An Impossible to Reject Confession

han him. 

“Then, I give it back to you?” The youth took the initiative to pass the cake forward. 

“Can you help me open it? I cannot tear the package open.” Xu Youyou’s voice was soft and weak.
She really could not open the package, the two gusts of wind from earlier made her fingers feel numb. 

The youth stared blankly for a few seconds.
He was a bit suspicious that the girl was purposely teasing him, but he noticed the girl’s heavy jacket along with her deathly pale face and understood something. 

Does she not have the strength because she is sick?

The youth put down the homework booklets he was carrying on the other side of the bench, freeing his hands so he can help the girl tear open the cake’s packaging.
And he passed it back over, “here.”

“Thanks”

Xu Youyou lifted her hand to retrieve it.
Her fingers accidentally brushed against the back of the youth’s hand and the ice-cold touch surprised the youth.
There was currently a hot spell this autumn and she is wearing such a thick jacket, why was her hands so cold?

But they were strangers and the youth did not feel comfortable asking.
He began to gather up the homework booklets getting ready to leave.
But just as he was turning to go,  his arm was suddenly pulled, catching him off guard and the books he was carrying fell to the ground with a “pa la la” sound.
Immediately after, something icy cold grasped his palm. 

The youth glanced back in surprise at the two palms tightly clasped together.
Almost instinctively, the youth shook off the girl holding his hand.

“What are you doing?”

The youth crouched down to pick up the fallen homework booklets one by one.
There was only a 15 minute break between classes, if he didn’t deliver them to the office soon he would be late to class. 

Xu Youyou looked down at her hand which was just shaken off, her expression was one of disbelief. 

It was finally nice and warm, not a bit cold. 

It wasn’t her own delusion. 

Earlier when she went to grab the cake from the youth, her fingertips accidentally touched the back of the youth’s hand and she then felt a warm current flow through her fingers through her body.
The feeling was so warm, so when the youth was leaving, without thinking she grabbed onto the youth’s hand.
And when she held the hand, the warm feeling returned again, fiercely and strongly dispersing the chill in her body. 

“What is your name?” Xu Youyou squatted down and asked excitedly. 

The youth looked at her and did not respond, continuing to pick up the homework booklets. 

“Let me help you” Xu Youyou helped pick up some books.
When handing them to the youth she couldn’t help but seize the opportunity to touch the back of his hand again. 

How warm! (#^.^#)

The youth looked at the girl suspiciously. 

Completely unaware, Xu Youyou happily announced, “Classmate, your hands are so warm.”

Warm? Soft? *

Is she…flirting with him?

“My name is Xu Youyou, the “You” from the word pomelo.
I’m a transfer student that is reporting in today.
I lived abroad most of my life.
What is your name? What class are you in? Are you also a tenth grader?” Xu Youyou’s eyes scanned over the tops of the homework booklets, reading the words “Grade 10, Class 8.”

Grade 10, Class 8.
Which class was she in? Xu Youyou was a bit annoyed, earlier in the office she just stared off into space not paying close attention to the conversation. 

“Youyou,” Li Leyao came out of the office calling her daughter over.  

Teacher Song stood beside Li Leyao, saw the youth and also called out, “Qiao Mu, come over here.” 

“Qiao Mu? Your name is Qiao Mu?” Xu Youyou was startled when she heard the youth’s name, immediately her expression looked as if she had seen a ghost.
She held onto his arm not letting go, “Which ‘Qiao?’ Which ‘Mu?’”

Qiao Mu frowned, extracting his arm and quickly walked towards Teacher Song. 

Xu Youyou did not follow and just stood in place staring blankly, her heart tumbling in terrified waves. 

She seemed to know where this strange chill came from. 

It was most likely the debt from her previous life. 

————————Translator’s Note————————

* “Warm” and “Soft” in Mandarin rhyme  — nuǎn vs ruǎn