My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Ying Yuan had been pondering this question for a long time.

The moment she mistook a passing girl for Yi Shanshan and her heart jolted with fear, she found her answer:

I have to keep avoiding her. Every bit of distance counts.

Whether it was cowardly or not didn’t matter. What mattered was that Yi Shanshan’s influence on her had become overwhelming, and she needed to diminish it.

Ying Yuan immediately returned to her seat to gather her belongings, taking advantage of Yi Shanshan’s absence during lunch to make a swift exit.

She walked with bated breath, terrified she might glance up and meet Yi Shanshan’s gaze.

Thankfully, everything went smoothly.

Yi Shanshan was nowhere to be seen—not even someone who looked like her.

Ying Yuan chose a secluded corner in the cafeteria for lunch and then retreated to an even more remote study hall in a distant academic building to study.

She was the only one in the room, and she suspected there were hardly any people in the entire building.

The silence finally allowed her mind to settle. She studied until nightfall before finally taking a break.

Her phone buzzed with a new message from the dorm group chat. Mao Mao was asking if she had any plans for the day and whether she’d be back at the dorm.

Ying Yuan quickly typed: No plans. I’ll be back.

Mao Mao: What about tomorrow? Free?

Ying Yuan: Planning to finish the “Procedural Programming” assignment.

Mao Mao: Oh my god, you’re such an overachiever! Please stop pushing yourself so hard! The professor didn’t even make it mandatory—he said students who are interested can submit it by the end of the semester!

Ying Yuan: I’m interested.

Mao Mao: ……

Xiaohan: ……

Xiaohan: The class advisor said sunny spring days are perfect for outdoor activities, urging us not to just hole up in our dorms and get addicted to the internet… Of course, getting addicted to studying is just as bad. You can’t just listen to the other professors and ignore the advisor, right?

Ying Yuan felt a familiar echo in those words.

She remembered that night in the hotel hallway, when she’d lied to Yi Shanshan about not being able to carry her. Yi Shanshan had then lectured her endlessly, the gist of it being that she needed to exercise more and improve her physical fitness.

Indeed, a well-rounded university student should develop in all aspects: moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and practical skills.

Ying Yuan: I’ll listen.

Xiaohan: Great! Mao Mao, you’re up!

Mao Mao: Here’s the plan for tomorrow: wake up at ten for a big brunch, then head to Ling Mountain Park for a stroll. After getting tired of walking, we’ll return to the city for dinner, followed by some mall shopping before heading back to the dorm before lights out!

Xiaohan: Lina will be joining us too.

Ying Yuan felt relieved. With such a packed schedule and so many activities, the chances of running into Yi Shanshan outside campus would be greatly reduced.

Tomorrow won’t be the second day between me and Yi Shanshan.

Ying Yuan agreed: Okay.

The group chat erupted in cheers.

With the group outing planned, Ying Yuan switched off her brain and let herself drift with the tide.

Mao Mao told her to get back early tonight, so Ying Yuan returned to the dorm early and listened to the trio chat idly under the guise of “discussing the trip.”

Xiaohan announced that they would still maintain a unified dress code tomorrow, so Ying Yuan opened her closet and let the trio style her.

Lina asked if Ying Yuan had been busy lately and if Rich Lady had been giving her a lot of work. A gust of wind seemed to sweep through Ying Yuan’s heart. She answered honestly, “It should be over now. I won’t be taking any more work from her.”

Mao Mao, Xiaohan, and Lina froze, staring at Ying Yuan for a long moment before saying, “You can tell us anything.”

Ying Yuan thought for a moment, but there really wasn’t anything to tell. She shook her head.

The trio collectively made exaggerated, mournful expressions, as if they had seen a dirty, stray puppy by the roadside.

“Enough about that! Let’s just have fun!”

In an instant, they were all shouting again, crowding around Ying Yuan and launching into endless chatter, sharing hilarious short videos that made her laugh.

The next morning, three of them woke up early as planned, while one of them deliberately slept in.

The four of them squeezed into the room to get ready, then cheerfully left the dormitory building together.

