Chapter 13: The Girl Reading Illustrations in the Library

"Ahem, Chiba, you're fine with drawing the usual stuff, but what you asked is impossible," Yun Xuan said quickly, seeing Chiba Qingxue trying to persuade him.

"Alright then, Yun Xuan, thank you again for your drawing. I'll be going now," Chiba Qingxue sighed and walked away.

Yun Xuan watched her departing figure—he had managed to reach a 50% favorability rating, at least.

He sat in the chair for a while longer, answered a few questions on his public account, then headed downstairs.

All the students in the school were busy cleaning, and as Yun Xuan passed by, several girls greeted him.

"It seems it was worth it to shield her," Yun Xuan thought, glancing at his bandaged right hand. His right hand was his dominant one; if something really happened to it, he wouldn't be able to draw anymore.

He made his way to the entrance of the school library.

...

The Sacred Imperial High School's library was enormous, housing tens of thousands of books. Both floors were lined with shelves.

Despite the grand scale, there were fewer than ten librarians.

When Yun Xuan stepped inside, he saw that the library was quiet, and the only person present was a girl—the class president of Class Three, Grade One.

She was engrossed in her book, sitting with her back to the library entrance and hadn't noticed Yun Xuan.

Her long hair draped over her shoulders, she exuded a faint, fresh fragrance, and wore the Sacred Imperial High School uniform. Compared to ordinary high school girls, she was a bit more developed.

Yun Xuan slowly walked up behind her. Before he could say anything, he caught sight of the book she was reading.

"Hehehehehehe," her expression matched perfectly with the word 'lecherous.'

Yun Xuan froze, hand suspended in the air, staring at this out-of-character girl in disbelief.

The usually quiet class president, who rarely spoke, was actually laughing out loud over a risqué comic in the library—what was going on?

"Hmm?" Sensing something, the girl turned around, saw Yun Xuan, and looked momentarily surprised.

"Uh, I... I came to look for a book," Yun Xuan stepped back.

"You... saw it, didn't you?" she said, her voice cool and clear.

"No, I didn't see anything," Yun Xuan waved his hand.

"You saw it. Yesterday at Fang Yu Library, it was the same," she stepped closer, speaking earnestly.

"Fang Yu Library... it was you!" Yun Xuan suddenly remembered the fully disguised girl in the comic section yesterday. No wonder she seemed familiar.

"Come with me," she grabbed Yun Xuan's hand and headed for the librarian's office.

"Um... President..." Yun Xuan glanced at her, still unable to believe she had just been reading that kind of comic.

"I have a name. Call me by it," her tone brooked no refusal.

"Alright, Wen Xuan'er," Yun Xuan said.

Her name was Wen Xuan'er, class president of First Year, Class Three. She ranked in the top three in both entrance and grade exams, and excelled in sports as well.

How could such an obvious academic star be hiding out in the library reading comics?

"Yes, I must have seen it wrong," Yun Xuan thought, though he didn't believe himself.

Click. Wen Xuan'er opened the librarian's office, pulled Yun Xuan inside, and locked the door behind them with a sharp snap.

"Hey, hey, hey, why are you taking off your clothes?" Yun Xuan stared at Wen Xuan'er, bewildered.

"Since you saw me like that, I have to find a way to eliminate you. If I look like this now, and with the comic on the floor, what do you think others would make of it?" Wen Xuan'er said calmly, tossing her uniform aside, revealing pale skin and a figure surpassing that of a typical high school girl.

"...President, are you planning to frame me?" Yun Xuan was at a loss, knowing that in this situation, even if he was innocent, he'd have no way to defend himself.

"Yes, you could take advantage of me now—I could consider it compensation," Wen Xuan'er stepped close, nodding.

"President, what exactly is going on in your mind?" Yun Xuan's gaze was drawn downward.

"I want to see what a restless boy would do in this situation," Wen Xuan'er spoke with a calm expression, standing less than an arm's length away.

Yun Xuan felt the cold wall behind him and glanced at his injured hand, suddenly thinking of an idea.

"President, your plan is clever. Too bad my hand is hurt—how am I supposed to undress you with one hand?" Yun Xuan joked.

"One hand is enough. You can threaten me, and if I don't obey, you'll claim me," Wen Xuan'er replied, still in the same matter-of-fact tone.

"President, let's compromise," Yun Xuan smiled wryly, sidestepping Wen Xuan'er and picking up her uniform.

"So that's it, you like girls' school uniforms. I never would've guessed. Fine, if you want this as compensation, I'll give it to you," Wen Xuan'er said, preparing to call someone.

"Stop, stop," Yun Xuan tossed the uniform back to her.

"What do you mean by this?" Wen Xuan'er tilted her head, puzzled.

"Put your clothes back on. As for your comic, I'll keep it secret and won't use it to threaten you," Yun Xuan turned away.

"No, I still can't be at ease," Wen Xuan'er dressed and, upon seeing the comic, came up with another idea.

"What do you want, then?" Yun Xuan, for the first time, felt that girls were truly hard to deal with.

"I'll give this to you. Read it within two days and tell me the contents—then we'll be even," Wen Xuan'er handed him the comic.

Yun Xuan turned around, looking at the now dressed Wen Xuan'er and the questionable comic in her hands.

"President, I have an older sister and a younger sister at home. It's not really appropriate to bring this kind of thing back," Yun Xuan's head began to ache; running into Wen Xuan'er was indeed unfortunate.

"Isn't that perfect?" Wen Xuan'er asked, confused.

"..." Yun Xuan was speechless. Perfect for your sister! Clearly, she's read too many comics.

"Accept my condition, or, as before, I'll call the head librarian," Wen Xuan'er frowned.

"President, why do you read this sort of thing?" Yun Xuan took the comic, deciding to hide it once he got home.

"To explore humanity's true nature, you must start with their desires. In the comics, the girls always end up with joyful expressions. If I could find that kind of emotion for myself, wouldn't it be wonderful?" Wen Xuan'er answered softly.

"President, you don't have emotions?" Yun Xuan was startled.

"Strictly speaking, my sense of humor is very low. Since junior high, I've never genuinely laughed. What you saw just now was only a fake laugh—not from the heart," Wen Xuan'er finished and opened the door.

"Ding, special mission!"

"Special mission: Wen Xuan'er's smile. Within three months, make Wen Xuan'er truly smile. Reward: 100 exchange points. Failure: become a cute girl for one month."

(Special missions cannot be refused.)

"...Yun Xuan."

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