Ch. 20 - The Hunter and the Little White Rabbit
My Fake Girlfriend is Going All Out to Defend Against Their AttacksThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
"President... how did you know I'd be there?"
As if seeking revenge, I drained the last of my soy milk in one gulp and viciously bit into the final fried dough stick on my plate.
To avoid being blacklisted by the city library, Tang Xin and I were now sitting in a roadside breakfast stall.
Today, Tang Xin was wearing a white floral dress. Beneath her trademark long legs were a pair of simple canvas shoes. Her iconic white hair—an obvious symbol of her scheming nature—was hidden beneath a lady's hat, revealing her snow-white neck.
In front of her sat the same breakfast as mine: soy milk and fried dough sticks.
Above us, an old ceiling fan squeaked as it rotated, providing only the faintest breeze. An aging gray cat crouched near the stall entrance, licking its paws.
Tang Xin's refined and noble aura was completely out of place in this old neighborhood street stall.
The other customers clearly weren't paying much attention to their breakfasts. Their eyes frequently drifted toward our table.
But Tang Xin paid no attention to either the food or the surroundings.
Instead, she lazily rested her chin on one hand and watched me with a faint smile.
She had always liked these roadside stalls.
I had no idea why.
But since she always paid, I didn't really care.
"Vice President, do you know why rabbits are so easy to trap?"
Instead of answering my question directly, Tang Xin lightly tapped her cheek with a finger and continued gazing at me lazily.
As though I were the rabbit she was talking about.
She was obviously beautiful.
So why did I feel like prey that had just been caught?
"Why...?"
I raised the fried dough stick to block her unabashed stare.
Even my voice was beginning to weaken.
"Because they're timid~"
"Timid..."
"As long as the hunter creates some disturbance on one side, the rabbit will panic and run somewhere else. Then all a clever hunter has to do is understand the rabbit's habits a little and set a trap. The rabbit will happily jump right into it."
The teasing smile on Tang Xin's lips deepened.
As I imagined the poor rabbit suffering a hunter's cruel torment, Tang Xin had somehow quietly moved her chair next to mine.
Her soft, boneless body leaned lightly against me.
Then she gently blew into my ear.
"Don't you think so... little~ bunny~?"
The sudden ticklish sensation instantly made my entire body stiffen.
I froze with the fried dough stick still hanging from my mouth.
"W-Wow... that little bunny sounds pretty pitiful."
Keeping my body rigid, I forced an awkward laugh while subtly scooting toward the opposite end of the table.
"How could the little bunny be pitiful? Little bunnies are the cutest things in the world."
Watching my retreat, Tang Xin wore the expression of someone thoroughly enjoying a prank.
Her sweet voice sent chills down my spine.
Did you just call the rabbit a thing?!
You definitely called it a thing, didn't you?!
"Someone as smart as you, President, might never find a boyfriend."
I swallowed my mouthful of fried dough and glanced at her.
Tang Xin showed no reaction to my attack whatsoever.
"As long as it's someone I've set my sights on, there's no way they'll escape."
As she spoke those terrifying words, she gave me a seductive wink.
Why are you winking at me when you say that?!
Do you realize that's going to give me nightmares tonight?!
"S-So... why exactly did you come looking for me today?"
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and hurriedly changed the subject.
I had the feeling that if this conversation continued, I'd fall into an abyss from which there was no return.
"To keep my Vice President company, of course~"
Even though I'd steered the discussion back on track, Tang Xin remained as lazy and carefree as ever.
"And then?"
I rolled my eyes.
"...And then we're going to meet someone."
"Goodbye, President. Thank you for breakfast. Unfortunately, I've suddenly become unwell and must take my leave."
I shot to my feet immediately.
After hastily wiping my mouth, I turned and bolted without another thought.
"If you take one more step, I'll scream that you're harassing me."
Tang Xin didn't even turn around.
She simply spoke lightly.
"I'm sorry."
I immediately turned around and sat back down in my seat with perfect posture.
"It's just meeting someone. Don't be so nervous, Vice President."
Tang Xin moved her chair back in front of me and casually adjusted the hood of my sweatshirt.
A pleasant fragrance drifted toward me.
If only it really were as simple as meeting someone.
Every time she said she wanted me to meet someone, I ended up being dragged along as a shield.
The people we met were always tall, handsome guys.
And every single one of them was obviously interested in Tang Xin.
Getting dragged along to their dates wasn't even the worst part.
At most, I could shamelessly enjoy a free meal and survive the evening.
The real problem was that at critical moments, Tang Xin would always pretend she liked me.
As a result, I inevitably spent the rest of the night enduring murderous glares from whichever guy she'd dragged me to meet.
"This time, I'm absolutely not going."
"No choice. This was arranged by the older generation."
For once, Tang Xin showed a bitter smile.
"You know my family situation is complicated. There are certain social obligations that can't be ignored."
I only knew that Tang Xin came from a wealthy family.
Those men were probably blind-date candidates arranged by her family—sons of business partners or something similar.
Not showing up would embarrass everyone involved.
That was why she always dragged me along as a human shield.
"Sigh... then I guess I'll have to give this to today's date instead."
Seeing that I remained unmoved, Tang Xin let out an exaggerated sigh and placed a box on the table.
Threats and bribes.
Her favorite combination.
But today I had made up my mind.
A real man keeps his word.
If I said I wasn't going, then I wasn't—
"Firebearer IV: One More Time!"
I practically shouted.
Staring at the box on the table, my hands trembled with excitement.
"This game isn't supposed to be released for another three months! How do you already have a copy?!"
I swallowed hard.
The Firebearer series.
My favorite game franchise of all time.
Its popularity needed no explanation.
If news of this got out now, the entire gaming community would erupt.
"Oh my, so you like this game that much..."
The crafty smile returned to Tang Xin's face.
Resting her chin on her hand, she pretended to think.
"Now then... what was it our Vice President said earlier?"
"President!"
I straightened up immediately.
"Please allow me to accompany you today!"
When a young lady is in distress, one should spare no effort in lending a helping hand.
Perhaps...
That is what it means to be a man.