Chapter 67: Mind Reading (8)

At the desk, even if Gu Li wanted to maintain some distance from Yan Ling, it was no longer possible.

To teach her lessons effectively, he needed to be close enough to see the exercise book and demonstrate problem-solving steps. Refusing to sit down would only make him appear overly apprehensive.

Gu Li positioned himself neatly at the other side of the desk without wasting any time. He directly asked, “Which questions are you having trouble with?”

Yan Ling’s academic standing was consistently among the top in Saint Hieria, so any questions she struggled with must indeed be challenging.

Tong Ling, now accustomed to exploiting the system, issued a command, “Scan the exercise book and highlight all the most difficult problems for me. I expect the results within three seconds.”

Grumbling under its code, m577 marked the pages promptly: [What kind of tyrannical CEO speech is this…]

When had it fallen to such a state… This shouldn’t be happening; it was a system, after all, not meant to fear abnormalities.

Following the system’s markings, Tong Ling gathered the highlighted questions and placed them before Gu Li, saying, “These ones.”

Gu Li focused solely on the exercise book in front of him, not sparing even a glance towards Yan Ling.

Despite not looking directly at her, he could still detect the fresh scent of soap lingering on the girl’s skin after her bath. Her hands, delicate and lovely as they rested on the exercise book, had neatly trimmed nails with a healthy pinkish glow. The pale white of her arms pressed against the desk was close enough to inadvertently touch his own.

Unconsciously, Gu Li moved his hand away and focused his attention on the problems.

The questions Yan Ling selected were indeed challenging, but for Gu Li, their difficulty posed no issue. He had already completed the entire semester’s coursework ahead of time and had begun studying university-level subjects independently.

Instead of simply providing the answers to Yan Ling, Gu Li aimed to teach her how to solve the problems himself, rather than just giving solutions.

“From which step do you find it confusing?” Gu Li asked.

Without Tong Ling prompting, m577 swiftly listed out all the solution steps, thoughtfully including notes on their difficulty levels.

Tong Ling couldn’t help but praise the system, “You’ve truly matured; I’m quite impressed.”

[…]

Why, why did m577 feel only bitterness at this moment?

“This step.” Tong Ling finished writing down the solution steps, then moved closer to Gu Li and asked, “What should we do next?”

Her damp hair strands brushed against his arm, leaving a trail of moisture.

Gu Li frowned, feeling an irresistible urge to dry her hair.

“Ah,” perhaps his expression caused Yan Ling’s misunderstanding, as she hastily gathered her hair with one hand and began wiping his arm with the other, “I wasn’t paying attention and got water on you, I’m sorry, so sorry…”

Yan Ling’s soft fingertips gently glided over his arm, removing the water while sending a ticklish sensation through him.

Gu Li shivered slightly and quickly stood up, “It’s fine, let me get a towel.”

As he turned away, Gu Li placed his hand on the arm where the girl had touched, the peculiar sensation lingering persistently.

Entering the bathroom, Gu Li retrieved a fresh towel from the cabinet. Before returning to the girl, he unexpectedly glanced at himself in the mirror.

His reflection showed a stern expression, almost appearing angry with its rigid demeanor.

This wasn’t like him. Gu Li tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to display his usual warm smile, but he found it impossible.

He was nervous, so anxious that he couldn’t even control his expression.

His father had always said, regardless of the situation, one must never show fear or hesitation.

Smile, he needed to smile.

He couldn’t let anyone perceive anything amiss.

As if responding to this mental cue, the reflection in the mirror finally revealed a stiff grin.

Ugly as hell! Gu Li inwardly fumed. How could he face Yan Ling with such an expression?

Would Yan Ling find him strange? Would she think he’s upset with her?

Yan Ling merely came to ask about homework; why is he wasting time pondering these thoughts?!

Rubbing his temples, Gu Li took a deep breath before grabbing the towel and exiting the bathroom.

Upon reaching his desk, Gu Li noticed Yan Ling timidly watching him and immediately apologizing again.

“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault for not being careful. Did I get you dirty? I apologize…”

“It’s not dirty,” Gu Li sighed helplessly. “I don’t feel it’s dirty at all, it’s just water.”

“I thought you had a severe cleanliness obsession…” The girl seemed to harbor many peculiar assumptions, “Since you were continuously rinsing your arm under the tap, looking quite uncomfortable…”

With just one sentence, Gu Li’s nervousness evaporated.

His gaze returned to Yan Ling, and he spoke with utmost sincerity, “You don’t need to apologize to me; I genuinely am not upset at all.”

