That night, Jiang Xueli returned home, her schoolbag on her back.
Seeing that her daughter was in much better spirits today, Mrs. Jiang, who was sitting on the sofa, asked with a hint of confusion, "Sherrie? Are you all right now?"
Jiang Xueli had a blankly cute expression on her face, her bouncing ponytail coming to a stop. "I'm fine. I'm going to my room."
Afraid her daughter might still be brooding, Mrs. Jiang added just as she was about to enter her bedroom, "Don't overthink it. At least you know Mom believes you."
Jiang Xueli turned to look at her mother and smiled. "Yeah, thanks, Mom. I've been the discipline monitor for so many years, I'm tougher than I look! A little thing like this isn't going to get me down. Don't worry."
She closed her bedroom door and leaned her back against it.
Only she knew the true weight of the pressure from this whole ordeal. But when she recalled what Lin Zhengran had said to her during the day...
That simple, direct trust made a blush creep onto Jiang Xueli's face, even just from the memory.
'I guess his judgment isn't so bad after all... He knew I was framed.' She muttered to herself, placing her schoolbag on her desk and taking out her mother's old hand-me-down phone from a drawer.
She searched for the meaning of the word "tsundere," curious whether Lin Zhengran had been complimenting her or insulting her today.
The result quickly appeared on the screen.
Jiang Xueli quietly read the displayed definition aloud: "'Tsundere' refers to a person whose attitude is inconsistent on the surface, usually as a way to hide their shyness..."
The more she read, the redder her face became, and her pupils seemed to ripple. She glared at the screen in embarrassed frustration. "What is this?! Who would be shy around him?! I'm not a tsundere! I totally hate his guts...!"
But then she remembered his trust in her, and the scene of them sharing an umbrella earlier that day. Her tone softened instantly, and she bit her lip while staring at the phone. "I hate this guy's guts."
So, she searched online again: "Do guys like girls with tsundere personalities?"
The encyclopedia entry showed:
"A god-tier trait from ancient times!"
Jiang Xueli's eyes widened in delight. "Wow, such high praise!"
Then, she did a third search: "Would a boy who acts like he's a grown-up all the time like a tsundere?"
...
The next morning, Jiang Xueli's alarm clock went off. She yawned and then shot out of bed.
She changed from her pajamas into her school uniform, went to the bathroom to tie her long hair into twintails, and flashed her cute little canine teeth at her reflection in the mirror.
She swore to the girl in the mirror, "Today, I will get to the bottom of this and clear my name!"
「An hour later.」
Lin Zhengran found himself cornered by Jiang Xueli in a small alley. He looked baffled. "You want me to help you? Why should I?"
Jiang Xueli stared at him, her expression stubborn. "What do you mean, 'why should you'? Aren't we frien— Aren't we classmates?! I'm only asking you because you're smart. It's not like I'd ask just anyone."
Lin Zhengran looked bored and started to walk away, but Jiang Xueli grabbed him. "Hey! Where are you going? Fine, I'll be honest. I don't have any leads, and I need someone to help me, and..."
She looked down, mumbling almost inaudibly, "I feel like... you're the only one I can trust..."
"Hm? I didn't catch that."
Jiang Xueli squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment, clenched her little fists, and shouted, "You know I don't have any other friends! Please, help me! If you help me, I'll do anything!"
Lin Zhengran's gaze turned meaningful. "Anything?"
Jiang Xueli suddenly hugged herself, her heart racing as she took several frightened steps back. "What are you thinking?! I'm warning you, there are... there are some things you have to take responsibility for after you do them! Don't be rash!" She retreated until her back hit the wall, with nowhere left to go.
Lin Zhengran walked toward her. Panicked, Jiang Xueli squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip tightly.
A moment later, however, all she felt was a sharp THWACK on her head. Lin Zhengran had given her a firm flick on the forehead.
"Now that's how you should ask for help. Otherwise, with that tsundere attitude of yours, who would ever help you?"
Wincing from the sting, Jiang Xueli remembered the meaning of "tsundere." She opened her eyes defiantly and shot him a sidelong glance. "What tsundere... I am not a tsundere!" In her head, she cursed him. 'Idiot. Pig-head.'
"What's with that look?" Lin Zhengran took two steps back and reminded her, "Let's be clear. I can help you, but not for free. You have to give me some kind of reward."
"A reward? What do you want?"
[You've already decided to intervene in Miss Jiang's affairs. You know that a young woman like her, venturing into the Jianghu alone, must have a few treasured personal belongings. You could ask for a few of them as payment for today's help, or you could simply offer your aid out of righteousness, seeking nothing in return.]
'Treasured personal belongings?'
Lin Zhengran sized up Jiang Xueli, wondering what kind of "treasures" she could possibly have. 'It can't be chocolate again, like with He Qing, right?'
Jiang Xueli felt her skin crawl under his gaze.
Lin Zhengran asked, "Do you have any treasures? The kind you don't usually show people."
"Treasures?" Jiang Xueli suddenly thought of something. She blinked, a look of disbelief on her face. "Well, I do have something, but... what would you want with that?"
'She actually has something,' he thought.
"That something? What is it?"
Jiang Xueli looked away, a blush on her cheeks. "I'm not telling you. It's mine."
"Suit yourself. You don't need to know what I want it for. Just tell me if you'll give it to me or not. If you do, I'll help you."
Jiang Xueli frowned, conflicted. It seemed to be a truly precious treasure. But after a moment of internal struggle, she reluctantly agreed to part with her cherished possession. "Fine, fine! As long as you help me, I'll give it to you! It took me a long time to make that thing!"
She held out her pinky. "Pinky swear! You have to keep your word!"
'Is this something all girls like to do?' Lin Zhengran wondered, but he extended his hand as well. "Deal!"
And with that, the two of them officially formed their own little investigation squad.
However, real life wasn't as convoluted as a novel. In Lin Zhengran's eyes, investigating a squabble between kids was rather easy.
He started by asking Jiang Xueli if she had gotten on anyone's bad side recently, preferably within the last few days.
Jiang Xueli listed a few names, then added, "Actually, the day before the class president lost her phone, another girl in our class brought her phone to school, and I told the teacher."
Lin Zhengran was speechless. 'There's a ninety percent chance that girl was involved,' he thought.
Next, he told Jiang Xueli to pretend to cry in the classroom.
Jiang Xueli asked why.
Lin Zhengran answered:
"Haven't you noticed? Ever since everyone started thinking you're the thief, the class president—the one who lost her phone—hasn't said a word to you? She won't even look at you. That proves she has a guilty conscience. So, find a chance to cry in front of her on purpose. Tell her how wronged you feel and all that. She might just break down and tell you the truth."
Jiang Xueli thought Lin Zhengran was an absolute genius.
"But how am I supposed to cry?"
Lin Zhengran rapped her on the head. "You're a girl, and you don't even know how to cry?! If you really can't, use eye drops!"
After buying the eye drops, Lin Zhengran squeezed some into her eyes—and used too much.
Tears streaming down her face, Jiang Xueli lightly punched Lin Zhengran. "You used way too much! They're overflowing."
Seeing her tear-streaked face, Lin Zhengran laughed. "Not at all, it's the perfect amount. The class president is cleaning the classroom by herself right now. Hurry up and go cry. Let's see what she does."