Eleven thousand and eleven
The cold war between Song Yang and Shen Yi had begun unilaterally.
But more terrifying to Shen Yi than Song Yang giving her the cold shoulder was this—
Song Yang was awake—and actually still attending class!
Terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
Song Yang’s unusual behavior made Shen Yi uneasy, as if he were pretending to listen but secretly plotting some scheme against her.
She had to seek help from Meng Zihan.
Meng Zihan calmly took a sip of milk and said, “Don’t make it sound so scary. Song Yang just didn’t sleep during the day; he’s not sharpening a knife by your bedside.”
Shen Yi replied, “Those two things are about equally frightening.”
Meng Zihan sighed helplessly. “Song Yang hasn’t been nocturnal all his life. His parents should be back from their world tour soon, and his schedule has been pretty normal lately, right?”
Her words reminded Shen Yi.
True enough.
Song Yang wasn’t some vampire who lived by day and roamed by night. He only flipped his schedule when his parents were away. But this time, with his uncle and aunt traveling the world for so long, she had nearly gotten used to his odd routine.
Still...
Shen Yi looked at Meng Zihan curiously. “How do you know that Song Yang’s schedule depends on whether his parents are home?”
She didn’t think she ever told Meng Zihan that.
Meng Zihan paused briefly before answering, “It’s obvious. Every time Song Yang’s mother posts travel updates, Song Yang looks half-asleep during the day.”
Shen Yi sighed appreciatively. “I see. That’s such a detailed observation!”
Meng Zihan changed the subject. “By the way, you two are cold-shouldering each other like this—don’t you think you should apologize?”
“...Huh?”
Shen Yi slammed her hand on the table. “Apologize to him? Why should I?”
Her outburst drew quite a few curious glances from around them, and she winced in pain herself.
Meng Zihan gently massaged Shen Yi’s palm and said, “You really were wrong. Pursuing a same-sex friend and pursuing a romantic interest are two different things and can’t be treated the same. If there was a guy you didn’t like chasing after you, and Song Yang told him all your preferences, wouldn’t you be upset?”
Shen Yi rejected the example outright, sitting up straight. “But Jiang Yue is beautiful, gentle, and hardworking—how can you compare?”
If she were a guy, she might even like someone like Jiang Yue!
Perfect and almost flawless, Jiang Yue even inspired her protective instincts—so wonderful!
Even if there had been misunderstandings, Shen Yi genuinely thought Jiang Yue was a very good girl, which was why she hoped Song Yang could have such an excellent girlfriend.
“…It’s not about whether the person is good or not,” Meng Zihan said thoughtfully, finally coming up with a fitting example. “If being excellent was all that mattered, what if Xu Qingzhe from our class wanted to pursue you, and I just sold you out? Would you accept that?”
Xu Qingzhe was another mysterious ace from Class A.
Though apparently from a poor background, he held a terrifying “domination” status in Class A, rivaling even Wen Que.
Countless teachers hailed him as a genius in science and math, winning endless competition awards.
Unfortunately, his interests didn’t seem solely academic. Rumor had it he made a living collecting protection money from another school, with occasional bruises to prove it.
Unlike Wen Que’s polite and reserved demeanor, Xu Qingzhe was truly extremely aloof.
He had no friends in class and was always alone, with nobody daring to approach him.
Yet, he consistently achieved top results in every contest, and Wen Que’s current pressure probably stemmed from losing to him last time.
On top of that, he had good looks, further forging the image of a “genius school bully.”
Wen Que, who respected and admired excellence, had extended an olive branch of friendship to him.
But Xu Qingzhe was too proud!
Thinking of this made Shen Yi angry—Wen Que had invited Xu Qingzhe to eat together, and the latter had brushed him off without a second thought!
Too much! Absolutely too much!
Xu Qingzhe’s attitude was truly detestable.
So much so that Shen Yi felt a bit of resentment toward him too.
She refused: “...He’s absolutely not acceptable. I hate him.”
Meng Zihan saw Shen Yi had completely lost her focus.
Sometimes reasoning with Shen Yi was exhausting, so she chose to be more direct, offering a logic Shen Yi could accept: “But you only acted that way because of the cake. Essentially, you were using Song Yang. The thing you hate most—why can’t you understand why Song Yang is angry when it happens to him?”
Shen Yi’s face instantly turned pale.
She had no rebuttal.
Meng Zihan continued, “You took advantage of Song Yang’s tolerance, acting recklessly. Shen Yi, you really were wrong this time. You should seriously think about how to apologize.”
“I... understand.”
The two agreed to leave the cafeteria together.
If Shen Yi had looked back at that moment, she would have screamed in shock.
The other “example” mentioned unkindly during their conversation—the so-called tool—was actually sitting at a table less than a meter away.
The young man with an expressionless face lifted his head and watched them walk away.
This wasn’t the first time he had overheard people talking behind his back, and honestly, he was used to it.
But it was the first time he heard such an extremely negative word, beyond praise or fear.
“Hate.”
The problem was, the girl next to Meng Zihan didn’t even know him.
＊
“Yiyi, want to come over for dinner tonight?”
Song Yang’s parents had returned from their world tour and realized something was wrong with their son. When Song Yang asked Shen Yi to come over for dinner as if he hadn’t heard, it was obvious they were having another quarrel.
No other choice, Song Yang’s mother sent this message herself.
Receiving it, Shen Yi felt as if a savior had appeared.
Three days ago, she had resolved to apologize to Song Yang and asked him to wait for her after school.
But Song Yang?
He left early!
Ten minutes before dismissal, he raised his hand to say he needed to go to the restroom—and never came back!
The next two days were the same.
Whenever Shen Yi wanted to talk things through, he found excuses to avoid her.
But such matters were awkward to discuss in class, so she had delayed it until now.
