Xie Heng: “……”
Pu… xin?
He… didn’t he just explain that he was worried about being misunderstood for being in an early romantic relationship?
The boy hung his hands by his sides, feeling an indescribable frustration.
However, Lu Xi didn’t have time to comfort him now; she needed to take the two girls to her wardrobe to try on clothes.
The factory had already completed the female school uniforms, and the assistant delivered them this morning, just in time.
Huang Ying and another girl, Zhou Xixi, were initially unsure about what Lu Xi wanted them to do. But when they were led into the wardrobe, both girls were stunned.
This wardrobe… is way too big and beautiful!
Huang Ying didn’t quite understand, but Zhou Xixi, who liked to study fashion, was a fashion blogger with over ten thousand fans online. Her biggest dream was to have an enormous wardrobe she could freely control.
Unfortunately, she was still a student and had to keep her side job as a blogger a secret from her family. She also never showed her face in videos.
The moment she stepped into the wardrobe, her eyes sparkled!
It was like her dream wardrobe! She could stay in there for seven days and nights without wanting to leave!
At that moment, Lu Xi remembered to tell the two girls her plan.
“You can think it over. If you don’t want to, that’s fine,” Lu Xi said. “By the way, there’s compensation. It’s the same as the boys, five thousand yuan per person, regardless of the outcome.”
After all, she couldn’t let them work for free, right?
Huang Ying was still immersed in the regret of accidentally confessing to her idol earlier. She was quite shy and didn’t have much presence in class. Even when talking to Xu Jiaming, she could only do so by asking questions.
Even though she knew the answers to most of them…
Oh no, oh no, she spoke so loudly earlier, and Xie Heng heard her. Would he tell Xu Jiaming?
If Xu Jiaming found out, she’d be done for. She’d have to transfer schools; it would be too embarrassing.
Her mind was all over the place, and she didn’t even hear what Lu Xi said to her. It wasn’t until Zhou Xixi snapped her fingers near her ear that she snapped back to reality.
“What? I didn’t catch that…”
Lu Xi smiled, she liked this girl the moment she saw her. She looked soft and fluffy like a little bunny, and her natural pure aura would certainly make her school uniform radiate the youthful vibe of a high school student.
So, she patiently explained again.
When Huang Ying heard, she was taken aback and hurriedly waved her hand. “Me? I can’t do it. I dress so badly, really…”
Was the pretty sister joking with her?
The pretty sister must have chosen Zhou Xixi because Zhou Xixi knew how to dress, was tall, and everyone in class knew Zhou Xixi was a fashion blogger.
Lu Xi furrowed her brows and said awkwardly, “Well, if you refuse, I’ll have to ask Song Siyang to wear women’s clothing instead.”
Huang Ying : ??
Not only her, but Zhou Xixi was also stunned.
They both imagined the scene at the same time and felt their eyes burning. Zhou Xixi grabbed Huang Ying’s hand and said sincerely, “Please, don’t refuse! I don’t want to see Song Dog in women’s clothing!”
Huang Ying hesitated but couldn’t help but smile and nod.
No matter what, her wearing it would be better than what Song Siyang would look like, right?
Lu Xi quickly took out the clothes for the two girls to try on. Whether they were spring/summer or autumn/winter styles was up to them to choose.
Zhou Xixi was very confident and didn’t hesitate. She first tried on a short shirt and skirt of the spring/summer uniform, then changed into the autumn/winter uniform—a navy blue woolen blazer and white plush long pants.
“I like this set!” Zhou Xixi showed a surprised expression. “No, no, I should say I like both sets, but I like the autumn/winter set even more.”
Huang Ying blinked.
Although she usually dressed simply, she also liked beautiful clothes. After several prompts from Zhou Xixi, she finally changed into the outfit.
Then she looked at herself in the mirror…
“Wow, Huang Ying, your legs are so white and straight! Why do you always hide them with pants?”
Zhou Xixi’s direct compliment made Huang Ying blush a little.
Actually, Mingli High didn’t interfere with students’ clothing or hairstyles, so few people wore school uniforms. Most of the students had good family backgrounds, and their clothes for school looked like they were attending a new product launch.
Huang Ying’s family was average, and she got in thanks to extra points. She was used to wearing Mingli’s school uniform.
Another reason was… Xu Jiaming usually only wore the school uniform too.
Although she thought the school uniform was ugly, Huang Ying still loved wearing it. She felt as if she was wearing a couple’s outfit with Xu Jiaming.
But when she looked at herself in the mirror, she was stunned. She looked so different from usual.
She actually… looked quite good?
The best part was the clothes she was wearing—they were really beautiful! She didn’t understand fashion, but she had basic aesthetics and felt that the clothes, from the cut to the colors, were flawless!
