Chapter 17: She Needed to Realize He Was Like This With Everyone |
"Class is finally over, President. Are you going to eat?"
As the bell for the fourth period rang, the morning''s required courses concluded, signaling the start of the lunch break.
Ashley, the Disciplinary Committee Head of the class, walked over and called out to Yan Huan, who was seated by the window, to join her for lunch.
Like Yan Huan, she was a student in Class 1-A.
The first year consisted of five classes, with students randomly assigned upon enrollment.
Among the five members of the Student Council, Yan Huan and Ashley were in Class A, Yabashi Ki was alone in Class B, while Sakuramiya Hitomi and Yurianna were in Class E.
Since they all got along well, they usually ate lunch together unless they were busy with other matters.
Today, however, was an exception.
Yan Huan thought for a moment before smiling and politely declining Ashley''s offer.
Ashley cast a surprised glance at Yan Huan but did not pry into the details, simply saying,
"Alright, I will let Vice President Sakuramiya and the others know. If you want to join us later, we should be in our usual spot."
"Sounds good."
Watching Ashley turn and leave, Yan Huan also stood up, preparing to head over to the senior block.
Naturally, he was going there for Ye Shiyu.
He wasn''t sure if it was because the morning''s Student Council meeting had touched upon the topic of school bullying, but it left him quite worried that the eccentric Ye Shiyu might get dragged into that kind of messy vortex.
Moreover, a quick check on his phone revealed a slew of recent reports about student incidents in Linmen.
Even the two top-tier institutions in the Kyogo Ward, Shuurei Academy and Far Moon Academy, had their share of problems. There was even a suicide by jumping at a neighboring school, which meant the situation at other schools was probably even worse.
The schools in the South Ward were prime suspects for criticism.
Although Ye Shiyu wouldn''t be bullied thanks to her Modifier—in fact, it would be a miracle if she didn''t bully others—being in a hostile environment would definitely drastically increase the chances of her using the Modifier.
Yan Huan had already analyzed the situation before: a Host frequently using their Modifier would make things incredibly troublesome.
He had just pulled off a whole string of maneuvers over the weekend, barely managing to shatter the Modifier into fragments.
He absolutely did not want to leave her alone for a while only to return and find the Modifier nourished to an unstoppable, god-like level that was impossible to deal with.
Therefore, he had no choice but to go and check on her.
Yan Huan walked out of his classroom and hurried toward the other Teaching Building where the senior block was located.
Not all students rushed to the cafeteria right after class. Some brought their own lunches, others went to the convenience store to buy fast food, and some simply did not want to squeeze through the massive lines right after the bell rang.
In short, the classrooms were never completely empty at the start of the lunch break.
A transfer student had just joined Class 2-A today. The boys were quite thrilled, considering the newcomer was an absolute Beauty.
Unfortunately, after just one period, their peacock-like enthusiasm was utterly extinguished by the Beauty''s unapproachable coldness.
It was visibly obvious that the girl was difficult to get along with. Her personality was highly eccentric, and she seemed to possess an invisible force field that repelled anyone trying to get close.
Consequently, after an entire morning, only a handful of people were willing to interact with her.
"Gongzi, aren''t you going to eat yet?"
"I am waiting for my boyfriend. He is still training."
"The Track and Field Club is already this busy right at the start of the semester?"
"The Club War is coming up soon. I heard the rewards are super generous. Aside from being able to punish the losing clubs, the winners can also make a wish to the school board."
"Yeah, I heard the club that won the last Club War asked the school board to cancel the final exams. I wonder how President Yan and the others will arrange things this year..."
Sitting at her desk in a black dress, Ye Shiyu blinked and fell deep into thought when she heard her classmates mention President Yan.
Because of what happened yesterday, she had been feeling somewhat guilty toward Yan Huan.
She had clearly realized last night just how much he had done for her, yet she acted like a block of wood, completely unable to utter a single word of thanks. She had even despicably tried to use Hypnosis on him...
Thus, from the moment she woke up this morning, the very first thing she thought about was what she could do to repay Yan Huan.
The result: she couldn''t think of a single thing.