She thought, no matter how much Song Yang avoided her, he had to come home, right?
Good.
She would go straight to the Song household after school, eat dinner, then corner Song Yang to apologize—he couldn’t escape!
Shen Yi’s plan was perfect, but she didn’t expect to encounter an “unexpected” factor at dismissal—Wen Que.
Seeing Shen Yi’s confused expression, Wen Que, used to her clumsiness, kindly reminded her, “I messaged you the night before last, saying we’d have dinner together today.”
Shen Yi: “!”
She did remember that.
Shoot. She must have been so frustrated by Song Yang that she forgot such an important thing as having dinner alone with Wen Que.
Her face showed utter despair.
What to do?
Did she have to choose between the two?
Wen Que’s gaze fell on her, and naturally noticed another heated look directed at her. He understood immediately: “Is something wrong with Song?”
Afraid Song Yang’s silence would make things awkward, Shen Yi hurriedly answered, “Song’s mother invited me over for dinner today. I agreed.”
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, clearly feeling guilty.
“Do as you please.”
After this cold war, Song Yang finally spoke to Shen Yi for the first time: “My mother hates people who break their promises. If you don’t come this time, don’t bother coming again.”
Shen Yi: “!!!”
“It’s fine, go ahead.”
Compared to Song Yang, Wen Que seemed even more understanding. Though stood up, he showed no anger and kindly said, “The restaurant time can be changed. I’ll pick you up again tomorrow night.”
This reassured Shen Yi, relieving her of the dilemma of choosing and the worry about missing the chance to dine with Wen Que soon.
She smiled happily. “Wen Que, thank you! Unlike...”
Unlike some people!
She trailed off, clearly still annoyed.
There was no one like Song Yang! What’s so hard about giving someone a chance to apologize? Ridiculous!!!
Song Yang, overhearing her snide remark, turned back and sneered, beginning a countdown: “Three, two, one.”
Shen Yi: “?”
“Not leaving? Then I’m leaving.”
Song Yang tossed out this line and strode away.
“Hey! Song Yang! If you want me to go with you, at least speak properly!” Shen Yi, both angry and anxious, ran after him.
Song Yang kept a blank expression but deliberately slowed his pace when he heard her footsteps behind.
Shen Yi caught up successfully.
She, who usually could start a whole conversation from a tiny spark, now realized Song Yang wasn’t really mad anymore and resumed her usual chatter: “I said, did you hear me? Why walk so fast...”
Song Yang looked down at her, silent for a moment before finally reaching out: “...Give me your backpack.”
Shen Yi had borrowed several manga books from classmates today, stuffing her bag so full it was at least twice as heavy as usual.
She hadn’t apologized yet, but Song Yang had already “made the first move,” which made her feel somewhat guilty and regretful, sensing she had indeed been a bit wrong.
She handed him her backpack and finally mustered the courage to whisper, “Sorry.”
“Hm?” Song Yang stopped and looked at her when he heard that.
The words were already out there.
Shen Yi closed her eyes, steeling herself to continue apologizing: “Sorry! What happened last time was my fault. Mengmeng already taught me a lesson, and I’ve seriously reflected on my mistakes. I promise I won’t do it again! Please forgive me!”
After her long apology, she was so embarrassed she didn’t dare open her eyes.
She was prepared.
Song Yang might not accept her apology so easily, or might demand a bunch of humiliating conditions, like copying his homework with a “Your Majesty, please review” note.
But she was truly wrong.
As long as his demands weren’t too much, she’d endure it this time!
Yet after this long anxious wait,
Shen Yi opened her eyes to find a face magnified a thousandfold in front of her.
Song Yang was already bent over.
Somewhat confused, he leaned in close, staring intently at her face without blinking.
They were so close that even a breeze could have blown his golden short hair against her cheek.
Unfortunately, Shen Yi was clueless and didn’t realize how intimate their posture was.
She just felt a little uncomfortable. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Song Yang shrugged and teased, “I suspect that the unreasonable Miss Shen has been swapped out. I want to take a good look at who’s really in front of me.”
Shen Yi wasn’t angry and asked, “Have you come to any conclusions?”
“Yep.”
Song Yang nodded and mercilessly tousled her carefully curled bangs, smirking wickedly: “No swap. Just a change of temper.”
“Are you sick?”
Shen Yi hated anyone touching her bangs and immediately tried to push him away, but suddenly realized the vast difference in strength between them.
Luckily, Song Yang didn’t keep it up for long and soon stopped.
As Shen Yi took out her comb to fix her bangs, Song Yang pushed her shoulder forward and urged, “Let’s go! I’m starving—I’m going home—to eat! So hungry!!!”
Shen Yi couldn’t understand and shouted, “Don’t think I didn’t see you eat two bowls at lunch in the cafeteria! Are you a pig or what?”
...
On the second floor of the teaching building,
A young man lowered his eyelashes, watching their playful retreat.
If a classmate happened to pass by now, they would be astonished at what great event could provoke such an expression from the usually inscrutable Master Wen.
In truth, Wen Que’s mood was far from pleasant.
He recalled the photo briefly appearing on the forum last week before he had it deleted as if it never existed—the photo still saved in his phone album.
He took out his phone, opened the album, and selected the picture he had deliberately ignored but somehow kept.
In the image,
A girl was being pulled back by her collar, yet her eyes gleamed excitedly at the cake held by the man in front of her.
She looked as if she would wag her tail like a puppy the next second, a stark contrast to her usual delicate demeanor—so endearing that one couldn’t look away.
Of course,
If the man standing too closely behind her in such an intimate pose wasn’t Song Yang, Wen Que might have wanted to keep this photo forever.
An unguarded girl and a foolish, ill-intentioned dog.
They were hardly a good match.