71. City Girls Sure Know How to Play
“What the heck? Why is the class next door so hyped? Did someone confess their love on the first day of school?” In Class 3 next door, the thunderous applause could be heard through the wall.
The students in the front row of Class 3 facepalmed, eager to find out what was going on.
Back in Class 4, Lan Yinuo seemed completely oblivious to the impact of her words. Looking startled, she quickly sat down, blushing crimson, burying her face in her hands on the desk.
“Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! What was that? Did those two just perform a coordinated confession routine? The first one says she likes girls, and the second one immediately confesses to her? This is…!”
“Are they showing off their love? Did I just get force-fed a mouthful of dog food?”
“So it really does happen! X-san, the yuri flowers are blooming in our hometown.”
The boys, loving the drama, whooped and hollered to express their excitement, while the girls gasped and exclaimed “Wow!” It was a chorus of amazement, echoing through the classroom.
All the pressure now landed on Ruo Xiaoxi, who was also momentarily stunned.
Nuonuo, tell me honestly, and you call yourself socially anxious? She’d been worried about Nuonuo being too shy and withdrawn, wanting to help her fit in. Now, thanks to this, the entire class would remember them both.
Their homeroom teacher, a young woman who looked no older than twenty-five or twenty-six, stood at the podium, covering her mouth with her hand as she chuckled, her face flushed.
“Teacher, are you blushing?” a mischievous boy in the front row called out.
“No, I’m not! Don’t be silly. You’re just seeing things.” The teacher shot the boy a playful glare, then clapped her hands. “Alright, alright, it seems Ruo Xiaoxi and Lan Yinuo are very good friends. It reminds me of my own best friend from high school. We were inseparable.”
The teacher skillfully steered the narrative away from romance, framing it as a close friendship, though the undeniable air of ambiguity between the two girls remained.
“Ahem, excuse me! I have something to add, if I may, teacher?” Ruo Xiaoxi raised her hand. The teacher nodded but gave her a subtle look.
Some secrets are better kept private, or at least expressed more discreetly.
Ruo Xiaoxi, of course, wasn’t going to talk about her and Nuonuo. Instead, she stood up, turned to face the class, and said, “Lan Yinuo’s self-introduction didn’t fully capture who she is.”
“Xiaoxi…” Lan Yinuo looked up, puzzled.
The class quieted down, everyone’s attention now on Ruo Xiaoxi. Even those who had been buried in their books were now intrigued.
Facing all the unfamiliar faces, Ruo Xiaoxi felt a little awkward, but she was much more composed than Nuonuo. At least she could stand here and speak to the entire class.
“So I’d like to say a few words on her behalf. Lan Yinuo is a very reserved girl, introverted and shy. She sometimes stumbles over her words when meeting new people,” Ruo Xiaoxi continued.
“Just now, when the teacher mentioned self-introductions, she was shaking so much I had to hold her leg down to calm her down.”
“Whoa, she’s that shy?” a voice of surprise came from the back.
“Yes. She’s not very good at making friends, and she even has mild social anxiety. But if you’re willing to be her friend, she’ll cherish that friendship deeply.”
Ruo Xiaoxi paused, then concluded sincerely, “So, what I’m saying is, if you like Nuonuo, please reach out to her, be her friend, and make sure she doesn’t feel lonely. That’s all.”
“I see! Got it!” The tall boy in the back, the one Ruo Xiaoxi had charmed with her smile, was the first to respond, earning himself another sweet smile as a reward.
He was practically floating on air, feeling like his life was complete.
“Xiaoxi… thank you.” Lan Yinuo clutched her hands shyly. So Xiaoxi had been trying to help her overcome her social anxiety all along, while she’d been making a scene with her ill-advised confession.
Ruo Xiaoxi gave her a look that said, I’ve set the stage for you. Now make some friends in high school, or I’ll give you a good thrashing!
“Oh, right! One more thing. I just heard some rumors going around about whether I also like Nuonuo.” Ruo Xiaoxi suddenly spoke up again.
The gossiping in the back rows instantly ceased, everyone exchanging accusing glances.
The subject of their gossip had overheard them! Had they offended her? What should they do?
“I’d like to clarify—” Ruo Xiaoxi took a deep breath. In the ensuing silence, as the entire class held its breath, she declared confidently, “It’s not a rumor!”
The flames, which had just begun to die down, erupted once more, ignited by an even bigger spark!
“OHHHHHHHH—!”
“I want to go home! This is torture! Dog food on my phone, dog food in my games, and now dog food at school!”
“Holy moly, holy moly, holy moly! Holy… cow!” someone nearly broke into yodeling.
Thanks to these two girls, the first homeroom class of the year became a truly unforgettable experience.
After class, students from Class 3 poured into their classroom, curious about the commotion they’d heard. The students of Class 4 eagerly recounted the events.
“So, it really was a confession,” a boy from Class 3, hands in his pockets, said after eavesdropping.
“Where did you learn that accent? Do you think it makes you sound cool?” a girl teased.
“I’m a country bumpkin, a total rube. Never seen anything like this before.” The boy stared wide-eyed, marveling, “City girls sure know how to play…”
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