Morning sunlight poured into the classroom,
but the air was filled with a subtle, suffocating tension.
Li Ya walked in wearing a brand-new dress and high heels.
She went straight to my desk.
She placed an exquisitely packaged gift bag on top of it,
a sweet, overly fake smile on her face.
"Lin Han, this is a gift I specially picked for you."
"I hope you like it."
I glanced down.
Inside were a pair of branded sneakers
and a brand-new wireless headset.
"I don't need these."
"Take them back."
My voice was flat and cold.
Her smile froze for a second.
Then a trace of displeasure appeared.
"Don't be so distant," she said lightly.
"Shouldn't we be getting along properly now?"
I raised my head and looked straight into her eyes.
"Li Ya. I'll say this one last time."
"I don't need anything from you."
"And I don't want you coming near me again."
She froze.
Clearly not expecting such a direct rejection.
But soon, that familiar arrogant expression returned.
As she turned away, she muttered:
"Keep acting noble."
"Let's see how long you can last."
Over the next few days,
her behavior became even more outrageous.
She announced loudly in class:
"Lin Han is mine.
If anyone dares to keep talking about him and that fox girl—
don't blame me for what happens."
The entire classroom went silent.
All eyes turned to me.
"Damn… the school queen actually throwing herself at him."
"That guy's luck is insane."
Their words stabbed into my ears.
But I chose to ignore them.
After school,
just as I stepped outside the gate,
Li Ya was already waiting by the roadside.
Arms crossed.
A smug expression on her face.
"Well?"
"No one dares talk trash about you now, right?"
"You should be thanking me."
"I never asked you to do that."
I frowned.
"I only want one thing."
"Stay away from me."
She let out a cold laugh.
"Stay away from you?"
Her eyes sharpened.
"You really think you can escape my grasp?"
"From now on—
you'll do exactly what I tell you."
She turned and left,
leaving behind a wave of suffocating perfume.
When I got home,
Ah Li was busy in the kitchen.
Seeing the gloom on my face,
she put down the knife and looked at me with concern.
"What happened?"
I briefly told her everything.
Her lips tightened.
Anger flickered in her eyes.
"That woman really has no limits," she muttered.
"What exactly is she trying to do?"
"I don't know," I replied.
"But she won't stop easily."
"So what do you plan to do?" she asked.
I took her hand and looked at her firmly.
"Ignore her."
"No matter what tricks she tries,
my heart won't change."
Ah Li nodded.
Her eyes filled with trust.
But the next day,
things escalated.
Li Ya directly blocked Ah Li at the school gate.
In front of dozens of students.
She pointed at her and snapped:
"Fox bitch, I'm warning you!"
"Stay away from Lin Han…
or you'll regret it!"
Ah Li didn't even flinch.
She smiled calmly.
"Who are you?"
"What right do you have to command me?"
"I'm Li Ya!"
"The whole school knows I like Lin Han!"
Her voice rose, drawing a crowd.
"Oh… so it's you."
Ah Li gave a soft, mocking smile.
"That's unfortunate."
"Because the only one in Lin Han's heart…
is me."
Li Ya's face turned completely pale.
Her finger trembled as she pointed at Ah Li.
"You just wait!" she shrieked.
"One day, I'll make you pay for this!"
She stormed off,
leaving behind a storm of whispers.
That night, when I got home,
I told Ah Li everything.
"I'm sorry…"
I lowered my voice.
"You got dragged into this because of me."
She shook her head gently.
"No need to apologize," she said softly.
"I believe in you."
"And I believe in us."
"No matter how she provokes us,
I won't back down."
Warmth flooded my chest.
"Thank you, Ah Li,"
I whispered.
She smiled.
"Silly…"
"We don't need to thank each other."
But I didn't expect…
That someone was already planning
to hurt her.
For real.