The class meeting started at two in the afternoon.

It was when the sunlight was at its most scorching, with fine rays streaming through the spotlessly clean windows, casting a warm glow on their arms. Outside, the winter cherry and crabapple trees swayed their verdant leaves in the afternoon breeze, casting flickering shadows on the ground.

Xie Huai sat alone by the window in the back row.

Having just woken from his afternoon nap, he still looked drowsy.

The Department of Sociology had more female than male students. With his good fashion sense and handsome looks, he stood out among the boys who had just left high school and still dressed conservatively. Many girls secretly glanced at him.

Xia Xia hadn’t expected Xie Huai to be in her major. When she entered the room, she froze, looking like a startled and wary rabbit.

Her eyes roamed the empty seats in the front row, trying to find a spot far from Xie Huai.

Cai Yun entered through the back door with Zhao Shan Qi. When Zhao Shan Qi noticed Xie Huai, her eyes instantly lit up, and she pulled Cai Yun over.

Being naturally cheerful and outgoing, she asked with a smile: “Can we sit here?”

Xie Huai propped up his arm and said flatly: “No.”

He pointed at Xia Xia standing at the front of the classroom, then tapped the desk beside him, calling her like a dog: “Come here.”

Xia Xia hesitated as Xie Huai leaned against the back desk, arms crossed, quietly observing her.

His gaze felt tangible, sticking to her like glue, carrying neither friendliness nor malicious intent to devour her. Xia Xia couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

Zhao Shan Qi had a sudden realization: “Oh, so you’re Xia Xia’s friend.”

Xie Huai didn’t give her any face, but she didn’t feel awkward. As Cai Yun pulled her toward the front row, she kept stealing glances back at Xie Huai.

Xia Xia reluctantly sat beside Xie Huai, with Zhu Zi Yu following to sit behind her.

Though Xie Huai had called her over, he didn’t speak. His nose twitched, catching the faint scent of Yu Mei Jing milk cream from the girl. The fragrance was sweet but not cloying, less obvious than perfume but pleasant. The childish irritation gradually faded from his face as he lazily narrowed his eyes.

The class advisor, Xing Xin, was a third-year graduate student who had gone partially bald during his three years of study.

Xia Xia casually jotted down the trivial matters he discussed, then turned to see Xie Huai had also taken out paper, but instead of writing, he was drawing crooked stick figures.

Looking closer, Xia Xia noticed he’d drawn a boy and a girl, with the boy holding a club and beating the girl until she was crying hysterically.

He kept his eyes downcast, his skin fine and clean, with sunlight creating a pale yellow halo around his eyelashes, giving him a somewhat gentle appearance. If he were wearing sports pants and a white T-shirt back on a lush high school campus, he would definitely be the type of boy that romance-struck schoolgirls would fall for.

While Xia Xia was lost in thought, Xie Huai quickly sketched rivers of tears and snot flowing from the girl’s face.

His lips curved upward as he drew an arrow from the boy pointing to himself, and another from the girl pointing to Xia Xia. After finishing, he tossed down his pen and pushed the drawing in front of her.

Xie Huai’s fingertip tapped firmly on the paper, his voice hitting her ears with sharp clarity.

Xia Xia pretended not to understand: “What is it?”

“Looking at this drawing, what are your thoughts?” Xie Huai asked.

Is he a child? Xia Xia thought, drawing something and wanting praise.

Though thinking this, she started flattering him anyway: “Huai Ge, your drawing skills are truly incredible, look at these lines, these shadows, the smooth curve of this club…”

Xie Huai frowned impatiently, his knuckles rapping heavily on the desk, forcing Xia Xia to cut short her flattery.

She hung her head dejectedly, her voice soft and meek, appearing timid: “I know I was wrong.”

Xing Xin was a reserved person, wearing the classic male student combination of jeans and a plaid shirt, with square black-rimmed glasses framing his already small eyes. Though he was studying at the College of Liberal Arts, he dressed like an engineering student who spent all his time in laboratories.

“…After military training, we’ll vote for the official class committee. For now, I’ll temporarily assign two class monitors based on entrance exam scores, Li Zhe Lin for the boys and Cai Yun for the girls,” Xing Xin adjusted his glasses, “No other committee positions will be assigned for now. During military training, the monitors will manage class affairs and contact the counselor directly if needed.”

“Teacher,” Zhu Zi Yu raised her hand and, without waiting for Xing Xin to respond, asked puzzledly, “If we’re choosing temporary monitors based on entrance scores, I remember Xia Xia had the highest score in our class. Why is Cai Yun getting the female monitor position?”

Xia Xia started, nudging Zhu Zi Yu: “What are you doing?”

