Chapter 9

"Take these to the print room and make 44 copies. Make one extra because the teacher needs one too. When you're done, remember to tell the lady at the desk that they're for class use so we don't have to pay extra." "Got it." "Take these handouts and distribute them to everyone in the class. Make sure every single person gets one, don't let them pass them down or they'll get lost. This is very important." "Okay." "I have to go to a meeting in a bit. Teacher Hua Chai wants me to fill out this form. Take it and fill it out yourself. If you don't know how, check the teacher's computer. If you really can't figure it out, leave it blank until I get back, oh, and fill out these 14 similar forms at the same time." "..."

Ansheng had initially thought being an assistant wouldn't take up much time or energy, but after experiencing it that day, he finally understood that this job was truly not meant for humans!

Miaomiao had meetings to attend, forms to fill out, and handouts to distribute—even if Ansheng had six pairs of hands, he couldn't possibly handle all of this!

With a long sigh, Ansheng briefly enjoyed a short moment of rest. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have agreed so readily. I should have just treated her to a bowl of noodles... What is all this..."

He muttered helplessly, his tone full of regret. Over the past few days, Miaomiao had called him over to help almost every time class ended, and it was truly wearing him out.

More importantly, whereas he used to be able to dash outside to play on his phone and read manga during breaks, now every single second of his time was being squeezed dry.

Filled with incomparable melancholy, Ansheng took out a round badge-style piece of merchandise he always carried with him and looked at it. It featured Katō Megumi, whom he had mentioned before, and its surface shone brightly in the sunlight, looking exceptionally lovely.

"Is this... Katō Megumi?"

A male voice came from directly ahead. Ansheng started, raised his head, and looked up.

A rather short-statured boy with short hair was currently staring at the badge in his hand. Seeing Ansheng's gaze, he asked again, "Right?"

Ansheng nodded, having zero impression of this boy whatsoever.

The boy casually sat down in Miaomiao's seat and turned around. "I like Katō Megumi too! Such an especially gentle girl!"

Ansheng's favorable impression skyrocketed! "You have good taste!" he nodded with satisfaction.

"Wait, let me find it." The boy seemed to have thought of something, took out his phone, and started searching for something.

Before long, he smiled and turned the screen toward Ansheng. "Look!"

Ansheng looked over. On the other side's phone was a photo with a coser, and the coser was none other than Katō Megumi. "Isn't this coser super pretty?!"

Ansheng nodded in deep agreement. "The prettiest one I've ever seen." "Of course! I waited in such a long line just to get a picture with her!" The boy looked quite proud.

"Ansheng—!" Miaomiao's voice came from the classroom doorway. Ansheng stiffened, realizing that more work had arrived. "Sorry, I have to go do something."

The boy nodded in understanding. "Go ahead. Feel free to keep chatting with me when you have time, Ansheng."

Ansheng paused his steps, somewhat surprised. "You know me?"

The boy stood frozen in place, his mouth agape with an expression of disbelief. "I... we're classmates!"

Seeing Ansheng's skeptical look, the boy felt even more struck. "Big bro, I'm just two rows away from you!"

"Oh, oh..." Ansheng looked away, somewhat embarrassed. "I'm Ren Wen." He sighed and held out his hand.

Ansheng looked at his palm, hesitated for a moment, and reached out to shake it. "I'm Ansheng." "Go do your thing, let's chat later. I'll add you."

Ansheng pulled up his QR code. Ren Wen scanned it and nodded as he left. "Get back to work, let's talk when you have time." "Ansheng!!!" Miaomiao's voice already carried a hint of anger. "Coming!" Ansheng snapped out of it and had to quicken his pace over to Miaomiao's side.

By the time he reached Miaomiao out of breath, she shoved a stack of documents into his arms without a word and scooped up another stack herself.

Miaomiao frowned in confusion. "Did you go read manga again?" Ansheng sighed helplessly. "As if I had the time for that, I barely looked at a few pages. Someone just added me on WeChat."

"Oh?" Miaomiao was even more curious. Wasn't Ansheng unpopular with the people in their class? "What's with that shocked look..." "Aren't you usually not interested in other people?"

"Yeah," Ansheng nodded. "The other person added me first. Coincidentally, they like ** Megumi just like I do." "From another class?" "Our class—that's what he said."

The corner of Miaomiao's mouth twitched. What did "that's what he said" mean? Did Ansheng really have zero impression of anyone in the class besides her? "What's his name?" "Ren Wen."

Miaomiao stopped in her tracks. Ansheng looked back at her in confusion and asked, "What's wrong?"

