Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Yin Qiuman didn’t speak; she just gestured for He Xinglan to sit upright.

He Xinglan felt she should not have understood Yin Qiuman’s meaning, as she hadn’t opened her mouth to speak her thoughts, yet her body had instinctively reacted.

Her usually lazy posture suddenly straightened like a slender white poplar tree by the roadside.

Realizing her reaction, He Xinglan frowned fiercely. Her posture instantly slumped, and she retorted aggressively: “Mind your own business.”

After speaking, He Xinglan lay down on the desk again, closing her eyes, ready to sleep.

However, just as she closed her eyes, the feeling of being poked by a pen returned.

He Xinglan flared up. She suddenly raised her head and glared at the culprit: “Yin Qiuman, are you sick? Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep?”

It was rare for anyone to speak so righteously about sleeping during class.

Her slender eyebrows furrowed, Yin Qiuman looked at He Xinglan, then withdrew her gaze. Just as He Xinglan thought Yin Qiuman would ignore her, the notebook that had been on Yin Qiuman’s desk was placed in front of her.

He Xinglan instinctively looked down and saw the elegant handwriting in the notebook.

“Pay attention in class, or I’ll poke you again, with more force.”

He Xinglan laughed out of pure annoyance when she saw this.

Not only educating her but also threatening her?!

When had He Xinglan ever been successfully threatened?

Even her parents couldn’t do anything about her. So what if Yin Qiuman was a top student?

He Xinglan ignored the notebook, didn’t even hand it back to Yin Qiuman, and simply pinned the notebook under her arm, lying on it to sleep in a blatant act of defiance.

Yin Qiuman looked at He Xinglan, who was deliberately contradicting her. Her frown deepened, and she decisively picked up her pen, poking He Xinglan’s arm with more force than the previous two times.

He Xinglan felt Yin Qiuman’s noticeably stronger movement than before, and her arm felt a slight pain, but she didn’t move. She gave Yin Qiuman no reaction, pretending not to feel anything.

Seeing that He Xinglan ignored her, Yin Qiuman didn’t get angry. She just continued to poke He Xinglan with the pen, each poke heavier than the last. He Xinglan felt each one hurt more, but she stubbornly kept silent, acting as if she were fast asleep.

The two seemed to be competing in a test of endurance, or perhaps to see who would give up first.

He Xinglan was stubborn herself, but she felt that Yin Qiuman was even more stubborn than her.

Yin Qiuman seemed to have given up on studying, on listening attentively in class, and on being a good student, determined to engage in a relentless battle until He Xinglan finally admitted defeat.

“Stop poking,” He Xinglan snapped in an annoyed tone, halting Yin Qiuman’s actions.

Meeting Yin Qiuman’s fixed gaze, He Xinglan’s tone immediately softened: “I surrender, okay? I surrender!”

Yin Qiuman’s gaze moved down, resting on He Xinglan’s back. She didn’t say a word, but He Xinglan instinctively straightened her posture.

He Xinglan looked utterly miserable. It was the first time she had been completely controlled by someone.

He Xinglan suddenly wanted to tell the class teacher that maybe they shouldn’t change seats after all.

Yin Qiuman didn’t know what He Xinglan was thinking. Even if she did, she wouldn’t give He Xinglan the chance.

As soon as the class bell rang, Yin Qiuman looked at He Xinglan.

He Xinglan thought her sitting posture was still an issue and instinctively straightened up, only to see Yin Qiuman stand up.

“We’re going to the class teacher’s office to get your books and materials.” Yin Qiuman stood, looking down at He Xinglan, and patiently waited for He Xinglan to move after she finished speaking.

He Xinglan was extremely reluctant, but she was afraid that if she didn’t move, Yin Qiuman would poke her with a pen again, or something else, so she obediently stood up.

The two walked out of the classroom together, Yin Qiuman in front, He Xinglan behind.

Looking left, then right, He Xinglan’s gaze settled on Yin Qiuman.

This was the first time He Xinglan had seriously looked at Yin Qiuman.

Shorter than herself, thinner than herself, quieter than herself, with a clear scholarly air. She was the type of person who looked like she had excellent grades just by looking at her.

But why did a person like this have such a strong sense of responsibility?

Changing seats in their class was very difficult, so there was a high probability they would sit like this until the college entrance exam.

And since Yin Qiuman was so responsible, wouldn’t her next six months be miserable?

Thinking of this, despair flashed in He Xinglan’s eyes.

She regretted it. She shouldn’t have listened to the class teacher.

She wasn’t a good, obedient student in the first place, so why did she…

He Xinglan kept questioning herself internally until Yin Qiuman’s voice announced: “We’re here.”

“We… we’re here already?” He Xinglan stood at the entrance of the office and blinked.

Yin Qiuman ignored her and addressed the class teacher in the office: “Teacher, I brought He Xinglan to get her books and materials.”

The class teacher nodded: “They’ve been ready for a while.”

As he spoke, he carried a stack—it was truly a stack—from under his desk.

He Xinglan looked at the small mountain of books and materials and regretted her decision even more.

“Teacher, I suddenly have a stomach ache. I need to go to the restroom first,” He Xinglan’s voice drifted on the wind.

Watching He Xinglan quickly disappear, the class teacher smiled at Yin Qiuman: “She’s just that kind of lively person.”

After smiling, the class teacher’s expression returned to seriousness: “Student Yin Qiuman, Student He Xinglan is actually very smart. It’s just that she resists studying, is lazy, and has no ambition. The fundamental reason she is a poor student is that she simply hasn’t studied. I don’t want to give up on such a good prospect. So, Student Yin Qiuman, I’m entrusting Student He Xinglan to you. You must guide her onto the right path.”

Yin Qiuman felt indifferent about being entrusted with such a heavy responsibility by the class teacher, but He Xinglan…

A smile flashed in Yin Qiuman’s eyes as she recalled the image of He Xinglan being provoked by her yet being completely helpless to do anything.

Perhaps her life could include more than just studying and practice problems.

Turning to the class teacher, Yin Qiuman smiled lightly: “Teacher, I’ll take the books and materials back for He Xinglan.”

Of course, the class teacher couldn’t refuse. However, the quantity was indeed quite large. After thinking for a moment, the class teacher stood up: “Let’s go. I’ll help you.”

How long did He Xinglan hide in the school restroom? Until the class bell rang, she still didn’t want to come out.

But, in the past, she could hide in the restroom all morning, and no one would bother her, but now…

He Xinglan’s head ached listening to the familiar voice coming from the doorway.

Isn’t this Yin Qiuman a top student? Isn’t she a good student? Why is she watching me so closely?

“He Xinglan, if you don’t come out now, I’m coming in.” At the door, Yin Qiuman leaned against the wall, her voice quiet but full of power.

The veins on He Xinglan’s temples throbbed as she listened. She replied with extreme reluctance: “Coming out right now.”

Finally, sighing, He Xinglan exited the restroom with her head bowed, like a defeated soldier.

“Let’s go.” He Xinglan reluctantly shuffled next to Yin Qiuman.

“Mhm.” Yin Qiuman straightened up and walked side by side with He Xinglan toward the classroom of Class 14, Senior Three.

Entering the classroom and seeing the small mountain of books piled on her desk, He Xinglan’s body swayed, and she almost fell.

Yin Qiuman was quick to react, immediately supporting He Xinglan’s arm. Noticing her desperate eyes, Yin Qiuman comforted her: “Don’t be afraid. I know all of these. I will teach you.”