With a school uniform like this, who would want to wear an ugly couple’s uniform with Xu Jiaming?
Lu Xi was waiting for them in the bedroom while they changed clothes. She only went out after Huang Ying had finished changing.
When she saw the two girls in the outfits she had designed, Lu Xi couldn’t help but have her eyes light up.
As expected.
This youthful vibe could only be captured by high school students. Lu Xi walked over, adjusted their clothes, and then studied them for a moment. She was very satisfied. There was no need to change anything, no need for makeup, their youthfulness was the best asset.
Zhou Xixi was really fond of the outfit. After changing out of it, she was reluctant to take it off.
She loved the toggle design on the woolen coat, and the color was a bit softer than the usual navy blue, giving it a retro feel.
She couldn’t help but gush, praising Lu Xi, and the two girls’ faces turned rosy, looking very charming.
Lu Xi was very pleased with the models she had chosen. As she led them out of the wardrobe, she couldn’t help but pinch their little faces.
When Huang Ying and Zhou Xixi saw the pretty sister so close and smiling as she pinched their faces, they both blushed even more.
The two exchanged a glance.
They both saw shyness and anticipation in each other’s eyes.
Lu Xi opened the door, suddenly remembering something. She grabbed Huang Ying’s hand and gave it a small squeeze, whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry, Xie Heng won’t say anything about what happened earlier.”
Zhou Xixi heard and winked at Huang Ying, making a *shush* gesture. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything either!”
Only then did Huang Ying feel relieved.
She couldn’t help but glance at Lu Xi, her lips curling into a small smile.
She thought, Xie Heng’s stepmother is really such a gentle, kind person. She couldn’t believe that Lu Xi would bully Xie Heng as said in that forum post.
Downstairs, Zhou Xixi went to the bathroom, and Huang Ying went out of the living room alone.
Unfortunately, she ran into Xie Heng again.
He was sitting alone on the sofa, fiddling with his phone, his brows furrowed in frustration.
When he heard the noise, he looked up and glanced at her.
Huang Ying froze, feeling the urge to pretend she didn’t see him and avoid eye contact.
“Hey, come here for a second.” Xie Heng suddenly spoke.
She was startled.
Oh no, oh no, she had just snapped at the school tyrant, and now he must have realized it and was definitely going to pick a fight with her!
“Um… sorry! I didn’t mean it earlier…” Huang Ying clenched her hands, afraid Xie Heng might pick on her.
She had seen Xie Heng hit people before…
He once kicked a guy as tall as him several meters away with one kick, and she suspected that kick could break ribs. It was terrifying.
Xie Heng furrowed his brows again, a vague sense of frustration and irritation in his expression. He asked, “Tell me, am I really a Puxin man?”
Huang Ying was about to apologize again when she heard the school tyrant’s words. She looked at him and saw a serious, troubled expression on his face, as if he was really worried about being just an average guy.
“…”
Pfft…
She couldn’t laugh.
But sometimes the school tyrant really did seem like a handsome but silly guy! She had noticed it when she lent him a novel earlier.
Xie Heng impatiently urged her, frowning deeper. “Say something.”
Huang Ying thought hard, trying to figure out how to respond without upsetting him.
…It really felt like she was reasoning with an angry big wolf dog. It was so difficult.
After a while, Huang Ying took a deep breath and cautiously said, “I don’t think you are.”
Xie Heng raised an eyebrow.
Not bad, it seemed like he wasn’t angry.
Huang Ying continued, “Puxin man, literally, is ordinary but confident. But you’re not ordinary, right?”
The school tyrant was handsome, his family background was unbeatable, so he was definitely not ordinary.
Although he wasn’t as outstanding as Xu Jiaming…
And she felt that the school tyrant didn’t seem as confident as he looked. Would a Puxin man reflect on himself like that?
After hearing that, Xie Heng’s furrowed brows seemed to relax a little. He didn’t say anything, just waved his hand at Huang Ying.
Only then did she feel relieved.
She was about to leave the living room quickly, but suddenly stopped in her tracks, as if remembering something.
“Uh… the thing I said earlier, can you not tell anyone?” Huang Ying asked softly.
“What did you say?”
Huang Ying replied, “I mean… the part where I said I like Xu Jiaming.”
Xie Heng suddenly smiled, switching his phone from his left hand to his right, then back to his left, and retorted, “Why would I mention that? What does it have to do with me?”
Huang Ying felt completely at ease.
That’s right, it had nothing to do with the school tyrant, so he had no reason to mention it.
In the walk-in closet, Lu Xi organized her clothes and glanced at the time. It was around seven o’clock.
