The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 3

“Xiao San?” Zheng Qi nudged Xiao San again. “What’s wrong with you today? You seem so off.”

“Really?” Xiao San replied loudly, trying to sound tough but clearly flustered. “I… I…”

“Are you on your… you know?” Zheng Qi leaned in and whispered, “It’s okay, I brought some ‘bread.’ Let’s go to the restroom and change.”

Zheng Qi’s voice was soft, her breath warm as she spoke, her eyes nervously scanning their surroundings.

Xiao San looked at Zheng Qi’s concerned face in confusion, suddenly recalling their high school days when they’d shyly refer to menstruation as “that time.” Every time the topic came up, their cheeks would flush with embarrassment. They’d even call sanitary pads “bread,” handling them with utmost care, terrified someone might see.

The female lead was so good to her.

She’d save her a seat on the school bus, check if she was feeling unwell, and despite her own shyness, still take her to the restroom.

Xiao San’s heart warmed at the thought.

If this were real life, she’d never be able to resist someone as kind as the female lead.

Until the world returned to normal, becoming friends with her didn’t seem like a bad idea.

No, becoming friends with Zheng Qi.

Once she made up her mind, Xiao San immediately radiated boundless goodwill toward Zheng Qi. “Let’s go swimming together! But where’s the pool? I didn’t bring a swimsuit. Do we rent them, or are they stored at the pool?”

“You must have a fever. You couldn’t have forgotten everything, like in those novels?”

“Of course not! How could I have transmigrated into a novel? I’m just testing our friendship, I want to see if you still like me the most.”

“Of course! We’re best friends.”

Xiao San rubbed her temples. Kids really were something else. And the female lead was so kind-hearted, anyone else might not have been so easy to fool.

Following Zheng Qi, as if to prove they were indeed best friends, Zheng Qi not only pointed out Xiao San’s locker combination but also her seat and even her class schedule.

It was then that Xiao San realized they weren’t even in the same class.

With only about twenty students per class, Xiao San quickly spotted the male lead in her own class. The moment they entered, Zheng Qi’s gaze locked onto someone.

The only person who could command the female lead’s attention like that was, of course, the male lead. A casual question about his name confirmed it.

He was a coldly handsome young man, his sharp brows and clean-cut profile straight out of a novel or manga. His lips were slightly thin, and the line from his ear to his jaw was strikingly defined. Just standing there, he was a breathtaking sight.

Tall probably around 185 cm, maybe even pushing 190 his limbs were long and perfectly proportioned. His hands were particularly striking, with slender fingers and knuckles that looked just right.

Even if Xiao San tried to lie to herself, she couldn’t deny that the male lead was undeniably attractive.

“You don’t like him too, do you?” Zheng Qi asked, watching Xiao San with a faint edge of hostility in her voice.

“Oh no no no no.” Xiao San quickly waved her hands, afraid that even a millisecond’s delay would make Zheng Qi see her as a love rival. “I absolutely don’t like him. I just appreciate him, you know? It’s the same attitude I have toward any good-looking man or woman. There’s not a single thought in my mind about having any improper relationship with him.”

Zheng Qi froze, and after a long pause, she said, “You don’t have to be like this, as if…”

As if Shen Lin were someone Xiao San found utterly repulsive.

Xiao San spoke earnestly, “Qi, we have to understand that looks are just superficial. Whether you’re a celestial beauty or plain as day, we all end up as old ladies and grandpas someday. When looking for a partner, you’ve got to find someone who treats you well, loves you unconditionally, stands by your side no matter what, and can justify everything you do not just someone with a pretty face. I mean, good-looking people aren’t necessarily good people. You’ve got to dig deep into their hearts to know if they’re right for you.”

Zheng Qi’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Lin, barely registering Xiao San’s words.

“Girl, don’t tell me you’re really only into him?” Xiao San asked.

Zheng Qi lowered her head, her face flushing red with shyness, and gave a small, barely audible “Mhm.”

“Have you ever considered that there are so many good-looking guys out there? Like those idol group boys or firefighter hunks? You just haven’t seen enough of the world. Once you’ve witnessed the vastness of the forest, you won’t be hung up on this one crooked tree.”

Zheng Qi looked at Xiao San in confusion. “Xiao San, you’re acting really weird today. You’ve never been like this before.”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve finally seen through the true nature of the world,” Xiao San said, patting Zheng Qi’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you see it too.”

Zheng Qi didn’t respond. Instead, as Shen Lin approached, she quickly ran off.

“See you in swimming class.”

Shen Lin walked straight toward Xiao San.

He didn’t pass by, he stopped less than a meter away from her. That was no longer the distance between strangers.

Even though she knew he was a scumbag, a violent psycho, and a criminal, facing a face so flawlessly sculpted, Xiao San shamefully caved.