Zhu Zi Yu ignored her, smiling at Xing Xin: “Did you read the wrong name?”

Xing Xin paused, scanning the enrollment list before hesitantly asking: “Which one is Xia Xia?”

Before Xia Xia could react, Zhu Zi Yu raised her arm.

Xing Xin thought for a moment: “These are just temporary monitors, the official election will be after military training…”

Zhu Zi Yu interrupted him: “That won’t do, teacher. Military training is a full two weeks, that’s not short. Once everyone gets used to the temporary monitors’ service, who knows how the election will turn out? Aren’t you setting people up? Why should Xia Xia give up the position to someone else when she has the highest scores?”

Cai Yun, sitting in the front row, stood up at this: “Since you have objections, how about this: let’s take five minutes to have me and Xia Xia each make a self-introduction on stage, and let the class vote. A fair election.”

She spoke with complete confidence.

Last night in the dorm, she had told Zhao Shan Qi about always being a class officer in high school, saying she would certainly handle class monitor elections skillfully.

Zhu Zi Yu sneered: “Get this straight, Teacher Xing said monitors would be chosen based on entrance scores. Fair election? What qualifications do you have to compete fairly with Xia Xia?”

Cai Yun was stumped, momentarily speechless.

Xia Xia had been tugging at Zhu Zi Yu’s clothes but couldn’t stop her. As Zhu Zi Yu was about to speak again, Xia Xia pinched her waist hard, nearly making her cry out in pain.

Xia Xia kept her finger on Zhu Zi Yu’s waist, threatening her to stay quiet.

She smiled at Xing Xin, appearing soft and harmless: “Teacher Xing, I’ve never been a class monitor before and wouldn’t do well at it. Better let someone more capable take the position.”

Cai Yun’s expression only improved for a moment before darkening again.

Her gaze flickered uncertainly as she stared hard at Zhu Zi Yu.

Zhu Zi Yu, unwilling to back down even slightly, immediately pinched back when Xia Xia pinched her waist, twisting Xia Xia’s leg.

She was exasperated: “Don’t you know I’m doing this for your good? Don’t think university class monitor positions are as useless as in middle school. Outstanding student awards, comprehensive evaluations, graduate school recommendations – if you don’t hold any position in class, you won’t even get close to these opportunities.”

“Xing Xin letting Cai Yun be a temporary monitor is just a formality. She’ll be the official monitor after military training.”

“Cai Yun came to school a week early and already got close to Yi Mei Xian, giving thousands in gifts like they were nothing. If Yi Mei Xian wants her as a class committee member, Xing Xin has no say. If you don’t fight for the temporary position now, you’ll have even less chance later.”

Xia Xia rubbed her pinched thigh: “You only see the benefits of being monitored, but what about how tiring it is? Running between teachers and students, thankless work with no pay. How could I waste so much time on that?”

Zhu Zi Yu argued forcefully: “Aren’t you short on money? If you’re monitoring and building good relationships with teachers and counselors, wouldn’t the national scholarship be yours for sure each year?”

Xia Xia looked at her like she was an idiot: “Can the national scholarship be paid out tomorrow? That’s at the end of the academic year! If I’m counting on scholarships to improve my life, I’d starve to death first. Instead of wasting time being monitored waiting for that few thousand yuan a year later, I might as well go wash dishes tomorrow.”

“Besides, you said Yi Mei Xian already took gifts from Cai Yun. If I barge in and mess up their arrangement, what use is being on the committee? Won’t Yi Mei Xian just hate me?”

Zhu Zi Yu wasn’t convinced: “Committee members have a much higher chance at getting into graduate school, plus opportunities for overseas exchange. You’re just giving up like this?”

“Overseas, right.” Xia Xia said weakly.

Her stomach growled loudly. She clutched it and lay on the desk: “Didn’t eat lunch, I’m starving.”

Xie Huai had called her over just to intimidate her with a drawing, showing the maturity level of a kindergartener.

Xia Xia felt his bark was worse than his bite – for all his harsh words, he’d never taken any real action against her.

He’d even said things like giving her face because of their “half-day marriage.”

Xie Huai had fallen asleep on the desk again, and Xia Xia found herself staring at the back of his head.

His hair was fluffy, bathed in the golden afternoon light, taking on a light honey color.

Xia Xia couldn’t help thinking that everything about Xie Huai was strange.

Seeing him selling things from a stall on campus made him seem desperate for money, yet his manner of speaking and acting didn’t match someone who was truly poor. Xia Xia was familiar with poverty, and truly poor people weren’t like Xie Huai at all.

Lost in thought, she was startled when Xie Huai suddenly turned over to face her.

They were both lying on the desk, their faces very close. Xie Huai’s warm breath fell on her face, making her eyelashes tickle. He’d just eaten candy, and his breath carried a sweet mint scent.

