After Becoming the Love-Brained Female Lead’s Best Friend - Chapter 13

“Teacher Song, I heard someone in your class took first place in the entire grade?” In the Grade 11 math office, Song Xiao—the homeroom teacher who had just come from Class 20—was immediately surrounded by other teachers the moment she stepped inside.

She kept a straight face and sighed, though a hint of satisfaction flickered in her eyes. “Sigh, what’s the use? Didn’t that bunch of students still do terrible this time? Quite a few of them failed to perform.”

The other teachers felt the sting of her “humblebragging” and were momentarily speechless. Only the math teacher from the elite Class 3 spoke up: “Be content. Your student took first place in the grade and beat the second-place scorer by over a hundred points.”

The scent of gunpowder was beginning to spread through the office when the principal suddenly walked in. “Xiao Song! Your class did well this time. Keep up the hard work in the future, and strive to pull up the grades of the other students as well.”

Song Xiao smiled and voiced her agreement.

Back in the classroom, the students standing in a row at the back had already adjusted themselves into the best positions to chat. Ye Wanyin saw Fang Shu standing on the inner side near the window with the other girls, looking like she was having a great time talking.

None of the students who were sitting dared to move, unsure if the homeroom teacher would suddenly pull a “U-turn” and come back. Everyone sat obediently in their seats, grinding through practice problems.

When the dismissal bell finally rang, the group at the back scattered like a swarm of bees. Fang Shu said goodbye to the other girls and returned to her seat to pack her things.

A few quick-movers had already bolted like lightning, but most were still laughing and chatting while packing. Consequently, they were caught by the homeroom teacher, who stepped back into the room exactly on the bell to assign homework.

“Where are those few?” The teacher told everyone to sit down and looked toward the back, finding it almost entirely empty.

Someone answered from below, “They’ve already left.”

The teacher frowned and finished assigning the homework. “Those of you who live near them, remember to tell them: I’m collecting the homework right after the holiday.”

“Alright, dismissal. Everyone stay safe during the break.”

Ye Wanyin and Fang Shu walked home together. At the complex entrance, Ye Wanyin told Fang Shu to head back first. Fang Shu asked casually, “Where are you going?”

Ye Wanyin patted her backpack. “I took a part-time job. I finished the translation drafts I picked up last week and I’m going to settle the payment.”

Fang Shu let out an “oh.” “Well, be careful.”

Ye Wanyin nodded, and the two split up.

Having gained experience from the first week, she had intentionally taken on more drafts last week. After settling the bill, she found she finally had enough to buy a decent phone.

She went to a phone shop first, picking out a budget-friendly model with good performance, then browsed a supermarket. After buying a bunch of snacks, she passed a milk tea shop and picked up the cold drink Fang Shu usually ordered.

When she got home, Fang Shu was lying on the sofa, clutching a book. She was reading so intently that she didn’t even notice Ye Wanyin return. It wasn’t until Ye Wanyin set the snacks on the coffee table and walked up to her with the phone and milk tea that she suddenly noticed.

Fang Shu clutched her chest in fright and looked up at Ye Wanyin with a questioning, frowning face. “You scared the life out of me!”

Ye Wanyin looked at her apologetically. “I didn’t realize you were so absorbed in your book…”

Just as she finished speaking, she saw Fang Shu bolt upright on the sofa. Fang Shu looked down at the manga that had slipped from her hand and hit the floor, her expression changing instantly. “Ah! My book!”

Ye Wanyin helped her pick it up. Fang Shu touched the corner of the manga that had been slightly dented, her face full of heartbreak. “It’s creased…”

Ye Wanyin hadn’t expected such a reaction. While the damage looked minor to her, she knew some people were exceptionally protective of their books. She said guiltily, “I’m sorry. Let me buy you a replacement.”

She followed up by asking, “What’s the title of this book?”

Before Ye Wanyin could see the title on the back, Fang Shu suddenly hid the book behind her back. Her face, which had been pale from the scare, was now flushed with a strange blush. “No need. It’s not a big deal.”

Ye Wanyin understood—it must be a book she didn’t want the title to be known. She added, “Then just tell me the price, and I’ll transfer the money to you.”