May truly lived up to its reputation as the perfect month for travel, with gentle breezes and clear, sunny skies.

Bright sunlight bathed the campus, and everywhere, in celebration of Youth Day on May 4th, banners and slogans urged them to strive forward, imbuing the air with youthful energy and vibrant vitality.

The trio made a special effort to dote on Ying Yuan that day, always keeping her between them as they walked and ensuring she joined every conversation, even if just for a sentence or two.

As the four of them jostled forward, they passed the central campus plaza and noticed a large stage had been set up for a Fourth of May competition with prizes.

“Let’s go! Let’s see what’s happening!” Mao Mao shouted.

She grabbed Ying Yuan’s arm and darted forward, with Xiaohan and Lina hot on their heels.

They squeezed through the crowd to get a clear view of the event. The area they’d reached was for prize-winning trivia. The rules were simple, but the prizes were enticing, drawing a large crowd.

Mao Mao jumped up to examine the prizes laid out on the table, her excitement palpable. “Books, Bluetooth headphones, even a tablet! They’re really going all out!”

She turned to her friends and called out, “Come join us! It’s gonna be so much fun, and you can’t lose!”

“That’s right! Answer correctly and win a prize; answer wrong and there’s no penalty. It’s a win-win!” a sweet, melodious voice echoed from the speakers, reinforcing her point.

“Whoa!” Mao Mao gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.

The owner of the voice pushed through the crowd and stood before them.

It was Yi Shanshan.

Dressed in her Student Union uniform, wearing a headset, and holding a stack of question cards and a microphone, Yi Shanshan radiated warmth and charm. Her appearance immediately drew all eyes.

Ying Yuan froze, completely stunned to see Yi Shanshan again so soon.

She had convinced herself that she wouldn’t run into Yi Shanshan today, but fate seemed determined to mock her, deliberately throwing them together.

Ying Yuan instinctively recoiled, but Mao Mao grabbed her arm.

“Ying Yuan, Ying Yuan…” Mao Mao called out repeatedly, “Come on, you know so much! You’re sure to win a prize…”

Her voice carried, drawing even more attention.

Yi Shanshan’s gaze swept over the room, first settling on Mao Mao with a faint smile, then shifting to Ying Yuan. She studied Ying Yuan, tilting her head slightly, her eyes carrying a depth that seemed both profound and simply curious.

Ying Yuan quickly lowered her lashes, suddenly empathizing fiercely with the students who always buried their faces during class. One glance, and you’d be called upon to answer a question. This dread hung over her like the Sword of Damocles, poised between salvation and doom.

Sure enough, Yi Shanshan spoke.

“Ying Yuan…” she called her name softly. The two ordinary syllables, pronounced with crystal-clear articulation and a hint of ambiguity, were amplified through the headset and speakers, encircling the entire auditorium.

The sound was exquisite, yet in this public spectacle, it left Ying Yuan feeling exposed and vulnerable, like a corpse laid bare in the wilderness—vast and tragically beautiful.

Ying Yuan’s heart clenched, her lashes trembling.

“Is this the student?” Yi Shanshan continued, gesturing toward Ying Yuan with her hand, drawing all eyes to her.

Ying Yuan opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She recalled the exchange at the technology exhibition, where Yi Shanshan had similarly used the public’s gaze and her own shame to punish her in such a formal and expansive setting.

That time, under the table, she had held Ying Yuan’s hand, twisting and rubbing it in countless ways for a full half-hour.

Whenever Ying Yuan recalled that moment, her palm would feel searing hot all over again.

She couldn’t predict what Yi Shanshan would do this time. Yi Shanshan’s thought processes were utterly unpredictable. All she knew was that she had recently done something very serious… something that deserved Yi Shanshan’s punishment.

Ying Yuan’s breath almost stopped as she waited for the punishment to descend.

“This student won’t even look up at me,” Yi Shanshan said with a playful smile, her voice light and teasing. “It seems she thinks I’m just a teacher giving a lesson.”

