Cough cough cough—

Ning Yi's sudden words caught me off guard, confusing my throat and leaving my emotions as unsettled as a cat's scratch. At this point, even swallowing the handkerchief in my hand wouldn't help.

"Ning Ning Ning Ning, senior Ning Yi is really good at making jokes." I hastily wiped my mouth like a sneaky mouse.

I must have been under too much stress lately and started to have auditory hallucinations. It must be like that.

"I'm not kidding." Ning Yi, although gently stirred her coffee, hadn't taken a single sip. Such elegant movements, but with shocking words coming from her mouth.

This sentence left me completely disoriented.

What should I do next? Reject senior Ning Yi? Would that seem too arrogant? What excuse should I use when rejecting her? What if Wu Yaoyao finds out that my words yesterday were a lie and comes to find me? Should I buy a steel plate to wear tomorrow in case Ning Yi's fans attack me?

Nervously, I stirred my coffee, my mind filled with a pile of questions. Pea-sized sweat beads oozing out slowly from my forehead, and the soles of my feet felt as if they were pricked, making me restless.

Senior Ning Yi saw my reaction and realized she hadn't made herself clear. The usually calm and aloof her also became slightly awkward, "What I meant is, BaiQiao, pretend to be my boyfriend."

"....Pretend?" The two keywords in senior Ning Yi's words subdued my chaotic state.

"Yeah." Senior Ning Yi explained slowly, "You were confessed by Wu Yaoyao, she didn't give up after being rejected, and you have no other choice, right?"

"Ah, yes..." I nodded as I listened to senior Ning Yi's words.

"You said you liked me at that time." Senior Ning Yi looked into my eyes, "We can take advantage of the situation."

So, that's how it is. I said I liked senior Ning Yi, and Wu Yaoyao knew I had no chance of being with her, so she didn't give up. Now if I pretend to be with senior Ning Yi according to my words, Wu Yaoyao will give up on me. Although the logic of getting with another girl to reject one girl is a bit strange, it seems like a good solution for now.

But...

"Why would senior Ning Yi help me?" I pondered, but couldn’t figure why senior Ning Yi would help me. Is it because she wants to repay me for the poetry club? That's a bit far- fetched.

Senior Ning Yi glanced at the neon lights outside through the glass window, exhaled softly; her eyes filled with helplessness, "Because I've encountered the same problem as you."

"The same problem means, after refusing someone, that person doesn't give up on senior Ning Yi?" I asked in confusion.

Can anyone confess to her again after being rejected by her cold, emotionless eyes?

"Yeah." Senior Ning Yi nodded. "But my situation is a little more special."

I should've agreed immediately considering senior Ning Yi's looks and popularity; but to reject one girl and pretend to be with another girl, the logic is inherently flawed. Once I fake a relationship with senior Ning Yi, my high school life as the Student Union Vice-Chairman will probably be spent under the resentful eyes of others.

What seems to be the perfect solution is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

"It's just a suggestion. BaiQiao, don't worry too much." Senior Ning Yi probably saw me deep in thought and said to me. Then she put a hand on her cheek, turned towards the window and gazed outside quietly.

I nodded at senior Ning Yi's words, but her words still lingered in my mind.

Looking at my phone, I realized that it was getting late. I finished the last sip of coffee in my cup, gently stood up, planning to pay the bill and go to pick up BaiLu.

"I've already paid the bill." Senior Ning Yi still looked out the window, as if speaking to someone else, "I'll be waiting for your answer here at the same time the day after tomorrow."The coffee in her cup remained untouched.

I was stunned.

"Fine."

........

As a result, I didn't sleep well that night.

Of course, it's not because I took home the fragrant handkerchief. Hmm... it must be because I drank too much coffee yesterday.

"BaiQiao, your panda eyes look so ugly that it suits my taste." BaiLu smiled as she put the lunchbox into my school bag today.

Being disliked by my dear sister is really heartbreaking.

Early in the morning, walking alone on the way to school, the chilly wind made my eyes uncomfortable and my mood inevitably down.

"Good morning, BaiQiao."

A lively and charming voice rang in my ear, the scent of a girl instantly made my groggy head clear.

"Good morning, Wu Yaoyao." I turned my head, squinted my listless eyes, and glanced at Wu Yaoyao, who had joined me at some point.

Wu Yaoyao always looks so energetic, with a slight smile at the corners of her mouth. Her slender figure and height, about half a head shorter than me, always unconsciously place her in the sisterly role.

Today, she tied her trademark twin ponytails up into two buns on top of her head, revealing her delicate neck. This means there should be some kind of performance in the clubs today. Following this logic, I should also help out at the Kyudo Club.

Ah, what a hassle.

But it seems that she hasn't been affected by my rejection. This has put me at ease.

This unchanging atmosphere between us, as if Wu Yaoyao has never confessed to me, is truly wonderful.

"What's wrong, BaiQiao? Didn't you sleep well last night?" Wu Yaoyao leaned in, her big eyes blinking as she stared at my unenergetic ones.

"Um... I drank too much coffee." I quickly moved back a bit to maintain some distance. After a hurried glance, I found no one watching and sighed in relief.

Seeing my evasive actions, Wu Yaoyao stomped her foot angrily, "I'm not a snake!"

You may not be a snake, but your admirers are more dangerous than snakes. I ignored Wu Yaoyao, who was watching me closely, and continued walking forward.

"I went to find senior Ning Yi yesterday." Wu Yaoyao pouted and followed me.

"Oh." I nodded.

"Don't you want to ask me what I wanted to meet her for?"

"Um... what did you want to meet her for?"