Whispering

Shen Nian always had a way of saying things that Xia Yanchun couldn't handle, completely out of the blue.

It was the same before, and it's the same now.

Hearing Shen Nian's words, Xia Yanchun's eyes immediately became evasive, her head drooped lower and lower, and a blush she couldn't control spread across her cheeks.

"W-what nonsense are you talking about..." She smoothed her hair on her own, taking a long, long time to calm down before pretending to be nonchalant and blowing a bubble of words.

"It's not nonsense."

Was this a confession?

Xia Yanchun didn't know, and didn't know how to reply, so she just bit her lip, waiting for Shen Nian to continue.

But Shen Nian showed no intention of explaining further. He just stared at her youthful face for a good while.

Shen Nian grinned, boldly grabbing her hand and holding it between both of his, kneading and rubbing it, determined to make her hand as red as her face.

The girl's hand was cool, her skin tender. Perhaps because Xia Yanchun was already in a shy state, it didn't take long for Shen Nian's touch to make her hand warm.

"What do you like about me?" Xia Yanchun couldn't help but ask.

Shen Nian thought about it... and got stuck.

He hemmed and hawed for a while, unable to come up with anything.

Xia Yanchun pouted slightly, her eyes instantly filled with exasperation. "You're just joking, right?"

"Buddy, I only speak the truth. Although you have many flaws, your good points are also very few."

"..."

Shen Nian quickly moved to Li Shiyan's seat, pulling the chair closer to her. "Chunbao, that's not what I meant. The classroom is for studying. Let's talk about something academic instead."

Xia Yanchun gave him a resentful look, ignoring his big hand that had taken the opportunity to creep onto her arm. "So you do know this is a classroom. You clearly don't take it seriously, saying such things suddenly..."

"Haha, you're right." Shen Nian didn't want to explain. He stroked her cheek with his thumb. "But I wasn't talking nonsense either. If you don't want to hear it, I won't say it."

The blush on her face never faded. She felt she probably wouldn't be able to sleep at noon today.

Being told she was liked by the boy next door she'd grown up with...

This wasn't a confession. Shen Nian hadn't said anything about wanting to date her or the like. It was more like stating a fact, something he just said because he felt like it.

As for what he liked about her...

She didn't really care.

Just like how she disliked Shen Nian, but didn't know exactly what she disliked about him.

Feeling inexplicably awkward again, Xia Yanchun hunched her shoulders slightly. "I wasn't talking nonsense either, about disliking you."

"Chunbao, don't be upset, okay? Let's go import some snacks later. My treat, for real this time. I won't scam you."

"Have you heard the story of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'? Your credibility with me is completely depleted. If I had to choose between trusting you and trusting 'Qin Shi Huang, V me 500', I'd choose the latter without hesitation."

"Really? Actually, I am Qin Shi Huang. Back then, I sought the elixir of immortality, but was tricked. The immortality pill was actually a reincarnation pill that lets the user retain memories through rebirth. You V me 500, and I'll secretly take you to the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang to find my mount, the polar bear."

"..."

Xia Yanchun just watched him spout whatever nonsense came to his mind.

More terrifying than being liked by a yandere is being liked by an idiot.

After listening to his passionate performance, Xia Yanchun nodded with feigned seriousness. "You being from ancient times might not know, but 'buy now, pay later' is all the rage now. You take me to find the polar bear first, then I'll V you 500. Okay, I'm going to sleep now."

"Then sleep."

Xia Yanchun took out her small pillow, obediently rested her head on it, and closed her eyes.

But the lingering warmth on her face wouldn't dissipate. With Shen Nian, who had said those things, sitting beside her, she couldn't completely ignore him anymore.

Especially since Shen Nian's hand was still resting on her arm, not even pretending otherwise.

Xia Yanchun quietly turned a little, opening one eye a slit to peek at the person next to her, who was also resting his head on the desk but with his entire face turned towards her. She blinked.

"Shen Nian..."

"Hmm?"

"...Do you really like me?"

"Mhm." Shen Nian countered, "Then do you really dislike me?"

Xia Yanchun blinked twice, her breathing becoming a little hurried. Her feet even restlessly stepped onto the crossbar under the desk, making an unpleasant scraping sound.

Her voice was soft, "Going to sleep."

"?"

Shen Nian knew the answer. Hearing Xia Yanchun say it herself wasn't strictly necessary.

Such a tsundere, this Chun'er.

But Shen Nian still had to pretend to be annoyed. He leaned close to her buried head and rubbed his forehead against hers. "The hell, leaving a sentence half-finished, keeping me hanging again, huh?"

Before she could fall asleep, Shen Nian moved closer, vigorously tickling her arms and waist with both hands. Xia Yanchun, her face buried, let out muffled giggles and light hums, trying to hold back her laughter.

She held out for a long time but finally couldn't help lifting her head a little, puffing out her cheeks like a pufferfish.

"Dammit, still laughing. Seems you know you're keeping me hanging."

"Hmph, as if!"

"Bad woman."

Shen Nian nuzzled her cheek, along with her hair, and gently took her delicate little earlobe into his mouth for a moment.

The warm, damp sensation startled Xia Yanchun. She immediately jerked her neck back, covering the ear Shen Nian had just taken into his mouth with an incredulous look. Her eyes reflected Shen Nian's face, and her lips pressed into a straight line.

She thought she could hear Shen Nian swallow, or maybe it was just her imagination—until she actually saw his Adam's apple bob up and down.

Xia Yanchun lowered her gaze. "You even bit my ear..."

"I wanted to kiss you originally." Shen Nian bared his teeth in a grin. Even his face, which had been normal when saying he liked her, now showed a hint of barely suppressed flush.

"...In your dreams! I'm really going to sleep now!"

"Okay, okay."

Around one o'clock, Shen Nian stopped bothering Xia Yanchun. Although he felt a bit restless inside, this was originally Xia Yanchun's naptime.

Xia Yanchun wasn't exactly full of vigor; catching up on sleep was important.

He shouldered his backpack and went outside the school to stock up on snacks.

The classroom was empty. Xia Yanchun rested her cheek on her hand, her thoughts in disarray. The moment she remembered Shen Nian saying he liked her, little flowers seemed to bloom in her heart one after another. The ear Shen Nian had bitten felt warm, the heat lingering for a long, long time.

At two in the afternoon, the clouds parted, and the sun dispersed the traces of yesterday's heavy rain.

Shen Nian returned to the classroom with his backpack. Xia Yanchun seemed to have just woken up, sitting dazedly in her seat without moving, her eyes barely open.

This sleepy, drowsy Chunbao was super cute.

Shen Nian hung up his bag, leaned over her desk, and gently stroked her soft lips with his finger.

Xia Yanchun reacted as if startled, first covering the ear closer to him, then belatedly switching to a defensive expression, ready to hiss at him.

"I washed my hands after using the restroom," Shen Nian predicted directly.

"Who asked?!"

Shen Nian said nothing, just kept grinning foolishly.

Silence.

People gradually trickled into the classroom, most looking as if they'd been dead for two days, immediately flopping onto their desks to continue sleeping as soon as they sat down.

Nothing much happened in the afternoon. Even the teachers seemed listless, explaining a few problems before letting the students study on their own.

It made no difference to Shen Nian, though. It was all just doing test papers.

Eighty test papers were a huge project. Without his usual vigor, Shen Nian would probably wear down two of his 'magic pills' writing them.

Yan Xi reminds you: Due to Fanqie's daily requests exceeding 3 million+, causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended that you use sources from other big-name providers.