''Should I buy him some gifts?'' After all, the jellyfish plushie he gave her was still sitting on her bedside table...
''But I do not even know what he likes.''
''Should I invite him back to live at the house again?'' He did mention that he longed for a mother''s care...
However, Ye Shiyu lacked confidence in her own despicable self.
She was terrified that someday in the future, she would lose control of the darkness in her heart just like last night, become blind to his kindness, and uncontrollably use the app to defile him, dirty him, and break him.
So...
As for the second thing, she was pondering: ''Why is Yan Huan so good to me?''
''Is it because of my mother? Because my mother treats him so well, it is only natural for him to treat her daughter just as well.''
''Or is it for some other reason that I am not aware of?''
Ye Shiyu grew increasingly bewildered the more she thought about it, finally letting out a very human sigh.
''If only dealing with people was as simple as dealing with Dolls.''
One of the classmates chatting nearby walked out of the classroom, but the other, a girl named Gongzi who sat next to Ye Shiyu, stayed behind.
Seeing Ye Shiyu suddenly sigh, Gongzi offered a friendly smile and struck up a conversation.
"Classmate Ye, aren''t you going to eat yet?"
Ye Shiyu paused for a moment before realizing Gongzi was speaking to her. She turned her head to look at her expressionlessly and replied,
"...Yeah. I brought food from home."
"Oh, aren''t you from the Dragon Country, Classmate Ye? You also have the habit of bringing a bento?"
The truth was, Ye Shiyu had a Bird Stomach and did not want to squeeze through the crowds in the cafeteria. So, she planned to just make do with the sweets Chen Yi had packed for her.
Ye Shiyu nodded, offering no explanation.
But then, suddenly thinking of something, she turned back to ask Gongzi,
"Yan Huan... is he very famous in our school?"
"Ah, you mean President Yan?"
Gongzi, who had just pulled a makeup mirror from her desk, immediately perked up with interest at Ye Shiyu''s question.
"Of course! When he first came in as a freshman and ran for the Student Council, everyone was blown away by how handsome he was. His smile is seriously to die for. Plus, he has great grades, and his personality seems so gentle..."
The male-to-female ratio at Far Moon Academy was 1:2, and when running for the Student Council, Yan Huan had secured the vast majority of the female vote.
Yan Huan was extremely popular at school.
Ye Shiyu realized this from Gongzi''s words.
Following this realization was a sudden, inexplicable surge of displeasure welling up from the bottom of her heart.
"I see..."
Unconsciously, the Phone Screen on her desk lit up once again.
"I didn''t expect you to take an interest in the hot guys at our school right after transferring in, Classmate Ye! It''s a shame the boys in our Class A aren''t that stunning, though I think there is one in Class B..."
Gongzi thought she had uncovered a secret little interest hidden beneath Ye Shiyu''s cold exterior, but it turned out Ye Shiyu displayed a look of complete disinterest.
Blinking, Gongzi steered the topic back.
"But President Yan is a freshman, so he rarely comes to our senior block. He usually only comes here for official business, and he''s always with Vice President Sakuramiya. He never comes alone, you know?"
As she spoke, Gongzi suddenly caught sight of a handsome, lazy-looking boy standing at the classroom door out of the corner of her eye. She had no idea when he had arrived.
"President Yan?"
Gongzi blurted out subconsciously.
Yan Huan offered her a slight smile and greeted,
"Hello, Senior Female Student."
Hearing this, Ye Shiyu froze slightly. She turned her head, her gaze colliding with Yan Huan, whom she had just bid farewell to last night.
Yan Huan had actually been standing there for a while. Seeing Ye Shiyu having a normal conversation with her classmate eased half of his worries, so he had refrained from speaking up to interrupt.
It seemed he had been overthinking things.
School bullying definitely existed, but it wasn''t an everyday occurrence for everyone, and it would be incredibly terrible luck for Ye Shiyu to run into it right after transferring.
Since he was already here, however, he didn''t quietly slip away. Instead, he greeted them openly.
Ye Shiyu suddenly stood up, while Gongzi''s eyes darted frantically between Yan Huan and Ye Shiyu, like a gossip reporter stumbling upon the scoop of the century.
