Shiina Mahiru didn’t really want to ask.
But from the moment they were grouped together to go to the office and receive guidance from the teacher to the moment they left.
The boys around her didn’t even try to strike up a conversation, let alone flirt with her.
Logically speaking, with her looks, she should be popular.
As the female class president, she would definitely have to interact with Lin Xi, the male class president, in the future.
They would work together and manage the class’s trivial matters.
So Shiina Mahiru couldn’t help but ask him if he disliked her.
After Shiina Mahiru finished speaking, she bit her lips, nervously looking at Lin Xi.
Her small fists couldn’t help but clench slightly.
To this, Lin Xi shook his head and replied:
“No, with Shiina-san’s looks and excellent grades, it’s basically impossible for any boy to dislike you.”
That’s true.
Shiina Mahiru pursed her lips and said with a hint of resentment:
“But Lin-san has been ignoring me since the beginning, and you haven’t talked to me about being class president.”
“Well, I was actually thinking about something, so I wasn’t ignoring you.”
“Besides, I have no experience being class president, so I plan to learn from Shiina-san first, get familiar with the process, and then offer my suggestions.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect my cautious approach to make you think I disliked you. It’s a huge misunderstanding.”
Hearing this, Shiina Mahiru felt relieved.
“So that’s it. I thought you were bothered by me suggesting that you be the class president, and you started to dislike me.”
“Not at all.” Lin Xi waved his hand. “While it’s true I find it a bit troublesome, generally speaking, a guy getting to team up with a beautiful girl to be class president and work together should be something to be happy about.”
“So you’re happy?”
Shiina Mahiru tilted her head, her sky-blue eyes intently scrutinizing him.
“I can’t tell at all if you’re happy or excited.”
Lin Xi’s lips curved into a smile.
“Shiina-san, how do you know my heart isn’t filled with excitement because of this?”
“Perhaps I’m just trying to leave a good impression on you, so I’m hiding my excitement and not flirting with you?”
Shiina Mahiru rolled her eyes.
“Then you’ve left a bad impression on me. I think you’re a bad person. You made me think I was disliked.”
“Haha, I’m sorry, sorry. It’s just my intuition told me if I was too enthusiastic towards Shiina-san, you’d treat me like a stranger.”
“Stranger? What do you mean?”
“Like a restaurant waiter, you know, they have a polite smile for everyone.”
Shiina Mahiru’s body trembled.
He saw through it?
He knew I was deliberately putting on that smile?
Shiina Mahiru suppressed the strangeness in her heart and rolled her cute eyes at him.
“You’re overthinking. I wouldn’t treat classmates with that kind of look. Anyway, please give me your guidance in the future, Lin-san, the class president.”
As she said this, she extended her small hand.
Lin Xi naturally wouldn’t refuse.
He also extended his palm, grasped the snow-white, soft little hand for a moment, and quickly let go.
“Likewise, please give me your guidance, Shiina-san, the class president.”
She was clearly intentionally changing the topic, and Lin Xi didn’t intend to touch on the girl’s true feelings. He knew when to stop.
In any case, he wanted to make her think he was a special person. Leaving that impression would be enough.
“Speaking of which, Shiina-san, you actually know my entrance exam score?”
“Yes, I remember the top few scores.”
“You really love learning.”
Facing his sigh, Shiina Mahiru smiled slightly.
“Maintaining excellence is also a responsible act, isn’t it?”
That’s what she said, but her efforts to maintain excellence didn’t achieve her goal at all.
Thinking about this, Shiina Mahiru felt somewhat dejected.
Shiina Mahiru was a product of her parents’ loveless marriage, a result of a one-night stand caused by a family alliance.
Because her parents didn’t get along, neither of them liked or cared much for her.
She grew up being raised by her maid, Xiaoxue-san.
Working hard to become excellent, to maintain that excellence, to become a good child in everyone’s eyes, was just a way to gain her parents’ love.
She just wanted a complete, warm home.
But even though she got first place in the entrance exam for Toubu High, she still couldn’t get a smile or a word of encouragement from her family.
Lin Xi naturally noticed Shiina Mahiru’s dejected expression, although she hid it well, he still saw her furrowed brows.
But he didn’t mean to comfort her.
They had just met, he didn’t know Shiina Mahiru well.
Suddenly caring for someone would only lead to suspicion and aversion.
Anyway, he and Shiina Mahiru were both class presidents, and they would have plenty of opportunities to interact.
However, he couldn’t let her continue to be down.
“That, Shiina-san, do you know Shiina Mashiro?”
He suddenly asked this question.
Shiina Mahiru’s eyes widened. “She’s my cousin. She’s currently in England. You know her?”
“Oh, not yet. It’s just that Teacher Chiishiki Chishun mentioned her once to me.”
“He said he has a genius painter cousin named Shiina Mashiro. I saw your name is very similar to hers, so I was curious and asked him.”
As Lin Xi finished speaking, Shiina Mahiru’s eyes widened even more.
She took a deep breath before finally calming down.
“That, Lin-san, it’s a coincidence, actually Teacher Chiishiki Chishun is my cousin.”
“But you call my cousin teacher, what’s going on? How did you two meet?”
“Oh, well, because I’m Teacher Chiishiki’s landlord. She lives in my Sakura Manor.”
“Sakura Manor!!”
Shiina Mahiru unconsciously raised her voice, her expression shocked.
“What’s wrong?”
Shiina Mahiru seriously asked him, “Lin-san, please stay after school and wait for me, please!”
Lin Xi: “Huh?”