Chapter 18: Shadows of Accusation

That night, Lily came home with her backpack.

Sitting on the sofa, her mom noticed her daughter’s mood had improved a lot and asked curiously, “Xue Li? Are you okay now?”

Lily looked adorably blank, her bouncing pigtails coming to a stop. “I’m fine, I’m heading to my room.”

As Lily turned toward her bedroom door, her mom added one more thing, worried she might overthink it: “Don’t dwell on it too much—at least Mom believes in you.”

Lily glanced back at her mom and smiled. “Thanks, Mom. I’ve been the class monitor for years, so my mental strength is solid. This little issue won’t bring me down—don’t worry.”

She closed the door and leaned against it.

Only she knew the full weight of what had happened, but thinking back to what Lin Zheng Ran had said to her that day…

His straightforward trust made Lily blush even just remembering it.

“Who knew he had such good judgment? He figured out I was framed,” she muttered to herself, setting her backpack on the desk and pulling an old phone from the drawer—her mom’s hand-me-down.

She searched for the meaning of ‘tsundere’ on it, wondering if Lin Zheng Ran was praising or teasing her.

The results popped up quickly on the screen.

Lily read the definition aloud: “Tsundere means someone who hides their shyness with a contradictory attitude.”

The more she read, the redder her face got, her eyes shimmering like rippling water. She glared at the screen in embarrassment and annoyance: “What is this? Who’d be shy around him? I’m not tsundere! I absolutely hate…”

But then she recalled his trust and the moment they shared under the umbrella that day, and her tone softened. She bit her lip, staring at the phone: “I really hate that guy.”

So she searched again: “Would guys like a tsundere personality?”

The encyclopedia showed:

[God of ancient times!]

Lily’s eyes widened in delight: “Such high praise!”

Right after, she searched a third time: “Would boys who think they’re all grown-up like tsundere girls?”

The next morning, Lily’s alarm went off by her bed. She yawned and then bolted upright.

She swapped her pajamas for school clothes, headed to the bathroom, and tied her long hair into twin tails. She checked herself in the mirror, flashing her playful little tiger teeth.

She swore to her reflection: “Today, I’ll get to the bottom of this! Clear my name once and for all!”

An hour later,

Lin Zheng Ran found himself cornered in a small alley by Lily. He looked puzzled: “You want me to help you? Why should I?”

Lily stood her ground stubbornly, staring at him: “What do you mean, why? We’re classmates, aren’t we? I picked you because you’re smart—it’s not like I’d ask just anyone.”

Lin Zheng Ran tried to walk away, bored, but Lily grabbed his arm, tense: “Hey, what are you doing? Fine, I’ll be straight—I’m clueless and need help, and then…”

She mumbled under her breath like a mosquito: “I think you’re the only one I can trust…”

“Hmm? I didn’t catch that.”

Lily squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment, clenching her little fists and shouting: “You know I don’t have any other friends! Please help me! If you do, I’ll do anything!”

Lin Zheng Ran gave her a meaningful look: “Anything?”

Lily hugged herself tightly, her heart racing as she backed away: “What are you thinking? I warn you, some things come with responsibilities! Don’t get any ideas!” She retreated until she hit the wall.

Lin Zheng Ran stepped closer, and Lily panicked, shutting her eyes and biting her lip tight.

But all she felt was a light flick on her forehead—Lin Zheng Ran had given her a quick knuckle rap.

“That’s how you ask for help. Otherwise, with your usual tsundere act, who’d bother?”

Lily winced in pain, remembering what tsundere meant, and shot him a defiant side-eye: “I’m not tsundere!” In her mind, she cursed him as an idiot and a blockhead.

“What’s with that look?” Lin Zheng Ran stepped back and clarified: “Look, I’ll help, but it’s not for free. You need to give me something in return.”

“Something? What do you want?”

[You’ve decided to step in for Miss Jiang. You know a young woman like her wandering the martial world must have some hidden treasures. Helping her out might let you claim a few—or just do it out of chivalry without expecting anything.]

Hidden treasures?

Lin Zheng Ran eyed Lily, wondering what she might have. It couldn’t be like Heqing’s chocolate, could it?

Lily felt uneasy under his gaze.

Lin Zheng Ran asked: “Do you have any treasures or something? You know, the kind you don’t show just anyone.”

“Treasures?” Lily blinked, suddenly realizing something, her eyes wide with disbelief: “I do, but why would you want that?”

She actually had some.

“That thing? What’s it?”

Lily looked away, her face flushing: “I’m not telling you. It’s mine.”

“Suit yourself. You don’t need to know why I want it—just say if you’ll give it or not. If you do, I’ll help.”

Lily frowned, hesitating as if it were something precious. After thinking it over, she reluctantly agreed: “Fine, fine! If you help, I’ll give it to you then. I worked hard on it!”

She held out her pinky: “Pinky promise! You have to keep your word!”

Lin Zheng Ran thought girls always did this and extended his hand: “Deal!”

From that moment, they officially became an investigation team.

But real life isn’t as mysterious as novels—kids’ issues were easy for Lin Zheng Ran to look into.

He first asked Lily if she’d upset anyone lately, especially around the time of the incident.

Lily named a few people and added: “Actually, the day before the class monitor lost her phone, another girl in our class brought one too, and I told the teacher.”

Lin Zheng Ran just shook his head, thinking she was probably involved somehow.

Then he had Lily pretend to cry in the classroom.

Lily asked why.

Lin Zheng Ran explained:

“Haven’t you noticed that since everyone thinks you’re the thief, the class monitor who lost her stuff has never accused you outright? She won’t even look at you, which means she’s guilty. So, fake cry in front of her, act all wronged, and maybe she’ll spill the truth.”

Lily thought Lin Zheng Ran was a genius.

“But how do I cry?”

Lin Zheng Ran tapped her forehead: “You’re a girl—can’t you cry on cue? If not, use eye drops!”

They bought eye drops, and Lin Zheng Ran put some in her eyes—but used too much.

Lily’s face streamed with tears as she punched him lightly: “You put in too much—it’s overflowing!”

Lin Zheng Ran laughed at her teary eyes: “It’s perfect. The class monitor’s alone cleaning the classroom right now—go cry and see what she does.”