After Dumping the Female Lead, It's My Turn to Cry - Chapter 29.1

Although these clothes were far from new, given Ruan Yubai’s homebody, slacker personality, most of them had only been worn once or twice. This way, even if her father confronted her, she would have an excuse to argue.

Thinking this, she cast a smug glance at the female lead before turning to open the door and step out.

To clarify, Ruan Yubai strode out with what she believed to be the utterly ruthless gait of a villain.

Unfortunately, for this malicious supporting character taking a major step down the path of a great antagonist, she likely never imagined that the moment she stepped out, Qing Ling inside the room let out a soft, derisive chuckle.

Perhaps because there were too many clothes piled up, even after she had left, the room still lingered with the faint, sweet scent unique to the girl, mingling with the fresh strawberries on the desk to create a very refreshing fruity aroma.

What was this?

A Miracle Nikki championship for kindergarten penguins?

If Ruan Yubai knew the female lead’s assessment, she’d probably be furious, but Bibiba’s commentary wasn’t much better.

After excitedly sharing her “first trick to humiliate the student council president” with Bibiba, the latter first gasped sharply, then exclaimed in awe, “Incredible, Old Bai, you’re truly incredible.”

Ruan Yubai proudly lifted her slacker neck, waiting for this turncoat friend to realign herself, only to hear her continue, “My goodness, are you using the ‘original flavor clothes’ tactic to seduce the president? Admirable courage. Old Bai, as expected of you!”

“What?” Ruan Yubai almost doubted her ears. She pointed at herself in confusion, looked at Bibiba, then pointed back at herself again, perfectly embodying the phrase “dumbstruck.” “Who are you talking about? Me?”

Bibiba didn’t bother arguing with her and simply tapped on the desk of another Omega in the class, asking, “Class president, if a Beta suddenly barged into your room and gave you clothes they’d worn, what would you think of that person?”

The first sentence alone made one frown, and as soon as Bibiba finished speaking, the class president replied almost without hesitation, “A pervert, right?”

Ruan Yubai said nothing more; she had already dried into a fossil from the Jurassic era, ready to scatter in the wind with the slightest breeze.

Naturally, the class president was different from the unreliable Bibiba. Even if the school building lost power, the teacher could instantly locate Class F.

Because the class president’s soul was full of shining qualities, glowing even in complete darkness.

So, the class president’s words were absolutely convincing.

But this was a method of humiliation Ruan Yubai had painstakingly devised, how could it be like this?

A villain can be sinister, malicious, inhuman, antisocial, but absolutely cannot be a pervert. Once you’re a pervert, your level drops instantly, plummeting from a popular pillar who can effortlessly survive until the final chapter to a disgusting, flat cannon fodder with a poker face.

This wasn’t right; her goal clearly wasn’t this. Had something gone wrong somewhere?

“What did you find?” The class monitor, who had been working on practice problems, turned her head and seemed to suddenly realize who the Beta in this scenario was. She quickly added, “Of course, I’m talking about ordinary Betas. Someone like Bai Bai definitely doesn’t count. How could anyone dislike such a cutie?”

However, the twisted thought had already taken root in Ruan Yubai’s heart. She shook her head dazedly, her tone distant: “Monitor, you don’t need to comfort me. I understand now.”

Well, actually, Ruan Yubai understood nothing.

To be honest, Ruan Yubai truly believed the female lead was the real pervert here.

On the first day of the tutoring arranged by her mother, Ruan Yubai naively thought Qing Ling had also been forced by their elders and was just reluctantly going through the motions. At the time, the lazy girl was simply lying on her bed, drowsily pointing to the soft sofa bed nearby, indicating that the female lead could practice, pet the cat, or have remote meetings as she pleased.

…Then her blanket was abruptly pulled aside, and the female lead’s hand mercilessly grabbed the lazy girl by the scruff of her neck.

Just like picking up a black cat, Ruan Yubai, still full of sleepiness, was hauled from her bed to the study desk.

Well, this might be Ruan Yubai’s hatred-colored glasses being too thick Qing Ling’s actions were actually quite polite and gentle, yet firm and undeniable as she settled her into the chair.

Holding a pen and looking at the test paper before her, Ruan Yubai rarely experienced the illusion that she might still be sleepwalking: “Qing Ling, are you really going to tutor me?”

This shouldn’t be happening, really shouldn’t!

“First, do a set of practice questions. I want to see your general level.” Qing Ling casually opened the gold-embossed folder in her hand. Ruan Yubai glanced unconsciously inside were various newly drafted, messy regulations from the student council.

Being the female lead must be exhausting.

By the time Qing Ling finished annotating one folder, half the sun had already set outside. Ruan Yubai lay bored on the desk, the remaining half of the sun melting like butter, casting a soft golden glow on the girl’s fine hair, like the soft down of a newborn duckling.

Qing Ling was somewhat surprised: “Have you finished already?”

Ruan Yubai didn’t move, only shaking her head, her arms leaving two faint red marks on her tender cheeks.

“Why aren’t you doing it?” Noticing that the test paper remained largely blank, Qing Ling gently tapped the desk, her voice calm. “Is it because you think it’s too simple, or because you doubt my ability to teach you?”

That wasn’t it.

