I Really Didn’t Want to Increase My Favorability!

The group arrived at Xinghuo Road, and Su Qingwan found a spot to park the car. Everyone got out one after another.

“Teacher Su, what are you planning to buy?” Ji Yun glanced at Su Qingwan and then secretly peeked at Xu Lin.

“Just some food to bring home,” Su Qingwan replied.

“Oh, then Xu Lin can go with Teacher Su,” Ji Yun suggested with a smile.

“Sure,” Su Qingwan said lightly.

After speaking, Ji Yun led Zhuo Yan toward the left. Xu Lin looked at Su Qingwan, then reached out and grabbed her small hand.

“What are you doing, reaching out like that?!” Su Qingwan was startled by Xu Lin’s hand.

“What do you mean, ‘reaching out’? Why can’t I touch?”

“No touching,” Su Qingwan pouted. However, she didn’t pull her hand away and continued, “Your little girlfriend seems to understand me quite well.”

“Actually, I’m really here to shop,” Su Qingwan replied stubbornly, refusing to admit anything.

Xu Lin let go of her hand but leaned over to put an arm around her waist. “You’re just here to use me as a shield again, aren’t you?”

“You’re getting more annoying by the day, clever boy. And who said you could hug me?” Su Qingwan elbowed Xu Lin, causing him to yelp in pain. Feeling a bit sorry, she quickly glanced at him, only to see his usual cheeky grin.

“You call yourself a girlfriend, but you won’t even let me hug you. I’m not okay with that,” Xu Lin teased.

“Fine, I’ll go find someone else then,” Su Qingwan retorted.

“If you can find someone as handsome as me, go ahead,” Xu Lin said smugly.

“Ugh! Don’t flatter yourself!” Su Qingwan rolled her eyes.

“Alright, what’s the matter this time?” Xu Lin asked.

“You promised to help me solve my problem, but you haven’t done a thing!” Su Qingwan said accusingly.

“What do you mean I haven’t done anything?” Xu Lin replied, a bit guilty. True, he had gone to her house once after promising to help, but that was about it.

“My family elders are visiting, and they’ve been asking if you’re free. Before I could say anything, my parents already agreed on your behalf. Don’t blame them,” Su Qingwan explained.

“I get it. Uncle and Auntie think we had a fight, so they want me to come over and have a proper talk.”

“Yeah. But what do you mean ‘think we had a fight’? We did have a fight. The matter with Sister Qin isn’t over yet!” Su Qingwan pouted in indignation. Xu Lin, however, thought back to their weekend hiking trip and Su Qingwan’s cheerful demeanor. Clearly, she’d already let it go, at least a little. She was just pretending now.

When dealing with girls, Xu Lin knew better than to point out what he understood. Sometimes, pretending to be clueless worked better. Comforting someone, after all, was just a mix of sweet words and harmless little lies.

“Alright, if that’s the case, how am I supposed to act if you don’t cooperate?” Xu Lin asked.

“Just come over, that’s all.”

“But I already promised Ji Yun I’d have dinner at her place this afternoon.”

“Wow, you’ve got a busy schedule,” Su Qingwan teased, noticing his slightly troubled expression. Realizing she hadn’t told him earlier, she softened a little.

“How about this: my grandmother is staying for a few days. You can come tomorrow instead.”

“Are you sure Uncle and Auntie won’t blame you for that?”

“Don’t worry, if anyone’s getting blamed, it’ll be you!” Su Qingwan said smugly.

“Haha, fine. As long as it’s me getting blamed,” Xu Lin chuckled. Seeing how understanding she was, he couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

“I was planning to buy some gifts for Ji Yun’s parents since it’s my first time visiting their home. I’ll pick up something for your family too. Just tell them I didn’t have time today, but I’ll definitely visit next time.”

“My family doesn’t care about your gifts,” Su Qingwan replied with her usual proud tone, playing the cold and aloof role today.

“Just follow me. Whatever I buy, you can give to your parents. Why do you have to make things so complicated?”

Xu Lin widened his eyes and, without another word, wrapped an arm around Su Qingwan and marched forward.

Su Qingwan was momentarily stunned by Xu Lin’s assertiveness, but she didn’t really dislike it.

Half an hour later, Xu Lin returned to the car, laden with bags of various sizes. He noticed that Ji Yun and Zhuo Yan had already been waiting for a while.

“Sorry, I bought a bit too much,” Xu Lin said apologetically.

