After Dumping the Female Lead, It's My Turn to Cry - Chapter 15

After the crisp ring of the class bell, the class monitor had already picked up their book and walked straight to the podium at the front of the classroom to lead the reading. This Omega from Class F had a gentle voice and clear enunciation, yet their eyes kept anxiously darting toward an empty seat while reciting.

In fact, it wasn’t just the class monitor. Bibiba appeared to be diligently following along, but the book they were holding upright was actually upside down, while their other hand, hidden under the desk, was frantically sending a barrage of urgent messages to their friend.

Bibiba: “Xiao Bai, are you crazy? Why aren’t you here yet?”

Bibiba: “The first period today is the homeroom teacher’s class! Don’t tell me you forgot that latecomers have to do twenty laps of frog jumps on the field downstairs!”

Bibiba: “You’re something else. You can’t save a fish that’s determined to dry itself out, I’ve done all I can!”

As the homeroom teacher, wearing black-framed glasses, walked in, Bibiba didn’t dare to make any more suspicious moves. After typing one last line, they settled down to listen attentively.

The homeroom teacher’s expression was grim, clearly in a foul mood. Not only were their lips pressed tightly together, but the dark circles under their eyes and the crumpled pink pig-themed lesson plan in their hand all signaled deep irritation.

In short, they practically had the words, “I’ll pick whoever I want, let’s see which unlucky soul falls into my hands today,” written all over their face. The students below all shrank like quails, not daring to move a muscle.

The homeroom teacher slammed the lesson plan on the desk and began their strategic tirade: “Look at your results from the entrance exam, I don’t even know what to say. Yes, you’re students of Class F, and I don’t expect you to pilot mechas like the kids in Class A or B, or go to other planets to fight insectoids. But at the very least, you should know how to protect yourselves, shouldn’t you?”

The class monitor, sensing the tension, cast one last worried glance at the still-empty seat, silently shedding a tear of sympathy for Ruan Yubai, before stepping down from the side of the podium and returning to their seat.

On the podium, the homeroom teacher fanned themselves with the stack of red-marked exam papers, continuing their sarcastic remarks.

“Just look at these scores for Interstellar Self-Defense. You’re really something. The top fifty in the grade aren’t just from Class A, there are a few promising students from Class B in there too. But you’ve outdone even the top students of Class A: the bottom fifty are all from our class, with not a single student from any other class making the list!”

“I’ve truly seen it all. You’re definitely the best class I’ve ever taught in all my years!”

“Don’t act like you don’t care. It might seem like Loreth’s public security is decent, but when a real crisis hits, no one can escape it. Do you even know that even the Qing family’s…” Fortunately, the teacher was too enraged to notice the empty seat just yet. Just as Bibiba was quietly breathing a sigh of relief for their friend, they saw the teacher’s eyes shift and suddenly fixate.

“Whose seat is this empty? Ruan Yubai?”

The teacher’s voice wasn’t sharp at all, it was calm and gentle. But that didn’t mean they were in a good mood. It was more like the brief stillness before a frenzied boss unleashes their ultimate attack. Even the usually carefree Bibiba felt their heart tighten: This is bad.

Twenty laps of frog jumps might not be enough anymore.

The homeroom teacher’s eyes gleamed coldly behind her glasses. Just as she let out a cold laugh and was about to slam the desk, someone suddenly stood up from an empty seat, interrupting her ultimate move.

The girl in her school uniform had a flushed face, her ponytail slightly disheveled. Her eyes glistened with the moisture of someone who had just exerted herself, and the sunlight outside the window, soft as if filtered through sand, illuminated her clear, radiant skin so pristine it resembled a petal of an apricot flower bathed in morning dew.

Ruan Yubai blinked. “Teacher, what’s wrong?”

Being interrupted mid-skill was a major taboo. The homeroom teacher was completely caught off guard and, after a moment, managed to ask, “Where did you pop out from?”

This wasn’t just the teacher’s question; it was also the confusion of most students in Class F.

Was she performing a magic trick with a disappearing act?

“I accidentally dropped my stationery and was just picking up my eraser.” Following Ruan Yubai’s gaze downward, the teacher finally noticed the half-piece of pig-shaped eraser in her hand.

After a few seconds of silence, the teacher said, “Why are you so clumsy all day? Sit down.”

Ruan Yubai nodded obediently and smoothly took her seat.

Had the teacher stepped closer, she would have noticed the slight wrinkles on Ruan Yubai’s uniform, the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead, and the faint trembling in her legs from her earlier frantic sprint.

Hallelujah! Thank goodness for the teacher’s 2,000-degree myopia, untreated by genetic modification!

Bibiba, sitting in front, was burning with curiosity. She winked and made faces at her friend, trying to catch her attention. But just as Ruan Yubai subtly glanced sideways without realizing the impending danger, Bibiba turned back and met the teacher’s dark, stern eyes.

“Bibiba, you’re quite something, aren’t you? Looking back while I’m speaking, and even holding your book upside down. Do you think you’re a daoli insect in this lifetime?”

Daoli insect, a pun on “upside-down insect” refers to an insect that walks inverted, with compound eyes that perceive the world upside down.

Amidst the roaring laughter, the teacher patted her shoulder and said coldly, “Since you like it so much, after class, go to the playground and do a round of frog jumps, upside down.”

