Pretending to Be a Scumbag A, But Being Targeted by a Paranoid O - Chapter 18

After speaking, the girl noticed the awkward atmosphere between the two and clicked her tongue twice inwardly—blushing after just one sentence? They must be newly in love.

 

She grinned suggestively. “I’ll head out first. You two take your time chatting.”

 

Once she left, an oppressive silence descended.

 

Xie Tang’s face flushed slightly. She cleared her throat, striving to keep her voice steady. “She’s just making things up.”

 

Yun Shu’s face was no better. She nodded blankly. “Oh, I… I know.”

 

No one knew better than Yun Shu that Xie Tang was straight. Xie Tang would never like her, let alone see her as a romantic partner.

 

The brief exchange had eased the tension between them.

 

Xie Tang looked at Yun Shu. “Have you had dinner yet?”

 

Yun Shu shook her head dazedly, then quickly nodded.

 

Xie Tang couldn’t help but chuckle. “So, have you eaten or not?”

 

Yun Shu, her face burning, maintained her persona. “Of course I’ve eaten! I was just passing by.”

 

Xie Tang didn’t mention Yun Shu’s earlier expression, which had looked like the sky was about to fall. Instead, she said gently, “I’m a bit hungry. Want to join me for dinner?”

 

Yun Shu readily accepted the offer.

 

She said awkwardly, “I’m treating tonight. No arguing.”

 

Xie Tang knew Yun Shu was concerned about her working so hard and didn’t refuse.

 

For dinner, Yun Shu took Xie Tang to a local stir-fry restaurant.

 

Xie Tang studied the menu, carefully selecting dishes that Yun Shu would enjoy.

 

While they waited for their food, Yun Shu rested her cheek in her hand, gazing at Xie Tang with concern. “Xie Tang,” she said, “your neighborhood isn’t very safe. Why don’t you stay at the school? I’ll cover the expenses.”

 

Xie Tang looked up at her, pondered for a moment, then smiled. “Okay,” she agreed.

 

Yun Shu had prepared a whole speech to persuade Xie Tang, but she hadn’t expected her to agree so quickly.

 

She noticed Xie Tang pick up her phone after speaking.

 

She picked up her phone!

 

Yun Shu felt a pang of resentment. I’ve never even used my phone in front of you!

 

After finally getting to spend time together, Xie Tang was completely—

 

Before Yun Shu could finish her thought, her phone buzzed with a notification.

 

She glanced down and saw it was a message from Xie Tang.

 

It turned out Xie Tang was replying to every single message Yun Shu had sent her earlier that day, one by one.

 

Finally, on the news article Yun Shu had forwarded, Xie Tang quoted it and wrote: Okay, I’ll stay at the school.

 

As Yun Shu read through the replies, her face flushed.

 

At that moment, Xie Tang put down her phone and looked at her.

 

“All the messages are replied to,” she said. “Don’t be upset anymore, okay?”

 

Yun Shu felt flustered under Xie Tang’s gaze, but she stubbornly insisted, “I’m not upset. I’m just worried you won’t be able to fulfill your obligations.”

 

But at that moment, her excuse sounded utterly feeble.

 

If she were merely worried about fulfilling her obligations, she wouldn’t look like she was about to cry just because she couldn’t find someone.

 

Just then, a waiter arrived with their food, and Yun Shu buried her face in her plate.

 

After dinner, Yun Shu glanced at the night sky and cautiously suggested, “Why don’t you stay at my place tonight?”

 

She lifted her chin, adding with a haughty air, “Don’t worry, I’m a woman of principle. I won’t touch you until Saturday.”

 

As she spoke, two female college students passed by and whispered, “Are they cosplaying as a domineering CEO?”

 

Yun Shu’s carefully maintained composure nearly shattered.

 

Xie Tang mentally reviewed the most heartbreaking moments of her life to barely suppress a laugh.

 

Her voice trembled with amusement as she replied, “Alright.”

 

By the time they arrived at the Yun Family residence, it was late. Aunt Shen had been frantic these past few days, worried about Yun Shu’s absence.

 

She rushed to greet them the moment she saw Yun Shu return.

 

In the past, whenever Yun Shu stayed out all night, she would reek of alcohol upon her return.

 

Tonight, her eyes were clear, and not a trace of alcohol lingered on her breath.