She specifically went to the hallway to check on what Xie Heng and the others were doing.
Aside from some people still eating in the yard, others had already entered the house and gathered in the living room. They had cleared the buffet table, and over ten people sat together, playing a number-based board game.
Lu Xi saw this midway through. She didn’t know the rules but figured out that the losers were marked with a marker on their faces.
At the moment, several people in the circle had doodles on their faces. Clearly, they were close friends, willing to joke around and not get upset. Everyone was laughing, no one was angry.
For example, Song Siyang had at least three marks on his face.
There was a black circular frame, with two slanted lines for a mustache at the corners of his mouth—surprisingly symmetrical.
He snorted coldly, saying with an unamused tone, “Nice, you all really went hard. Try drawing on Brother Heng’s face later if you’re so brave.”
Xie Heng flashed a provocative smile at Song Siyang, arrogantly saying, “Forget it, I’m not as dumb as you.”
Lu Xi : “…”
What to say? She was really surprised that Xie Heng and Xu Jiaming both had clean faces.
This game, which required quick reflexes…
She didn’t think it suited her silly goose.
Lu Xi gave him a worried look.
The next round started.
Counting to seven, this game wasn’t hard. It was all about reflexes. The person who failed to react when their turn was a multiple of seven had to knock on the table instead of speaking, or else they lost.
Xie Heng was tense the whole time.
He had passed the previous rounds easily, so he thought this one would be fine too.
Besides, even if he lost, who would dare to draw on his face? He didn’t believe anyone would.
As the saying goes, ‘Pride comes before a fall.’ The more smug you are, the more likely you’ll face bad luck.
Coincidentally, Xie Heng was sitting at the edge. He happened to look up just in time to see Lu Xi standing by the railing on the third-floor corridor, looking at him with a smile that seemed to say, ‘I’m waiting for you to mess up.’
“…”
Why was Lu Xi not hoping for him to do well? Wasn’t it just a mistake today? He had accidentally ruined their romantic dinner. She was really holding a grudge.
He didn’t want to lose.
The young man clenched his fists, focusing all his attention.
But Lu Xi’s presence was too strong.
The harder he tried not to care and focus on the game, the more the thought of her watching him from the third floor kept popping into his mind, reminding him of the potential embarrassment.
This time, the call was for him. It was his turn at 28.
He reacted in time to knock the table, but his mouth slipped, and he accidentally shouted, “28.”
The room fell silent.
Everyone exchanged glances, trying not to laugh, but when they saw the dark expression on Xie Heng’s face, they quickly held it in.
It was Song Siyang who finally burst out laughing. He pointed at Xie Heng and laughed loudly, “Just now you were making fun of me? Now it’s your turn! Hey, Zhou Xixi, draw on his face! Do it quickly, make it a few more circles!”
Zhou Xixi froze.
Why was it her?
How unlucky.
According to the game rules, the person who caused the loss was responsible for punishing the loser, and she was sitting right next to Xie Heng.
Slowly, she turned her head like a scene from a slow-motion movie and cautiously glanced at Xie Heng.
He met her gaze with a cold look. Without saying a word, the intensity in his eyes was enough to make her feel the pressure from the school tyrant.
Draw on his face? Multiple circles? Did she dare?
She was terrified of having her head twisted off.
Sigh.
Zhou Xixi didn’t dare to do it. Song Siyang sighed in disappointment, clearly frustrated.
“Not going to draw? Fine, let’s continue playing.” Xie Heng stretched out a long leg, lazily yawning, a smug smile on his face. His blue hair swayed, clearly showing how pleased he was with himself.
Lu Xi cleared her throat and said, “Xixi, don’t be afraid of him, draw on his face.”
Everyone froze for a moment, then turned to look upstairs.
The woman was leaning against the railing, one hand resting on her chin, her young and beautiful face breaking into a smile, like peach and plum blossoms in full bloom in early spring, her face full of warmth.
Xie Heng’s fingers stiffened, and he lifted his chin unhappily. “What’s going on? Are you helping them?”
Lu Xi raised an eyebrow. “I’m not helping anyone. You can’t lose like this, or who’s going to play with you in the future? Right? Drawing on your face won’t make you lose a piece of flesh.”
Xie Heng was left speechless.
Who can’t lose? She was underestimating him again, first calling him a Puxin man, now saying he can’t take a loss.
Xie Heng gritted his teeth, turned his head to the right, didn’t even glance at Zhou Xixi, closed his eyes, and coldly said, “Do whatever you want, draw.”
Zhou Xixi blinked.
Really… is it okay?
Lu Xi was already eager to see the fun, regretting that she didn’t have any snacks like sunflower seeds, chips, or spicy strips. She squinted slightly, her expression leisurely and calm.