His eyes were dark as ink, naturally upturned at the corners, carrying a hint of wildness.

Xia Xia had always known Xie Huai was handsome, but up close, she realized it wasn’t just handsomeness – it was like a whirlpool that could pull you in if you weren’t careful.

Caught staring at him, Xia Xia’s face instantly turned red with embarrassment.

Besides Pan Jia Peng, this was the first time she’d been this close to a boy. The redness spread to her ears, and she could feel the heat without needing to look.

Feeling guilty, she instinctively covered her face with her hands.

Xie Huai let out a barely audible laugh: “No need to cover up, anyone would blush like you in this situation.”

Xia Xia stubbornly denied: “I’m not blushing, you’re seeing things.”

“This isn’t your fault, understand?” Xie Huai ignored her words, “It’s just that Huai Ge is too handsome. A woman who can resist my charm hasn’t been born yet.”

Xia Xia: “…”

Well, you’re fucking full of yourself, she thought.

After the class meeting, Xing Xin kept Xie Huai and Xia Xia behind.

“You two were the only ones who failed yesterday’s school rules test. Teacher Yi asked me to have you take a makeup exam after the class meeting. Sit further apart, don’t get too close.”

Xia Xia froze: “Makeup exam today? I haven’t prepared.”

“You should have prepared during summer vacation.” Xing Xin shrugged, “Teacher Yi set today for the makeup exam, I can’t do anything about it.”

The test questions were still completely unfamiliar.

Due to years of being a top student, Xia Xia couldn’t stand leaving blanks on an exam paper, making up answers even if she didn’t know a single question.

She glanced at Xie Huai, who despite not objecting to the makeup exam verbally, had a conflicted expression that betrayed him.

Xie Huai hadn’t written a single word on his paper, his brows furrowed tight, occasionally glancing in Xia Xia’s direction.

When Xing Xin went to the bathroom, he moved to sit beside Xia Xia.

“Let me copy.” Xia Xia’s paper was filled with guessed answers, making Xie Huai’s eyes light up.

Afraid he’d fail again after copying and blaming her, Xia Xia quickly covered her paper: “Don’t copy, my answers aren’t right.”

To Xie Huai, this behavior was just like the study monitor in school who wouldn’t let him copy homework, claiming they didn’t know the answers when they had everything right.

Xie Huai completely forgot about her seemingly brain-dead score of 48 from yesterday; in his eyes, a filled exam paper was equivalent to all correct answers.

“I don’t know…”

“Move your hand.” Xie Huai raised an eyebrow, “Don’t make me say it twice.”

“…”

Just as Xie Huai finished copying and returned to his seat, Xing Xin came back and collected the papers.

Seeing Xia Xia’s dejected look, Xie Huai tapped her head with his pen: “Why are you pouting?”

Xia Xia reluctantly said: “I’m not pouting.”

Xie Huai wasn’t satisfied and crossed his arms.

Leaning against the classroom window, he stared at her steadily: “Getting this upset over letting Huai Ge copy a few fill-in-the-blank questions? I still have plenty of scores to settle with you.”

Xia Xia thought, I told you not to copy but you insisted, and in a few days you’ll add another grievance to the list, not even our half-day marriage’s face will stop you from hitting me.

As she thought this, her stomach growled again. She pressed her stomach, planning to go to the cafeteria for some food.

Xie Huai stopped her: “Don’t leave yet, come out with me for a bit.”

Xia Xia was wary: “What for?”

Xie Huai: “Stop asking questions, just come.”

Xia Xia said: “That won’t work, I don’t just follow anyone. What if you rob and murder me?”

Given her grievances with Xie Huai, she would believe it if someone said he’d take her to some empty spot and bury her in a hole. It seemed strange to her that Xie Huai would want to take her out for no reason.

She said calmly: “Xie Huai, that exam was an accident. I didn’t intentionally sabotage you, you have to believe me.”

“Please don’t take me anywhere, okay?”

Xie Huai didn’t bother arguing with her and grabbed her backpack strap, pulling her toward the door.

Xia Xia cried pitifully: “Xie Huai! Huai Ge! Warrior! Strong man! What are you doing? Don’t use force! We can talk this out—”

Xie Huai’s ears hurt from her nose, and he stopped: “Can you be more realistic about yourself? Rob and murder?”

He said impatiently: “Murder aside, using the word ‘rob’ with you – don’t you find that funny?”

End note: Xia Xia is just moderately unfortunate. Because sisters, when you see what comes later, you’ll realize: Wow, Xie Huai – now there’s a guy who has it even worse. We’ll walk through the plot first in the beginning, but sweetness will definitely come, and things won’t stay difficult forever.