Xing Yuan reluctantly stood up. The next second, her scrutinizing gaze fell upon Mo Yu. Ever since she and her older sister had become close, she had heard this name quite often.
Although they were just ordinary friends, in Xing Yuan's eyes, her sister only needed one "friend" like her. She didn't want anyone else to share her sister's tenderness.
Mo Yu clearly felt the hostility in Xing Yuan's gaze, but she had more important matters to attend to, so she directly ignored it.
"Is she the girl you're rumored to be dating?" Mo Yu asked impatiently after pulling Yan Xiyue into a corner hidden from the cameras.
Yan Xiyue's cheeks flushed, clearly recalling the few articles she had read. She had almost forgotten about it if Mo Yu hadn't brought it up. Anyway, no one dared to cause trouble.
"Yes... but those things are just random rumors. We're just ordinary friends, like you and me. Others might not understand, but you surely do, right, Mo Yu!"
Yan Xiyue lowered her head, seeming a bit embarrassed. When Mo Yu called her by her full name, she already knew she was angry. Although she didn't know why, she didn't want to provoke an angry Yu.
"Ordinary friends?" Mo Yu emphasized the words. "Did your behavior just now look like that of ordinary friends? Don't tell me you were just explaining homework. When you explained homework to me before, you only wrote down the steps in your notebook for me to see."
"You've always disliked being overly intimate with others, let alone explaining things so intimately to someone. I know you, we've been friends for so many years, so I hope you'll tell me the truth." This way, I'll know how to help you!
Although Mo Yu was angry, she remembered they were at school and kept her voice very low.
"Okay, I admit I have a slight crush on her. But that doesn't mean anything. I just feel a sense of closeness whenever I see her, nothing more. Yu, don't take it to heart."
Yan Xiyue deliberately spoke in a soft, sweet voice, causing Mo Yu's anger to burst like a bubble.
This was how they had met. Yan Xiyue was crying on the rooftop because she hadn't done well on an exam. Her crying disturbed Xing Yuan, so she threw a pebble downwards, startling Yan Xiyue and making her stop crying.
The memory ended. Mo Yu irritably ran a hand through her hair. Although she also had short hair, it was still considerably longer than Xing Yuan's, clearly marking her as a girl.
Mo Yu sighed and softened her tone. "Alright, alright. I believe you. If there's nothing, then there's nothing! Actually, even if there were, it wouldn't matter. We're all friends, and I'll definitely help you behind the scenes."
"There's nothing," Yan Xiyue insisted stubbornly.
"Okay, class is about to start, let's go back," Yan Xiyue said, glancing at her watch and urging her.
Xing Yuan, who had been secretly watching the two from afar by the classroom door, saw them turn back. Instantly, she seemed to hit a speed boost and sat back in her seat, looking down at the problems Yan Xiyue had explained to her earlier.
"Hmm, I was studying diligently the whole time and never went out."
So, when Yan Xiyue returned, she saw Xing Yuan holding a pen, writing and drawing on paper with a serious expression. The faint sunlight illuminated her face, making her seem to glow from a distance.
There were no empty seats in the classroom, so Mo Yu casually moved a desk and chair from the next one. She settled herself diagonally behind Yan Xiyue's row, intending to observe the two of them constantly. Even if she was just spectating, Mo Yu wanted to witness the freshest gossip.
Yan Xiyue was unaware of her intentions. As soon as she sat back down, Xing Yuan leaned over curiously and whispered in her ear.
"Classmate, what were you talking about with your good friend just now? Did you say anything bad about me?" Xing Yuan looked like a small beast stealthily showing its claws but afraid to let its owner see.
"No, we just exchanged a few whispers."
"Also, focus on your studies. I'll be checking these problems this weekend." Yan Xiyue gently pushed away Xing Yuan, who was almost leaning on her.
She used to think this was just normal interaction between friends, but after Mo Yu's reminder, she realized they might indeed be a bit too close.
At least as normal friends, they needed to maintain a certain appropriate distance.
The moment Xing Yuan was pushed away, her eyes darkened. She wasn't sure if Mo Yu had said anything bad about her before, but now it seemed that even if she hadn't, she had definitely said something she shouldn't have.
She lightly nudged her jaw with her tongue, a cunning glint in her eyes. It seemed she needed to find an opportunity to have a "talk" with this person named Mo Yu.
Xing Yuan then put on a wronged smile, her expression lost, as if she couldn't understand why she had been pushed away so suddenly.
Yan Xiyue had no intention of explaining. She simply opened her workbook and started solving problems. Immersed in her studies, she might not have so many strange thoughts. She loved doing homework. o(＊＾▽＾＊)o♪
When school ended, Yan Xiyue subconsciously waited for Xing Yuan at the school gate. Xing Yuan rushed over but gave her an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry! I have something to do today, so I probably can't accompany you, my little classmate."
Xing Yuan drooped her head, her expression subtly disappointed, like a large dog that had been abandoned.
Even though it was Xing Yuan who had something to do, seeing her like this, Yan Xiyue felt an uncontrollable sense of guilt.
"Oh no! Why do I feel like I've done something wrong?"
"It's fine, you go ahead and take care of your business. My home isn't far, I can go back by myself." Yan Xiyue waved her hand and rode away without looking back, fleeing the scene.
Xing Yuan watched Yan Xiyue's retreating back, a thoughtful look in her eyes. Did that person named Mo Yu tell her sister to keep her distance?
However, this further proved that her decision today was the right one. Xing Yuan didn't want to leave potential threats to her and her sister for tomorrow.
She casually walked towards an alley, unconsciously popping a piece of fruit candy into her mouth. The sweet sensation slightly improved her mood.
"What do you guys want?" Mo Yu was surrounded by a group of people dressed in a flashy style right after school and was half-coerced into a secluded alley.
Although Mo Yu had some combat skills, she wasn't entirely confident she could defeat them. She could only feign compliance, wanting to see what they intended to do.
Soon, Mo Yu found out.
These ruffian-like delinquents suddenly bowed and shouted, "Greetings, boss!"
The loud voices made Mo Yu, who was in the center of the encirclement, feel slightly dizzy.
She curiously looked up to see the person these delinquents called their boss. Soon, she saw a familiar figure.
"It's you! You had them bring me here?" Mo Yu exclaimed in shock.
"It was me!" Xing Yuan chuckled. "What, are you surprised to see me? I thought you would have expected this when you provoked me."
She then remembered the rumors about Xing Yuan. She wasn't a "naive and sweet" person like Yan Xiyue, who only cared about things she was concerned about.
Although Xing Yuan's behavior had been exceptionally good recently, Mo Yu now clearly realized that what she had seen before was just Xing Yuan's deliberately displayed obedience. This person, deep down, had always been malicious.