It had been a week since I accepted Madam Wuxia's mission. Annoying Lin Fan had turned out to be more fun than I ever expected—like a daily comedy show where I was both the director and the star.
Sitting at my desk, I watched him walk into the classroom. He made his way toward his seat, only to stop dead in his tracks. His desk chair was covered in bright paint, smeared across it like an abstract masterpiece.
I couldn't help but admire the vein on his hand as it popped, his fist clenching tight.
Slam!
Lin Fan stormed out of the classroom, his footsteps echoing with pure frustration.
Oops... maybe I took it a little too far this time.
I jumped up from my seat and hurried after him. "Hey! Lin Fan, wait—stop for just a second!" My voice was breathless as I tried to catch up.
He ignored me, his pace quick.
"Stop!" I shouted, louder this time.
He still didn't turn.
"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to take it that far!"
For a moment, he paused. But only for a moment. His steps resumed, steady and sharp.
My throat tightened. I felt heat sting the corners of my eyes. "I said I'm sorry!" My voice cracked, the words spilling out faster than I expected. "I just... I just want you to look at me..." My breath hitched. "...Sniff."
I wiped at my eyes with the back of my hand. Real tears—or maybe just a perfect performance? Even I wasn't sure anymore.
Lin Fan stopped mid-step. For a long moment, the only sound in the hallway was the faint hum of the fluorescent lights. He stood rigid, his back still turned toward me.
I sniffled again, letting the silence drag. My hand gripped the edge of my sleeve as if I were trying to hold myself together.
Finally, he exhaled, the sound sharp and frustrated—but not as cold as before.
"...Why do you keep doing this?" His voice was low, almost tired.
I blinked, caught off guard. He wasn't yelling. He wasn't storming off. He was... asking.
"Because," I whispered, my voice trembling just enough, "if I don't bother you, you'll never even notice I exist."
He turned his head slightly, just enough for me to catch his profile. His jaw was tense, but his eyes... they flickered with something softer. Annoyance, yes—but beneath it, maybe the faintest trace of guilt.
"...You're impossible," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at me once more before sighing and walking away, slower this time.
My tears slipped down my cheeks, but a smile tugged at my lips. Got you, I thought, heart thrumming with both victory and something else I couldn't quite name.
The god's words echoed in my head: Make him hate you. Make him love you. Betray him.
Step by step, the game was unfolding.
The following morning, Lin Fan walked into class a little earlier than usual. His eyes immediately darted—unintentionally—to the seat behind his.
Empty.
He exhaled slowly and slid into his chair, setting his bag down with a thump. For a moment, there was silence, just the scratching of chalk on the board as the teacher prepared notes.
Then—
"Good morning, Lin Fan~"
His entire body tensed. Turning his head just slightly, he found Xiannu Mei leaning over his desk, her dimples deep as she grinned at him.
"You—" He cut himself off with a groan, dragging a hand down his face. "Why do you always have to say my name like that?"
"Because it sounds so nice~" she teased, drawing out the syllables as if savoring them.
Before he could snap back, the teacher began the lesson, and Lin Fan forced his eyes forward. But concentration was difficult when he could feel Xiannu's gaze boring into the back of his head.
Halfway through the lecture, he risked a glance back.
She wasn't poking him this time. She wasn't even smiling. Instead, Xiannu Mei was staring intently at her notes, lips pressed together in a small, thoughtful line.
For some reason, Lin Fan found himself watching a second too long.
As if sensing it, she glanced up suddenly, catching his gaze. Her dimples returned instantly as she tilted her head and whispered, "Staring at me again? You must think I'm cute."
Heat rose to his ears, and he spun back toward the blackboard. "Delusional," he muttered under his breath.
But even as he tried to focus, her smile lingered in his mind.
Why does she get under my skin like this?
Xiannu Mei, twirling her pencil idly, hummed to herself. Step two: make him notice me, even when I'm not trying. Progress... beautifully on track.
Another week slipped by
Xiannu Mei had changed her tactics. No more pranks, no more childish antics with paint or poking pencils. Instead, she kept things light—an occasional flirt, a teasing smile, a playful comment here or there. Just enough to remind Lin Fan she was there... but not enough to dominate his day anymore.
At first, Lin Fan thought he'd welcome the peace. But strangely, it left him restless.
Why isn't she doing anything? he wondered, tapping his pen against his desk. The silence behind him felt unnatural. Irritating, even.
It bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
When he caught himself glancing back during lessons only to find her quietly taking notes—or worse, not looking at him at all—his chest tightened in an unfamiliar way. It aggravated him that he felt... upset. Upset that she wasn't trying to get his attention anymore.
Then came the day she didn't show up at all.
Lin Fan walked into the classroom, scanning instinctively for her usual seat. Empty. His brows furrowed. He told himself it didn't matter, that it was none of his concern. And yet, the unease lingered like an itch he couldn't scratch.
Where was she?
He found himself distracted all day, his focus slipping every time the door opened in the vain hope she'd come walking through with that infuriating smile. But she never did.
By the final bell, he realized something that unsettled him more than her pranks ever had:
Slowly, without even realizing it, he was becoming obsessed with the girl known as Xiannu Mei.
By the time the final bell rang, Lin Fan's patience had completely unraveled. He told himself he didn't care where Xiannu Mei was... but his legs carried him out of the schoolyard anyway, searching for her.
And then he saw her.
Just outside the gates, Xiannu Mei stood talking to another boy from their class. Her cheeks were faintly pink, her lashes lowered, lips curved into a small, shy smile.
Something in Lin Fan snapped.
His chest burned, his fists tightened, and before he realized what he was doing, he was marching forward.
"Xiannu," he growled.
Both she and the boy looked up in surprise. Without a second thought, Lin Fan grabbed her wrist, yanking her away from the boy's side. She stumbled, wide-eyed, as he dragged her down the alley beside the school.
"W-what are you—"
Her words were cut short when Lin Fan slammed his hand against the wall beside her, pinning her in place. His face was inches from hers, his breath sharp, his eyes blazing with anger he didn't fully understand.
"Did you move on from me so quickly?" His words came through gritted teeth, each syllable thick with fury. "Is that it? A week of silence and you're already smiling at someone else?"
Xiannu blinked up at him, her lips parting in surprise. Her usual playful grin was gone—replaced by something unreadable, a flicker of genuine shock... and maybe a spark of amusement.
Lin Fan's heart pounded against his ribs. He didn't know why he was shaking—anger, jealousy, fear? All he knew was that the thought of her looking at anyone else like that made his blood boil.
When did it come to this? he thought bitterly. When did I start caring so much... about her?
Xiannu tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into the faintest smile. "Oh my... are you jealous, Lin Fan?"