It's Hard Being the Bad Guy

Chapter 08

This year's first snowfall was heavy, leaving a thick layer on the ground. Each step felt like stepping into a sea of snow, making shoes nearly invisible.

Wen Ai got off the car at the school gate and, as he walked towards the classroom, he felt the coldness in his hands from the icy air. Upon entering, he realized the heating wasn't on, and an unsettling feeling crept in. Confirming with a classmate sitting near the malfunctioned air conditioner, his suspicion was confirmed.

Frustrated, Wen Ai took out his water bottle, planning to fill it with hot water to warm his hands. However, upon reaching the water dispenser, he found an empty container on top.

It couldn't get any worse.

Wen Ai, feeling dejected, screwed the cap back on the cup and, as he walked back, noticed a Starbucks coffee cup on Xu Changzhou's desk, steam rising from the small opening.

Wen Ai knocked on Xu Changzhou's table, "Are you going to drink this now? If not, let me borrow it to warm my hands. I'll return it to you once it's warm."

Xu Changzhou handed him the cup, "It's filled with milk. Go ahead, drink."

As Wen Ai gripped the cup, he felt like holding a small sun – it was hot but incredibly comforting, instantly dispelling the chill in his body.

Throughout the early self-study session, Wen Ai held onto the cup without letting go. Eventually, he took a habitual sip. Realizing he couldn't return the cup to Xu Changzhou now, he decided to finish the whole cup of milk.

The first class was English, and the English teacher played a video of a poetry recitation. The speaker's tone was gentle, accompanied by soothing background music.

Wen Ai, feeling a bit drowsy after drinking hot milk, succumbed to sleep. The lullaby-like sounds in the video made his eyelids engage in a fierce battle, and he soon drifted off.

The English teacher, wearing high heels, walked over, her face stern as she woke up Wen Ai with a tap.

Wen Ai, still half-asleep, raised his head, looking bewildered. The left side of his face was flushed from being pressed against the table.

Softening her tone, the English teacher changed her scolding words at the last moment, "Don't sleep like that; you might catch a cold."

Now the right side of Wen Ai's face turned red as well.

After the class, Wen Ai, quite unreasonably, threw a blame at Xu Changzhou, "It's all because of you. If it weren't for your milk, I wouldn't have fallen asleep in class!"

Xu Changzhou skillfully caught the blame and slung it over his back, "You have a point."

His calm attitude left Wen Ai unable to stay angry. After a moment of hesitation, he could only give a disgruntled "hmph."

Xu Changzhou reassured him, "I'll bring you coffee next time; you won't feel sleepy during class."

Wen Ai didn't pay much attention when he heard it initially, but it wasn't until the next morning when he saw a cup of coffee on his desk that he realized Xu Changzhou wasn't just making casual remarks.

Wen Ai, in fact, wasn't particularly fond of coffee. He had tried it a few times and always felt indifferent. However, after taking a sip of the coffee Xu Changzhou gave him, it seemed like he suddenly understood what made coffee enjoyable.

Wen Ai shook the cup, "Did you brew this yourself?"

Xu Changzhou nodded, "How's the taste?"

Wen Ai deliberately took a couple more sips before answering, "It's okay."