She’s the School Beauty Side Character in a BL Novel - Chapter 003

003:

Watching her turn away without hesitation, Shen Xi’s smile faded. In two quick strides, he caught up to them.

With a lazy bend of his waist, he effortlessly scooped Rong Xin into his arms.

Still simmering with anger, Xi Ning reached out to take Rong Xin back, their tug-of-war making the little girl giggle behind her hands.

It seemed she was genuinely upset.

Shen Xi pressed his lips together, relented, and lowered his voice to explain, “I just wanted to tease you. The sun’s still out. Let’s get some dessert before heading home.”

It had been so long since they’d gone out like this—just the two of them (plus Rong Xin, but she didn’t count). He didn’t want to go back yet.

At home, she would resume that carefully constructed distance between them.

Xi Ning ignored him, adjusting Rong Xin’s weight in her arms as she marched toward the parking lot.

After seven years under the same roof, Shen Xi knew her temperament well, she valued peace and hated unnecessary trouble. She probably didn’t want to linger outside with a child for too long.

So he turned to Rong Xin, who was happily sipping her bubble tea in Xi Ning’s arms, and asked, “Want to go? There’s a dessert shop nearby. Their strawberry pudding is amazing.”

He had overheard his female classmates raving about this place once, how even non-sweet-tooths would love their desserts, how eating here could lift your mood instantly.

He’d memorized the name then. Now that they were nearby, he wanted to go with her.

Rong Xin’s eyes sparkled at the tantalizing suggestion, her bubble tea suddenly forgotten.

The little girl peeked at Xi Ning’s expression, sensing her Sister Ning Ning was still annoyed about their earlier prank. Too timid to voice her desire, she just blinked up with pitiful, puppy-dog eyes.

When Xi Ning remained silent, Shen Xi pressed on, “Their desserts are clean. We won’t let Xinxin have anything icy, no risk of stomachache. If anything happens, I’ll take full responsibility and apologize to her mom.”

Under Rong Xin’s relentless pleading gaze, Xi Ning’s resolve softened. She knew how sheltered the little girl was, how she longed to try everything on their rare outings.

With a glare at the instigator, she deposited Rong Xin into Shen Xi’s arms, wiped the sweat from her brow, and snapped, “You carry her.”

As she leaned close, Shen Xi caught a whiff of her light, clean fragrance. The ends of her chestnut hair brushed against his neck, sending a jolt through him.

His throat went dry. He couldn’t speak, could only lower his lashes and look away.

—

Dessert Shop

Xi Ning ordered Rong Xin a room-temperature strawberry pudding and randomly picked a mung bean shaved ice for herself.

Shen Xi asked for nothing but a glass of ice water.

The shop was crowded. Squished around a small table, Rong Xin thrived in the lively atmosphere, cheerfully digging into her pudding with a spoon.

Xi Ning picked at her shaved ice halfheartedly.

Shen Xi watched her intently, his dark eyes shimmering. “Want to order something else? You don’t seem to like that.”

Xi Ning checked her watch dismissively. “I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. No need.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed his face.

Remembering her semester was about to start, he ventured, “Are you really dorming again next term? Your dorm’s practically a shoebox, how can you stand being crammed in there with roommates?”

Xi Ning rolled her eyes at his privileged whining. “I’m fine. The A University’s dorms are great. I love the freedom there. Not everyone’s as high-maintenance as you, Young Master Shen.”

She could’ve commuted—A University was in the capital, and the Shen’s had chauffeurs. She even had a driver’s license. But she avoided the Shen residence whenever possible, its oppressive atmosphere stifling her.

Apart from mandatory holiday returns, she rarely went back on weekends.

This semester, she especially needed to dorm, how else would she properly get to know Gu Xiaobai?

When Xi Ning first started at A University two years ago, Shen Xi had thrown a fit over her staying at a dorm.

She had not indulged his tantrum then. Their cold war lasted months—ignoring his calls and messages, refusing to see him when he came to campus. Only after Meng Kaiyun intervened did she return home.

After that, he’d stopped pushing for her to commute.

But now, facing another semester of limited contact, he couldn’t help revisiting the sore subject.

“Our home studio’s huge, you can paint whenever. Does your dorm offer that?” he pressed. “And you hate noise. How can you focus if there’s people around?”

Wiping Rong Xin’s mouth with a napkin, Xi Ning didn’t bother looking up. “Unlike your delicate self, I don’t need special treatment. Dorming’s convenient. I won’t waste hours commuting daily.”

As Shen Xi opened his mouth to retort, an excited female voice interrupted.

“Omy god, Shen Xi! You actually eat here too?”

Xi Ning glanced up to see a perky, ponytailed girl about Shen Xi’s age beaming at their table.

Shen Xi’s expression frosted over. “We’re eating. Do you need something?”

The girl—his classmate—was undeterred by his usual aloofness, thrilled at this chance encounter.

His current iciness surprised her. He hadn’t looked this cold moments ago.

“Uh, no! Just saying hi since I saw you,” she stammered, eyeing Xi Ning and the adorable child between them with open curiosity.

Xi Ning offered a polite smile.

The girl seized the opening. “Hi! I’m Shen Xi’s classmate. Are you his… girlfriend?”

Though her heart twinged with envy, she had to admit—this girl was stunning in an ethereal way, her cool elegance a perfect match for the school heartthrob.

Shen Xi shot Xi Ning a glance, sipped his water, and stayed silent, neither confirming nor denying.

Little Rong Xin, however, dropped her spoon and piped up brightly, “Sister Ning Ning isn’t a girlfriend! She’s Brother Xi’s sister!”

The classmate’s face lit with understanding. “Ohhh! No wonder you’re so pretty! I noticed you the second you walked in—you and Shen Xi totally have the same vibe! He’s our school’s number one heartbreaker, by the way. Sister, I love your style! Can we exchange WeChat? Maybe go shopping sometime?”

Xi Ning hesitated. She didn’t want to explain their awkward non-sibling relationship publicly, nor interact with Shen Xi’s social circle.

“Sorry,” she demurred, “my phone’s dead. Maybe another time?”

“Okay… Shen Xi, can I add you first? Then you can introduce me to your sister later?” the girl pressed, hopeful.

“I don’t have WeChat,” Shen Xi deadpanned.

His glass hit the table with a thud.

Recognizing his dismissal, the girl wilted. “Right. See you at school then.” She scurried off.

Once she was gone, Shen Xi fixed Xi Ning with a glare. “My sister?”

Xi Ning stiffened under his dark gaze, then smiled frostily. “No.”

“I’m not worthy of being your sister.”

Shen Xi’s lips pressed into a tight line, the light in his eyes dimming. After a pause, he muttered, “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Xi Ning gathered Rong Xin’s new coloring supplies and stood to leave.

Her gaze was crystalline cold. “Next time, just tell your classmates the truth—that I’m a stranger your family took in. No need to spare my feelings like today.”