Suddenly Became a Boy – What Should I Do? - Chapter 72.3

“Someone?” Lin Xin asked, mildly intrigued.

“Yeah, I’m trying to pursue her, but we’re not there yet,” the man admitted, rubbing the back of his buzz-cut head as his ears reddened.

Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of gossip? Although Lin Xin didn’t want to talk to him, his body betrayed him by leaning ever so slightly in the man’s direction.

“But honestly, I probably don’t stand a chance. I’m a few years older than her, and she probably isn’t interested in someone like me.” The man sighed before adding, “But you’ve got to try, right? If you don’t, there’s zero chance of success.”

Lin Xin nodded in agreement. “If you don’t try, how will you ever get results? I’m living proof.” Encouraged, Lin Xin patted the man’s shoulder. Feeling the support, the man beamed and straightened up slightly. However, noticing his own sweat-soaked clothes after gym class, he looked at Lin Xin—fresh, clean, and holding flowers—and sighed. “If only I looked like that, my chances would probably be higher.”

Catching the man’s scrutinizing gaze, Lin Xin asked, “What is it? Is there something wrong with my outfit? Am I dirty somewhere?”

The man hesitated, clearly caught, and stammered before blurting, “Uh… your shoelace is untied.”

“Huh?” Lin Xin looked down to find his shoelace indeed undone, a portion of it stepped on and dirtied to a dull gray. “This won’t do; I can’t have a single flaw in my appearance.” Squatting down, Lin Xin decided to fix it immediately. Finding it awkward to manage with one hand, he glanced at the man’s honest-looking face and extended his bouquet toward him. “Can you hold this for a sec? I need to tie my shoe.”

“Sure.” The man eagerly took the bouquet, taking in its scent. “I should buy a bouquet too when I confess.”

Lin Xin crouched in the corner, carefully tying his laces. He was completely hidden by the man holding the flowers. This was precisely why he missed seeing Cheng Shiyin leave the school gate after her meeting. Not spotting Lin Xin, she pulled out her phone and texted, “Where are you? I’m out now.”

The phone vibrated faintly in Lin Xin’s pocket, but he was too absorbed in his shoelaces to notice. By the time he stood up and reached for his flowers, he was stunned to see the man using them in a “borrowed flowers for the Buddha” move.

“Mr. Zhang? What are you doing here? Didn’t you clock out an hour ago?” Cheng Shiyin asked, surprised to see the P.E. teacher lingering at the school gate.

“Ah…” Caught off guard, the man looked down at the bouquet in his hands. In a panic, he thrust it toward her. “This… this is for you,” he stammered, completely forgetting about Lin Xin.

“I can’t accept this,” Cheng Shiyin replied, shocked by the unexpected confession and pushing the roses back.

“Take it,” Lin Xin’s voice suddenly interrupted.

Cheng Shiyin turned to Lin Xin, her eyes questioning, “What are you doing?”

Lin Xin stepped forward, reclaimed the flowers, and said, “These are mine.” Wrapping an arm around Cheng Shiyin, he declared, “And this is my girlfriend.”

The man sighed heavily, muttering, “Big bro, that’s just not cool.”

Author’s Note

This chapter feels so plain and unfunny. Sigh. (Probably five chapters left.) Your support keeps me going. I’ll keep working hard!