Moving On from the Tsundere, I Choose the Perfect Sweetheart

Wang Zibo wiped the sweat from his brow, breathing a silent sigh of relief.

’When you get right down to it, it’s all that guy Brother Fan’s fault!’

’If he’d just accepted Princess Ning’s xiaolongbao, couldn’t I have snagged a few for myself?!’

’Then I wouldn’t be stuck eating this dry, flavorless bread. I wouldn’t have had to rush around with no time for breakfast. And I definitely wouldn’t have choked, started coughing, and gotten called on by that old hag!’

"Sigh..."

"Oh, Brother Fan, Brother Fan... it’s all your fault!"

Wang Zibo sighed softly, shamelessly muttering under his breath.

ACHOO!

Gu Yifan, who was sitting behind Wang Zibo, suddenly sneezed.

’Shit, did I catch a cold?’

’No way.’

’Is some bastard cursing my name?’

he muttered to himself.

Hearing Gu Yifan muttering to himself, Wang Zibo jumped in fright and quickly clamped his mouth shut, not daring to say another word.

.........

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, the last study hall of the morning had arrived.

To be more precise, what was supposed to be Geography had been turned into a study hall.

This was the daily life of a high school senior. With less than three months until the College Entrance Exam, this was especially true for them. In Gu Yifan’s class, all subjects except for Chinese Literature had essentially wrapped up.

Now, those class periods were either turned into study halls or used for quizzes.

Endless study halls and endless exams—this was the daily reality for high school seniors.

And in the coming days, this routine would repeat itself all the way until the College Entrance Exam.

RING RING—RING RING—

...

As the bell for the last morning class rang, it signaled the start of a short lunch break for the seniors.

"Class dismissed!"

As the geography teacher’s voice faded—WHOOSH—the entire classroom instantly erupted like a boiling kettle.

The male day students, in particular, swarmed toward the door like a hive of bees.

There was a simple reason for this.

Any later, and the line at the bike shed would be impossibly long.

After the day students had left, the boarding students got up and headed for the school cafeteria. After all, they’d been starving all morning and were in desperate need of a recharge.

Anyone who’s been a student knows the school cafeteria line is a battlefield. It’s every man for himself. Arrive a little late, and you’re stuck with whatever scraps are left over.

It was a strange phenomenon. He never understood why, whether at school or at work, he could sit and do nothing all morning and still be absolutely ravenous by lunchtime. Yet on weekends or holidays, he could go a whole day without eating and not feel that same hunger at all.

’Was it because studying and working were just that mentally exhausting?’

’No, that wasn’t it.’

’He’d tested it before. He’d spent an entire morning with his head on his desk, fast asleep and thinking about nothing, yet as the final bell approached, especially during the last class, the hunger would arrive right on schedule.’

It was a phenomenon Gu Yifan couldn’t figure out, even after living two lives.

It truly boggled the mind.

’Yeah... seriously, it had to be one of the world’s top ten unsolved mysteries.’

Suddenly!

He remembered his promise to have lunch with Su Qinghe.

Gu Yifan shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. Deciding not to waste any more time on the pointless question, he put down his notebook and got ready to find Su Qinghe.

"Brother Fan, are you going home for lunch today?"

Just then, Wang Zibo, from the desk in front, turned around. "If you are, I’ll give you a ride. I came on my electric scooter this morning!"

"Hm?"

"Zibo, you haven’t left yet?"

Gu Yifan was just now noticing that, for the first time ever, Wang Zibo hadn’t bolted at the bell.

"Pfft."

"There’s a huge crowd at the bike shed. I’d just be stuck in line. Plus, it’s freezing out there. Better to stay warm in the classroom!"

"Heh heh..."

Wang Zibo said with a sly grin.

Gu Yifan: "..."

"Tsk."

"Zibo, you dog. Only you."

Gu Yifan said, shaking his head and cursing with a laugh.

"Heh heh."

Wang Zibo didn’t get angry. He just laughed and said, "Brother Fan, it’s about that time. Anyone who was gonna leave has left by now. Let’s get going!"

"Nah, you go on without me."

Gu Yifan said, shaking his head.

"Huh?"

Wang Zibo paused. "Brother Fan, if you’re not going home, where are you eating lunch?"

He thought for a moment, then said, "How about I don’t go home either? I’ll go with you?"

"You..."

Before Gu Yifan could reply, a voice called out from the classroom doorway, "Gu Yifan, someone’s here for you!"

He turned to look and saw a boy sitting near the entrance pointing out into the hallway, signaling that the person was out there.

Gu Yifan focused his gaze and saw a gentle, youthful figure come into view.

Who else could it be but Su Qinghe?

Wang Zibo saw her too.

"Er..."

He blinked, then said, "Brother Fan, so you’re having lunch with the missus today?"

"That’s right."

Gu Yifan nodded, patting him on the shoulder. "So," he said lightly, "still want to tag along?"

Wang Zibo: "..."

"Nope, nope!"

He shook his head frantically.

’They’re a couple, trying to have a private moment. The last thing he wanted was to be a giant third wheel.’

"Alright, you’re the one who said no. Don’t say I didn’t invite you!"

Gu Yifan said with a shake of his head. With that, he stood up and walked out of the classroom.

’Like I’d actually go!’

’I’m not an idiot!’

’I’d be full from their PDA before I even touched my food. I’d rather save my appetite for an actual meal!’

Wang Zibo muttered under his breath, watching Gu Yifan’s retreating back.

After Gu Yifan left, he dusted himself off and was about to head home for some food.

Suddenly!

A graceful figure blocked his path.

"Er..."

Wang Zibo stumbled, nearly unable to stop himself. When he saw who it was, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Princess Ning, what’s this?"

Han Ning’s composure had returned, but her slightly reddened eyes were proof that she had been crying earlier.

She stood before Wang Zibo, her expression unreadable as she asked, "Did Gu Yifan just leave with Su Qinghe from Class Five?"

"Er..."

Wang Zibo froze, his mind a tangled mess.

’It was about Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe, the "pauper school belle"...’

’Should he say something, or should he keep his mouth shut?!’

’On the one hand, there was a friend he’d known since childhood. On the other, there was a brother who treated him better than family.’

’What a dilemma...’

Seeing his silence, Han Ning’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She looked at him, her voice ice-cold. "Wang Zibo, I’m going to count to three. Are you going to talk, or not?"

Wang Zibo: "..."