Fu Lan had an innate belief that there was no one in this world who wouldn't "love" him. He was the embodiment of everyone's deepest desires, and he reveled in the attention he received from others.
Especially when they would exhaust everything they had just to earn a single glance from him, groveling like ants, their ugly desperation on full display—it was so amusing it could make him laugh with delight.
It was as if Fu Lan had lived a life of smooth sailing until he encountered Xia Miao, where he suddenly faced resistance. The urge to crush her pride, to make her kneel and beg for his pity, grew stronger by the moment.
Fu Lan stared at Xia Miao’s infuriating face, finding everything about her—her eyes, her nose, her lips—utterly detestable.
Suddenly, he smirked, his eyes glinting with a malicious amusement, as if laced with poison, exuding an eerie gloom. "Hey, Xia Miao."
The boy leaned back lazily in his chair, tilting his head slightly. His black hair swayed, casting shifting shadows in his eyes, giving him a mischievously charming air.
He grinned and said, "Why don’t you fall for me too?"
Xia Miao froze. "Huh?"
Fu Lan picked up a cookie and took a delicate bite, his blood-red lips curving into an enchanting smile, one that could ensnare hearts. "If you fall for me, you can become one of the group. Otherwise... you might just end up abandoned by everyone."
The library had fallen into an unnatural silence. Those who had been enthusiastically discussing Fu Lan moments ago were now staring at Xia Miao with ravenous, predatory gazes.
Their expressions were twisted with eerie obsession and madness, their jealousy burning like flames in their eyes.
So jealous.
Why was she allowed to sit with Fu Lan for so long?
So jealous.
How dare she monopolize his attention like this?
So jealous.
What right did this woman have to hold Fu Lan’s gaze for so long?
Fu Lan’s smile grew brighter, his innocent, beautiful face radiating an irresistible charm that made people chase after him.
Everyone longed for his attention, yet the moment someone became the focus of it, that seemingly fortunate person was doomed to a tragic end.
Xia Miao remained expressionless, perhaps unsettled by the realization that she was about to become the target of everyone’s rejection.
Fu Lan propped his chin on his hand, resting his elbow on the table, and blinked at Xia Miao. "So, are you going to fall for me or not?"
Xia Miao suddenly spoke. "Don’t you have the order wrong? You haven’t even pursued me—how could I possibly like you?"
Fu Lan paused. "What?"
"The proper order should be you pursuing me, making me like you, and then I’d become obsessed with you, right?"
A flicker of confusion passed through Fu Lan’s dark eyes. "What are you talking about?"
What order?
Did it even matter?
Everyone fell for him at first sight anyway.
Xia Miao frowned. "Have you never been in a relationship before?"
Fu Lan: "So what if I haven’t?"
"No wonder you don’t understand anything." Xia Miao stood up, flipping her long hair over her shoulder before crossing her arms. She lifted her delicate, pretty face with an air of foolish arrogance. "Listen well. If you want me to fall for you, then you’ll have to win me over. When my affection score for you passes fifty, that’s when I’ll start liking you!"
Fu Lan felt an absurd sense of reversal, as if the world had turned upside down.
Miss Xia leaned forward, planting her hands on the table and looming over him. A strand of her hair slipped from her shoulder, brushing against his skin, sending a faint tickling sensation through him.
Her eyes sparkled, her stunning face brimming with overbearing confidence. "Listen, plenty of people like me. If you don’t put in the effort, I won’t even glance your way."
Xia Miao straightened up, grabbed her bag, and turned sharply on her heel. Her hair and skirt fluttered as she strode away, the sharp clicks of her heels echoing arrogantly.
Fu Lan sat alone in his chair for a long moment before it dawned on him—had something gone wrong here?
As soon as Xia Miao stepped out of the library, she ran into Luo Xiaoluo, who was rushing over with a cup of milk tea.
Luo Xiaoluo had the self-awareness of a devoted underling—anything the young mistress wanted, she would sprint to accomplish. "Miao Miao, I got your milk tea, half-sugar, just how you like it!"
Xia Miao glanced at it, took a sip, and nodded in satisfaction before pulling a tissue packet from her bag and handing it to Luo Xiaoluo. "Look at you, sweating like this—it’s ruining our image. Wipe yourself off."
Luo Xiaoluo hastily accepted the tissue, noticing the gemstones embedded in the packaging. It must’ve been expensive, yet the young mistress had given it to her without hesitation.
Thinking about how this would add to her startup funds, Luo Xiaoluo was moved nearly to tears.
After hurriedly wiping her face, Luo Xiaoluo sensed something unusual. "Miao Miao, you seem to be in a good mood?"
Xia Miao arched a brow. "I just found out someone has a crush on me."
Luo Xiaoluo blinked. "Don’t lots of people have crushes on you?"
"This one’s different. He’s the first guy who made me remember him at first sight!"
Luo Xiaoluo immediately understood—Xia Miao must’ve taken a liking to him. Eagerly, she asked, "So when are you two going to confess and start dating?"
Xia Miao shot her a look. "Should romance be so casual? Xiaoluo, you’ve been with me for so long—haven’t you learned anything? Love is war. The one who confesses first loses, and they’ll be at a disadvantage in the relationship."
"So... you’re not planning to date him?"
"Of course I am. I’m waiting for him to pursue me." Xia Miao smirked confidently. "Just wait—that guy won’t be able to hold back for long."
Xia Miao had noticed earlier that the people who once competed for her attention had slowly been drawn to Fu Lan instead. After their confrontation in the library, she finally understood.
Fu Lan had stolen their attention to isolate her, to make her the "lonely one," so that all her focus would be on him alone.
Someone with that kind of personality had to be obsessive, relentless—and honestly, kind of thrilling.
Xia Miao stroked her chin, her eyes gleaming with cunning insight. She smirked. "Not bad, kid. Got a bit of a yandere vibe."
Luo Xiaoluo: "???"
