Today I Will Also Be the Male Protagonist’s Rival - Chapter 52

Su Yu’s heart instantly softened. She reached out and ruffled her long hair. “What do you think, silly girl?

“I treat you so well because I like you, of course.”

Huo Shu’s face flushed red all at once. But then she thought of something and gave a light hum. “Have you said this kind of thing to a lot of people?”

She tilted her head and glanced at Su Yu.

The girl was tall and slender, her brows long and fine, her features like they had been drawn stroke by stroke by a master painter—deep and exquisite.

Such a beautiful girl—if she took the initiative to be good to someone, Huo Shu thought, it would be hard for anyone to resist her charm.

And then she thought—maybe these words weren’t just for her alone.

For some reason, that thought made her a little uncomfortable.

“Jealous?”

Su Yu was slightly taken aback, then suddenly leaned closer, pinched her cheek, and coaxed in a low voice, “I’ve never said it to anyone else—just you.”

“What jealous?”

Huo Shu’s face burned, and she quickly pushed her away. “You’re overthinking it. I just asked casually.”

She turned her head and wrinkled her nose. “Besides, I don’t believe you anyway.”

“We didn’t even know each other before. How could you possibly just…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but her meaning was obvious.

“I knew you in my past life.”

Su Yu’s eyes curved in a smile, her voice gentle. “I didn’t drink the Meng Po Soup in my last life, so in this life, I came to find you.”

Note: Meng Po Soup – in Chinese mythology, a soup given to souls before reincarnation to erase memories of their previous lives.

With that, she took Huo Shu’s hand, tilted her head and smiled, her tone drawing out at the end. “Huo Huo baby, you can’t abandon me.”

“You…”

Huo Shu’s face was red again, but she couldn’t even string together a full sentence.

Why was she always acting like such a shameless rascal?

Who’s your “baby” anyway? She gave a light “ptui,” the pale tips of her ears tinged pink.

Su Yu chuckled softly, and suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her right up.

Huo Shu let out a startled cry, her face turning completely red. She lightly pounded Su Yu’s shoulder, but didn’t dare use too much force—just a few soft taps. “You… what are you doing?”

“Carrying you back to class.”

Su Yu glanced at her leg, speaking with full justification. “The nurse said you can’t do high-intensity exercise.”

“Walking isn’t high-intensity exercise.”

Huo Shu forced herself to retort in a small voice, “If you put it that way, then I guess I can’t even walk. Should I just sit in a wheelchair instead?”

“That works too.”

“You—you—”

After being carried for a few steps, she noticed the glances from people around them. Already thin-skinned, Huo Shu buried her face in Su Yu’s arms and refused to come out.

“Su Yu, put me down. I can really walk by myself.”

Her voice softened into a plea. “If you keep carrying me like this, people are going to see.”

“So what?”

Su Yu glanced at her, letting out a short laugh. “Even if they do, what’s the big deal? Would they even dare gossip?”

Huo Shu tilted her head to look at her. When she was cold-faced, she really was hard to approach. No wonder the classmates were afraid of her—it wasn’t without reason.

But…

Why wasn’t she afraid?

She thought about it. Maybe it was all those little rascal antics that made her forget that Su Yu was actually the feared school bully of Jin City Vocational, with a bad temper and a cold personality.

Along the way, more and more students appeared, whispers rising in the air.

Huo Shu came back to her senses and tugged at her sleeve, her tone pitiful. “Put me down, please?”

The pale, delicate face tilted up toward her, the expression almost imploring, so pitiful it tugged at the heart.

Su Yu sighed. In the end, she couldn’t hold out any longer and set her down.

“Better?”

“Thank you.”

Huo Shu said quietly, then tried taking a step. It hurt a little, but was bearable. She let out a breath and started walking slowly forward.

After walking for a while, she noticed no one was following.

She turned back. Su Yu was still standing there.

It wasn’t even a far distance, but with that cool look in her eyes, she suddenly seemed unapproachable.

Was… she angry?

Huo Shu bit her lip. It did feel like she’d been a bit ungracious.

She had only wanted to help, and she had brushed her off. With her personality, it was likely she’d be upset.

After hesitating for a moment, Huo Shu slowly shuffled over, tugged at her sleeve, and whispered, “Su Yu, don’t be mad, okay? I didn’t mean…”

She rambled for a while, but only got a soft sigh in response.

“You win.”

The girl’s face held a touch of helplessness as she ruffled her hair, then put an arm around her to help her walk.

Huo Shu thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, “So… you’re not mad anymore?”

Su Yu let out a light sigh, her pale fingers brushing over her cheek. “How could I bear to be?”

Yes… how could she?

This was the girl she had loved for two lifetimes, who she would give everything for without complaint, the one she wanted to hold in her palm and spoil.

Getting angry and giving her the cold shoulder—was that punishing Huo Shu, or punishing herself?

Huo Shu relaxed, her cheeks a little pink as she lowered her head and walked forward.

When they returned to class, the lesson was already in progress.

“Report!”

The teacher was about to say something, but upon seeing Huo Shu, their expression softened. “Come in. But don’t be late again.”

Huo Shu nodded.

The two of them returned to their seats.

