Today I Will Also Be the Male Protagonist’s Rival - Chapter 55

Huo Shu turned her face away, and burning tears fell uncontrollably.

She… really was too weak.

Just hearing her voice made her tears fall.

“Don’t cry.”

Su Yu half-squatted, wiped the tears off her cheek, and asked softly, “Huo Huo, are you punishing yourself, or are you punishing me?”

The tears were scorching hot, each drop seemingly able to sear one’s heart.

This was already the third world, and she still ended up making this girl, who had always loved her, cry.

Too stupid.

She lowered her head and gently stroked her cheek, coaxing over and over, “Don’t cry, okay? If I did anything wrong, tell me.”

“Huo Huo, don’t be mad at me, okay?”

Huo Shu bit her lip, then suddenly stood up and walked forward without saying a word.

Su Yu chased after her.

The girl was slender, her legs long and thin beneath her pink dress, and her long hair hung down, making her look even more delicate and small.

How could she have made such a pure and fragile girl cry again?

“Huo Huo, I’m sorry.”

“If there’s anything I didn’t do well, just tell me and I’ll change.”

“Huo Huo, please don’t cry, I’m begging you.”

Huo Shu suddenly stopped.

Su Yu had always been cold and beautiful. No matter the time, she had always been full of spirit and confidence. But now, in front of her, she had become so cautious—it was a version of her that felt completely unfamiliar.

Huo Shu suddenly started to hate herself.

She… had become so petty.

What had Su Yu done wrong? Nothing, she hadn’t done anything.

It was her! She was the one who was overly sensitive, who first lost her composure, then started giving her the cold shoulder.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. It’s getting late—you should go home. I’m going home too.”

Huo Shu took a deep breath, said quietly, then turned and left.

“Huo Huo…”

The girl hugged her tightly from behind, her voice filled with guilt and frustration, “I’m sorry, is it me again? Did I make you feel unsafe? I’m sorry, I’ll fix it next time.”

“Su Yu, you don’t need to apologize.”

Huo Shu looked up at her, giving a faint smile. “This has nothing to do with you. It’s a mindset problem on my end. I thought about it—what was I even angry about?”

“I don’t have a reason to be angry. You’re not mine. I don’t have the right to ask anything of you. Just like you can’t control me.”

“Before, I was really grateful for all your help. But… that’s all it was—gratitude.”

Su Yu stood frozen on the spot.

Those words… were so cold and resolute, it didn’t sound like something Huo Shu would say.

She looked up at her. The girl was smiling softly, her tone gentle, without the slightest trace of anger—just as she’d said, she wasn’t angry at all.

“Huo Shu… won’t you give me even one chance?”

“If you’re going to kill this, can’t you at least give me a reason?”

Huo Shu’s body stiffened slightly, then she gave a light laugh. “There’s no particular reason. You and I… we’ve never been people from the same world. Su Yu, why make things hard for me—or for yourself?”

“I’m going back now.”

She paused, then added quietly, “Don’t come looking for me again.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Su Yu stood there staring at her retreating figure, speechless.

How had it come to this?

She couldn’t figure it out no matter how she thought about it. How could two people who were doing just fine suddenly fall out like this?

She knew Huo Shu. This time, she had really hardened her heart.

But why?

She lowered her head in silence, unable to speak for a long time.

Maybe… she had done something wrong.

All along, she had accepted the girl’s kindness without question. But this time, when the girl suddenly didn’t need her as much anymore, it was like she had lost her anchor and started to panic.

Humans… are truly greedy creatures.

“Sis…”

Jiang Yi chased out from the KTV. Seeing her pale face, she rose up on tiptoe and asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“Just now… was that big sister mad at you?”

Su Yu snapped back to reality, her expression quickly composed. She replied casually, “It’s nothing.”

“Sis, don’t be upset. Yi Yi will show you a magic trick.”

The girl beamed, blinking her eyes brightly as she performed a magic trick. It was a simple one—easy to see through.

But because she was so cute, it still felt somewhat charming.

Su Yu wasn’t in the mood. She replied with a light “mm,” then turned away. “I’ve got something to do. I’ll have someone take you home in a bit.”

“Sis…”

Jiang Yi still wanted to say something, but Su Yu had already gotten into the car. In no time, she disappeared down the street.

She stomped her foot in frustration, clearly upset.

Why was big sister like this?

So perfunctory!

She thought about that other big sister from just now and furrowed her brow.

She didn’t like that woman. How could she treat her sister like that!

So annoying!

And besides, Su Yu had always liked her and treated her well. Ever since that woman appeared, Su Yu hadn’t cared about her anymore, and her attitude had totally changed.

It was all her fault!

“What are you thinking about?”

Someone from inside the KTV came out, smiling. “Sister Yu just called and asked me to take you home. Come on, get in.”

Jiang Yi responded with an “oh,” then asked while pretending to be casual, “By the way, big brother, who is that big sister to Su Yu?”

