to her parents, and marched toward the gate without looking back.
She was back to full health and full firepower. Today, she was going to crush that smug little villain’s arrogance!
Watching her storm off, Chen Ziyi couldn’t help but laugh. “Looks like someone’s been cooped up too long, she can’t wait to see her little friend.”
Her husband, Yan Hao, frowned thoughtfully at their daughter’s fierce little march. “Why do I feel like she’s heading off to war?”
“…” Chen Ziyi blinked. “Now that you mention it, kind of, yeah.”
Yan Xiao didn’t care what her parents thought of her battle-ready posture. She had one goal, revenge.
After greeting the teacher, she looked up, ready to confront Qiu Li, and was met with a smiling face.
“You’re back at school?”
His usual cool voice was surprisingly gentle today.
Caught off guard by how bright his smile was, Yan Xiao froze.
What in the world?
Had the little villain changed professions overnight, from brooding antagonist to charming sweetheart?
Did he think she was too young to tell the difference?
Recovering quickly, she straightened her back and lifted her chin with regal defiance.
In the face of absolute power, all demons and devils were paper tigers. She wouldn’t be fooled.
Qiu Li didn’t notice her frosty demeanor. He assumed she was still weak from being sick. Stepping closer, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small pile of marshmallows.
“I saved them all for you,” he said.
She stared at the two and a half bags of marshmallows in his hands, then at his smiling face.
“...?”
“But,” he added, “your parents said you shouldn’t eat too many sweets. You don’t have anywhere to keep them anyway, so I’ll hold onto them for you. Whenever you want one, just come find me, okay?”
Yan Xiao’s jaw dropped.
He took them out just to put them back?!
He’s mocking me! Right in front of my face!
Qiu Li pulled out two pieces and held them toward her. “Here. You can have two today. The rest, later.”
She stared, speechless.
Two and a half bags and you’re giving me TWO pieces? Who are you fooling?!
When she didn’t take them, he thought she was too shy, like before. So he gently tucked the candies into her pocket himself, then added kindly, “Don’t worry. There’ll be more tomorrow. And the day after that.”
Yan Xiao looked down at her pocket, then up at him, so close now, smiling softly.
For a moment, her brows twitched. Is it just the cold weather or is he really smiling that sincerely?
Seeing her silent, Qiu Li frowned slightly. “You’re still not feeling well?”
He remembered once being sick himself, the fever had lasted days, and even after it broke, he’d been weak for a while.
The situation felt strange, so Yan Xiao said nothing, just shook her head, deciding to watch carefully and see what tricks he’d pull next.
“It’s okay,” Qiu Li said reassuringly. “You’ll be fine in a few days.”
“…”
Yan Xiao stared at him blankly.
Was he comforting her… or taunting her again?
Either way, one thing was certain, she definitely wasn’t letting her guard down.
“Let’s go,” Qiu Li said. “It’s cold out. Let’s head inside.”
Yan Xiao, her face half-hidden behind a child-sized mask and wrapped snugly in a scarf, blinked her large eyes at him. She didn’t move right away. After a long pause, she reached into her little backpack,
Qiu Li froze.
From the tiny bag, she pulled out a single marshmallow and handed it to him, her gaze fixed intently on his face, as if trying to read his reaction.
What she saw was the normally cold, composed Qiu Li, his eyes curved, and the chill on his face melted away in an instant.
[Ding, 55 points.]
“?”
He pressed his lips together, the corners trembling upward as if he couldn’t hide the smile. Taking the candy, he tucked it carefully into his pocket. “Thank you.”
“???”
All morning, even through lunch break, Yan Xiao couldn’t figure out what in the world was going on with him today.
In the lunchroom, she bit her lip, thinking for a long time, then finally carried her tray toward the older kids’ dining room.
Whatever trick he was playing, she’d figure it out by watching.
This time, she didn’t rush over to him like before. Instead, she quietly peeked in through the back window.
The big kids’ dining room was as noisy as ever. Qiu Li sat alone in the corner, not touching his food.
