Chapter 8: Avoiding Him

He said he'd be studying in Nan Feng later, so why is he coming to Lan Lin?

You know...

She came to Lan Lin mainly to avoid him.

After the second semester of third year ended, she fled C City and went alone to A City to study; it's been almost a year since she last saw him.

Mu Youyu stared at the big "River" character, her gaze slightly unfocused.

Before her eyes, a boy's figure seemed to appear out of thin air, unrestrained and flamboyant, propping his chin, gazing intensely at her as he smiled and coaxed her like a spoiled child.

During third year, in a self-study class period.

The teacher wasn't supervising the classroom, and the class was noisy.

"Youbao! Youbao!"

The boy propped his chin with one hand, his clear dark brown eyes looking at the childhood friend before him, his lips curved gently, the outside light shining on his white shirt, making him look pure and soft.

Mu Youyu snapped out of her daydream, instinctively uttering an "ah", and only when the boy's waving hand was withdrawn did she tilt her head and ask, "A Jin, what's up?"

Her clear, unpolluted eyes stared doubtfully at the person calling her from beside.

"Youbao's zoning out again, what are you thinking about? So lost in thought." The boy's tone drooped, carrying a noticeable hint of grievance.

His handsome dark eyes blinked lightly up and down, setting his long lashes in motion.

He lowered his head, dejected.

His black fringe fell softly with his movement, resting on his brows, making him look utterly pitiful.

"A Jin isn't upset." Mu Youyu saw the boy's expression, smiled and comforted him, "I was wondering, A Jin, are you going to study at Lan Lin or Nan Feng?"

Upon hearing that, the boy suddenly lifted his head, his eyes meeting her clear, limpid gaze.

He first feigned contemplation by furrowing his brows, putting on a thoughtful look, then spread his hands, wearing a helpless expression as he said he couldn't think of anything.

He leaned in slightly, his voice tinged with obvious indulgence: "Youbao, what do you think?"

"I was thinking, Nan Feng and Lan Lin are adjacent. I'll go to Lan Lin, you'll go to Nan Feng, I'll take charge as Lan Lin's top beauty, and you'll be Nan Feng's strongest big brother protecting me."

A flicker of emotion passed through the boy's dark brown eyes, then vanished instantly.

He lowered his eyes slightly, feigning grievance as he lightly bit his lip: "If we're not in the same school, I can't see Youbao every moment; I want to see her every day."

Mu Youyu thought it over carefully, then said, "Yeah, then let's both go to Nan Feng."

Lan Lin compared to Nan Feng—Nan Feng is more relaxed, and besides, my second older brother is there.

Seeing her speak seriously about her future high school life, the boy gave a soft laugh, "I'll follow your arrangements, Youbao; I'll take charge of protecting you."

"Classmate, Mu classmate, your pen fell." The Bai Yun seated in front of Mu Youyu picked up her pen and handed it to her.

Mu Youyu's train of thought was pulled back; she took the pen and said thanks.

She gently placed the pen on the desk, a flicker of complex emotion flashing in her eyes; having not seen him for so long, she truly hadn't figured out how to face him.

No, it couldn't be him; it's just that the handwriting resembled his. He had told her he'd be going to Nan Feng to study…

... What are you thinking about!

She hadn't done anything to let him down; don't chicken out!

Mu Youyu silently gave herself a pep call, suppressing that strange flutter in her heart.

She inadvertently turned her head and happened to lock eyes with a male teacher outside the window, who glared at her angrily, obviously having watched her for a while.

"You with the brown hair! Come out, the Lan Lin school rules state that Lan Lin prohibits dyeing hair! No dyeing hair—who let you dye your hair! Come to my office after class!"

Mu Youyu jumped at the loud voice.

Lan Lin... doesn't allow dyeing hair?

Before, she was at Sheng Luo, where student appearance management was lax, and there were many people with various hair colors there.

Moreover, she consistently ranked first in her grade, destined to be top scholar, so the school turned a blind eye to her rule-breaking.

Mu Youyu dyed her hair dark brown on her first day in A City, and it's been almost a year since she hasn't changed it back to black.

Ah, she's grown attached to this brown hair over almost a year, really reluctant to dye it back.

If she were really forced to dye it back, she could just change her name on various apps to "Disappearing Little Brown Hair".

After this interruption, the end-of-class bell also rang.

Mu Youyu pondered for a moment, got up and walked over to Bai Yun, "Excuse me, Bai Yun classmate, who was that teacher just now?"

"Mu classmate, that's the Director of Discipline; you'd better dye your hair back soon, or you'll have to write a self-criticism. Lan Lin's management of first and second years is notoriously strict." Bai Yun reminded her, looking up.

After all, it's a private key high school; although many scions of aristocratic families study at Lan Lin, none can rival the influence of the school board behind it.

The young masters and misses of Lan Lin have no choice but to submit to management.

At Lan Lin, the school doesn't care about long hair left loose or not wearing uniforms, but it strictly controls hair dyeing.

But this strictness applies only to first and second year students; once you reach third year, dyeing your hair won't be regulated.

Over time, Lan Lin students have come to a tacit understanding that the rule "Lan Lin prohibits dyeing hair" actually means "Lan Lin first and second year students are prohibited from dyeing hair."

Unlike the lax management next door at Nan Feng, where the young masters and misses sport a bunch of colorful hair, very flamboyant.

"I see." Mu Youyu followed up, "Where is the Director of Discipline's office?"

"On the first floor, there's a red sign that says… never mind, I'll take you there." Bai Yun quickly gathered her papers and said enthusiastically.

Mu Youyu accepted her kindness, "Thanks, Xiao Yun~"

"No problem, it's only natural."

Bai Yun was about to be melted by her cuteness, eagerly turning to look at her desk mate, "Xiao Chaoyi, the next class is Teacher Liu's; you tell me and Xiao Youyu, then come to class later."

Her desk mate was the boy who initially had Teacher Liu say, "Young masters and misses, please listen to class."

Xia Chaoyi has a handsome appearance, full of noble bearing, and at first glance he's very cheerful.

At this moment, a pair of bright eyes gazed smilingly at Bai Yun, "Yes, ma'am, Class Monitor Xiao Yun."

Wow, the class monitor Xiao Yun even takes the initiative to flirt with girls—truly rare.

After saying that, Bai Yun pulled Mu Youyu downstairs.

When they reached the office door, Bai Yun let go of her hand, "Xiao Yu has arrived. When you go in, just say you're a transfer student, you don't know the school's rules, the director of student affairs won't make things difficult for you. I'll wait for you outside!"

"Okay, thanks Xiao Yun."