After Marrying the Cold and Elegant Beauty, I Fell in Love (GL) - Chapter 17

After three inhumane days, Han Shuangshuang finally made it through all her exams.

But these were merely the make-up exams for the subjects the original host had failed last semester. It was a debt left behind by her predecessor.

Only by passing every single make-up exam could she ensure this semester proceeded smoothly without being held back. And only by staying in her current grade could she continue to follow Shen Yuru, ensuring she healed the woman’s heart and stabilized her Blackening Value before graduation to change her own cannon-fodder fate.

There was no “bad,” only “worse.” Han Shuangshuang now felt as if her life essence had been sucked dry; she was limp and powerless.

However, since she had to ensure daily contact with Shen Yuru, the first thing she did after every exam was search for her like a madwoman. Furthermore, Han Shuangshuang noticed that Shen Yuru seemed to really dislike Shi Nianxue. Adhering to the principle of “loving who the villain loves and hating who the villain hates,” she wanted to stay at least ten meters away from Shi Nianxue, taking detours whenever she spotted her from afar.

At least she had survived these three days.

After finishing her very last exam, the first thing Han Shuangshuang did was look for Shen Yuru. To her surprise, Shi Nianxue blocked her right at the exit of the teaching building, looking like she wouldn’t let her go until she got what she wanted.

This time, the fake smile on Shi Nianxue’s face was strained, as if her anger was so strong she couldn’t even maintain her mask.

“Am I really that scary to you? Do you hate me that much?”

What Han Shuangshuang couldn’t stand most was Shi Nianxue’s passive-aggressiveness. Clearly, she was the one who hadn’t done anything wrong, and it was Shi Nianxue who kept provoking her, yet the other girl made her look like a heinous sinner. Besides, Shi Nianxue and the original host had long since parted ways; there was no history between them for the transmigrated Han Shuangshuang—the girl was practically a stranger.

However, facing a high-level verbal combatant like Shi Nianxue in her current exhausted mental state, Han Shuangshuang knew she was outmatched.

“The road is wide, let’s each walk our own side. Is there something you need, Senior? If not, I have things to do,” Han Shuangshuang chose the mildest way to refuse communication and turned to leave, but Shi Nianxue grabbed her wrist.

“You really have fallen for that Shen Yuru. She’s three years older than you. What’s the point of an un-energetic, gloomy woman like that? Your taste is getting worse and worse.”

At this, Han Shuangshuang immediately went on high alert. According to the usual tropes, whenever characters discuss someone, that person is bound to be lurking nearby. She had to be more careful than usual.

“Sister Shen is brilliant, elegant, and understanding. She taught me with meticulous care and hasn’t a single flaw. She is my mentor and friend. I won’t allow you to slander her. If you stopped me just to say this, then I’m afraid I have no time for you.”

Han Shuangshuang spoke with a firm conviction. It was as if she was certain that person was the best in the world, flawless and placed on a pedestal. Even a passing stranger would feel a hint of envy for the person receiving such absolute validation. After all, everyone wants to be someone’s “one and only.”

Shi Nianxue gritted her teeth, her doll-like eyes darkening.

Han Shuangshuang felt she hadn’t said enough, so she let out all the words she had suppressed for three days, turning them into “rainbow farts” (extravagant flattery): “Shen Yuru is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Her long hair, her dark eyes, her skin as white and tender as fresh milk tofu… her eyelashes are so long, and she’s so quiet and gentle. She’s tall yet never arrogant. How can someone be so perfect from the inside out?”

While she spoke, she prayed in her heart: Please, let Shen Yuru hear this part.

The tug-of-war between Han Shuangshuang and Shi Nianxue drew a crowd, and whispers began to circulate.

“Is that Han Shuangshuang’s ex-girlfriend? She’s pretty cute.” “How does someone with Han Shuangshuang’s personality have a partner while I’m single?” “Money. If you were rich, you could have two at once.” “Wait, so she’s entangled with her ex while hitting on Shen Yuru? And she’s praising Shen Yuru in front of the ex? Is she trying to make her jealous so they’ll fight over her?” “Rich people love the thrill of playing around.” “But she must like Shen Yuru more. The first thing she does after class every day is look for her. Such deep devotion!”

Han Shuangshuang gasped internally. She finally understood that public opinion is a force beyond one’s control. How did a person as sincere as her get gossiped about like this?

But the worst was yet to come. Just as she was about to explain and dispel the rumors, she turned around and saw Shen Yuru watching her with a blank face—and she was still being held by Shi Nianxue.

