I Redeemed Him, But Who Will Redeem Me? - Chapter 19

Lin Xicai wanted to say something, but he had already looked away and walked off.

Although she hadn’t actually fallen, the little incident had attracted some attention. Two female classmates who were on good terms with her came over, fussing with concern.

The PE teacher called it a free dismissal. Lin Xicai was being led across the lawn by a few girls when a classmate leaned over, gossip written all over her face.

“How did you do it?”

Lin Xicai, brushing dust off her clothes, looked up. “Do what?”

The girl thought for a moment, then said seriously, “Don’t you think Xie Shi pays special attention to you?”

“I almost fell flat on my face, and he just happened to pull me up. Isn’t that normal?”

“Come on,” the girl smirked. “That recluse? If it were someone else, they could be hanging by their neck in front of him and he wouldn’t even blink. Especially towards girls—he seems to have some kind of fear of them—but he pulled you. That’s not normal.”

“Exactly. I agree with Xiangling,” another girl chimed in. “And what about last time at the sports meet? A big guy brings girls’ clothes and shoes, and the moment you said you wanted to borrow them, he handed them over. Even the sizes fit. Does that make sense?”

“Hahaha yes, yes,” Xiangling laughed mischievously. “If it weren’t for his weird personality, I’d be totally shipping you two. Standing together, your looks and builds really match.”

“….” Lin Xicai rolled her eyes at the sky. “Heaven, distinguish right from wrong. The truth is we’ve barely said ten sentences in total.”

“Ten sentences?! Oh my god, in less than a month he’s already said ten sentences to you. With the rest of us, he can’t even reach ten in a month!”

Lin Xicai: “….”

“So, do you think your deskmate’s unusually high attendance this month is because of you?” Xiangling covered her mouth, exaggerating her wail. “If that’s true, Zhong Fei, you’re ruining us all.”

“Exactly, we haven’t had the freedom to chat in the classroom for so long. Why should our youth be so repressed…”

“….”

Hearing their increasingly absurd chatter, Lin Xicai could only laugh in frustration. “You’re trying to pin all this on me? Do you have no conscience?”

Special attention?

Lin Xicai twitched her lips, shivering a little.

…

The fourth period in the morning was math. Lin Xicai tried to follow the class seriously, understanding maybe thirty percent. For a high school senior, a complex problem built on layers of basic knowledge that she had never seen before.

The teacher was explaining how 99 becomes 100. She had to relearn even how 0 becomes 1. And understanding the step from 0 to 1 was the crucial part—she was stuck there.

She had to find a solution. Next week was the new monthly exam.

Just blindly trying to keep up wouldn’t work. She was still a beginner and had to find someone to guide her through the basics.

Time was short, and this was important—she needed to act fast.

Who should she ask? How should it be arranged? Hiring a tutor would cost money—could her mother and she afford it?

At noon, Lin Xicai slumped over her desk, feeling frustrated. After most of the class left, she slowly packed up and headed out.

Walking down the stairs, she stared at each step, her mind wandering.

Interrupted during PE class, now she could continue, right? Twisting and falling a little would be normal, right?

Thinking this, she cautiously extended her foot.

Before she could step, her neck suddenly tightened. Someone grabbed her uniform collar from behind and yanked her back with a familiar force.

“Cough, cough…” Lin Xicai coughed, eyes red, tears streaming naturally.

Through tearful eyes, she turned to see that same cold, indifferent, handsome face.

Lin Xicai: “….”

Is this person a ghost?

Why won’t he leave her alone?

She only wanted to hurt herself a little—why was it so difficult?

A pure infernal system transformed into a benevolent person? Does he have a “helpfulness KPI”?

And… she hadn’t even taken a step yet, how did he beat her to it?

Xie Shi looked at her, his expression even grimmer than on the playground, seemingly angrier than she could understand—a long-unfelt irritation flashed through his chest. Li Ci—what did that even matter? Does he even deserve it?

Lin Xicai was unnerved by his sharp gaze, unsure of what was happening.

“So this is your solution?” Xie Shi said, his once-clear, pleasant voice coated with frost. “Are you an idiot?”

?

Lin Xicai felt her brain buzz, nearly blank.

Is he mentally unstable? Random personal attacks?

She tried to steady herself, her face flushing red with anger, holding back the urge to snap. “…Are you sure you’re talking to me? We don’t seem to have any conflict… or did I forget?”

She readied herself for confrontation, but he had no intention of responding, huffing and turning to walk away.

Lin Xicai: “….”

Cannot get angry.

Cannot get angry.

He’s this unhinged—just let him be.

Taking a deep breath, she decided not to dwell on it, considering he had provided her with sports clothes and shoes.

…

After lunch, back in the classroom, Lin Xicai sat at her desk. Reaching into her drawer for tissues, she found a package inside.

Surprised, she pulled out the bulging plastic bag and looked down, freezing in place.

Inside were many medicines: anti-inflammatories, fever reducers, oral and topical, ointments, tablets, even gauze and bandages… everything she could think of, and more than she needed.

At first, she felt a spark of joy, but it quickly turned into unease.

Who sent this?

How did they know she needed these things?

Instinctively, she glanced at the empty seat next to her. Her eccentric deskmate hadn’t arrived yet, so it probably wasn’t him. Then who?

Lin Xicai quietly packed the medicines into her bag, expression peculiar.

She rested at her desk for a while. When the first afternoon class was about to start, a shadow fell beside her—her tardy deskmate had arrived.

Lin Xicai stood and made way as Xie Shi passed by to sit at his desk.

After he settled, she slowly sat down at hers. She couldn’t help but watch him, trying to find some crack in his expression, but as with so many times before, she found nothing.

After a moment of silence, she finally asked, “Did you buy something?”

Xie Shi nodded. “Yes.”

Lin Xicai looked at him, puzzled. “What did you buy?”

Then, in her expectant and anxious gaze, he reached into his pocket, took out a rice ball, and placed it on the desk.

Lin Xicai: “….”

Who cares what you eat?

She didn’t ask.

Xie Shi seemed to glance at her, the corner of his lips curling into a fleeting smile, and elegantly tore open the rice ball to eat beside her.