Yu's Friend

“What... what did you say? Take off... take off my clothes? Are you out of your mind? I’m the one who got hit by the ball!” I hurriedly pulled the blanket up, wrapping myself tightly from head to toe. You really never know what someone’s true nature is. I used to think that, though this guy was annoying, he wasn’t as bad as all that—but this is just despicable, shameless, and vile!

Meanwhile, Hui, Sean, Ai, Bingling, and Xuexin were making their way toward the infirmary. They had just sent Tang Meng home and were now coming to check on the victim who’d been hit by the ball. As they reached the door, they heard what sounded like moans coming from inside.

“Ugh! No... let go of me... it hurts!” A girl’s voice, sobbing softly, drifted out, tugging at the heartstrings of anyone who heard it, making you want to hold and comfort her.

“Bear with it. Almost done!” That was clearly Ouyang Chengyu’s voice.

“Oh my god! Ouyang, that wolf in sheep’s clothing! He’s doing this kind of thing in the infirmary? This is outrageous! I have to go in there and stop him!” Hui, righteous indignation written all over his face, was about to burst through the door when Ai quickly covered his mouth and dragged him back.

“Shh! Didn’t you say before you wanted to see what Ouyang looks like when he loses his composure? And don’t you want to hear what happens next? This is a free show—are you crazy to pass it up?” Ai whispered, quickly brainwashing Hui into agreement. In the end, the group pressed themselves against the door, eavesdropping eagerly.

Inside, the girl’s voice came again. “Ugh... is it done yet? I’m in so much pain!”

“Shut up! It’s almost done. Just hold on a little longer!” Yu was growing irritable from Xiao’s cries, snapping at her in frustration.

“You’re yelling at me!” she whimpered.

“Alright, it’s done. Can’t you be quiet? It’s just some medicine—no need for all that wailing!” Yu grumbled in annoyance.

“Unbelievable! You dare talk back to me? If it weren’t for you, would I be hurt? You call that playing ball? You can’t even throw straight and still pretend you know how to play? And you yell at me? Watch it, or I’ll finish you! Ugh, so annoying!” Xiao, infuriated, lashed out at Yu.

“I’m sorry!” Just as she was getting into her tirade, his sudden apology left her stunned.

Her mouth hung open, eyes wide in disbelief. “Wait, what did you just say?” She thought maybe the ball had knocked something loose in her ears—did she just hear Yu apologize? To her?

“I said I’m sorry!” Yu repeated.

“Say it again, say it again!”

“Get out of the way!” Yu coldly pushed her aside and strode toward the door.

“Hey! Fine, since you sincerely apologized, I’ll be magnanimous and forgive you this once!” Xiao said, smug at her victory.

Yu turned his head. “Now the medicine’s on. Do you want to rest here a while, or should I walk you home?”

“Of course you’re sending me home! Oh, and grab my backpack from the classroom first. I’m skipping evening study today.”

“Alright.” Another monosyllabic reply.

Yu came over to help the wounded party out of bed, but she suddenly grinned mischievously and said, “Hey, doesn’t this look like a eunuch helping the Empress Dowager? Little Yu, hurry up and help your queen! Hehe.”

“It does.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you really do look like someone who needs help getting around.”

“What did you say!” Xiao, exasperated, tried to punch Yu, only to aggravate her injured shoulder and cry out in pain.

“You’re hopeless,” Yu said with a sigh, pulling her closer with one arm and opening the door with the other. Suddenly, several figures tumbled inside, and Yu quickly pulled Xiao aside to dodge them.

There was a loud thud as the group crashed to the floor.

“Ah…” The people on the ground saw Yu staring at them coldly and scrambled to their feet. The infirmary suddenly felt much smaller.

“When did you get here? Why were you pressed against the door?” Xiao asked, exasperated.

“We heard everything! You must find Ouyang annoying now, right?” the red-haired boy piped up. “If you’re tired of Ouyang too, join us! We try to shake up that frozen block every day. If you’re interested, join our Ouyang-pranking team! The benefits are great!” Ai added, joining in the persuasion.

“Hey, aren’t you worried about saying all this right in front of him?” Xiao looked at Yu, then at the others, who glanced back at Yu in shock.

“Ouyang! Why are you still here?” the two of them blurted out.

“Oh, so you all have that much time on your hands? Pranking me, huh? Sure,” Yu said in his signature icy, flat tone. That final syllable nearly made the two collapse, and if not for the others supporting them, they would have had another close encounter with the floor.

“Hehe, I thought you were all cut from the same cloth, but I see you’re not. I forgot to introduce myself—hello, I’m Shangguan Xiao. And you are?” Xiao, finding the situation amusing, decided these people might make good friends.

“Cut from the same cloth? What do you mean by that? I’m Dongfang Yao, you can call me Ai. This is my brother—we’re twins.”

“That’s Hui Shawn, the red-haired hedgehog. His family runs a vegetable business. That’s Bingling Chris, the only daughter of a French tycoon. And that’s Xuexin Franny, her family’s in media.” Ai introduced everyone in turn.

“Hey, who are you calling a vegetable farmer? I’m French nobility, nobility! My family runs an agricultural company, okay? Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t know!” Hui protested, hopping mad at Ai’s introduction.

“‘Cut from the same cloth’ just means ‘of the same kind.’ I’m glad to meet all of you. Let’s prank Yu together!” Xiao grinned mischievously and winked at them.

From that day on, Yu’s life would no longer be peaceful.

“If I’m not mistaken, you just called Ouyang by his first name. You two seem awfully close,” Bingling said in her gentle, soothing voice.

Xiao raised an eyebrow at her. “Who’s close with that guy? Just look at him—he’s like a statue, always in the way!” But it sounded more like she was saying it for Yu’s benefit. Yet, even as Xiao spoke, Yu remained unmoved, his aura unchanged.