Please, I'm Trying to Study, Your Highness! - chapter 9

She remembers me.

This realization was somewhat unexpected.

Ever since I transferred to this southern city’s middle school, I quietly played the role of a transparent person, buried in books and exercises.

And she, Shen Ruanruan-

From that time on, she was already the center of everyone’s conversations.

The difference between us was about as stark as weeds and the bright moon.

I hadn’t expected that after moving up to high school and being split into different classes for a while, she could still call my name with such accuracy.

No wonder the campus forum posts about Shen Ruanruan were always harmonious, never a single negative comment.

Just this trait-an exceptionally strong memory-is a powerful weapon that makes people’s goodwill soar.

“Yes, it’s me.”

I snapped out of my brief surprise.

Adjusting the black-framed glasses on my nose, I responded politely, “Shen Classmate, long time no see.”

Greeting her was enough to fulfill the requirements of social etiquette.

My body was already poised to leave.

The rooftop was nice, but with one more person-especially a “Saintess” who comes with her own halo-the tranquility here was diminished.

I just wanted to end this chance encounter as quickly as possible.

The girl didn’t seem willing to let me leave so easily.

“Lin Classmate, we… really haven’t seen each other in a long time, have we?”

She took a small step forward, a light movement that just brought me back into her social sphere.

“How are you adjusting to high school?”

She held her closed book at her side, her posture dignified and proper. “After all, the coursework is a lot heavier than in middle school.”

The topic was impeccable; there was no reason I could use to force my departure.

My steps, only a few paces out, stalled.

Refusing the kind concern of a former classmate would seem too deliberate and withdrawn, not fitting my disguise as an ordinary passerby.

I had no choice but to turn back and face her.

“It’s fine, pretty much the same. Every day is just doing exercises and taking tests,”

I stuffed my English vocabulary book back into my pocket. “I’ve gotten used to this repetitive cycle.”

My reply was rather negative.

Shen Ruanruan didn’t offer the perfunctory comfort most people would.

She just listened quietly, waiting until she was sure I’d finished before speaking gently.

“Yes, it’s the same for everyone. But I remember Lin Classmate has always been very focused.”

She didn’t display the ease of a top student handling such questions.

Instead, her expression was soft and graceful as she reminisced.

“Back then, after class, everyone would be playing around, but Lin Classmate would always take out a book and study alone at your desk.”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but recall those middle school days.

She, too, sat alone by the window in class.

Unlike my isolation from the world, her quietness was more like the gentle center of a whirlpool, with classmates occasionally gathering around to ask her questions.

No matter who it was, she would patiently explain the same problem three or four times.

I remember the school organized several charity fundraisers back then.

At the top of the anonymous donation list, there would always be a huge amount matching her family background.

No one mentioned it, and she herself never publicized it.

These silent scenes formed a stark contrast to the calculated actions of Xia Shiyu on the playground just now.

Even among Saintesses, there are differences.

Xia Shiyu’s affinity is a means to an end.

Her goal is to gain more attention and admiration, to prove her worth as a “Saintess.”

But Shen Ruanruan before me-her gentleness comes from deep within.

It’s inwardly restrained, not needing others’ reactions to prove her excellence, a kind of peaceful detachment from the world.

‘It seems there are still normal people in this clichéd world.’

As I sighed inwardly, Shen Ruanruan gently asked,

“Lin Classmate, you look really tired. Is it because you didn’t rest well last night?”

Her powers of observation were meticulous.

The dark circles under my eyes had become my personal trademark, but today, because Xia Shiyu’s performance had drained me mentally, my fatigue was more noticeable.

Yet she caught it with remarkable sensitivity.

“Mm… I suppose so. There have been a lot of mock exams lately, and I’ve been doing practice questions late into the night.” I grew wary inside.

Normal as she may be, caution is always necessary.

Talking to someone this perceptive takes extra effort to maintain my disguise.

“No wonder, then…”
The girl’s tone shifted abruptly, throwing out an unexpected question.

“Is it because of what happened downstairs today?”

Leaning forward, her posture softened the usual distance between people in conversation, and concern flickered in her clear almond-shaped eyes.

“Lin Classmate, you must have found it troubling too, right?”

She asked with remarkable subtlety.

Instead of directly asking what happened, she jumped straight to my “feelings.”

Naturally steering the topic to the core.

Could this be Shen Ruanruan’s real reason for seeking me out?

In that instant, every nerve in my body tensed.

Confusion.

Intense confusion.

How did she know about this?

And why did she specifically mention Xia Shiyu?

They are both School Belles, recognized on the campus forum as the “Red Rose and White Rose.” Is there some hidden rivalry between them?

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind, but my expression remained as lazy and easygoing as ever.

I couldn’t let her see my true thoughts.

“Ah… that? It’s nothing troubling, just a small matter.”

I smiled, putting on an air of indifference to trivial things.

“Xia Shiyu is popular, after all. There are always… enthusiastic admirers. We just had a minor disagreement by accident.”

I shifted my role from “participant” to “bystander,” and downplayed the conflict as a routine occurrence among Xia Shiyu’s “enthusiastic admirers.”

Then, I proactively added in the tone of an ordinary boy gossiping.

“Besides, Xia Shiyu even came over to greet us during free activity in PE class. She’s always so friendly and caring to everyone. Shen Classmate, you’ve heard about what Xia Shiyu is like.”

My words carried a double meaning.

On the surface, I was explaining Xia Shiyu’s behavior, attributing it to her “friendly” personality.

But underneath, I was sending Shen Ruanruan a message.

I have nothing to do with Xia Shiyu; to her, I’m no different from a stray cat or dog on the street.

So there’s no need for you to waste time probing me for anything.

After speaking, I secretly observed Shen Ruanruan’s reaction.

She listened without interrupting.

Her pure, untainted eyes revealed neither belief nor disbelief.

“I see.”

The girl nodded thoughtfully. “Looks like I was overthinking.”

She didn’t pursue the matter further.

It sounded as if her earlier question really was just out of concern for an old classmate.

But the more she kept her composure, the more vigilant I became inside.

“Well… Shen Classmate, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

I decided not to linger, pointing directly toward the stairwell. “I still have worksheets to finish.”

“Mm.”

Shen Ruanruan responded, “Lin Classmate, you work so hard. Well… I won’t keep you.”

I nodded slightly to her, signaling my farewell.

“Bang-”

…

After the heavy sound of the iron door closing, the rooftop returned to silence.

Shen Ruanruan didn’t move, nor did she immediately return to her reading.

Her eyes, as pure as untouched rice paper, gazed at the rusted iron door, as if trying to pierce through its thickness to chase after the boy’s vanished silhouette.

For a long, long time.

She lowered her gaze, her thick lashes casting fan-shaped shadows in the sunlight.

The gentle curve of her lips dipped ever so slightly downward.

It was the faintest trace of displeasure-imperceptible-when the prey failed to act as expected.

She raised her hand, the one not holding a book, and slowly, lightly, almost obsessively, rubbed her fingertips over her lips.

A name slipped languidly from her lips.

Her voice was so low it nearly melted into the wind.

There was an indescribable, chilling stickiness to it.

“Lin… Hui…”

She murmured the name, again and again.

As if she wanted to savor every nuance of those two syllables with her tongue, tasting every flavor within.

Then, deeply, deeply… brand it into her soul.

And her delicate, serene face remained bathed in the gentle autumn sunlight, unchanged.

Gentle… and flawless.