Those beautiful eyes held a glint of gold foil, quiet and steady. Yet for some reason, Ruan Yubai avoided that gaze, turning her head to reveal a rarely seen expression of embarrassment. A light pink flush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears as she whispered, “It’s because I don’t know how.”

“I haven’t been listening in class this entire school year.”

It wasn’t just zoning out or missing a lesson or two, she simply hadn’t been paying attention at all. Her homework was done carelessly, and exams were answered by shaking dice made from erasers.

Ruan Yubai understood that Qing Ling wanted to identify and fill gaps in her knowledge, but her biggest problem was that she didn’t even know what she didn’t know. How could she possibly answer the questions?

Even if she got one right, it would just be a guess, nothing more than a waste of both their time.

Whether it was due to her stubbornness or her immaturity in throwing a childish tantrum, ever since that confident exam had landed her directly in Class F, Ruan Yubai had developed a resistance toward studying.

If even putting in so much effort only yielded such poor results, didn’t that just prove she wasn’t cut out for academics?

Since she couldn’t excel in studying or fully enjoy playing, she might as well indulge in having fun without restraint. People always said that working hard in childhood would lead to more leisure time as an adult. Well, she’d just flip it, enjoy her youth now and suffer later.

Besides, she probably didn’t have much of a future anyway.

Qing Ling wasn’t aware of the details behind this, but she noticed the girl’s eyelashes trembling more and more, her eyes, hidden behind strands of hair, almost welling up with glistening tears.

Her frown deepened slightly, though her tone remained calm. “What about a year ago?”

A year ago…

Biting her lip, Ruan Yubai turned to look at her for the first time.

Back then, she had actually studied. Although her motivation getting closer to Sister Lin Yi to score more gummy worms wasn’t entirely pure, she had genuinely put in the effort.

By the time Qing Ling finished organizing the remaining scattered materials, Ruan Yubai was still hunched over, scribbling furiously, having reached the last two major questions.

The test papers were printed in four sections. Qing Ling gathered the first three pages, which were scattered everywhere, stapled them together, and picked up a red pen to start marking.

So, the moment Ruan Yubai set down her pen and began rubbing her sore neck, she was stunned to find that Qing Ling had already calculated her score.

How terrifying. If someone like this became a teacher, they’d be the collective nightmare of every student in the school.

“I referred to last year’s class placement standards,” Qing Ling began, “Based on your test performance and recorded physical fitness rating, you should have no problem getting into Class B. And if we account for the knowledge you’ve forgotten over the past year, it’s not entirely impossible for you to test into Class A.”

Ruan Yubai gave an awkward smile, about to tell the female lead to stop joking like that, but before she could utter a single word, she was cut off by the other’s calm voice.

“So, how did you manage to mess up back then? Did you toss the answer sheet on the floor and step on it, or fill in the subjective questions for interstellar history in the section for mecha repair steps?”

Ruan Yubai: …

“That’s impossible,” she replied weakly, too exhausted even to muster sarcasm after finishing the test. “I always double-check my answers after exams. Even if I were stupid, I wouldn’t be that stupid.”

But a year had passed, and even Ruan Yubai herself found it hard to believe. She cautiously added, “It shouldn’t be possible, right?”

She couldn’t possibly be that dumb, could she?!

Qing Ling almost laughed in exasperation. This time, instead of tapping the desk, she lightly rapped Ruan Yubai’s head. “I’m not saying you have to test into Class A, but Laureus has a school rule: if a student shows significant improvement like jumping directly from Class F to a higher class all the school’s libraries and convenience stores will be free for that person.”

At this, Ruan Yubai’s eyes instantly lit up.

If the female lead had tried to motivate her with some “inspirational clichés,” it would have been utterly useless after all, a slacker is just a slacker. Similarly, if she had used reverse psychology or negative encouragement to push her to improve, it would have been just as ineffective. A slacker flipped over is still a slacker.

But Loreth’s library and convenience store were different. The latter’s vast array of ice creams and Little Raccoon instant noodles were forever Ruan Yubai’s goddesses, while the library was not only packed with classics from all planets across time but also filled with the most cutting-edge Mary Sue novels.

Those melodramatic novels, those enchanting little minxes even if Ruan Yubai swore a hundred times to give them up, she would inevitably succumb at the hundred-and-first sight of their dazzling, colorful covers.

Mary Sue novels, forever the epitome of romance!

Unfortunately, the school library was only open to specific groups, such as student council members, during limited hours, and Ruan Yubai would never join such an organization.

Of course, she couldn’t get in anyway.

Thus, such an opportunity naturally felt extremely precious, and Qing Ling’s words had perfectly hit her sweet spot.

That being said…

Ruan Yubai pinched the rolled paper in confusion, utterly bewildered: “Does Loreth have such a school rule?”

How had she never heard of it?

Flipping open the pen cap, Qing Ling casually opened the previous gold-embossed folder, elegantly jotted down a few lines, and closed it again, her tone unruffled: “It does now.”

Ruan Yubai: ???

Ruan Yubai: !!!

Just what kind of background did this female lead have?

However, no matter what, since Qing Ling was so eager to help, Ruan Yubai naturally had no reason to refuse.

Besides, this was her home, what could this pitiful female lead possibly do to her, the host?

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