Yan Ling finally relaxed and smiled warmly, “That’s such a relief! I was worried you might dislike me now.”

The girl was already strikingly beautiful, and her radiant smile added to her charm.

“Seeing you walk away with a stern expression earlier, I couldn’t help but think that after causing you so much trouble, you must have grown tired of me.” A hint of melancholy crossed Yan Ling’s face. “Perhaps you only hesitated due to saving face, unable to reject me directly, while I took advantage of your kind nature…”

“No!” Gu Li hadn’t anticipated Yan Ling would feel this way. With earnest conviction, he replied, “No, I won’t grow tired of you, let alone dislike you. Please don’t think like that.”

How could he possibly dislike her? He clearly felt…

Gu Li couldn’t deny it anymore; his fondness for Yan Ling had long surpassed appropriate boundaries.

Otherwise, why would he be so easily affected by her, to the point where he dared not even glance at her too much?

He never imagined there could be such a helpless day for him.

“If I’ve done anything wrong, please do tell me,” Yan Ling said with pure sincerity in her gaze. “I want to become friends with you, President Gu Li, and I certainly don’t wish for you to dislike me.”

Softly, Gu Li replied, “We are already friends.”

As he spoke, Gu Li handed her a towel. “Even though it’s summer, leaving wet hair unattended can easily lead to headaches.”

The girl smiled sweetly, wrapping the towel around her damp hair and vigorously drying it. “I know, Gu Li, you really worry too much.”

“Ouch!” Apparently, she pulled the towel too forcefully, causing discomfort as strands of her hair tightened painfully. She winced, fighting back tears.

This time, Gu Li couldn’t remain seated any longer. He walked behind Yan Ling and gently said, “Give me the towel, let me help dry your hair.”

“Gu Li…” Yan Ling turned to look at him, obediently handing over the towel. “Sorry to trouble you again…”

“It’s no trouble.” Gu Li tenderly gathered the girl’s long hair in his hands and began carefully drying it with the towel.

Her hair was incredibly soft, much like her gentle demeanor—pliable and devoid of any aggression. With her trusting and somewhat naive nature, she was far too vulnerable to being taken advantage of.

It truly made him worry incessantly for her well-being.

“Mmm…” The young girl closed her eyes, humming contentedly like a cat being stroked.

Gu Li’s hand paused momentarily. In his focus on drying Yan Ling’s hair, he had forgotten how intimate such an act could be. They were so close that with just a glance down, he could see her delicate, fair cheeks, her long, slightly quivering eyelashes, and her pale pink lips slightly parted—the source of those sweet, soft murmurs…

“Don’t stop, please continue,” the girl urged when she felt his movements cease behind her. “Gu Li, it feels so nice.”

A surge of warmth erupted from Gu Li’s heart, deepening the color of his gaze. He complied with her request and resumed gently wiping her hair.

The room fell silent; he could hear the soothing rhythm of her breaths along with his own… erratic heartbeat.

Perhaps due to his exceptionally tender touch, before long, the young girl leaned against the chair, tilted her head, and drifted off to sleep.

Even in her sleep, she remained perfectly peaceful and undisturbed.

How could she be so unguarded, falling asleep in his presence?

Gu Li felt another urge to sigh.

He finished drying Yan Ling’s hair and gently combed through it with his fingers. Then, leaning down, he stole a kiss from the sleeping girl.

She was incredibly sweet and charming; even her breath carried a hint of fragrance.

Gu Li knew he shouldn’t do this, but as if bewitched, he shamelessly and greedily continued kissing the slumbering young woman.

His movements were exceedingly gentle, eyes fixed on her delicate features. When mere lip contact no longer satisfied him, he deepened the kiss…

If Yan Ling were to wake up now and witness his actions, what would she think? Would she consider him utterly despicable, a vile and lecherous man?

She trusted him deeply, just as Xiao Lingfei did.

Yet here he was, betraying that trust by acting inappropriately towards his friend’s fiancée.

Gu Li momentarily forgot to breathe, only coming back to reality when suffocation set in, accompanied by a dull pain in his chest. As if shaken awake, he abruptly ended the stolen kiss.

The girl’s pale cherry lips had turned a vivid red, yet her breathing remained soft and steady, showing no sign of waking.

Gu Li realized he couldn’t let her stay in his room any longer.

He would repeatedly commit these errors.

Bending down, he carefully lifted Yan Ling into his arms. The girl’s soft body nestled against him, and he tightened his grip, mindful not to touch any inappropriate places as he steadily carried her back to the guest room.