The guy was a bit confused and didn’t really know either. “Not sure. I think they were classmates or something? Why are you asking?”

Jiang Yi hummed and looked up with a smile. “No reason. Thanks, big brother.”

“You’re welcome.”

Ever since she had said those words, Su Yu seemed to have really behaved and hadn’t come to see her again.

Huo Shu’s life suddenly returned to peace.

Back at school, the seat beside her was completely empty. Other than the books on the desk, there was no trace to suggest that someone had once sat there.

She clenched her fists, her expression returning to calm.

This… this was exactly what she had hoped for and wanted.

Su Yu had finally left her, returned to her own path in life, living freely, brilliantly, and so… likable.

She lowered her gaze, her expression once again calm.

On Wednesday, the results were released.

Just as Huo Shu entered the classroom, she heard a burst of gossip.

“Tsk tsk tsk, this cheating was way too blatant. Do they really think our IQs are that low?”

“Shh, keep it down. She might not be around lately, but who knows if she’ll suddenly appear from somewhere.”

“True, but our class president though… usually looks cold and distant, who would’ve thought she’d let someone copy her answers. Their relationship must be something special. What do you guys think they are to each other?”

“No idea… I guess…”

“Stop talking, Huo Shu is here.”

Someone spotted her, their expression changed slightly, and after a quick whisper, the group that had been whispering suddenly scattered back to their seats, pretending nothing had happened.

Huo Shu pressed her lips together. Although she hadn’t caught everything, she had vaguely heard the gist of it.

They were saying… Su Yu cheated, and that she helped her.

How could that be?

Su Yu sat right in front of her. She hadn’t turned around even once during the exam and was completely focused the entire time.

But… even someone like her was being misunderstood. That was just not fair!

Her expression darkened, her face shadowed.

The student in front turned around after hesitating for a moment and asked, “Huo Shu, did you really let Su Yu copy?”

“No!”

Huo Shu suddenly looked up, her voice cold. “It’s not right to slander someone without proof, don’t you think?”

“Don’t be mad, Huo Shu. I was just asking casually. Everyone in class is saying it.”

The student smiled awkwardly and whispered, “Hey, you don’t know. Su Yu’s score this time really shocked everyone, so… people think you gave her the answers.”

Huo Shu lowered her gaze and asked, “What rank?”

“Second in the grade, just behind you.”

After saying that, the student added, “Second in the whole grade—do you know what that means? In our class, only a handful of people can get into the top 20, let alone the top 10.”

“Su Yu, someone who transferred from Jin City Vocational, always fighting and never studying—who’d believe she could score second in the grade?”

The student spoke with growing excitement, getting louder with each sentence.

Huo Shu was starting to dislike her.

Su Yu wasn’t that kind of person.

She had never bullied anyone or done anything bad. On the contrary, from the moment they met, the girl—who others thought was cold and unapproachable—had always been doing good deeds.

Though, to be fair, ranking second in the grade was quite unbelievable.

But… thinking of the girl’s confident and radiant expression, she couldn’t help but smile.

Maybe it wasn’t so surprising she managed it?

“Huo Shu, if you didn’t help her cheat, who passed her a cheat sheet then?”

“But it doesn’t matter anymore. The school has already decided she cheated. They’re probably going to issue an official notice of criticism.”

Huo Shu suddenly looked up. “What did you say?”

“An official notice of criticism.”

The student scratched their head, confused. “She cheated. It caused such a big stir. There’s no way the school would just let it go. Otherwise, it’d be embarrassing for them.”

Note: 通報批評 (official notice of criticism) is a formal public reprimand often issued by Chinese schools or institutions to announce disciplinary action. It damages a student’s reputation and record.

Huo Shu’s face turned red with anger. “The school didn’t investigate?”

“What’s there to investigate? It’s obvious. A person who could never even get close to the top ten suddenly ranks second? If it’s not cheating, what is it?”

Huo Shu clenched her fists and couldn’t help but ask, “And Su Yu? She didn’t defend herself at all?”

From what she remembered, Su Yu wasn’t someone who would swallow such an injustice quietly.

The student thought for a moment and said, “I heard they called her. She said ‘whatever.’ The dean reportedly got really mad and then, well… you know.”

Huo Shu suddenly stood up.

“Huo Shu, where are you going? Class is about to start, and it’s that old witch’s class! You dare skip that?”

“Huo Shu? Huo Shu!”

The voice behind her grew fainter. Huo Shu ran fast, her pale face flushed red with anger.

The school shouldn’t slander her like that!

This would be a major stain on Su Yu’s record. She couldn’t let her be wrongly accused for no reason.

She guessed why Su Yu hadn’t come—maybe it had something to do with her.

She had said not to come looking for her again.

And she kept her word, even for something this important, she didn’t come.

In just a few minutes, Huo Shu had run to the dean’s office. Just as she was about to knock, she froze.

On the sofa sat a girl, legs crossed casually, her tone relaxed, “Are you done talking? If you are, I’m leaving now, okay?”