Did he not like the meal?
Standing on tiptoe, she craned her neck to see his plate. But that’s all stuff he usually eats…
She kept watching.
Minutes passed. He still didn’t move his chopsticks. Every so often, he looked toward the door.
He didn’t talk to anyone. When other kids teased or provoked him, he ignored them; if they pushed too far, he’d give them a single, icy glare that shut them right up.
She saw nothing unusual, which only confused her more. But if she stayed out there any longer, her food would get cold. So she finally carried her tray inside.
As she approached, Qiu Li looked up. The instant he saw her, his previously indifferent expression softened into a smile.
Yan Xiao froze mid-step.
When she reached him, he quietly pushed his tray aside to make more room for her. “Sit.”
“…”
She sat down. And right then, Qiu Li picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
Was he waiting for her?
The thought flashed through her mind, ridiculous, impossible, and yet the evidence was right in front of her.
Why would he wait for her?
[Ding, 58 points.]
Hearing the system chime, realization hit. Ah. So the little villain’s upgraded his skills, he’s learned how to smile on the outside while plotting on the inside.
Two-faced to perfection!
When she didn’t move her chopsticks, Qiu Li hesitated, then asked gently, “You don’t like today’s food? You can try mine if you want. I haven’t touched the fish balls or shrimp yet.”
She was about to refuse, but halfway through, changed her mind.
“Okay.”
She picked up a fish ball and pretended to focus on eating, while actually sneaking glances at him from the corner of her eye.
She caught the small upward curve of his lips the moment she took a bite.
[Ding, 62 points.]
“!!!”
That confirmed it.
He’d definitely mastered the art of the smiling tiger, all courtesy on the surface, secretly disliking her underneath.
Seven points in just a few minutes!
It felt weird, sure, but since it meant her score was skyrocketing effortlessly, she couldn’t help feeling rather pleased.
After lunch, when everyone returned their trays, Qiu Li didn’t go straight to the nap room. Instead, he decided to stay with Yan Xiao for a while, she still looked tired and a bit unhappy.
It wasn’t yet nap time, and the teacher hadn’t called for her, so the two stood under the covered walkway, staring silently at the playground equipment.
After a moment, Qiu Li suddenly said, “Wait here for me.”
He turned and ran off, and came back shortly, holding a box of milk.
Yan Xiao watched him calmly. Probably just his habit, she thought. When he poked the straw in and took a sip, she turned away again. But moments later, a hand appeared in front of her.
Holding another box of milk.
She blinked at him.
“Aren’t you going to throw it?” His voice was quiet, almost tentative.
“Throw what?”
It was the first thing she’d said to him since coming back to school.
“The milk,” he said, pushing it closer to her. “Didn’t you used to love throwing milk cartons?”
“…”
That was definitely on purpose. He was mocking her, bringing up the past just to make fun of her!
Anger flared. Without thinking, she snatched the milk from his hand and hurled it to the ground. Then she lifted her chin proudly, glaring at him.
There. Thrown.
What, did he think she’d be scared?
Qiu Li glanced at the spilled milk, then looked back at her, and smiled. “Feel better now?”
“???”
Later, when the teacher carried her back to the nap room, she was still full of question marks.
As soon as she was tucked into her little bed, she started calling out in her head:
007?
007? 007! 007!!!
After a long delay, the system finally responded. [Here.]
Is the villain broken?!
The system paused. [No issues detected. All readings normal.]
Yan Xiao bit her lip. Normal? Not a chance.
He smiled at her, greeted her first, waited for her to eat, brought her milk, let her throw it, and then had the nerve to ask if she felt better,
Something was definitely wrong.
The more she thought about it, the more it seemed suspicious.
Until suddenly, she sat bolt upright.
He’s plotting something! He must be brewing some huge scheme against me!
“Hmm?” The teacher doing bed checks opened the door. “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping, little one?”
Yan Xiao, who prided herself on being the world’s best fake sleeper: “…”