Chapter 47: The Moon Surrounded by Stars

Boss Cutie

Xia Xiran's eyes stung. Looking at the books that had just been pushed back to her, her heart was instantly filled with mixed feelings.

If Leng Ruoli hadn't still been watching, Xia Xiran's tears would have fallen long ago.

Xia Xiran was someone with a fierce sense of pride, always the object of everyone's admiration. Never before had any boy cost her so much energy, nor made her lower herself to compromise and plead.

Yet he ignored her.

He was even indifferent to her.

Just as she had once been cold to him.

Xia Xiran now believed in karmic retribution. She had trampled on Jiang Muye's feelings time and time again, and now it was Jiang Muye's turn to bring her down.

Her eyes were misty with tears, but a smile hung on her face. Her voice trembled as she said, "It's okay. Then if there's any question you don't understand, you can ask me."

Jiang Muye merely gave a faint nod and began to read.

He took a sip of coffee. It was rich with milk and had a full-bodied flavor.

It was the taste he liked.

After drinking it, he even felt his whole body grow warm.

Xia Xiran continued her offensive. Feigning a casual tone, she said to Jiang Muye, "If you like coffee, I'll make you some today too, okay? Okay?"

Jiang Muye lifted his eyes and saw Xia Xiran's clear gaze.

She gave him a gentle smile, but the rims of her eyes were completely red.

"It's too much trouble." Jiang Muye paused. "No need."

"Don't want that," Xia Xiran said, drawing out the syllables. Holding back the tears that were about to spill over, she shook her head, keeping her smile the whole time. "I'm going to make you a bento anyway. Just doing it on the side."

"A bento?" Leng Ruoli was surprised.

"Yes. I'm going to make three meals a day for the boy I like," Xia Xiran said softly.

Her eyes gazed at Jiang Muye with deep affection, the meaning plain.

The students sitting nearby instantly soured.

Was this even liveable? Having the Four Great Campus Belles sitting around Jiang Muye was already stimulating enough.

And now the always-proud Campus Belle Xia was actually saying she'd personally make Jiang Muye a bento.

Jiang Muye was way too fortunate.

Everyone's impression of Jiang Muye had always been that of a simp.

But what kind of simp was this? A simp ends up with nothing in the end, yet Jiang Muye had everything he could want.

Campus Belle Xia was throwing herself at him, making him the envy of the whole school, and even Leng Ruoli was deeply devoted to him. Moreover, even the rumored sexy Campus Belle Mi was quite interested in Jiang Muye.

What kind of god-tier Peach Blossom Luck was this!

Just as they were sighing inwardly over how miserably their own lives were going while this guy's was so happy, they heard the Cold Campus Belle's voice.

"A bento? I can make those too. Then there's no need to trouble you anymore. Aren't you very busy? Let me handle such a tedious task."

Leng Ruoli smiled warmly, but a trace of resolve lurked in her eyes.

War had begun!

Two girls fighting over one guy!

Who could possibly keep studying now? No one wanted to miss a good show.

Wasn't this more hype than Boruto!

Xia Xiran refused to yield. "I don't find it troublesome, and I can arrange my time reasonably. Besides, I know Muye's tastes better. I'm afraid Muye wouldn't be used to what others make. It'd be bad if he got diarrhea."

The insinuation was deep.

Leng Ruoli's gaze turned cold. Her red lips parted, and just as she was about to speak, a cool rebuke rang out.

"Alright, no one needs to make anything. I'll just eat at the cafeteria. Right now I want to study properly," Jiang Muye said.

System Prompt: 【Congratulations, Host, for rejecting the cooking invitations of two Campus Belles. Grit Points +500. Reward: 1,000,000 RMB. Memory +20.】

The hardest thing for Jiang Muye had always been memorizing things. Every time it was rote memorization by brute force. Now, looking at the books, he could completely remember the knowledge points.

His memory really had improved quite a bit. While not to the exaggerated extent of reading ten lines at a glance or never forgetting after one look, Jiang Muye's whole mind was much clearer, and he could retain any vocabulary in his head.

After hearing Jiang Muye's words, Leng Ruoli felt a bit of regret.

She shouldn't have argued with Xia Xiran and interfered with Jiang Muye's studying. Besides, this was a library, and it would affect other people's studying too.