Bibiba: Who would’ve thought? The scapegoat for frog jumps turned out to be me!

Seeing Bibiba’s despairing face, the teacher finally felt a bit of relief. Adjusting her 2,000-degree glasses, she smiled and returned to the podium to continue the lesson.

The only one who saw through the truth, however, was the male lead, Nan Zhudi, a seemingly nerdy Beta with an Alpha aura stronger than most!

Thanks to his prime seat by the window in the second-to-last row, Nan Zhudi had a full view of the classroom. He saw how the back door had quietly cracked open during the teacher’s dinosaur-like roar and how the girl had bent herself into a graceful, crescent-moon-like arc.

As Ruan Yubai brushed past him while crouching, Nan Zhudi caught a faint, sweet scent of orange blossoms, mingled with the barely detectable fragrance of freesia. In that moment, everything became clear to him.

Off to bother Qing Ling again, huh?

Tch. Nan Zhudi curled his lip disdainfully. He truly despised people like Ruan Yubai so lovestruck that they constantly harassed the goddess, all while putting on an act. Did this foolish Beta really think such clumsy tricks would make him fall for her?

Not a chance!

But the problem was, this Beta whom he had always looked down upon happened to have cheeks sweeter and more delicate than most Omegas, with her long, flowing hair cascading behind her, exuding an aura of pure innocence. Ruan Yubai’s movements as she picked up half an eraser from the corner of the chair were brisk and lively; the way she raised a finger to her lips, playfully signaling her deskmate to be quiet, was utterly charming; and when she smoothed the wrinkles of her skirt and stood up, it was as fluid as flowing water truly the picture of a youthful beauty.

Nan Zhudi’s eyes deepened: This Ruan Yubai, how dare she so blatantly try to seduce him?

As for the rumors that Ruan Yubai’s true love was Qing Ling?

Nan Zhudi: Stop pretending, girl. Your feigned avoidance is just another way of saying you love me.

Unaware of the dramatic romantic plot the male lead had concocted in his mind, Ruan Yubai naturally had no idea what he was thinking. After class, she went to the convenience store to grab an ice cream and strolled leisurely along the edge of the playground, accompanying her friend who was exhausted and sweating profusely from doing frog jumps.

Bibiba, watching her relaxed demeanor, was so irritated that her teeth itched: “Your best friend is here suffering through punishment, and you have the nerve to eat ice cream? What flavor is it? One that tastes like my blood, sweat, and tears?”

As if oblivious to her friend’s sarcasm, Ruan Yubai took another bite, the sweet scent of ice cream wafting from her mouth as she spoke: “It’s White Rabbit milk candy flavor.”

Bibiba: …

She suddenly remembered the last gloating text message she had sent to Ruan Yubai before she arrived.

Bibiba: “I’ve already decided while you’re hopping around, I’ll be standing by the side, sucking on an ice pop and cheering you on. Should I get the cream flavor or the White Rabbit one?”

Bibiba: There’s a certain phrase involving my father and chrysanthemums that I absolutely must say!

But one round of frog jumps didn’t take too long and Bibiba also understood that the homeroom teacher had taken out her anger on her this time, she had just happened to be in the line of fire. Recalling the half-unspoken words about the “Qing family” from the teacher, she couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What were you doing before class? Did you really go cause trouble for Miss Qing Ling like they said?”

Ruan Yubai: “No, but how is your information network so ridiculously extensive?”

It had only been one class period, how had the little mess she’d made before class already been dug up and exposed so thoroughly?

Rewind to the empty hallway before the first class began.

Blinded by a momentary surge of anger, Ruan Yubai had impulsively pressed the female lead’s hand against the wall. It wasn’t until Qing Ling lifted her eyelids in slight surprise that Ruan Yubai realized something was wrong.

Her slender fingers still carried the cool, medicinal scent of reagents, and even through the touch of their uniforms, it felt as if they could leave behind strange traces.

Just then, the footsteps of other students echoed from behind, their chatter drawing closer until it was almost right by their ears. Panicked, Ruan Yubai abruptly shook off her hand. To the approaching students, it looked as though the two of them had been in a heated argument.

Naturally, the students from Class A were more inclined to side with Qing Ling, especially with the innate protagonist aura that surrounded the young lady.

Just as the students were glaring at Ruan Yubai with unfriendly expressions, Qing Ling spoke up: “Miss Ruan and I merely had a minor disagreement over an academic matter. There’s no need to be so tense.”

An academic matter? Qing Ling and Ruan Yubai?

Putting everything else aside, Qing Ling had already been exceptionally appointed by the school leadership as the new student council president, hadn’t she? These two were completely unrelated, what academic issue could they possibly be discussing?

Everyone presents froze, and even Ruan Yubai widened her eyes in confusion.

“What was the outcome?” a bystander asked curiously.

It wasn’t until the female lead made her next move that Ruan Yubai suddenly understood. As she stood there, speechless, even the tips of her ears flushed with a faint, delicate red.

The warmth from her cheeks spread to her chest. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she watched Qing Ling use those hands, the source of all trouble to pinch the bridge of her nose and let out a soft laugh.

It wasn’t the formal academic issue everyone had imagined, but a debate between B and C.

Then Qing Ling said calmly, “She’s right.”

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