The teacher was lecturing at the front, but Su Yu had learned this material countless times before. Plus, she hadn’t slept well last night, so she simply rested her head on her desk.

Huo Shu glanced at her from the corner of her eye, a little helpless.

So she really didn’t come to First High to study?

It seemed that way. But this was their third year of high school—she should really be working hard.

With that thought, she gave Su Yu a small poke. “Hey… you should listen in class. We’re in our third year already.”

“What’s all the noise for?”

The girl she poked seemed to have a bit of morning temper, her tone unfriendly as she muttered something.

The classroom was already quiet, and her voice wasn’t exactly soft, instantly drawing everyone’s attention in unison toward them.

Huo Shu’s face flushed red in an instant.

The teacher’s hand paused mid-lecture. He turned his head toward them, his expression darkening. “Who’s talking? Stand up!”

Huo Shu grew a little nervous. “I… I…”

The girl was now fully awake. She pressed down on Huo Shu’s hand that was about to be raised and drawled lazily, “Teacher, I was the one talking.”

“Go stand outside.”

“Alright then.”

Su Yu yawned and turned to walk toward the doorway.

Huo Shu hesitated for a moment, then also raised her hand. “Teacher, I was also talking just now.”

The teacher froze for a second, his expression softening. “Huo Shu, I know you’re a warm-hearted girl. For students like her who have no motivation to improve themselves, they should stand outside and listen to the class. You don’t need to speak up for her—it’s not worth it.”

“I know you’ve always had excellent grades, and a small mistake like talking in class is something you wouldn’t normally commit. Sit down and listen.”

Huo Shu pressed her lips together tightly. She didn’t like the teacher’s tone when commenting on Su Yu. As an educator, he should be fair to every student, and not be prejudiced because of academic performance.

Besides, Su Yu only spoke because of her in the first place.

She couldn’t just watch Su Yu go stand outside alone.

Huo Shu bit her lip. “Teacher, I really was talking. You should treat every student fairly. No favoritism—if I’ve done something wrong, I should be punished.”

“You…”

The teacher slammed the desk with his palm, clearly also a little frustrated. “Fine! Since you like standing so much, then go stand outside!”

The class broke into an uproar.

“Who would’ve thought? Huo Shu actually dared to talk back to the old witch?”

“Tsk tsk, to be talked back to in public by her star student—the old witch must be furious!”

“Hahaha, I suddenly think our class monitor isn’t so bad after all?”

/Outside the classroom

Su Yu glanced at the little girl who followed her out, looking somewhat helpless. “Is standing outside supposed to be fun?”

“I didn’t want you to be alone.”

The little girl’s voice was full of grievance. “Sorry, if it weren’t for me, you… wouldn’t have been…”

Su Yu reached out and covered her mouth, leaning lazily back against the wall. “Alright, no need to say more. This is my business—it has nothing to do with you.”

Huo Shu clenched her hands and lowered her head with a soft “Mm.”

“Feeling down again?”

The girl reached out to cup her face. “Don’t overthink. I’ve always loved you.”

Huo Shu froze, then turned her face away, lowering her voice. “The school exams are next week—only a few days left. You should prepare more.”

Su Yu made a noncommittal sound.

“Exams—do you even care about them?”

“I care.”

“Then why don’t you take them seriously?”

“They’re just kids’ exams—how serious do you want me to be?”

“Why do you love to brag so much?”

Huo Shu puffed up her cheeks and flushed red, saying seriously, “If you don’t get a good score on the exam, I… won’t talk to you anymore.”

“So ruthless?”

Su Yu raised an eyebrow with a meaningful look. “Then… if I get a good score, shouldn’t you give me a reward?”

Huo Shu froze, blushing. “W-what kind of reward do you want?”

Her gaze swept over Huo Shu with predatory intent, and she chuckled. “I’ll tell you when the time comes—just promise me first.”

Huo Shu pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and made an excessive demand. “I promise you, but… only if you get into the top ten in the grade.”

When she finished, she felt a bit embarrassed, lowering her head to avoid her gaze. That request did seem a little unreasonable.

From what she’d heard, Su Yu had never really attended classes—always going to bars and drinking. When would she have time to study? This requirement was too much.

She was… being a little cunning.

Lowering her head, her cheeks flushed slightly.

If Su Yu refused, she could understand.

“Alright.”

Her voice was low, husky, and tinged with amusement.

Huo Shu was incredulous. “W-what did you say?”

“Alright.”

Su Yu answered again, twirling a lock of Huo Shu’s long hair around her pale fingers, her smile low. “As long as it’s something Huo Huo likes, I can do anything.”

Her expression was careless, but the smile in her eyes instantly caught and held one’s gaze.

Huo Shu blushed awkwardly. “Really?”

“Mm.”

“Alright, as long as you… can get into the top ten in the grade, I’ll agree to one request from you.”

She paused, then quickly added, “But things like being your wife won’t do. I… I won’t date in high school.”

Once she finished speaking, she saw Su Yu looking at her with a half-smiling expression.

Huo Shu’s face turned red in an instant.

“So cunning.”

Su Yu lightly pinched her cheek, smiling with a trace of indulgence. “No wonder you’re my Huo Huo.”