"I'll listen to you," Leng Ruoli said, her eyes curving gently.

Jiang Muye said, "Thanks."

Leng Ruoli's little face flushed red. She secretly smiled and began to study quietly.

Xia Xiran was downcast. She gripped her pen without any taste for it, not even knowing what she was writing.

From time to time, she stole glances at Jiang Muye.

Yet he wouldn't spare her even a single glance, his eyes fixed on the books.

It had never been like this before. Every time, he would secretly follow her to the library, sit somewhere very close, and stare at her without end.

Xia Xiran took a long, deep breath, trying to numb the frustration in her heart.

Now, besides memorizing vocabulary, the system panel also had text reminders, but because Jiang Muye had set it up beforehand, it wouldn't disturb him.

【Congratulations, Host, for checking in at the library for ten minutes. Reward: 100,000 RMB.】

【Congratulations, Host, for checking in at the library for half an hour. Reward: 200,000 RMB.】

【Congratulations, Host, for checking in at the library for one hour. Reward: 300,000 RMB.】

…

Jiang Muye stayed in the library for a total of four hours, earning a total of 1,200,000 RMB.

Satisfied, he picked up his things and stood up.

Xia Xiran across from him had already left two hours ago. Jiang Muye had silently accepted it.

After all, Xia Xiran was someone who cared especially about using her time wisely. Since she couldn't break through him, she must have known when to retreat.

Better to spend the time doing other things.

As Jiang Muye was pondering, he heard Leng Ruoli's pleasant voice.

"Hungry? What do you want to eat? I remember a barbecue place that's really good. Let's go together."

Jiang Muye looked over sharply and saw Leng Ruoli, whose eyes were especially bright.

He tasted a hint of sweet spring water, and his mood brightened.

"Okay," Jiang Muye agreed.

Leng Ruoli was overjoyed.

Holding her books, she followed shyly behind Jiang Muye.

"I'll call Little White Dove and the others. More people means more fun eating, and it's more economical too," Jiang Muye said without thinking, making Leng Ruoli freeze for a moment.

Then she felt a little embarrassed.

She actually had a small selfish desire—she wanted to eat with just Jiang Muye, the two of them.

But Jiang Muye wanting to bring so many people was fine too.

Who made Leng Ruoli so easy to satisfy? As long as she could eat with Jiang Muye and see him, she was happy.

As Leng Ruoli joyfully accompanied Jiang Muye outside, a shadow suddenly fell over them.

"Here."

A bento was handed to Jiang Muye.

Following the fair, pretty hand upward, he saw Xia Xiran's lovely face, looking at him expectantly.

"Didn't you leave?" Jiang Muye was still surprised.

He'd thought she'd run off.

But she'd come back?

"I went to cook for you. Three meals a day—I won't forget," Xia Xiran said with a gentle smile. "Studying is tiring. You can't go hungry."

"Don't want it." Jiang Muye, with no distracting thoughts and an unchanged expression, walked right past Xia Xiran.

Xia Xiran's hands were trembling; she could barely hold the bento steady.

"I'll still make you bentos!" Xia Xiran shouted at Jiang Muye's back.

But Jiang Muye stopped and turned to look coldly at Xia Xiran. "Make them or don't, that's up to you. But no matter how many times you make them, I won't take another bite. Don't come looking for me anymore."

Jiang Muye didn't want to accept the bento and let Xia Xiran misunderstand that he was interested in her.

He didn't like lingering attachments, nor did he like entanglements.

He and Xia Xiran weren't star-crossed lovers. Once the feeling was gone, it was gone. Why drag each other along?

"I'm someone who enjoys the present, and I hate regrets even more. To avoid regret, I chased you ninety-nine times. And to avoid regret, I can also reject your come-hither gestures." Jiang Muye's gaze was firm.

His goals had always been firm. If he liked someone, he pursued them, with a clear conscience.

Proposing ninety-nine times was his original intention. Not proposing a hundredth time was for dignity.

System Reminder: 【Congratulations, Host, for rejecting Xia Xiran. Grit Points +300. Reward: 500,000 RMB.】

Xia Xiran's tears instantly fell. She burst into loud sobs and rushed forward, holding the bento up high and pleading, "Just take one bite, okay? Just one bite, I'm begging you, don't abandon me, okay? I only have you left…"