 

Aunt Shen glanced at Xie Tang behind her and immediately understood.

 

So, the young mistress has been chasing after someone these past few days.

 

Yun Shu awkwardly ordered, “Aunt Shen, Xie Tang is staying here tonight. Please prepare a room for her.”

 

Aunt Shen nodded, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “I understand, Miss.”

 

While Aunt Shen went to prepare the room, Yun Shu gestured for Xie Tang to sit down.

 

Yun Shu eyed her. “Let’s get the accommodation application sorted out now.”

 

Xie Tang knew that if she didn’t apply, the girl in front of her would likely keep overthinking things. To put Yun Shu’s mind at ease, she opened her phone and began navigating the school’s system.

 

Yun Shu leaned in close, watching alongside her.

 

Capital University’s dormitories were divided into two types: free standard double rooms and premium double rooms with extra amenities.

 

Yun Shu pointed with her slender, pale finger at the premium option. “Choose this one.”

 

Xie Tang shook her head. “The standard room is fine.”

 

Besides, as a student on financial aid, it made no sense for her to stay in a premium dormitory.

 

Yun Shu’s lips tightened, clearly realizing the implications. She reluctantly agreed, “Fine, then.”

 

Fortunately, even the standard dorms at Capital University were double rooms, which would make Xie Tang’s living situation much more comfortable.

 

Xie Tang’s housing application went through smoothly.

 

Only after everything was settled did Yun Shu finally feel a sense of relief.

 

“Don’t bother retrieving any of your things from your old place,” she said. “I’ll buy you new ones.”

 

Xie Tang didn’t object.

 

Yun Shu had clearly been shaken by tonight’s events; the image of her red-rimmed eyes kept replaying in Xie Tang’s mind.

 

For today, she would simply indulge Yun Shu’s every whim.

 

Aunt Shen finished tidying the room quickly. She approached them respectfully and said, “Miss, everything’s ready. You can go to bed now.”

 

Yun Shu assumed Aunt Shen had prepared the guest room, but she was stunned when they went upstairs. The guest room remained cold and empty, while her master bedroom now held two pillows and a brand-new set of pajamas.

 

Yun Shu froze for a few seconds, completely unprepared for this outcome.

 

“Aunt Shen seems to have misunderstood…” she said awkwardly. “I’ll go get you—”

 

“It’s fine,” Xie Tang interrupted. “Let’s just sleep together.”

 

Xie Tang looked at her and said, “Didn’t you say you were a very principled person?”

 

The clever Yun Shu understood her unspoken meaning: a principled person wouldn’t touch Xie Tang at any other time, so Xie Tang was safe now.

 

She feigned coolness and replied, “Of course.”

 

“Then… let’s go to sleep.”

 

Only after Xie Tang went to shower did Yun Shu pull out her phone and call Yun Zhuxi again.

 

Yun Zhuxi hung up twice, but Yun Shu stubbornly kept calling.

 

On the third attempt, Yun Zhuxi finally answered.

 

Her voice was full of exasperation: “What trouble have you gotten into this time?”

 

“If you’re trying to get me to take back what I said before, forget it. Even if you’re my niece, I stand by my word. If you’re still in the bottom 50% this time, don’t blame me for advising you to drop out.”

 

Yun Shu waited for her to finish before saying, “Aunt, it’s not about that.”

 

Yun Zhuxi’s tone grew even more stern: “Then what else have you done?”

 

Yun Shu quickly lowered the phone’s volume. “No, Aunt, I just wanted to discuss something with you.”

 

Yun Zhuxi took a sip of her chrysanthemum tea. “Go on.”

 

“It’s just that Xie Tang’s home hasn’t been very safe lately, so she’s applied for on-campus housing,” Yun Shu said. “Could you arrange for her to stay in a regular dorm room with no roommates?”

 

Yun Zhuxi replied coolly, “What, so it’ll be easier for you to harass her?”

 

Her words were harsh, but Yun Shu had done so many terrible things in the past that Yun Zhuxi couldn’t bring herself to be kind.

 

In truth, Yun Zhuxi had been keeping an eye on Yun Shu and Xie Tang recently.

 

She’d noticed that her incorrigible niece seemed to have turned over a new leaf. Not only had Yun Shu stopped partying and wasting money, she’d even started attending classes diligently and studying during lunch breaks.