However, Fang Shu—who had just looked like her world was ending over the crease—had now calmed down completely. “I said it’s fine. It’s just a corner.”

With that, Fang Shu hurried to her room to hide the manga.

When she came back, she didn’t mention the book again, so Ye Wanyin let it drop. She handed over the drink. “For you.”

Fang Shu took it. “You bought milk tea too?”

Ye Wanyin was confused. “Too?”

Fang Shu nodded. “I ordered milk tea and takeout after I got home. I ordered some for you, too. I remembered you don’t have any dietary restrictions, right?”

Ye Wanyin suddenly felt that being “best friends” (thanks to the system) actually had its perks. “Thank you.”

Fang Shu sat at the dining table, poked her straw into the tea, and opened her phone.

Ye Wanyin remembered her own new phone and rushed over. “Let’s add each other!”

After adding each other on WeChat and QQ and saving each other’s numbers, the food Fang Shu ordered arrived.

Ye Wanyin looked at the second cup of milk tea in Fang Shu’s hand. “Can you finish all that?”

Fang Shu nodded. “No problem.”

After eating, Fang Shu started on the tea she had ordered herself; the first one was already gone. Ye Wanyin was amazed that such a petite body had such a massive capacity for liquid and gave her a thumbs-up.

Fang Shu accepted the praise, then looked at Ye Wanyin, who had already cleared the living room and started on practice problems. “You’re not going home for May Day?”

Ye Wanyin smiled. She wanted to, but she couldn’t. “My home is too far away. Traveling back and forth is too much trouble, and I have homework to do.”

Fang Shu had been about to say that transportation is convenient nowadays and she could help if it was a money issue, but she lost interest when she heard the bit about homework.

On the last day of April, Fang Shu stayed home. During dinner, Ye Wanyin asked, “You’re going to the movies tomorrow, right?”

Fang Shu nodded.

Ye Wanyin: “Can I come with you?”

Fang Shu paused for a moment before saying, “Suit yourself.”

So Ye Wanyin bought a ticket that night. Unfortunately, too many people go to the movies on May Day, especially for a new release. When the booking was finalized, Ye Wanyin’s seat was quite far from Fang Shu’s.

Luckily, they could still head out together. The movie was at 6:00 PM, but they prepared to leave at noon.

Before leaving, Fang Shu saw Ye Wanyin in her school uniform and frowned. “You’re wearing that?”

Ye Wanyin looked at herself. “What’s wrong with it?”

Fang Shu said, “It’s the holidays, and you’re still wearing your uniform? Wait here.”

Fang Shu pushed Ye Wanyin into her room, opened her wardrobe, and started holding clothes up against her one by one.

They had lived together for a month, but this was Ye Wanyin’s first time in Fang Shu’s room. The layout was similar to hers, but it felt much more “lived-in.” Ye Wanyin tried not to stare, but her eyes caught a massive bookshelf next to the nightstand, filled with novels and manga. The bottom shelf was less crowded, so the books there were laid flat.

Ye Wanyin felt she finally understood why Fang Shu was a “love-brain.” With so many novels and manga influencing her, it was hard not to have fantasies about romance.

While Ye Wanyin was lost in thought, Fang Shu picked out two outfits. She measured them against her and asked, “Can you take off the glasses?”

Ye Wanyin nudged them up. “Not really. My prescription is over -6.00. I can’t see anything without them.”

“Fine.” Fang Shu didn’t wear glasses, so she didn’t have contacts ready. She put one outfit back and handed the other to Ye Wanyin to change into.

Once changed, Fang Shu unfastened Ye Wanyin’s high ponytail, combed it smooth, and pinned a clip on the side.

Ye Wanyin tugged at the hem of the skirt, looking hesitant. “I feel like there’s a draft.”

“It’s always like that when you first start wearing skirts. You’ll get used to it.”

Without waiting for more hesitation, Fang Shu pulled her out the door. They ate at a restaurant and spent the afternoon wandering around Mulberry Garden Plaza.

By late afternoon, Ye Wanyin hadn’t bought much, but Fang Shu was carrying numerous bags—half of which were in Ye Wanyin’s hands. Fortunately, there was a locker at the supermarket. As the movie start time approached, they stored their bags and headed to the cinema empty-handed.