With a complicated expression, Miaomiao paused before saying, "I know him. He's your good buddy." "Why is he my good buddy? I don't even know him!" "What was your rank on the last exam?" "Second to last."

Miaomiao sighed, shook her head, and started walking forward again. "He was last." "..."

Ah, so that was what kind of good buddy it meant.

***

After finishing a day of studying, school was over, and Ansheng was walking home.

Originally, the two of them used to walk home together, but later Ansheng thought about it and decided they should walk separately, otherwise strange rumors might spread around the school.

Ansheng didn't care what other people thought of him, but he wouldn't want to drag anyone else down.

It was only at this moment that Ansheng agreed to accept Ren Wen's friend request, and the other person immediately sent a message.

[What are you doing?] Ansheng typed: [Going home] [Oh, do you think this is overpriced?] (A screenshot of a second-hand figure listing)

[Overpriced. Usually just over 200.] [Alright then, I'll keep looking. I knew I could count on you.] (Sticker: Thanks a lot.jpg)

Ansheng scratched his head and didn't reply further. Did he just make his first friend with shared interests? Subconsciously, he thought of the girl who usually seemed rather icy to everyone else. Did she have any friends?

Lost in thought, he had already arrived at his front door. Miaomiao was already sitting on the carpet, naturally helping herself to a glass of water.

Seeing Ansheng return, she only gave a faint nod. Having come over so many times now, Miaomiao was already used to it. The layout was almost identical to her own home, so she felt no discomfort at all.

Not to mention... their relationship was completely innocent.

"Math problems today." Miaomiao handed over the workbook and homework notebook.

Ansheng put down his backpack, feeling a bit puzzled, and asked directly, "Class Monitor, do you have any friends?"

Miaomiao paused her drinking, put down the cup, and asked, "What do you mean?" "Just asking."

Seeing that the curiosity in Ansheng's eyes didn't seem fake, Miaomiao snorted. "Just as you'd expect, no." "How did you know I guessed you didn't?" Ansheng wondered. "You could guess that... don't be so hurtful, you know."

Ansheng nodded, ignoring her last sentence. "That's true too. Usually you look all cheerful, but in reality you're super aloof. As for guys, needless to say, you always pull a long face..." "Who's pulling a long face?!" "You are." Ansheng looked at Miaomiao as if she were an idiot.

Miaomiao's voice stalled, and she muttered as she crossed her arms. "Every time those guys come looking for me, when are they not looking like they've got unfulfilled desires?" "While that's blunt and accurate... aren't you being a bit *too* blunt..." Ansheng coughed.

Miaomiao shook her head indifferently. "That's just how it is. Basically, every single one of them approaches me wanting to pursue me. No matter how well they disguise it, you can tell eventually."

While that was a fact, and Miaomiao wasn't bragging—she truly was the prettiest girl Ansheng had ever laid eyes on, even prettier than heavily filtered photos online, so it was only natural for so many boys to be infatuated with her—Ansheng's mouth still twitched inwardly, sighing at Miaomiao's terrifying perspective.

"Back on the morning of registration, there was this second-year guy named Xun Rui, I think. Heard he was considered some kind of school hunk. He came over pretending to be nice and asked if I wanted him to show me around. Out of politeness, I smiled and turned him down, but he wouldn't give up and kept pestering me, talking about some high-end restaurant with amazing food."

"Anyway, blah, blah, blah, he basically kept trying to ask me out. I finally lost my patience, stopped paying attention to him, and walked away with a cold face. Dealing with people like that is such a hassle. I ran into them in middle school too."

Miaomiao muttered to herself and sighed. Ansheng thought for a moment. "What about girls? Why don't you make a few friends? I see quite a few girls who really like you."

Miaomiao shook her head. "I don't have the energy for that. Besides, if you make friends with people, it feels like it would be too troublesome. You have to take responsibility for that friendship."

Ansheng nodded in agreement, and Miaomiao pointedly pierced right through him. "Didn't you just make a friend? Why are you nodding?"

"That's because he added me first. We just happen to share hobbies. But I'm not going to proactively reach out to deepen any relationship or anything. Just like you, I'd find it too troublesome. The most I can do is answer if someone asks me a question."

Miaomiao propped her head up with her hand, tilting it slightly upward. Her cherry lips puckered and her cheeks puffed out a little as she blew on her bangs to play with the strands. "Hmm... To be honest, when I first saw you, I thought you'd be the social butterfly type of guy."

Ansheng looked at Miaomiao and couldn't help letting out a sigh. "Why'd you think that?" "You look way too cool!" "Well... I suppose you know me well enough now." "You violent studying freak!" "Today's exercise session is changed to history memorization time. Same as usual, three units. Go." "Sorry." "Politely declined."