''Shocking! I have discovered the President''s hidden secret wife!''
Seeing the utterly astounded expression on her face, Yan Huan instantly understood what she was thinking.
It was just a pity she had the wrong headline. It should be changed to this:
''Resisting the Great Demon King of Hypnosis! Why Did Young Yan Huan Run to the Senior Block at Noon?!''
Thinking this, Yan Huan introduced,
"Senior Female Student, Ye Shiyu is my Older Sister. I came here to check on her."
''Older Sister...''
Ye Shiyu''s throat bobbed unconsciously, and her slightly trembling gaze locked onto Yan Huan.
''Wait, your surnames are different, yet she is your Older Sister?''
''Is she really your biological sister?''
''Unless this is some kind of roleplay game...''
Gongzi didn''t voice her doubts, opting to believe Yan Huan for now.
"Ah, your Older Sister. Is that so?"
Yan Huan exchanged a few more pleasantries.
"Yes. I will have to trouble you to look after my Older Sister Shiyu from now on, Senior Female Student. She just transferred here from the Dragon Country."
"Not at all! We are all classmates and everyone is very friendly. There is no trouble at all."
Yan Huan smiled faintly, then looked at Ye Shiyu, who had remained silent the entire time, and asked,
"Older Sister Shiyu, have you eaten yet? Do you want to go to the cafeteria and have lunch with me?"
Gongzi was just about to say, ''Your sister brought food with her,'' but Ye Shiyu had already nodded and replied,
"Okay."
"..."
Gongzi opened her mouth, then slowly turned her head away to play dead, leaving only her ears perked up to secretly eavesdrop on the gossip.
Ye Shiyu picked up her phone and walked toward the door.
"The cafeteria is this way, Older Sister Shiyu."
"Mhm..."
Ye Shiyu matched Yan Huan''s pace. Staring at his back, she asked,
"My classmate said you rarely come to the senior block."
"That is right. It is quite far, after all, and I only have free time during the lunch break. I originally just wanted to message you on Plane to ask if you were getting used to things, Older Sister Shiyu. But considering the school cafeteria is far away and the route is complicated, I thought it would be better to come see you in person."
"..."
Ye Shiyu observed Yan Huan''s profile, watching as the laziness on his face finally accumulated into a trace of drowsiness, prompting him to let out a yawn.
Seeing this, she asked,
"Did you not rest well last night?"
"Ah, well, I had to transfer trains to get back from the Kyogo Ward, so I got home a bit late." "..."
''So it was because of me...''
Yesterday, he had considered her feelings and chosen to leave alone late at night.
And when she chased after him, not only did she fail to persuade him to stay, but she even caused him to miss a train just to borrow a power bank for her...
Ye Shiyu blinked. The guilt in her heart urged her to open her mouth and ask Yan Huan what kind of things he liked.
Yet, just like last night, the words died on her lips.
The only thing that responded was her Phone Screen lighting up once again.
She hastily grabbed her right hand, which was gripping the phone, with her left hand. She tried using this foolish body language to emphasize to herself: ''I absolutely cannot use Hypnosis on him again.''
However, this action produced a sharp "Smack."
Yan Huan looked back at her in a daze and asked with concern,
"What is wrong, Older Sister Shiyu?"
Ye Shiyu''s face flushed slightly. She quietly hid the phone behind her skirt, averting his gaze, and whispered,
"I am just... a little hungry."
"Then let us hurry up and go get some food."
"Mhm..."
Far Moon Academy''s cafeteria was located outside the school gates. In fact, a massive tract of land outside also belonged to the academy.
This included a park, a commercial street, and similar areas. The cafeteria was situated in the southeast corner, relatively close to the school.
Yan Huan carried a few Dragon Country dishes back to his seat, while a bowl of fruit salad was already placed on the table in front of Ye Shiyu.
"There is no need for such a feast."
Ye Shiyu had heard from her mother that Yan Huan had always relied on working part-time jobs to earn his own money. He had bought a gift for her yesterday, and now he had ordered so many dishes for lunch today...