When it came time to lay Yan Ling down, he found himself reluctant to let go.

Feeling truly beyond redemption, Gu Li forcefully suppressed those improper thoughts and gently tucked the blanket around the sleeping girl.

Daring not to linger any longer, Gu Li swiftly exited the room.

He needed a cold shower to compose himself properly.

M577 observed the entire scene and, with mixed emotions, said: [I was wrong; I shouldn’t have claimed his intentions were pure and innocent. He’s become tainted now. How could I ever think someone close to you would remain clean?]

Tong Ling rolled over and yawned. “I’m genuinely sleepy. Gu Li does a good job drying hair; he deserves some praise.”

[…Do you still remember why you’re here? To learn?] m577 pressed, clearly exasperated. [You haven’t even completed a single question! Not one!]

“Too noisy. If you keep it up, I’ll pluck every feather from your body.”

M577 fell silent. Its system representation consisted of data, so it wasn’t afraid of losing feathers. Yet, inexplicably, it obediently closed its virtual mouth. Woe is me, how did it lose the courage to resist?

The next day, after a good night’s sleep, Tong Ling slowly got out of bed.

Beside her lay her freshly washed and ironed Saint Hieria uniform, along with her exercise booklet and pencil neatly placed nearby.

As Tong Ling dressed in her school uniform, she was about to put the exercise booklet into her backpack when she noticed that the once mostly blank pages were now densely filled with answers and annotations.

Flipping through it, she found that someone had completed the entire workbook.

m577 sighed, 【Gu Li worked on these problems all night.】 In terms of academics, m577 held Gu Li in high regard: 【He may be dirty, but his passion for learning surpasses yours by countless times.】

Tong Ling chuckled, “All this just for me.”

m577 paused, speechless. Damn, it shouldn’t have brought it up!

After packing her backpack and completing her morning routine, Tong Ling gently applied skincare products to her cheeks. It must be said, there’s nothing quite like the youthful radiance of a teenage girl; Tong Ling felt she barely needed makeup, as a touch of lipstick alone made her look stunning.

Adjusting her clothes and smoothing her hair before the mirror, the flawless Miss Yan Ling finally stepped out of her room.

The youth waiting outside seemed to have been there for some time. Upon seeing her, he softly asked, “Did you sleep well?”

Gu Li maintained his usual gentle and courteous demeanor, showing no hint of any internal turmoil.

Tong Ling responded cheerfully, “I slept wonderfully, much more comfortably than at home.”

Watching the unsuspecting girl, Gu Li’s feelings grew even more complicated. “That’s… great to hear.”

After sharing breakfast together at the Gu residence, Gu Li arranged for a driver to take them to Saint Hieria Academy.

He instructed the driver not to approach the college entrance but instead to stop on a secluded street nearby before getting out himself.

“Please escort Miss Yan to the academy, I’ll walk over leisurely,” said Gu Li. He knew that if he were seen disembarking with Yan Ling by other students, rumors would spread like wildfire within hours.

While he didn’t mind the gossip personally, he had to consider Yan Ling’s reputation. After all, she was still Xiao Lingfei’s… “fiancée”. The relationship between Yan Ling and Xiao Lingfei remained a persistent issue standing between him and her.

Throughout the night, Gu Li had been solving problems and deep in thought. He realized that he did not want to give up on Yan Ling at all.

Yan Ling harbored no romantic feelings towards Xiao Lingfei, so there was still a chance for him.

However, openly competing with his close friend for her affections wasn’t his style.

Gu Li now regretted giving advice to Xiao Lingfei earlier; by helping his friend realize his true intentions, he inadvertently placed himself in a difficult situation.

If Xiao Lingfei didn’t abandon the arranged marriage, Gu Li couldn’t pursue a relationship with Yan Ling.

He needed to carefully consider how to convince both families to relinquish their plans for the union…

“President Gu Li,” the girl rolled down the car window and waved with a smile, “See you after school!”

“I’ll submit my club application soon!”

At the thought of seeing Yan Ling daily at the club, Gu Li’s mood brightened involuntarily.

“See you after school.” Gu Li’s lips curved upwards as he watched the vehicle drive away.

As Jin Yingyao stepped out of his private car, he coincidentally spotted Yan Ling getting out of hers. This time, instead of focusing on Yan Ling, his attention was drawn to the driver of her vehicle. Jin Yingyao immediately recognized him—it was Gu Li’s chauffeur!

Why would Gu Li’s driver be dropping off Yan Ling for school?

