Ch. 2 - And Then She Was Rejected

"Wuu..."

The instant I finished speaking, the courage Wu Yaoyao had been maintaining collapsed all at once like a flood bursting through a dam.

She crouched down as if all strength had left her body, her twin tails drooping. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Her hands kept wiping the tears that poured out. She was like an abandoned little rabbit, crying rain-drenched pear blossoms.

The sunset's brilliance shone on her face, making her tears look like pearls. And the great banyan tree behind her stood silently, mercilessly mocking the two of us.

My words had probably turned into heart-piercing needles when they reached Wu Yaoyao's ears.

"I'm sorry, I really..."

I crouched down, brushed aside a few strands of hair stuck to her forehead, and handed over the handkerchief from my pocket.

Wu Yaoyao didn't take my handkerchief. She just buried her face between her knees and continued sobbing on her own.

"There's no need to waste your precious first love on me. Look, you're so beautiful—you've been Peony High School's Miss Peony for two consecutive years; you've been the champion of the Youth Archery Competition for three consecutive years. Your shoe locker is filled with countless love letters every day. Countless handsome guys are waiting for you. Right?"

I wiped her forehead with the handkerchief, trying to make my tone as gentle as possible.

Although my words were like a "good person card," every sentence was the truth. The people who peeked at her from outside the archery club every day could line up for several circles. Her smooth twin tails plus the sweet smile that often graced her face—her adorable appearance indeed captivated people at first sight.

So I couldn't understand why she had taken a liking to me, who was completely ordinary in every way.

"...Wuu...liar..."

Hearing my words, Wu Yaoyao raised her head, pouting, sobbing as she spoke. Tears kept falling from her eyes as she stared straight at me. The light makeup on her face had long been smudged by tears into a messy pattern.

Wu Yaoyao, who always went bare-faced, had actually put on makeup. She must have put a lot of thought into today. This made my slowly rising sense of guilt intensify by several degrees.

"Uh, I'm telling the truth, absolutely not lying to you." I said with conviction. Because it was from the heart, I had no guilt whatsoever.

"...Wuu...everyone says that it was only...wuu...because Senior Ning Yi and Tang Xin didn't participate that I could be Miss Peony for two consecutive years...wuu..."

Wu Yaoyao was still sobbing, her tearful eyes full of grievance.

Uh... this was a bit awkward. Indeed, there were such rumors.

Tang Xin was the student council president. Although her temper wasn't great, and she threw all her work onto me every day and went home on her own accord, I had to admit she was indeed on par with Wu Yaoyao in looks, and their popularity was equally matched. But in my view, it was only her appearance—inside she was a terrible woman.

As for the Senior Ning Yi Wu Yaoyao mentioned, I had only seen her once or twice at the awards ceremony at the beginning of the semester. From afar, she looked cold and icy. The word "breathtaking beauty" could be used to describe her. I didn't know much about Senior Ning Yi, but half the boys in class were her fans, which spoke volumes.

But if these three people had to be ranked, I thought it would be absolutely impossible to distinguish them.

"There's no such thing. You're definitely a well-deserved Miss Peony." Words spoken with a clear conscience were truly comforting to say.

"Wuu...then..." Wu Yaoyao was still sobbing softly, but she had calmed down considerably. She looked at me seriously. "If in your eyes I'm so good, why are you rejecting me?"

"Uh, because, that..." For a moment I was stumped.

What should I say? Should I just say directly that I don't believe in love anymore? That would sound even more dismissive, even more pretentious!

"Because what?" As if seeing some turning point, Wu Yaoyao's eyes brightened. She wiped away her tears and looked at me intently.

"Because... because studying is important. Romance always affects studying." I quickly came up with a reason in my mind. In high school, everything could be blocked using studying as an excuse.

Ah, studying, I love you.

"It's okay, my grades are in the top five of the entire grade. If you date me, I can tutor you in your coursework." Like cutting down thorns on the road to a bright path, Wu Yaoyao's eyes sparkled when she said this.

I seemed to have set a trap for myself. Realizing this problem, I regretted it deeply.

As expected, the more you say, the more mistakes you make.

"You, you see, there's also my parents' problem. My family clearly opposes puppy love." My brain spun at high speed, giving a second reason. But those two parents of mine who hid in the lab all day had never said they opposed puppy love. After all, the two of them got together in high school and have been together until now, with very good feelings.

Wu Yaoyao tilted her head, her twin tails tilting to one side. "But didn't you say last time that Uncle and Aunt got together in high school? I'll go greet Uncle and Aunt and let them know I'm a good person. I'm sure they'll empathize."

Wait, I told her that before? I have no memory of this!

I wished I could go back to when I said those words and give myself a good beating.

"........." I was at a loss for words for a moment, not knowing what I wanted to say. My brain couldn't squeeze out any more reasons.

"So you do like me, right? Right? You’ll date me?" When she said this, Wu Yaoyao had thrown the sobbing expression from just now to the back of her mind. In its place was a delighted appearance.

Wait! There must be some other reason!

I kept searching through my mind. But having never been confessed to before, my experience in this area was completely zero.

"Hey, be my boyfriend?" A face full of excitement, Wu Yaoyao slowly wriggled toward me in her crouching position. Her face was only inches away from mine. A pleasant fragrance washed over me. Her delicate face made my breathing a bit chaotic.

I could feel her joy at turning the tables from critical health even through the air.

Due to the panic in my heart, my mind had long become a mess. The assaulting fragrance plus the cute face made it even more impossible for me to think.

What to do, what to do. At this rate, I might very well agree half-willingly!

Anyone, please give me a reason to refuse! As I kept backing away from Wu Yaoyao's approach, I cried out in my heart.

"I'm sorry, I already have someone I like."

Just when I was at my wit's end and my spirit was beginning to fall apart, a sweet voice appeared in my ears like a savior.

"Yes, that's right, I have someone I like!" I pressed down on Wu Yaoyao's shoulders, stopping her from coming closer. Following the words I heard in my ears, I said them to her.

A perfect reason.

Wu Yaoyao was stunned all at once. She calmed down completely and looked around a bit angrily. If her bow and arrows were by her side, I thought she would have drawn her bow without hesitation.

After all, anyone would be angry when they just saw their hope of turning the tables shattered.

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