"It is fine. I just have a bigger appetite, that is all."
But Ye Shiyu had already silently attributed his reason for ordering so much food to him wanting to treat her well.
In order to not let him down, Ye Shiyu picked up the chopsticks she carried with her, preparing to eat a little more, even though she had no appetite.
Yes, she actually carried around utensils with her name written on them—something Yan Huan had not expected.
"Are you getting used to your class today? The lessons and such..."
"Mhm, it''s alright. I feel there''s a huge difference compared to the schools in the Dragon Country."
"That is true. The exams should also be relatively simple for you, Older Sister Shiyu."
"Mhm."
As Ye Shiyu ate her food, the desire to ask him what he liked surfaced in her heart once again.
She bit her chopsticks, and just as she was about to speak, the top half of a girl''s head with pink and red hair suddenly popped up over the edge of the dining table.
The girl was gripping the edge of the table with both hands, looking as though she had sneaked over and squatted beside them.
She revealed a pair of large, watery eyes that darted frantically between Ye Shiyu and Yan Huan like an inquisitor.
It was the Secretary of the Student Council, Yurianna.
At this moment, her expression was incredibly serious. She stroked her chin like a "cafeteria judge."
Confusion first appeared in her eyes, followed by certainty...
And then came judgment!
She opened her mouth wide, about to shout, but Yan Huan preempted her. Using an unused plastic fork from the fruit salad, he skewered a piece of cantaloupe and popped it straight into her gaping mouth.
"Chomp!"
As the cantaloupe entered her mouth, she chewed subconsciously, then broke into a goofy smile.
"Tho good..."
But a second later, Yurianna seemed to realize something and quickly exclaimed,
"Wait, no! President! You traitor! You just said you liked me, yet you still—Mmph-mmph!"
Ye Shiyu''s pupils shrank slightly as she looked at Yan Huan in front of her.
Yan Huan just smiled faintly, ignoring Yurianna''s embarrassing acting, and asked,
"Do you want more cantaloupe?"
"Yeth, tho good, I love ith." Yurianna immediately changed her tune, adopting an innocent and adorable expression.
Ye Shiyu silently withdrew her gaze, simultaneously retracting a phone she had just placed on the table.
"Where is Vice President Sakuramiya and the others?"
Yan Huan fed her another piece and asked.
"Mmph, they are right behind me..."
Watching Yan Huan feed Yurianna, Ye Shiyu pursed her lips, her fingers tightly gripping her phone.
She then sensed more people approaching. Turning her head, she saw several members of the Student Council.
An otaku wearing glasses, with his head down playing on his phone—ignored.
Another girl with short blonde hair—Ye Shiyu''s gaze paused on her for a second before suddenly falling on the girl standing between the two.
This girl''s beauty was astounding. Her frame was slightly petite, and her eyes were appraising Ye Shiyu in the exact same manner Ye Shiyu was appraising her.
Their gazes met mid-air for a fleeting second before silently separating.
"Waaah! Hitomi, look! The President isn''t eating with us! Instead, he''s secretly rendezvousing with another girl! And you still say you are not in love?!"
Sakuramiya Hitomi understandingly hugged Yurianna, who had run back to her side. Seeing the girl acting as if she had suffered a massive grievance despite still having cantaloupe in her mouth, she comforted,
"There, there. Do not make wild guesses about the President''s private life. You definitely started spouting nonsense without even asking anything first."
"Hitomi!"
Smiling, Yan Huan introduced Ye Shiyu to his companions.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Ye Shiyu, the daughter of my mother''s good friend. She is my Older Sister."
"So the President went to see his Older Sister at noon. Why have we never heard the President mention that his Older Sister goes to our school?" Ashley stroked her chin.
"She just transferred here today, so..."
Everyone nodded in understanding and greeted Ye Shiyu, and Yan Huan introduced his companions to her in turn.
But Ye Shiyu only gave an expressionless nod, offering no concrete response.
She listened to them chat in silence, hearing them mention all sorts of things.
As she watched Yan Huan converse so warmly with his companions, and saw the bright smile on his face, an answer suddenly popped into Ye Shiyu''s mind regarding her previous ponderings.