Jin Yingyao’s face paled; it was over—he had completely forgotten about Yan Ling wanting to give Gu Li a ride home!

Ever since seeing Yan Ling yesterday, Jin Yingyao’s thoughts had been in constant turmoil. Yan Ling harbored those terrifying intentions towards Gu Li, Lu Yifan, and Xiao Lingfei, yet each of his friends fell for her deceptive exterior. Especially his close friend Xiao Lingfei, who actually developed feelings for Yan Ling!

Haunted by Yan Ling’s disturbing thoughts and further shaken by the reactions of his friends, Jin Yingyao lay dazed in the club room for hours before regaining his composure.

Upon receiving the driver’s call to head home, he absentmindedly got into the car…

How could he think everything would be fine once Yan Ling left the club? How did he forget that Gu Li always leaves last?!

Recalling the nightmare from the previous night—his friends being trapped one by one in cages or restrained at the bedhead—he shuddered involuntarily. Unable to delay any longer, he swiftly chased after Yan Ling.

He needed to “listen” to what Yan Ling was thinking; he had to know exactly what she had done!

Jin Yingyao’s presence was always commanding; wherever he went, countless students’ gazes followed him.

Unlike other S3-ranked students who were more sociable, Jin Yingyao maintained a distant and aloof demeanor, making few dare to approach him casually.

When classmates saw Jin Yingyao voluntarily approaching their school’s “goddess,” they exchanged glances, their eyes sparkling with gossip interest.

Tong Ling, naturally, couldn’t overlook Jin Yingyao either.

With his prestigious status and striking good looks, it was virtually impossible for anyone not to notice him. He had thick black hair, a tall and imposing figure, handsome features, and an air of intensity.

His cold expression was intimidating, exuding a sense of authority that may have been shaped by elite upbringing or various competitive experiences. This icy charm made him highly popular among girls and even garnered admiration from fellow boys.

However, Tong Ling had witnessed Jin Yingyao’s goofy side in private, so her internal assessment of this seemingly formidable young man was…

[Jin Yingyao is such a poser! His classmates are completely fooled by his appearance. If he didn’t keep that stern face, everyone would realize how dim-witted he is.]

[“Maybe he doesn’t talk much with others for this reason, fearing to reveal his high intellect.”]

As Jin Yingyao approached Yan Ling, he overheard these words and was left speechless.

The suffocating feeling from yesterday returned, making him instantly question whether coming to speak with Yan Ling was the right decision.

“Schoolmate Jin?” The girl maintained her usual gentle demeanor, appearing polite and composed.

Jin Yingyao silently thought, Who could outdo Yan Ling in pretending? Her outward appearance is truly deceptive.

“Schoolgirl Yan.” Drawing from his experience the previous day, Jin Yingyao managed to keep his composure today. “I just saw you arriving in Gu Li’s car. Where’s Gu Li himself?”

Gu Li hadn’t gotten out of the car—what ha·pened to his close friend?!

“President Gu Li?” Yan Ling tilted her head, looking at him curiously. “He’ll be joining us shortly at the academy. Is there something you need from him, Schoolmate Jin?”

Yan Ling internally grumbled, [“Why is Jin Yingyao always so concerned about my people? He comes straight to the academy asking about Gu Li; what business does it concern him?!”]

Jin Yingyao remained silent, taken aback.

Not receiving any useful information, Jin Yingyao continued, “Why is Schoolgirl Yan riding in the Gu family’s car?”

Yan Ling smiled and replied, “Our family’s car broke down on the way, so President Gu Li offered me a ride. To avoid misunderstandings, he let me come to the academy alone first.”

Yan Ling thought privately, [Hee hee, not just riding in Gu Li’s car, even sitting on him wouldn’t be an issue.]

[Ah~ My dear Gu Li is truly obedient. His expression last night was so adorable; does it mean he wants me? How long can he resist? All he needs to do is ask, and I would give him anything.]

Jin Yingyao was taken aback! What did this woman do last night?! What does she mean by wanting her? Gu Li would never want her!

Yan Ling thought, [Why is Jin Yingyao still loitering here? Once you’ve asked your questions, get lost! Don’t hinder me with your presence!]

Jin Yingyao’s mouth opened slightly, intending to inquire further about Gu Li, but Yan Ling’s responses were clearly filled with lies. Even her inner thoughts gave no clear indication of what she had done, leaving him unable to confront her directly.

Dammit, is there really nothing he can do?

Unconsciously, Jin Yingyao silently trailed behind Yan Ling for quite some time until she finally stopped.

“Jin classmate,” Yan Ling smiled, “I’ve reached my classroom.”

