Haoxiaoyi did not like losing.
She especially did not like losing to Irene Lou.
And she definitely did not like the whispers spreading around school.
"Yuan Mi talked to Irene."
"He smiled at her."
"He followed her."
Every word was like poison in her ears.
She sat gracefully in her chair, legs crossed elegantly, her long manicured nails tapping slowly against her designer phone.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Her angelic smile remained.
Perfect.
Sweet.
Untouchable.
But her eyes…
Her eyes were cold.
Beside her, her minions leaned closer.
"She's getting too much attention," one of them whispered.
Haoxiaoyi tilted her head slightly.
And whose fault is that?"
Silence.
They knew better than to answer wrong.
Another girl leaned in.
"We can fix it."
Haoxiaoyi's lips curved slowly.
Not kindly.
Not sweetly.
Dangerously.
"Do it."
Later that morning.
Irene sat in class, pretending to listen to the teacher.
Pretending her life was normal.
Pretending Yuan Mi did not exist.
Bella passed her a folded note.
Bella: Stop thinking about him. Your face is obvious.
Irene scribbled back aggressively.
Irene: I AM NOT THINKING ABOUT HIM.
Bella looked at her.
Raised one eyebrow.
Irene looked away.
Traitor.
A few minutes later, Irene raised her hand.
"Ma'am, may I use the restroom?"
The teacher nodded.
She stood and walked out calmly.
Peacefully.
Unaware.
Completely unaware.
The restroom was quiet.
Empty.
Safe.
She walked to the sink, washed her hands slowly, staring at her reflection.
Still alive.
Still normal.
Still—
Suddenly—
SPLASH!
Ice-cold water poured down on her.
She gasped loudly.
Her entire body froze.
Her shirt clung instantly to her skin.
Wet.
Cold.
Transparent.
Her heart dropped.
She spun around.
But no one was there.
The door swung slightly.
They had already run.
Her breathing became uneven
Her hands trembled.
"W-what the—"
Her teeth chattered.
She wrapped her arms around herself.
Cold.
So cold.
She needed towels.
Fast.
She ran out and saw the janitor's closet nearby.She opened it quickly and stepped inside.
Dark.
Quiet.
She reached for towels—
7
Then—
CLICK.
The door slammed shut.
She froze.
Slowly turning.
She grabbed the handle
Pulled.
It didn't move.
She pulled harder.
Nothing.
Her heart began pounding.
"No… no, no, no—"
She banged the door.
"Hello?!"
Silence.
They locked her in.
Her breathing became faster.
Her wet clothes clung to her body uncomfortably.
Cold.
Embarrassing.
Humiliating.
She sank slowly to the floor.
Alone.
Outside.
Footsteps passed casually behind the building.
Yuan Mi.His hands rested in his pockets, expression calm, distant as always.
Then—
Movement.
From the small dusty window of the janitor's closet.
He stopped.
His eyes shifted.
Inside—
Irene.
Her eyes widened when she saw him.
Relief exploded inside her chest.She jumped up immediately.
Knocking on the glass.
"Help!"
He walked closer slowly.
Calmly.
Observing her.
She pointed desperately at the door.
He opened it easily.
The lock wasn't strong.
The door creaked open.
Warm light flooded insideShe rushed toward him—
But stopped.
Because he didn't move aside.
Instead—
He stepped in.
And closed the door behind him.
Her heart stopped.
Her brain panicked.
Why did he close it?!
They were alone.
In the dark.Her breathing became uneven.
"W-what are you doing?!"
He didn't answer.
His eyes moved slowly over her.
Taking in her wet hair.
Her trembling hands.
Her soaked shirt.
Her heart pounded violently.
He reached for his hoodie.
Her brain exploded.
"W-wait—what are you doing?!"
He pulled it off.
Her eyes widened.
Her thoughts went wild.
Pervert.
Pervert.
Pervert.
She stepped back quickly.
"Stay back!"
He didn't stop.
He stepped closer
Slow.
Calm.
Dangerous.
Their bodies were inches apart now.
Her back hit the wall.
She couldn't escape.
Her heart pounded so loud she was sure he could hear it.
"You—you pervert!" she blurted out.
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
She panicked more.
"I knew it! You trapped me here! You're insane!"
He said nothing.
Just looked at her.
Then—
He lifted the hoodie.
And gently placed it over her shoulders.
Her brain shut down.
He pulled it properly over her arms.
Carefully.
Slowly.
His fingers brushed her wrist briefly.Warm.
Her breath caught.
He leaned closer.
Close enough that she could feel his breath near her ear.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Your shirt is transparent."
Her face exploded into heat.
He smirked.
Then stepped back.
Opened the door.
And left.
Just like that.
Leaving her frozen.
Alone.
Alive.
Her hands slowly grabbed the hoodie.
His hoodie.
It was warm.
It smelled like him.
Her face turned red.
Why was her heart beating like this?!
She quickly ran to the restroom.
She looked at the mirror.
And froze.
Her shirt.
Completely transparent.
Her bra clearly visible.
Her entire figure exposed.
Her soul left her body.
Her face turned bright red.
She quickly zipped the hoodie fully.
Pulled the hood over her head.
Covered.
Safe.
Hidden.
She took a deep breath.
Then returned to class.
The moment she entered—
The teacher stopped.
"Irene Lou."
Her heart dropped.
"Why are you late?"
Her voice came out small.
I'm sorry, ma'am."
The teacher stared at her.
"And what is that you're wearing?"
Her classmates turned.
Looking.
Watching.
Whispering.
Her heart pounded.
"It's… cold."
The teacher sighed.
"Sit down."
She nodded quickly and rushed to her seat.
Bella leaned close immediately.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Irene stared straight ahead.
Face red.
Heart unstable.
"Nothing."
Bella stared.
"That is NOT nothing."
Irene clenched the sleeves of the hoodie
His hoodie.
Her heart betrayed her again.
Somewhere else in the building—
Yuan Mi walked calmly down the hallway.
Hands in his pockets.
Expression unreadable.
But his lips curved slightly.
A smirk.