''Perhaps, the reason he treats me so well isn''t because of me or my mother...''
''It''s more likely that, given his innately kind nature, he treats everyone this way.''
The moment this thought arose, that inexplicable wave of displeasure from earlier surged even stronger, causing Ye Shiyu to abruptly put down her chopsticks.
"Are you already full, Older Sister Shiyu?"
"Mhm... sorry."
So Ye Shiyu really did have a Bird Stomach.
Yan Huan offered a faint smile, then turned to his companions who were still standing nearby and said,
"Then I will stay here and keep my Older Sister company while she eats. Once we are done, I am planning to show her around the campus."
"Alright, then we will get going first, President."
Sakuramiya Hitomi said with a gentle smile.
Yurianna nodded, but just as she was about to leave, she scurried back and used her fork to steal another piece of Yan Huan''s cantaloupe.
Right as Yan Huan raised his eyebrows to say something, she puffed out her cheeks and sprinted away.
"Run, run, run! Ashley!"
"..."
Yan Huan revealed a helpless expression. Turning his head back to look at Ye Shiyu, who was sitting across from him and staring straight at him, he asked,
"Do you want some more fruit, Older Sister Shiyu?"
"No need."
Ye Shiyu shook her head in refusal. She turned her head toward the door, her eyes fixed on Sakuramiya Hitomi''s retreating back amidst the group of companions.
She didn''t know if it was an illusion, but she couldn''t shake the feeling that the way that girl looked at Yan Huan was very strange. Consequently, it gave Ye Shiyu a rather bad impression of the girl she had just met for the first time.
And yet, even toward a girl like that, Yan Huan still smiled and showed warmth, treating her equally.
Ye Shiyu realized once again that Yan Huan was likely this gentle and kind to everyone...
...And not just to her.
Because the semester had just started, there weren''t any pressing matters. Yabashi Ki returned to his class to play games and watch anime, Ashley went back to her class for the lunch break, and Yurianna ran off to play somewhere unknown.
Although Yurianna looked a bit silly, she was actually extremely popular.
From freshmen to seniors, she knew countless people, and someone in every single class liked her.
Perhaps right at this moment, she was sitting in some classroom, happily chatting away with a group of girls.
Therefore, only Sakuramiya Hitomi silently walked back to the Student Council Office on the top floor of the Teaching Building alone.
Inside the quiet office, she pondered for a moment before sitting behind the desk and pulling a laptop out of her bag.
She unlocked and booted it up, opening a folder labeled "Research" on her hard drive. Inside, a single folder rested, named: "Surveillance Target: Yan Huan."
Upon opening it, nearly a hundred densely packed folders appeared, all following the exact same naming format.
"Camera Number 1", "Camera Number 2"... all the way to "Camera Number 100".
Opening a folder at random revealed a massive collection of photos. The main subject of every single picture was that smiling, handsome boy, merely taken from different angles.
Him attending class, him looking lazy, him conversing with others, him writing something down, him running during P.E. class...
Most of the photos were taken in his classroom and within this very Student Council Office.
Inside this office, there were many hidden cameras installed by Sakuramiya Hitomi.
And astonishingly, Camera Number 100 even contained footage of the hallway outside Yan Huan''s rented apartment...
The beautiful girl stared at the photos in the folder expressionlessly, and the image of that beautiful girl named "Ye Shiyu" suddenly surfaced in her mind.
However, despite scouring through all the camera feeds, she hadn''t seen a single trace of that girl''s figure. Consequently, Sakuramiya Hitomi''s brow furrowed slightly, revealing a look of deep dissatisfaction.
"..."
And it was exactly amidst this dissatisfaction that, within the quiet office, her voice suddenly rang out, reciting a strange noun:
"Room Barrier."
[Activate Room Barrier?]
[Current Modifier Level: 2]
[Coverage Area: Student Council Office]
[Effects: Individual Common Sense Modification, Domain Rule Tampering, Omnidirectional Surveillance]
Sakuramiya Hitomi merely stared at the illusory text before her. After a moment of silence, she gently closed her laptop.
Producing a soft "Click."
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