Jin Yingyao suddenly realized he had unwittingly followed Yan Ling all the way to her class door. Under the surprised gazes of students inside, Jin Yingyao hastily said, “Well then, Schoolgirl Yan… goodbye!”

With that, Jin Yingyao turned and quickly left. He knew his actions might lead to misunderstandings among those students, but Gu Li’s safety was the top priority!

Wait, he could make a call!

Jin Yingyao took out his phone and dialed Gu Li’s number, speaking urgently, “Gu Li, where are you?”

Gu Li’s voice over the phone remained calm, “I’m already at the academy. Is something wrong?”

Relieved, Jin Yingyao replied, “Just glad you’re safe. What exactly happened? Today, I saw Yan Ling getting out of your car. When did you encounter her? Did she…”

Before Jin Yingyao could finish, Gu Li swiftly interrupted him, “I merely asked the driver to take her to the academy. What do you think could have occurred?”

Still unconvinced, Jin Yingyao persisted, “Are you sure everything is alright?”

“Jin Yingyao, aren’t you being overly concerned about Yan Ling?” Gu Li’s voice sounded somewhat cold. “Or do you suspect there’s something between me and her?”

Jin Yingyao fell silent, feeling unfairly accused. He was merely showing care for his friend; why should it invite reproach?

“That’s not what I meant,” Jin Yingyao said defensively. “I’m worried about you…”

“No need to make excuses,” Gu Li interrupted. “Worried about me? That’s too weak of an excuse. You’re clearly worried about Yan Ling.”

For some reason, Jin Yingyao sensed hostility from Gu Li towards him.

“I have matters to attend to here, and you should focus on your classes. Goodbye.”

After Gu Li hung up, Jin Yingyao felt helpless. At least Gu Li was unharmed, he reassured himself. This time was his mistake; he mustn’t be careless again in the future.

However, while Gu Li remained safe, trouble was brewing for Jin Yingyao himself.

News of him chasing after Yan Ling to her class had spread throughout Saint Hieria Academy like wildfire.

A post on the college forum rapidly gained traction, its popularity continuously soaring.

Title: “Urgent Question - Are Jin Yingyao and Yan Ling dating now? This morning I saw Jin Yingyao chasing after Yan Ling, almost couldn’t believe my eyes.”

The main post included several candid photographs.

The first picture showed Jin Yingyao’s and Yan Ling’s backs, with Jin Yingyao striding purposefully towards Yan Ling, his intent clear.

In the second photo, Jin Yingyao and Yan Ling were seen walking side by side, engaged in conversation. It was unclear if the photographer belonged to the photography club, but the shot had a remarkably romantic drama-like aesthetic.

Within the image, the tall and handsome young man appeared uncharacteristically taken aback, shedding his usual aloofness, while the gentle beauty of the girl shone through as always. Despite not standing too close, there was an unmistakable sense of intimacy between them.

The third photograph captured Jin Yingyao and Yan Ling saying their goodbyes at the classroom entrance. The dashing young man’s face was slightly flushed as he departed, while the girl watched him leave with a smile on her lips.

Replies from enthusiastic classmates flooded the thread, sparking fervent discussions.

—As someone who witnessed Jin Yingyao chasing after Yan Ling this morning, I must say, OP, your photos are fantastic!

—Even just from these pictures, their chemistry is evident. Beautiful people together are truly pleasing to the eye.

— Nonsense, don’t make things up! Jin Yingyao is single; stop spreading such baseless rumors!

— Are you part of Jin Yingyao’s fan club? He never said he wouldn’t date, so don’t be too dismissive. Maybe he has indeed found someone.

— Goddess, impossible! I can’t believe our goddess would fall in love either. This can’t be true!

— Jin Yingyao and Yan Ling, surprisingly, I could accept them as a couple. Everyone knows how aloof Jin Yingyao is with other girls; he’s never been this proactive towards any girl before, let alone escorting her to class. Considering Yan Ling’s status and rank, she’s arguably the most compatible match for Jin Yingyao. If they truly end up together, it’s best we offer our blessings. After all, no one else comes close to their levels.

Jin Yingyao grimaced while scrolling through the replies. How dare they suggest he and that freak Yan Ling were a good match—are these guys blind?! His flushed face wasn’t from shyness but anxiety! Anxiety to get away quickly—that’s why his cheeks turned red!

“Yingyao.” To make matters worse, his close friend Xiao Lingfei approached him, looking unusually serious—a first in Jin Yingyao’s experience. “We need to talk.”