Want to Listen

"Bai Yuyou, aren’t you eating rice?" Luo Che asked, though it suddenly occurred to him that she might simply be watching her figure.

Though Bai Yuyou was wearing her school uniform, Luo Che could tell at a glance that she must have a great figure.

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but say, "Your figure is already perfect. Guys don’t like girls who are too thin."

Bai Yuyou gave Luo Che a strange look but didn’t respond, continuing to eat her food in silence.

Seeing this, Luo Che assumed she had taken his words to heart, and a smug expression crept onto his face—thankfully, he had the foresight to recognize Bai Yuyou as a hidden gem.

Because of the help he’d given her last time, she must like him too.

Luo Che’s heart swelled with excitement as he gazed at the girl’s delicate, flawless face. Otherwise, why would she have asked where he was from?

Bai Yuyou, unaware of Luo Che’s thoughts, pulled out her phone.

"Adding me on WeChat?" Luo Che quickly took out his own phone, smiling. "You can scan my QR code."

He held out his phone, displaying the code.

But Bai Yuyou simply dialed a number and held the phone to her ear. A second later, she glanced at him with an expressionless look, as if confused by his actions.

Luo Che froze in place, awkwardly retracting his phone before pretending nothing had happened and burying himself in his meal.

Just then, the call connected. "Hello?"

"Ye Shuang…" Hearing the familiar voice, Bai Yuyou spoke softly, unaware that the moment she heard him, a faint trace of relaxation and warmth flickered across her usually impassive face.

"Are you eating properly?" Ye Shuang’s voice carried a gentle amusement.

"Eating. I’m eating properly," Bai Yuyou replied. "But… no rice. Have to bring from home."

"Huh?" Ye Shuang paused. What did she mean by bringing rice from home?

"You’re saying the school doesn’t serve rice? Is the cafeteria food not good?"

"School doesn’t have."

"How could they not?" Ye Shuang’s tone softened as he patiently explained, "Did you check the right place? The rice station is on the far left—it’s separate from the main dishes."

He had already familiarized himself with the cafeteria layout the day before.

Only then did Bai Yuyou realize her mistake. She glanced toward the far left and, sure enough, spotted students lining up for rice.

"Did you run into any other trouble this morning?" Ye Shuang asked, knowing he’d been away with An Shiyu.

"No… You said to call if I couldn’t solve something."

"Right."

Bai Yuyou hesitated before asking, "If nothing happens… can I still call?"

"Why call if nothing’s wrong?" Ye Shuang chuckled.

"I don’t know…" Her voice grew quieter.

"I just wanted to hear your voice."

There was a brief silence on the other end before Ye Shuang replied, "Only during lunch break, okay?"

"Okay."

"Finish your meal first. You still have classes after your nap."

After a few more words, Ye Shuang hung up. Bai Yuyou reluctantly lowered her phone, her slender fingers brushing the screen as her downcast eyes hid her thoughts.

"B-Bai Yuyou, was that… your mom?" Luo Che, having caught fragments of the conversation, couldn’t shake the odd feeling it gave him.

Bai Yuyou shook her head. "No."

"Then…?"

"Husband," Bai Yuyou answered seriously after a moment of thought.

H-husband?!

The word struck Luo Che like a hammer, leaving him petrified.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuyou picked up her tray to get rice, unaware that to Luo Che, it looked like she was deliberately cutting him off and walking away.

He was left utterly dumbfounded.

Soon, Bai Yuyou returned with a mountain of rice piled high on her tray.

She noticed Luo Che was gone, but it didn’t matter to her. Sitting down, she began eating in small, delicate bites.

Lunchtime passed quickly, and Bai Yuyou cleaned her plate.

"Full." She patted her flat stomach, already thinking about the dinner Ye Shuang would make.

Returning to the classroom, however, she found her desk and chair missing.

Normally, the other students would just stifle their laughter and pretend not to notice.

But this time, a boy spoke up helpfully, "Wu Ya took your stuff."

Bai Yuyou considered this before walking over to Wu Ya’s seat, taking her desk and chair, and placing them in her own spot. Then, she simply rested her head on the desk.

As the first afternoon class approached, students trickled back into the room.

Wu Ya was no exception, returning with a smug grin—she had moved Bai Yuyou’s desk and chair outside while she was at lunch.

After the humiliation Bai Yuyou had caused her, payback was only fair.

But when she saw Bai Yuyou peacefully napping at a desk, her brain short-circuited.

Wait, where did she get that?!

It didn’t take long for Wu Ya to realize—her own desk and chair were gone!

Just then, the homeroom teacher walked in. Wu Ya had barely made it back before the bell, and the teacher’s Chinese class was about to start. "Alright, class begins."

As everyone took their seats, the teacher frowned at Wu Ya, still standing awkwardly.

"Wu Ya, why are you just standing there?"

"My seat’s gone! Bai Yuyou took it!" Wu Ya blurted.

The teacher’s brow furrowed. What nonsense was this now? "Bai Yuyou, what’s going on?!"

Bai Yuyou stood up.

"Why did you take Wu Ya’s desk?!" the teacher demanded.

Bai Yuyou met his gaze and answered plainly, "Because… Wu Ya took mine first."

The teacher slammed his hand on the desk. "Even if she took yours, you can’t just—"

"Huh?"

Bai Yuyou’s innocent reply shorted out the teacher’s brain.

He froze mid-sentence.

Wu Ya had accused Bai Yuyou of stealing her desk, but only because Wu Ya had done it first.

Seriously? The villain playing victim?

"Wu Ya, what is wrong with you?!" The teacher’s patience snapped. Was this girl incapable of behaving?

"I don’t care what issues you have with Bai Yuyou, but if I hear your name from her one more time, I’ll be having a very long chat with your parents about your behavior in this school!"