 

Having worked in education for years, Yun Zhuxi knew that some students weren’t beyond redemption. She was genuinely pleased to see Yun Shu’s transformation.

 

With this in mind, Yun Zhuxi feigned impatience. “Don’t worry about that. Focus on your grades. I’ll say it again: if you don’t rank in the top 50%, I won’t show you any leniency.”

 

Yun Shu listened obediently. “I understand, Auntie.”

 

“Don’t work too late,” Yun Zhuxi continued. “Get some rest early.”

 

Yun Zhuxi paused for a moment before replying with a curt “I know” and hanging up.

 

With Xie Tang’s accommodation settled, Yun Shu idly scribbled on a draft paper for a while before her eyelids began to droop.

 

She collapsed onto the bed, hugging her cat-shaped pillow and rolling around a few times.

 

Yun Shu had intended to close her eyes and rest while waiting for Xie Tang to finish.

 

But the moment she touched the bed, she was unexpectedly possessed by the god of sleep.

 

When Xie Tang emerged, she found Yun Shu lying motionless on the bed.

 

She tiptoed over to Yun Shu’s side and gazed down at her.

 

The girl lay quietly, still clutching the cat plushie. Her silky black hair spread across the pillow, and delicate lashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes. She was sound asleep.

 

Xie Tang whispered her name a few times, but Yun Shu was too deeply asleep to hear.

 

Finally, Xie Tang sighed helplessly.

 

Sometimes she truly envied Yun Shu’s ability to fall asleep so easily, anywhere.

 

Leaning down, Xie Tang gently removed Yun Shu’s shoes and socks, revealing her slender, pale ankles.

 

Yun Shu was wearing loose wide-leg pants today, which slipped down easily, revealing her shapely calves from Xie Tang’s perspective.

 

Xie Tang lowered her gaze, studying Yun Shu’s unguarded sleeping face. The room was so quiet she could hear her own ragged breathing.

 

After so long that the skin Xie Tang held at Yun Shu’s ankle felt hot, Yun Shu murmured in her sleep, “Hot…”

 

As if waking from a dream, Xie Tang gently tucked Yun Shu’s ankle back under the covers.

 

Once everything was settled, she tucked the blanket around Yun Shu again.

 

Instead of getting into bed immediately, Xie Tang opened a blank sheet of draft paper and meticulously wrote down the problem-solving strategies from the messages Yun Shu had sent her earlier that day.

 

She had spent most of the night reviewing Yun Shu’s past problem-solving methods and her error notebook. Yun Shu’s math foundation was even weaker and more fragmented than Xie Tang had imagined.

 

She couldn’t help but glance at the girl on the bed, whose cheeks were flushed in her sleep. Xie Tang wondered how Yun Shu had managed to catch up so much in just over half a month.

 

Lowering her gaze, Xie Tang organized several key concepts for Yun Shu and then flipped through her textbooks for her major courses, summarizing the essential points.

 

After everything was done, Xie Tang was about to close the book when she noticed a draft paper peeking out.

 

It was Yun Shu’s draft paper, and written on it were the words: “Must get into the top 50%! Absolutely cannot be expelled!!”

 

Xie Tang read it impassively.

 

So, all this studying lately was because she’d be expelled if she didn’t make the top 50%?

 

Yun Shu’s desk also held textbooks and practice problems from various subjects. Xie Tang flipped through them, gaining a rough understanding of her basic academic performance.

 

At the same time, a plan gradually formed in her mind.

 

Only after everything was finished did Xie Tang quietly climb into bed.

 

The moment she lay down, Yun Shu instinctively snuggled closer, as if her subconscious always drew her to Xie Tang’s embrace.

 

And this time, Xie Tang didn’t push her away.

 

In the silent darkness, Xie Tang reached out to touch her chest.

 

Today, my heart feels like it’s eaten popping candy.

 

Yet with Yun Shu leaning against her, Xie Tang suddenly felt the exhaustion from her busy week melt away.

 

“Sister…” Yun Shu murmured softly.

 

Xie Tang’s gaze darkened. She abruptly tightened her arm around Yun Shu, pulling her closer, her voice sharp with displeasure. “I’m not her.”

 

“Don’t mention her again.”