Beauty and the Beasts

The reason they suddenly developed these affectionate feelings for Bai Qingqing was that they were the only child at home and were pampered since young. So, they more or less had an Oedipal complex[1].

Since Bai Qingqing was also a mother, coupled with her youthful looks, she satisfied the fantasies of young lads in both appearance and disposition. Naturally, they were smitten with her.

Bai Qingqing, however, was oblivious to those male classmates’ mesmerized expressions because she was busy bending over her desk and wielding her pen energetically. After she was done copying the homework, she started flipping through the pages of textbooks.

She had a feeling she would be doomed come next exam!

All that studying was making her dizzy. Bai Qingqing massaged her temples and turned her gaze to the scenery outside the window.

The skies had completely darkened by now and a pine tree was swaying outside the window seemingly due to the breeze.

Bai Qingqing gazed at it for a while, and suddenly, her hair stood on end.

It was super hot and humid tonight. Where did that wind come from?

Why the heck was that tree branch swaying?

Her mouth slightly opened and she let out a slight gasp. She leaned her body backward, wanting to see more clearly.

That tree branch swayed again, and a long black figure abruptly descended from above.

Curtis!

“Ah!” Bai Qingqing stood up by reflex, her legs loudly bumping against the desk as she did so.

Instantly, all of the students looked towards her. Even the form teacher looked up at her.

Bai Qingqing hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand and, with a racing heart, said awkwardly, “I’m… I’m fine.”

As the form teacher had an excellent impression of Bai Qingqing, he didn’t reprimand her and simply went back to reading his book.

Zhang Xin couldn’t help but smile. Watching him by the side, the pimply boy had confirmed over the short span tonight: There’s no hope for this fellow.

Only when no one was paying any attention to her anymore did Bai Qingqing dare to look outside the window.

Amid the black shadows on the tree, a pair of glowing eyes stood out. Breaking out in cold sweat, Bai Qingqing mouthed the words: “Why did you come here?”

Surely he didn’t swim via the underground sewers again? The school toilets stank so badly!

Ah! Curtis! Could she return this spouse?

At the sight of Bai Qingqing, Curtis’s heart was put to ease. He lazily perched on a low-lying tree branch as he admired the overwhelmed expression on his mate’s face.

Bai Qingqing would scratch her head one moment, and cover her face the next. Curtis wasn’t the only one charmed by her response; some boys in her class also found her actions adorable.

“Why is her face so red? Did she receive a love letter or something?” The pimply boy said.

Zhang Xin’s countenance changed, and when he snapped out of his trance he immediately took out his notebook and placed the tip of his pen upon it.

“From the looks of it, she seems very willing. Although she’s a bit overwhelmed, there’s a constant smile on her face.” The pimply boy voiced out his observations. Not hearing a response from his deskmate, he turned his head and his lips instantly arched in a smile.

“You…”

“Hmph! Isn’t it just a love letter? I’ll write her one, too.” With his hands placed on his notebook, Zhang Xin started racking his brains for the words to write.

In what remained of the night study session, Bai Qingqing counted the time down by the second. The minute the bell rang, she immediately packed up. Yet, she was in no hurry to leave.

She wasn’t the only one dilly-dallying, though—Zhang Xin was also finishing his freshly-written love letter.

“Bai Qingqing, why aren’t you leaving?” Tang Li stood beside her desk and urged. “Hurry up.”

Bai Qingqing said, “You can leave first. I’ll wait.”

Tang Li started getting suspicious. Seeing Zhang Xin feigning seriousness and stalling for time in the classroom, she understood what was going on. She winked at Bai Qingqing ambiguously and left with a grin.

Bai Qingqing paused but didn’t read too much into it. Seeing that there was a guy around, she didn’t go to the window to speak with Curtis. Instead, she walked out of the classroom.

“Bai Qingqing!”

On the empty corridor, a young male called out to her shyly.

[1] A psychoanalytic theory that refers to the attachment of a child to the parent of the opposite sex