“It’s fine. We just got back a few minutes ago too,” Ji Yun replied casually.

Zhuo Yan, standing next to her, pursed her lips. Fifteen minutes is ‘a few minutes’? But knowing her best friend, who was always kind and considerate, Zhuo Yan understood Ji Yun didn’t want to make a fuss.

Her gaze shifted to Xu Lin’s hands, full of shopping bags, and then to Teacher Su, who was carrying nothing but her own purse. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

As Xu Lin busied himself placing the bags in the trunk, Zhuo Yan tugged on Ji Yun’s sleeve and whispered, “So it’s like that, huh? Teacher Su. I should’ve guessed sooner.”

“Zhuo Yan, what nonsense are you thinking now?” Ji Yun said, feigning annoyance.

“I’m not imagining things. Look at Xu Lin and Teacher Su—they totally look like a couple!” Zhuo Yan insisted.

“Zhuo Yan, stop overthinking. Teacher Su and Xu Lin… they’re just like siblings, really close ones,” Ji Yun said with a forced calmness.

“Siblings? You’ve already tried this excuse three times!” Zhuo Yan’s words made Ji Yun falter, and she couldn’t help but chuckle helplessly, giving her best friend a light tap on the arm.

“Alright, I’ll explain everything to you when the time is right. But you weren’t wrong with your guess earlier at lunch.”

“Ji Yun, no way…” Zhuo Yan’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her best friend. If my guess was right, doesn’t that mean Ji Yun’s getting swarmed with competition?!

“But I’m confident. Don’t worry about it,” Ji Yun said with a serene smile—sweet and beautiful, but carrying an unexpected air of confidence.

Zhuo Yan suddenly felt that her best friend wasn’t the one being cornered; she was the queen.

Afterward, Su Qingwan dropped Ji Yun and Xu Lin off at their respective homes. She drove Zhuo Yan home last.

“Do you need me to pick you up tomorrow?” Su Qingwan asked.

“No, no, that’s okay!”

“Goodbye then, Teacher Su,” Xu Lin replied cheerfully.

“You heartless little thing! I picked out gifts for you for so long, and all I get is a ‘goodbye’?”

“Safe travels, Teacher Su,” Xu Lin teased.

“Alright, I’m off. Rest early,” Su Qingwan said as she started the car and drove off.

Now alone in the car with Su Qingwan, Zhuo Yan glanced nervously at the slowly disappearing view of her neighborhood behind them. Her gaze shifted to the calm and elegant Teacher Su in the driver’s seat.

Xu Lin is just a high schooler. Could someone as refined and intellectual as Teacher Su actually like him?

“Zhuo Yan, you look like you have something to ask me,” Su Qingwan said, noticing her student’s expression through the rearview mirror.

“Nope! Nothing!” Zhuo Yan denied, a little too quickly.

“Come on, just ask. It’s fine,” Su Qingwan coaxed gently.

Her reassurance gave Zhuo Yan the courage to speak up. I need to stand up for my best friend after all!

“Teacher Su, do you know about Ji Yun’s relationship with Xu Lin?”

“Of course,” Su Qingwan answered smoothly, though her initial surprise had been well-concealed.

“Then… why are you competing with her? She’s just a young girl!” Zhuo Yan asked boldly.

“You mean Ji Yun or someone else?” Su Qingwan raised an eyebrow.

“Are there other girls too?!” Zhuo Yan blurted, now even more shocked.

“Of course,” Su Qingwan said with a faint smile, “but Xu Lin doesn’t have a girlfriend right now.”

“But why… why do all of you like Xu Lin so much?” Zhuo Yan asked, baffled.

“And what’s wrong with him? Don’t you think he’s outstanding?”

Su Qingwan’s tone was calm, but she clearly believed Xu Lin’s qualities spoke for themselves. Otherwise, why would so many girls be drawn to him?

“I mean… I don’t like him. Other than being good-looking, there’s not much to him,” Zhuo Yan muttered.

“Exactly. Liking someone is subjective. But don’t think your best friend Ji Yun is some helpless little girl,” Su Qingwan said with a chuckle. “She’s surprisingly strong-willed. You should pity me instead—I’m the one at a disadvantage here.”

Hearing Teacher Su’s words, Zhuo Yan was dumbfounded. Wait, what? This isn’t what I expected at all!

We are currently recruiting. CN/KR/JP Translators/MTLers are welcome!

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/HGaByvmVuw

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!