Li Xinya sprawled across her bed, kicking her legs in the air while staring at her diary.
"Okay, so Rule #4 led to… that. Our first kiss. Accident or not, it was still a kiss. My heart is still exploding just thinking about it. BUT! That doesn't mean I can slack off. If I want to be the perfect girlfriend, I need to keep improving!"
She wrote boldly:
Rule #5: Always look picture-perfect around him. A girlfriend must be flawless at all times.
She nodded proudly. Yes. Elegant hair, cute smile, fashionable outfit. He won't know what hit him!
The Next Day – At School
Xinya arrived early, dressed in her cutest outfit: carefully curled hair, ribbon headband, glossy lip tint. She'd even practiced her "gentle girlfriend smile" in the mirror.
When Yuxuan walked into the classroom, she stood and waved sweetly. "Good morning, Yuxuan~"
Her voice cracked halfway, turning the greeting into a squeak.
Several classmates giggled.
Mortified, she sat down quickly—only for her ribbon to slip loose and fall right onto Yuxuan's desk. He picked it up, studying it with mild amusement before handing it back.
"…Did you do something different today?" he asked.
"Yes!" she blurted, cheeks burning. "I mean—no! I mean—I just… I…"
Before she could melt into the floor, a tall boy entered the room. He had sharp eyes, a confident smile, and an aura that immediately drew attention.
The teacher introduced him: "Class, this is our new transfer student, Zhao Lin. Treat him well."
The girls whispered excitedly as he took the seat behind Xinya.
Within minutes, Zhao Lin leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Hey. You're Li Xinya, right? Cute ribbon."
Xinya nearly choked. "M-me? Oh, thank you!"
Yuxuan's gaze flickered toward them, his usual calm expression unreadable.
Lunchtime
Xinya had packed another attempt at a bento, determined to redeem herself. She carried it carefully toward Yuxuan—only for Zhao Lin to appear at her side.
"Whoa, is that homemade? Smells good. Mind if I taste?" Without waiting, he plucked a rice ball from the box and popped it into his mouth.
Xinya panicked. "H-hey, that's—!"
Zhao Lin grinned. "Not bad. You must be the girlfriend type, huh?"
Her face turned crimson. Before she could respond, Yuxuan walked up silently and took the box from her hands. He opened it, calmly ate a rice ball, then looked Zhao Lin dead in the eye.
"…It's hers to share. Not yours to steal."
The air between them tightened. Zhao Lin only smirked, as if amused by Yuxuan's tone.
Meanwhile, Xinya scribbled frantically in her diary under the desk:
Rule #5: Always look picture-perfect.(Complete disaster. Ribbon fell, voice cracked, rival appeared.)New Rule: Sometimes… looking foolish is better than looking fake.
She peeked up at Yuxuan, who was eating her food without complaint—even the burnt bits—and her heart softened. But she couldn't ignore Zhao Lin's lingering glance either… a glance that promised trouble.