She’s the School Beauty Side Character in a BL Novel - Chapter 012

012:

After leaving the café, Xi Ning rode back in Gu Xiaobai’s car without mentioning she’d driven there herself—rendering his chauffeur services unnecessary.

The Shen family had provided her with an Infiniti, Shen Lin’s preferred brand for its feminine elegance. Normally, Xi Ning avoided using Shen family resources whenever possible, though she was a competent driver. Today’s painting delivery had necessitated the vehicle.

While the extra time with Gu Xiaobai wasn’t unwelcome, the prospect of returning tomorrow to retrieve her car—plus several hundred yuan in parking fees—dampened her mood considerably.

She slumped lazily in the passenger seat, even conversation feeling like too much effort.

Gu Xiaobai glanced sideways at her. The oversized beige cap accentuated her delicate features, though her expression had cooled considerably from their earlier interaction—that saccharine sweetness vanished behind pursed lips.

Breaking the silence, he asked, “Shall I pick you up for campus the day after tomorrow?”

Xi Ning turned to study his aristocratic profile. “Afraid not,” she declined with feigned regret. “I promised my roommate airport pickup. We’ll go together.”

Several seconds passed before his terse “Mm.”

Smiling, she poked his hand on the steering wheel. “What’s this? Are you upset?”

His gaze dropped to her finger—elegantly shaped yet marred by a small red mark at the joint, likely an old frostbite scar.

Capturing her retreating hand, he brushed the blemish lightly. “From cold weather?”

Xi Ning withdrew her hand with deliberate force. “Yes. Before I was thirteen, I lived in Jianmen. Winters were harsh.”

“No gloves?” His voice darkened.

She only smiled enigmatically.

Changing tactics, Gu Xiaobai observed, “Then you must enjoy spicy food.”

Xi Ning feigned surprise. “Do you know many Sichuan girls, Senior?”

“It’s common knowledge,” he countered, lips curving. “There’s an authentic Sichuan place, we could go next week.”

Her delighted “Wow!” held a performative brightness. “Could I bring my roommate? She’s from home too.”

“I think not.” His refusal was calm but firm.

Xi Ning blinked—his first outright rejection of any request.

“Your roommate wouldn’t want to intrude on a date,” he explained.

Xi Ning highly doubted Zhou Weiwei would mind—especially given her obsession with campus gossip about Gu Xiaobai. The revelation of their courtship via arranged matches would trigger nothing short of a tsunami in her social circle.

Preemptive damage control seemed wise.

“Senior,” she ventured carefully, “might we discuss something?”

At his nod, she continued, “Regarding our relationship… Perhaps we could keep it private on campus? Maintain our previous distance? Since we’re in different departments anyway.”

The car’s temperature seemed to plummet.

Gu Xiaobai’s silence stretched as the Lexus accelerated smoothly toward the Shen villa district. Only after parking beneath shade trees did he finally turn, his sharp profile gilded by sunset.

“Why?” His gaze held an uncharacteristic edge. “There’s nothing shameful here.”

Xi Ning maintained her sweet facade, tugging his sleeve playfully. “Don’t be upset. I simply dislike attention. Becoming gossip fodder—or worse, target of envy—would ruin my peaceful campus life.”

The mere thought made her cringe.

Gu Xiaobai studied her before relenting with a quiet “Mm.”

Pleased by his compliance, such men rarely tolerated clandestine arrangements—Xi Ning rewarded him with a quick peck on the cheek before darting out, waving cheerfully through tinted windows without waiting for reaction.

—

Dinner preparations were underway when she returned.

Checking on Shen Xi, she received only icy silence to her inquiries about fever and appetite. Undeterred, she felt his forehead—cooler now—and rose to leave. “I’ll have the kitchen send chicken noodle soup. Easy on your stomach.”

Shen Xi suddenly yanked her wrist, pulling her off-balance onto the bed—her forehead colliding with his chin in jarring intimacy.

Xi Ning recoiled furiously. “Have you lost all sense?!”

Shen Xi’s laugh was brittle. “You made me this way.” His glare could freeze magma. “Twelve calls. Not one answered.”

“Explain what was so important it demanded ignoring me.”