My Adorable Little Rascal

After Skylar finishes explaining the whole story...

She sighs and says: "So? Do you get it now?"

Sunny nods furiously, like her head might fall off. She's practically saying with her body: "Okay okay! I get it!"

Skylar reaches over and pinches her seatmate's soft, chubby cheek: "You! You really need to drop this whole habit of jumping in to beat people up before you understand the full story!"

Sunny pouts, wriggling away: "But... nyoo nyoo nyah nyah nyeeh nyoo! (But... you didn't say anything at the time!)"

Skylar flinches slightly. She turns her head away: "Uhm... Well, I was just... touched, okay?"

Sunny bolts upright and points at Skylar: "SEE?! You didn't stop me either!"

Skylar throws her hands up in surrender: "Alright, alright! I was a bit at fault too. Sorry!"

Sunny looks pleased, like a kid who just caught a grown-up making a mistake. She nods: "Mm-hmm! That's more like it!"

Julian, who's been stewing quietly, finally speaks: "Sunny Hoan! You still owe me an apology."

Sunny bows her head, voice barely audible: "Sorry…"

Skylar suddenly shifts to "Serious Mode". Her tone turns icy: "Louder. If you mess up, you apologize properly."

Sunny stays bowed, but her voice rises: "SORRY!"

Julian nods, satisfied: "Alright then."

Sunny suddenly lifts her head.

BAM!

Her forehead smacks into Skylar's chin. Caught off guard, Skylar's head snaps back while Sunny clutches her own head. Both are in pain... but laughing anyway. In that strange moment of dizziness and chaos, Skylar realizes—this is what real friendship feels like. Of course, she already had some belief in Sunny. But deep down, scars from betrayal and being ostracized by her old class had left her wary of the word friendship.

Sunny, still rubbing her forehead, blurts: "Wait, what about Jiang's game?"

Skylar shrugs: "No idea anymore…"

Suddenly, a mischievous idea sparks in Sunny's mind: If those two were alone in one room… wouldn't it be pure chaos?!

She grins and says: "Hey! Why don't we all go to our room instead?"

Julian freezes, a little panicked but still calm on the outside: "But... I'm a guy."

Sunny laughs it off, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "So what? It's not like they check until 10 PM!"

Skylar looks flustered. Her instincts are to be cautious—towards everything and everyone... except for those she deems trustworthy. And right now, Sunny is one of those rare few. Julian? Not yet. Not by a long shot.

"Hoan Hoan, do you get how weird that sounds? We're two girls. He's a guy. Him coming to our room is kinda… inappropriate." Skylar casts Julian a side-eye so sharp it could slice steel.

"What's weird about it? It's either that or we have to drag ourselves to his room just to help him with his game." Sunny crosses her arms defiantly.

She turns to Julian and says with mock sternness: "If you don't show up, no game help for you!"

"Our room is 200, Building B!"

Julian chuckles under his breath, half amused, half defeated: "Haha… Can't believe this is the second time I've been threatened today. You two really fear nothing, huh?"

"I'm telling you—life outside your little mansion is different. Get used to it." Sunny waggles her finger like a granny delivering life lessons.

Then she turns to her precious Little Angel: "Your call, Skylar. I'm just suggesting. But you're the Supreme Judge!"

Skylar hesitates, then nods reluctantly: "Alright…"

She looks so excited. How can I say no?

"Let's do 7 PM. Thankfully there's no night study session yet," Skylar adds.

Julian nods, hands still in his pockets: "Works for me. But… will you two have dinner by then?"

Sunny replies instantly: "Of course!"

Skylar answers in a flat tone, like it's just a part of life: "I don't usually eat dinner."

Sunny gasps, genuinely horrified: "Huh?! How can you live like that?!"

Skylar just smiles. Right then, a breeze blows through the white-framed window, ruffling her bangs and covering half her face. No one notices… except for Julian. He sees that her eyes don't match her smile at all. He realizes—this is one of her masks. Carefully crafted just to survive.

But he doesn't call her out. He just feels… a pang in his chest.

"I'm still alive, aren't I…" she says softly, brushing her bangs aside to reveal her "perfect" face—one that earns praise from teachers and admiration from classmates.

Sunny pounds her chest dramatically: "Then starting today, I'll help you build a habit of eating dinner!"

Skylar waves it off: "No need—"

Julian suddenly stands up and smacks the table: "YES. YOU. DO."

Skylar jumps: "Ah! Okay, fine!"

"That's settled then! No backing out!" Sunny grins from ear to ear.

Skylar gives a genuine smile for once—the smile of a normal high school girl. And somehow, that smile makes Julian's chest hurt a little less. Because in that moment, he knows… he made her a little happier. Helped her take care of herself a little better. Even just a little.

He bows dramatically: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Sunny narrows her eyes like she's discovered something juicy but keeps quiet: "Oho..."

Skylar tilts her head, confused: "Huh?"

"Nothing..." Sunny hums and turns away, hiding her "evil mastermind" grin behind one hand: "Hehehe…"

RING RING RING

The school bell blares. It's time for class again.

"Back to your seat." Skylar says calmly.

Julian responds with a simple: "Mm." and walks back. But even as he turns around… his eyes linger on her.

At that very moment, a suspicious thought blooms in Sunny's head: His gaze toward our Little Angel… is definitely different. I can't explain it yet. But I'll find out soon enough!