Chapter 255 252. Departure
During high school, An Han had a very strong presence in class. At this reunion, her presence was even stronger.
The classmates chatted briefly about the past and their current lives, but gradually, the conversation shifted toward An Han. While eating and drinking, they couldn't help but steal glances at her face and soak in her aura. They became increasingly certain of one thing: this old classmate of theirs was definitely a girl!
"Chief, An Han wasn't a 'tomboy' back then, was he?"
During a toast, Chen Zhiyong noticed the homeroom teacher staring at An Han blankly. He leaned down and whispered the question. An Han hadn't lived in the dorms during high school, and as for small details—like which restroom she used—everyone’s memory was a bit fuzzy.
The teacher rubbed his head. His memory of those years was a little blurred, but he wasn't senile yet. "The school records said male."
Everyone had changed more or less over the last two years, but An Han looked as if she had switched genders entirely. Even knowing the official records, the teacher’s answer carried a hint of hesitation.
"Doesn't look like a guy at all," Chen Zhiyong grumbled as he sat back down next to An Han.
He could smell a youthful, feminine scent coming from her. That face, always wearing a faint smile, was practically lethal to men—if he didn't already know this was a guy... He suddenly realized that Shi Yi was staring at An Han almost non-stop. That "mature older sister" vibe didn't do much for Chen Zhiyong, but it hit Shi Yi’s "XP" (preferences) perfectly.
An Han noticed it too. After all, the constant notifications of "Affection Points" popping up in her mind had long since exposed the seemingly serious Shi Yi. If I couldn't beat him in a fight, I'd have punched him already!
Feeling uncomfortable under Shi Yi’s gaze, she used the system to check his affection level.
> [Shi Yi: Affection Level 54]
>
Okay, based on the rate of two or three points a minute, it’s safe for at least another ten minutes. She knew that the higher the level got, the slower it would increase.
An Han shot Shi Yi a warning glare. "Keep looking and I'll gouge your eyes out."
Shi Yi suddenly recalled the "terror" of being dominated by her in the past. His body shuddered, and his affection level jumped another two points.
It looked like she wouldn't be finishing this meal. She should have realized sooner that this guy was a bit of a masochist. Otherwise, why would he have followed her around like a lackey back then despite being bullied every day? It was definitely a bit twisted. Or maybe my charisma was just that high back then?
The reunion had only just begun, but looking at her old classmates drinking and chatting enthusiastically, An Han felt like an outsider. Perhaps she should have sat at the girls' table instead.
Realizing she couldn't stay until the end, An Han decided to stuff herself now so she wouldn't leave hungry. Because of her looks, the men at the table instinctively deferred to her, letting her eat whatever she wanted. If she weren't worried about her image, she would have pulled the entire serving platter over to her side.
"Hey, An Han," Shi Yi suddenly asked, "what games are you playing lately?"
"Dota."
"I play that too. Want to party up sometime?"
An Han looked at him suspiciously. That game was pretty niche; was Shi Yi actually playing it? "What's your rank?"
"Gold... Gold rank?"
"Tch!"
There is no 'Gold rank' in Dota. Plus, he hadn't tried to find her online or chat much in recent years. Bringing it up today definitely meant he had an ulterior motive.
"Maybe you could teach me how to play?" Shi Yi asked tentatively.
"Teach your grandma. I'm full." An Han grabbed a napkin, wiped her lips, and turned to Chen Zhiyong. "How much was the meal? Figure out my share. Who's paying? I'll transfer the money to them."
Chen Zhiyong was stunned. "Leaving so soon? We were planning to go to KTV later..."
"I have a train to catch. Just send me the QR code." An Han stood up, grabbed Chen Zhiyong's beer bottle, poured herself a glass, and walked over to the homeroom teacher.
"Chief, I’ve got some things to take care of, so I have to head out early." She put on a bright smile. Even though she wasn't his student anymore, she still felt a bit intimidated. Who knows how many times she’d been scolded by him in the past... "A toast to you."
She approached him, and the teacher stood up, eyeing her closely from a short distance. In his forty-odd years of experience, he had never seen a man who looked like An Han. Her trench coat was buttoned up tight; even though the room was sweltering, and sweat was starting to bead on her forehead, she showed no intention of taking it off.
"Alright, stay safe on the road." Having reached a silent conclusion in his mind, he clinked glasses with An Han and patted her shoulder with a smile. "I wish you a bright future."
"Thanks, Chief~" An Han smiled and downed the drink in one go.
The way Chief looked at me was weird... She felt a bit uneasy, but since she wouldn't see him again until summer break at the earliest, she didn't dwell on it. After saying goodbye to a few close friends from high school, she left the restaurant.
> [Shi Yi: Affection Level 73]
> [Chen Zhiyong: Affection Level 54]
> [Homeroom Teacher: Affection Level 37]
> [...]
>
On the way home, An Han checked the affection levels of everyone in the class group chat one by one to make sure no "freaks" had slipped through the cracks.
"Good, only Shi Yi is a weirdo. And it's a good thing I left early before his level hit 80."
She breathed a sigh of relief. It was supposed to be a simple meal with old classmates, but she had been so nervous it felt like she’d survived a battlefield.
"It’s not like I’m wearing a chest binder or anything... even if I am pretty, isn't their affection level a bit too high? Especially Shi Yi!"
Is he into older sisters? Or femboys? Or futa? He made it so I couldn't even eat in peace. She hadn't realized Shi Yi was such a creep back then.
An Han had a headache. She was much more attractive to men now than she had been back in the dorms, making her instinctively wary of every male she met. Yet, she wasn't exactly great at getting along with girls either...
Back at home, she grabbed her pre-packed luggage and headed to the roadside. She scanned for a bus to the train station while trying to hail a ride on her phone. Although ride-sharing apps were mainstream in most cities, in this small town, ride-sharing—and even taxis—were rare sights.
After waiting for half an hour in the biting wind, An Han’s face was flushed red from the cold. She tucked her hands into her coat pockets and kept her legs pressed together, stepping in place to try and ward off the chill.
"Hey gorgeous, need a ride?"
A private car pulled up in front of her. Just as she was wondering if she was so pretty that people were offering free rides, the driver continued: "Seventy yuan to the city. Only one seat left. You in?"
So it’s an unlicensed taxi...
An Han took a step back and shook her head without hesitation. "I'm not going to the city."
"It's on the way."
"No thanks."
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