Zhou Xixi had been hesitating, but when she looked up and saw Lu Xi’s nonchalant look, she somehow wasn’t as scared anymore.
And…
The school tyrant’s skin is really nice!
He looked like the type who never cared about skincare, but how did he manage to have poreless skin with no blemishes or acne marks at all?!
His complexion is also nice, pale, but not sickly pale—just the right shade, which shows that his health is good.
Now that she thought about it, she had never seen Xie Heng with acne on his face. She had heard that he often stayed up late playing games. How did he manage this?
At that moment, with his eyes closed, his thick eyelashes drooping, he didn’t look like the usual cool and fierce school tyrant. He looked almost a bit obedient?
His star-like brows, sharp eyes, and his handsome face were flawless from every angle!
She really couldn’t resist wanting to draw all over this face!
Under everyone’s eager gaze, Zhou Xixi picked up a marker and pondered where to start drawing on Xie Heng’s face.
Then, Xie Heng impatiently spoke up, “Are you done yet? Are you drawing or not? Hurry up!”
Zhou Xixi immediately stopped her unrealistic fantasies.
Sigh, the school tyrant really is still the school tyrant—so fierce.
Her hand holding the marker trembled slightly, and she didn’t dare to draw a funny face like she would on other classmates. Instead, she just circled his face quickly, wanting to put the pen down as soon as possible.
But just then, Xie Heng suddenly moved, lifting his face up.
Zhou Xixi wasn’t able to control the pen in time, and she watched as a black line was drawn down his right eyelid, turning into a vertical line.
“……”
This is bad.
Not only did she draw a black line on the school tyrant’s face, but she also drew it across his eyelid.
With a terrified face, she quickly tossed the pen aside, pretending nothing had happened, wishing she could turn back time to ten seconds ago.
The people around had varying expressions—some were trying hard to suppress their laughter, others were tense, and some looked at Zhou Xixi with sympathy.
Xie Heng opened his eyes and immediately asked for a mirror.
He was mentally prepared for the marker to be on his face, but when he saw the line on his eyelid, he couldn’t help but twitch his mouth.
He glanced at Zhou Xixi and coldly snorted, his tone full of chill, “Didn’t you say you’d only draw one line?”
Zhou Xixi sheepishly explained, “You moved just now.”
Xie Heng frowned, thinking for a moment. It did seem like that was the case.
He wanted to get angry, but there was no reason to, so he swallowed it. Moreover, Ms. Lu was still watching him from the third floor. He had to stay calm and not let her look down on him.
Xie Heng nodded indifferently, his face showing no concern. “Alright, just be more careful next time.”
Zhou Xixi was stunned.
Just like that? The school tyrant didn’t even get angry, and he said ‘next time’… does that mean if he loses again, she’ll be allowed to draw on his face again?
Zhou Xixi suddenly felt a bit light-headed.
The school tyrant doesn’t seem… that scary after all.
The students who had been invited all shared her opinion. When the servants were too busy, Xie Heng served them barbecue, played games with them, and accepted punishments when he lost. He didn’t even get mad when they drew two lines on his face.
Although he still looked impatient and always had a stern face, he was actually quite nice!
Around 8 PM, it was time for everyone to leave, and the class monitor walked over to Xie Heng with his phone in hand, asking if he wanted to join the class group chat.
Xie Heng was momentarily stunned.
“Fine.” He agreed easily, took out his phone, and scanned the QR code to join the group.
Actually, he didn’t really care; being in the group didn’t matter to him. The reason he had left before was because he thought the class was full of bookworms, and their conversations were boring.
But tonight, he heard them talking about things beyond studying.
Like food, basketball, games… He played games with a few of them and was surprised to find both boys and girls were pretty good at it.
By the time everyone left, only Xu Jiaming remained. After all, he lived next door and could get home in minutes.
“Ms. Lu is really good to you.” Xu Jiaming suddenly said.
Xie Heng : “What?”
Xu Jiaming looked at him with a speechless expression and said, “She specially organized this gathering to help you maintain your friendships with your classmates. You didn’t notice that?”
Xie Heng was taken aback, and his gaze flickered.
He instinctively turned to look at the third floor, but all the lights were off, and her bedroom door was tightly closed.
Had she gone to bed so early…
The boy watched Xu Jiaming leave, and suddenly, a strange and complex emotion surged within him, something he couldn’t quite describe.
He felt a little happy…
But then he thought of something, and the smile on his lips faded, replaced by a hint of frustration in his eyes.
She cared so much for him, and he hadn’t even noticed until Xu Jiaming pointed it out.
He really was a failure.