Han Shuangshuang saw Shen Yuru’s gaze travel down, landing on their joined wrists. Han Shuangshuang quickly flashed a fawning smile.

Shen Yuru’s eyelashes trembled slightly, hiding the emotions in her phoenix eyes. Han Shuangshuang immediately wrenched her hand away from Shi Nianxue and jumped three steps to the side, maintaining a two-meter safety buffer.

She looked at Shen Yuru with puppy eyes. “Sister Shen, are you here to pick me up? I’m so tired.”

Han Shuangshuang bounced over to Shen Yuru, intending to take her arm and sneak in some physical contact for the daily heart-healing quota. For the past two days, Shen Yuru had silently allowed this, and it had worked perfectly.

But today, Shen Yuru dodged her subtly. As she turned away, she let out a cool, indifferent huff.

“Don’t touch me with those dirty paws.”

Han Shuangshuang blankly sniffed her fingers. They didn’t smell; was it the scent of the ballpoint pen ink? Why was the arch-villain so hard to please?

Shen Yuru didn’t know where this sudden surge of irritation came from. Through their recent contact, she had found Han Shuangshuang to be quite simple—all she did was eat, sleep, and listen to her. She was quite different from the rumors.

But that didn’t rule out the possibility that Han Shuangshuang was faking it. So, Shen Yuru wanted to keep her close to continue observing her. Besides, being around Han Shuangshuang truly made her body less painful. Her psychiatrist had performed two heart evaluations, and both suggested her cardiac function was gradually recovering—meaning her psychological issues were being healed.

Shen Yuru didn’t believe Han Shuangshuang was that capable. However, today, after Han Shuangshuang’s exams ended, she had found herself walking to the teaching building to wait for her. She hadn’t even decided what to say when the girl came out.

Then she saw her entangled with Shi Nianxue. Suddenly, Shen Yuru felt there was nothing left to say.

Han Shuangshuang followed Shen Yuru like a guilty Golden Retriever, almost wagging an invisible tail. Shen Yuru touched her chest, trying to soothe the inexplicable restlessness, but it wouldn’t go away.

“Why are you following me? Your ex-girlfriend is waiting for you with longing eyes. Why bother coming to me and dealing with my cold face?”

Han Shuangshuang inexplicably smelled something “sour” (jealousy) in the air. She sniffed the air hard, but only smelled Shen Yuru’s crisp, pleasant scent. Besides, with Shen Yuru’s personality, she didn’t seem like the type to get jealous.

Han Shuangshuang used her remaining brain cells to analyze why Shen Yuru was upset. Perhaps because Shen Yuru had been lonely since childhood, she viewed Han Shuangshuang as her only “friend”—and now that Shi Nianxue had appeared, she saw Han Shuangshuang as a “fishing master” (player) who claimed to be loyal but had a whole pond of fish.

If I were Shen Yuru, I’d be mad too, Han Shuangshuang thought.

She grabbed Shen Yuru’s hand and wouldn’t let go, shaking her arm and looking at her pitifully. “I really only have you, Sister Shen. Shi Nianxue came to find me on her own. I’ve been avoiding her every day, who knew she’d corner me here? If you had come to pick me up a little earlier, this wouldn’t have happened. It’s just that you’re worried about my bad reputation and afraid that being close to me will cause gossip.”

Han Shuangshuang had a magical way of starting an apology and turning it into an accusation.

“I swear to heaven, my heart and soul only belong to you. You are my sky, my earth, my life. I would go through fire and water for you!”

Shen Yuru looked down at their joined hands, feeling the warmth flowing from Han Shuangshuang’s palm. Han Shuangshuang was a miraculous person, like a constant flame—anyone surrounded by her could feel the warmth.

Shen Yuru’s aura visibly softened. “Don’t say such misleading things at school, and stay away from strange people.”

“These are my heartfelt words! How can they be misleading?”

[System: Congratulations, Host, on triggering a Double Plot Reward Task! Choose one of the following lines to say. After completion, you will receive Heart Healing Progress x2.]

Han Shuangshuang cheered internally. Finally, her luck was turning!

[Line 1: Thank you for your hard work lately, Sister Shen. Let me treat you to a meal; you’ll definitely be very happy.]

[Line 2: Thank you for your hard work lately, Sister Shen. Let me ‘eat you up’; you’ll definitely be very ‘comfortable.’]

Han Shuangshuang froze on the spot. Is that ‘comfortable’ the kind of ‘comfortable’ I think it is?!