A ripple of suppressed laughter spread through the room. Mao Mao quickly tried to explain for Ying Yuan, “She’s really smart, she’s probably just nervous.” She leaned closer, trying to catch Ying Yuan’s eye. “Ying Yuan, don’t you want to play?”

“I…” Ying Yuan managed to croak out a dry syllable.

Yi Shanshan suddenly cut her off. “Although Ying Yuan certainly has the aura of a top student, if she doesn’t want to answer the teacher’s question, we can’t force her, can we?”

Her gaze shifted from Ying Yuan, sweeping across the crowd. “Now, which student shall we call on?”

The perfect acoustics transformed the classroom into some bizarre teacher-student game. Many students eagerly raised their hands and shouted, “Teacher! Me! Me!”

Yi Shanshan: “Then… let’s have Fu Rong answer. She was the first to volunteer earlier.”

Ying Yuan’s eyes flew open in shock.

Equally stunned was Mao Mao.

Fu Rong was Mao Mao’s full name.

No one had mentioned this name earlier.

When calling on Ying Yuan, Yi Shanshan had asked for confirmation: “Is this the right student?” But when calling on Fu Rong, there was no hesitation at all, as if the name had been etched in her mind for ages.

Ying Yuan struggled to describe her feelings, but Mao Mao’s emotions were written all over her face. Her cheeks flushed crimson with surprise and excitement, and she released her grip on Ying Yuan’s arm.

Clasping her hands nervously in front of her chest, she gazed at Yi Shanshan with stars practically sparkling in her eyes.

Yi Shanshan held the microphone out to her, her eyes curving into a smile. “Give it your best shot, Mao Mao! You’ll get a prize if you answer five questions correctly.”

Mao Mao took the microphone, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. “U-uh, I’ll try my best.”

Yi Shanshan picked up the question card and began reading in her polished broadcast voice: “Multiple choice: What was the immediate catalyst for the May Fourth Movement?”

The questions were straightforward, all based on fundamental historical knowledge. And they had just covered modern history in class this semester.

Mao Mao answered smoothly, needing no prompting or assistance from Ying Yuan. By the time she’d answered three questions correctly, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Xiaohan and Lina excitedly pushed their way to the front, past Ying Yuan.

Ying Yuan could now slip away unnoticed. Even if she vanished completely from the crowd, no one would notice.

All eyes were fixed on Yi Shanshan. Holding the question card, she resembled a television host—radiant, poised, and effortlessly dazzling in any setting.

Mao Mao, bathed in her glow, looked even more charming as she tilted her head attentively to answer the questions.

Ying Yuan finally found the words to describe her feelings at that moment.

As the fear and shame receded, all that remained for her was a faint sense of loss and the tartness of having bitten into a lemon.

Mao Mao had already answered five questions correctly, and everyone was applauding her, including Yi Shanshan.

“Want to keep going, clever Fu Rong?” Yi Shanshan asked, her gaze fixed on Mao Mao like a pool of shimmering water. “If you stop here, you’ll get a ‘Red Youth’ themed sticker set. But if you keep going, you could win an even bigger prize. If you fail, you get nothing~”

Mao Mao raised her hand. “Can I get help from someone else?”

“If it’s with a friend, that counts as a team competition,” Yi Shanshan said. “Team questions are harder, but…”

Yi Shanshan paused, her gaze drifting past Xiaohan and Lina before settling on Ying Yuan, lightly sweeping over her.

“But if you answer ten questions correctly, not only will you get the official prize,” Yi Shanshan continued, her voice softening like a seductive spell, “you’ll also get a special personal prize from me~”

“Awoo—!”

Not just Mao Mao, but the entire crowd erupted in excitement.

Mao Mao immediately twisted her head around, checking with Xiaohan and Lina before craning her neck to find Ying Yuan.

Three hands simultaneously grabbed Ying Yuan, pulling her from the edge of the crowd right in front of Yi Shanshan.

“Let’s do it together! Let’s do it together!” the trio chanted in unison.

Yi Shanshan leaned in, locking eyes with Ying Yuan, her voice laced with amusement. “Ying Yuan,” she purred, “do you want my reward?”