In the school hallway, just after class, Meng Yiqiao saw Li Xingya walk out of the classroom and immediately approached her.
“Did you pass successfully?”
Meng Yiqiao’s expression was a little nervous.
She trusted from the bottom of her heart that Li Xingya would pass, but now that the moment had come, she still felt an inexplicable worry.
“Not bad. I scraped by with a 60, right on the passing line.”
“That’s great, so you can stay in Class A.”
Watching Meng Yiqiao’s face relax, Li Xingya, who was leaning against the hallway railing, couldn’t help but become curious about the other’s results.
“Sister… what score did you get on this test?”
“A perfect score.”
“P-perfect score?”
“Mm.”
Meng Yiqiao nodded.
“All three teachers gave you full marks? Even Teacher Qi?”
Li Xingya recalled that exceptionally strict male teacher.
“Mm, perfect scores across the board. After all, I plan to pursue a singer debut route later. Reaching this level is definitely necessary.”
‘That’s insane.’
‘No wonder she’s ranked 41st on the Star-seeing Ranking.’
‘She always hangs around me like an idiot normally.’
‘But her professional skills are shockingly strong, huh.’
‘Tch.’
‘Kind of annoying.’
“Sister, to celebrate me passing for the first time, let’s have a little celebration.”
“Sure, Xiaoya. How do you want to celebrate?”
“Hmm…”
Li Xingya propped her chin on one hand, pretending to think.
Then, she silently stared at Meng Yiqiao’s cheek.
Li Xingya moved her lips slightly.
The next moment, she saw Meng Yiqiao’s face… flush a little red.
‘Heh heh.’
‘With just a tiny hint, she’s already thinking about kissing.’
‘Sister is such a pervert.’
Taking advantage of the sparse crowd in the hallway, Li Xingya closed the distance to Meng Yiqiao in two or three steps, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered in her ear, “That kiss from before… Sister, want to do it again?”
“X-Xiaoya.”
Meng Yiqiao’s body tensed, her shoulders curling inward.
Her voice was hard to hide—a mix of panic and anticipation—and she even began instinctively looking around.
‘Did anyone see us?’
‘Xiaoya suddenly saying something like that… startled me.’
‘But, one more kiss?’
Thinking back to the scene in the dorm, thinking about Li Xingya’s soft lips, Meng Yiqiao, almost as if possessed, nodded.
“Mm.”
She let out a soft nasal tone.
“Mm… what does that mean? Sister, Xiaoya doesn’t understand.”
Li Xingya said mischievously.
“It means, it means…”
“What is it?”
“Xiaoya… you already know…”
Meng Yiqiao averted her eyes, dodging Li Xingya’s tempting gaze.
Smooch.
Just then, a kiss suddenly landed on Meng Yiqiao’s cheek.
“I’ll let it slide this time. Next time, say it clearly, okay?”
Li Xingya put both hands behind her back and slowly stepped backward.
“But even though this was supposed to celebrate my passing the test, it looks more like I’m rewarding Sister. So—how about buying me a cup of milk tea?”
Watching Meng Yiqiao lightly press her fingers to her cheek, right where the kiss had landed, watching her dumbfounded expression, Li Xingya smiled.
‘Yeah.’
‘This is enough for Sister.’
‘Just be an idiot whose heart is full of me.’
***
After school.
As soon as Li Xingya walked out of the school gate, besides the usual black stretch limousine, she also saw another familiar car.
It was Lin Jin’an’s Mercedes.
And at the same time…
[Get in the car]
A message from Lin Jin’an appeared on her phone.
‘What is she doing?’
‘Suddenly picking me up after school—isn’t she worried about being seen by other students?’
Li Xingya was puzzled, but she still walked toward the black stretch limousine, told the driver she had plans with a friend, and got into Lin Jin’an’s car.
Inside the car, Lin Jin’an was still wearing a thick mask and sunglasses.
The moment Li Xingya got in, Lin Jin’an pulled her into an embrace.
“Gwaaah!!!!”
Thankfully, the car’s soundproofing was excellent, or that yell would definitely have attracted the attention of the students outside.
Li Xingya looked at Lin Jin’an, who was pressing her forehead against her chest, and helplessly pushed at the other’s shoulder.
“What are you doing?”
“Recharging my Xiaoya Energy, of course.”
Lin Jin’an said pitifully.
“I was recording an album all day today, Sister is so tired… If I can’t hug Xiaoya, I’d definitely die.”
“Die or something… don’t say stuff like that.”
Li Xingya frowned.
‘I’m already gloomy enough.’
‘You’re supposed to act bright and sunny.’
‘If two gloomy people are together, the atmosphere just gets heavier.’
Suddenly, Lin Jin’an lifted her head and brought out a beautifully wrapped little gift box from behind her, handing it to Li Xingya.
“Oh right, Xiaoya. Congratulations on passing your first vocal test. This is for you.”
Li Xingya took the gift box with both hands.
Staring at the gift in her hands, she was stunned for a moment.
“Lin Jin’an, how did you know?”
“Hehe—during the first week of school, Starseeing Academy always holds one surprise test in a random subject. It’s a nasty tradition the school has had since forever. Besides, I have an inside informant at school. I know everything about your studies.”
‘Inside informant?’
“Not Principal Lu, is it?”
In response to Li Xingya’s pressing question, Lin Jin’an gave a sly smile.
“Who knows.”
‘Look at this smug reaction.’
‘The inside informant must be Lu Wanting, no doubt!’
“Can I open it?”
Li Xingya asked.
Lin Jin’an nodded.
“Of course. I actually want to see you put it on.”
‘Put it on…’
‘Is it some kind of accessory or something?’
Li Xingya unwrapped the gift box and found a star pendant necklace inside.
“A star, huh.”
“Do you like it?”
“I like it, but… Lin Jin’an, I already have a lot of star accessories.”
Hearing that, Lin Jin’an glanced at the star decorations on Li Xingya’s school uniform.
“R-right, I guess so.”
“So…”
Li Xingya voluntarily leaned closer to Lin Jin’an.
“Could you trouble me by taking these stars off? I still prefer the necklace you gave me.”
Li Xingya completely yielded her body to Lin Jin’an.
She always did this—instinctively tempted Lin Jin’an.
“Is this all an act too?”
“Whether it’s an act or not, can’t you always see through it at a glance, Sister?”
The more Li Xingya acted like this, the faster Lin Jin’an’s heart beat.
‘It’s not an act.’
She could tell.
‘Li Xingya’s invitation… is genuine.’
But why would Li Xingya suddenly sincerely invite Lin Jin’an?
Had she actually fallen for her?
Not at all.
From Li Xingya’s amber eyes, Lin Jin’an saw only her fondness for the gift.
She didn’t like Lin Jin’an.
She just liked the gift, pure and simple.
This so-called “help me take off the stars” was nothing more than Li Xingya’s way of giving back to Lin Jin’an out of “adult social grace.”
‘This greedy gold-digger!’
‘She’s not even trying to pretend anymore!’
Lin Jin’an thought so, but she still reached out her hand and gently pressed on Li Xingya’s shoulder.
She just couldn’t refuse.
Because Li Xingya was so cute and so beautiful.
Even knowing full well that this was a trap Li Xingya had set, Lin Jin’an still willingly jumped into it.