By the next morning, his mother had woken up. The doctor said she only needed about two weeks of rest to fully recover. Li Zhu immediately requested time off to take care of her—but of course, was fiercely scolded and rejected on the spot.
So, Monday morning, he went to school as usual. Only… without his mother's daily nagging at the door, the morning felt strangely empty.
Sakuran High's class schedule ran from 7:30 to 11:30 in the morning, then from 3:00 to 5:30 in the afternoon. No evening self-study—pretty humane, really.
As always, at the school gates, the Public Morals Committee lined up in neat formation, conducting attendance checks. At their head stood Hinata Kotone.
Today she had her hair tied in a sleek high ponytail. Her figure was graceful, her face bare of makeup yet strikingly beautiful—sharp phoenix eyes, and a small tear-shaped mole beneath her left eye adding a hint of cold allure.
Expression icy. Gaze sharp. She missed nothing.
"Lady Kotone looks so cool today…"
Some girls saw her and instantly flushed, legs involuntarily pressing together.
"Hey—public place, Keiko. Try to act normal." Her friend nudged her sharply.
"You two. Come here." Kotone's clear voice rang out.
The girls froze.
Did we do something wrong?Did we offend her somehow?
Heads down, they approached, trembling.
Kotone looked at the one called Keiko. "Kobayashi Keiko, how many times is this now? Your collar is a mess. Fix it. And button your shirt properly."
Then she turned to her friend, Hayakawa, and without hesitation reached out, buttoning her uniform herself. "You too. First offense, so I'll let it slide. Next time, remember."
Thud-thud-thud—
Hayakawa stared at Kotone's face from up close—unblemished, elegant, eyes cold yet breathtaking, voice crisp and gentle enough to echo straight into one's chest.
In that moment, her sixteen-year-old heart was no longer her own.
"Hayakawa? Hey! Earth to Hayakawa!"
By the time she came back to her senses, they were already inside the school grounds. Keiko was shaking her shoulder anxiously.
"I—I'm fine. I'm totally fine," Hayakawa stammered.
"You sure? Your face is bright red. Are you sick?" Keiko frowned.
"No! Don't say weird things. Let's just get to class." Hayakawa urged her forward—but not before turning back once more to look at Kotone.
Her heart pounded again.
So begins a teenage girl's first love—swift as a gust of wind, overwhelming from a single glance. Even the air becomes sweet.
Honestly, Kotone didn't just attract boys. She swept everyone.
"Lady Kotone is as beautiful as ever today," a group of boys whispered.
"Seeing her every morning is bliss. If she ever leaves, I don't know how I'll go on…"
"Frankly, just one glare from her—like she's looking at an insect—is enough to fulfill me…"
"I wish she'd step on me."
"I wish I could be her dog."
"What if she prefers cats?"
"…"
Li Zhu stood among them like a lone wolf surrounded by deranged huskies. He had nothing in common with these people. Their comments made every hair on his body stand on end.
If he weren't trying to avoid Kotone noticing him, he would never stand with these bootlickers.
But even he was reaching his limit.
These people weren't just brain-rotted in online forums—they were like this in real life. Out loud. In groups. Enthusiastically.
He was starting to think it might have been better to just get recognized.
"Hey. You. Come here."
Of course. The thing he feared the most.
Li Zhu wanted to slap himself. Why would you think that out loud?!
The bootlickers exploded instantly.
"Lady Kotone is calling for me! I'm coming!"
"Move! She meant me!"
"Bullshit! She clearly meant me! GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Li Zhu took it back—these lunatics were useless. Not even three seconds of obstruction.
A sharp crack snapped through the air.
Kotone had produced a whip from who-knows-where, slashing it against the pavement. Her expression turned glacial.
"Stand. Still."
Silence.
Li Zhu: Where did she get a whip?Is a Public Morals officer allowed to just… carry one?
"You idiots. All of you—go run thirty laps. If I catch anyone slacking, I won't be polite."
Faces turned pale instantly. But no one dared disobey.
They shuffled off to their punishment.
Li Zhu snorted inwardly.What a tyrant. Who does she think she—oh right. Her dad basically owns the school. Never mind.
Time to escape.
"If you take even one more step, don't blame me for what comes next."
He froze.
She meant him.
Kotone toyed with the whip, smiling dangerously. "Come here."
Li Zhu walked over. She examined his face—then smiled, satisfied, lowering the whip.
A collective gasp.
The ice goddess—smiling. At a boy.
Everyone stared.
Li Zhu calmly straightened his tie, checked his buttons and bag, and spoke evenly:
"Yes? What does the Public Morals Officer need from me?"
Kotone beamed. "Which class are you in? And your name?"
"Surely the Public Morals Committee already knows every student's record. Why ask?"
"Because I want to hear you say it," she replied, eyes sparkling.
"I don't want to." Li Zhu deadpanned.
"You—! You little—! I order you to say it!"
"No." He raised an eyebrow. "You're being unreasonable."
"I am not being unreasonable!"
The entire courtyard fell silent.
The cold, untouchable school goddess… arguing—no—pouting at a boy.
Everyone was stunned.
To them, it looked like flirting.
Very intense, very public flirting.
Li Zhu was horrified.
We are NOT flirting. She is simply insane.
But the crowd had already decided: Kotone was actually coquettish around him.
"I said I'm not telling you."
"Fine! Then you're not allowed to leave!"
Li Zhu sighed. The attention was getting dangerous.
"Alright, alright. I'll say it."
"Hmph. Thought so."
"First-year Class D. Li Zhu."
"Li… Zhu." She repeated it softly.
"Now can I go?"
Dozens of gazes pierced him—envy, jealousy, disbelief.
No. This was bad. Very bad. Heroines attract chaos. Must retreat. Immediately.
"No! I still have something to—"
"Aren't you supposed to be working? The entire school is watching."
"You—!"
"If it's important, we'll talk later. Goodbye."
Li Zhu turned and forced his way out of the crowd.
"Make way, please. Some of us have class!"
Only after escaping the mob did he exhale.
This world's settings were absurd. All he did was talk to the heroine, and suddenly the entire school turned into a circus.
And honestly? She wasn't even that beautiful.
Maybe to the people of this world, every heroine was like a forbidden, poisonous apple—irresistibly sweet, dangerously addictive.