As long as she didn’t date him and just admired him from afar, there was no harm in admitting, this face was really something.

“Stay away from her.”

“Huh?” Xiao San looked at Shen Lin, baffled by his abrupt statement. What did he mean?

“She’s not as simple as she seems.”

It took Xiao San a moment to realize the “her” he was referring to was Zheng Qi.

Yeah right. Trust you, a walking red flag, over Zheng Qi?

Xiao San smiled. “Yes, Young Master.”

She hadn’t forgotten that her family’s house still belonged to the Shen family. For all she knew, even her tuition was being paid by them. And if not directly, then with money earned from them.

Not to mention this school she was probably only here because of the male lead. Otherwise, given her family’s financial situation, they’d never be able to afford the tuition.

Right now, she was practically a little maid in the Shen household, and standing before her was the young master she served.

Heh.

Seeing Shen Lin still hadn’t left, Xiao San forced what she thought was an awkward yet polite smile.

Unbeknownst to her, her lips twitched, making her look like a dopey little panda.

Shen Lin couldn’t help but cover his eyes as he turned away. “I must be out of my mind to think reminding you would do any good.”

“Huh?” Xiao San felt as though the male lead was looking down on her somehow.

She instinctively raised her hand in protest but managed to restrain herself.

No matter what the male lead meant, she would stand firmly by the female lead’s side she was Team Female Lead all the way!!!

Of course, that was assuming the female lead didn’t push her into the water.

“Hey, did you push me in because you were jealous I talked to your… your crush?” Choking on a mouthful of water, Xiao San barely managed to steady herself in the pool.

She wasn’t a complete landlubber, but she was far from being a strong swimmer.

She could swim, but only just and every time she entered the pool, it took her ages to regain her confidence in the water.

Being suddenly shoved in, Xiao San even had a fleeting thought that she might be transmigrating again.

Zheng Qi didn’t seem to hear her words. Instead, she plunged into the water with a loud splash.

“Hey, no diving in the school pool!” the swimming instructor shouted from a distance.

Zheng Qi resurfaced, her beauty undiminished even by the ugly swim cap. Water streamed down her high nose bridge, pausing at her lips to leave a glistening sheen.

Alright.

Xiao San closed her eyes, unable to bear looking any longer.

She wasn’t actually that angry, she’d just raised her voice a little. Maybe Zheng Qi had done it by accident. If Zheng Qi just explained, she could let it go.

Zheng Qi hunched her shoulders and stuck out her tongue, whispering sheepishly, “That was fun, wasn’t it?”

Xiao San resisted the urge to roll her eyes. So Zheng Qi was just being playful but it was really dangerous. “Don’t do that again, okay? It scared me.”

“Sorry.” Zheng Qi seemed to finally notice Xiao San’s irritation and cautiously moved closer. “Are you mad?”

With such an adorable, beautiful, and gentle girl looking at her so pitifully, it was hard to stay angry.

Xiao San waved her hand dismissively. “I’m not mad, just a little startled. Just don’t do it again, alright?”

Zheng Qi nodded eagerly, even raising three fingers as if taking an oath. “Don’t be mad, Xiao San. I won’t do it again. I just… I just…”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.

“Alright, alright.” Even though Xiao San was the one who’d nearly drowned, here she was comforting Zheng Qi instead. “Don’t be upset. I was only a little scared, I’m really not angry. I know you were just playing around. I’m not mad at all.”

It was like coaxing a little sister. Who wouldn’t want such a cute sister? Who could stay angry with her?

“Really?”

“Really. Truer than gold.”

Xiao San had no choice but to indulge Zheng Qi. After some more cajoling, she finally convinced Zheng Qi she wasn’t angry.

Reconciled, the two splashed around in the water for a while before following the instructor’s directions to swim a few laps. By the end of class, Xiao San was so exhausted she could barely drag herself out of the pool.

“Xiao San, hurry up and change. Let’s go eat!” Zheng Qi crouched beside her, poking Xiao San’s cheek with one hand while urging her to get up.

Xiao San shook her head, whimpering, “Wuwuwu, I don’t want to move. I’ve never swum so hard in my life. Wuwuwu, I don’t want to eat. I just want to lie here.”

“Come on, Xiao San, get up,” Zheng Qi coaxed softly beside her, her voice sweet and pleading.

Honestly, her heart was melting from the tenderness.

And if that was the case, she was even less willing to get up.

“Move aside.” A cold, deep voice cut through the air, followed by a large shadow looming over them. Shen Lin stood above like a walking block of ice, looking down at Xiao San with an imperious gaze. “Get up and go eat.”

Xiao San shook her head again.

Even if the Emperor himself showed up, she was determined to stay lying down.

Suddenly, Shen Lin crouched and made a move as if to pick her up. Startled, Xiao San scrambled to her feet in an instant, darting away as swiftly as a sprinting squirrel.

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