119: High Cold School Prince Forced Love 3

Shen Mo's figure immediately vanished from the window.

Less than a minute later, he appeared at the entrance of the teaching building, pretending to casually walk towards the path Wen Ci was sure to take.

His steps were slightly faster than usual, and his slender fingers adjusted his already immaculate collar.

"Hey, what are you looking at?" Zhang Yang squeezed Lin Xi's shoulder, displeased.

"Nothing." Lin Xi forced herself to look away, but couldn't help comparing in her mind.

In her previous life, Shen Mo would have prepared iced lemonade for her at this time, and would have coldly driven away all boys who approached her.

Now, he didn't even bother to react to her actions.

The basketball training ended abruptly.

Lin Xi used the excuse of going to the restroom to get rid of Zhang Yang's persistent presence.

She hid in a restroom stall, splashing cold water on her flushed face.

The girl in the mirror had a panicked look, her carefully styled hair was disheveled, and a forced smile hung on her lips.

"It's okay," she whispered to the mirror, "at least Shen Mo won't bother me anymore."

But why did she feel so empty inside?

At the same time, Wen Ci also went to the library, but she seemed to have just seen Shen Mo; he disappeared in a flash, and she didn't think much of it, coming to the library to find books to read.

She was currently on her tiptoes, trying to reach a copy of "Introduction to Astrophysics" on the highest shelf.

Wen Ci was wearing a light blue dress today, which made her skin appear as fair as porcelain, her outstretched arms had graceful lines, and her hair swayed gently with her movements.

"Need help?"

Wen Ci turned around and saw Shen Mo standing less than half a meter behind her, his dark eyes unfathomably deep.

He had unbuttoned the top button of his school uniform today, revealing his perfectly sculpted collarbone.

"Ah, Student Shen!" Wen Ci smiled in surprise, "Perfect, could you help me get that book?" She pointed to the top shelf.

Shen Mo didn't answer, simply reaching out and easily taking down the book.

As he turned to hand her the book, Wen Ci's fingertips "happened" to reach out as well, and their fingertips touched in the air.

The momentary contact was almost negligible.

But Shen Mo recoiled as if burned, and the book clattered to the floor.

His always-proud self-control crumbled at that moment, his heartbeat so loud it felt like the entire library could hear it.

"Sorry!" Wen Ci knelt to pick up the book, her skirt fanning out on the floor like a blue lotus.

When she looked up, a strand of hair fell across her eyes, "I was too eager."

Shen Mo stared at the unruly strand of hair, his fingers twitching unconsciously, as if he wanted to brush it away for her, but he ultimately just said indifferently, "That book isn't suitable for you."

"Why?" Wen Ci stood up, blinking curiously, "Is it because I'm a girl, so you think I can't understand Physics?"

"No, because that's a graduate-level textbook." Shen Mo's voice was low and husky, but his speaking speed was slightly faster than usual, "You should start with the basics."

Wen Ci's eyes lit up, "Then can you recommend one that's suitable for me?"

Shen Mo didn't answer, walking directly to another bookshelf.

Wen Ci jogged to keep up, her skirt fluttering.

She noticed that Shen Mo's pace was slower than usual, as if he was deliberately waiting for her.

"This one." Shen Mo pulled out another book, "You can understand it with a high school math foundation."

When Wen Ci took the book, her fingers "accidentally" brushed against Shen Mo's hand again.

This time he didn't pull away, his eyes just grew deeper.

"Thank you!" Wen Ci hugged the book to her chest, "Oh, right, I heard you're the national champion of the Math Olympiad?"

Shen Mo nodded slightly, "How did you know?"

"Everyone in school knows!" Wen Ci said with a smile, "Dr. Shen is our school's pride."

Shen Mo looked away, "A boring title."

"I think it's amazing." Wen Ci's voice was sincere and warm, "My math is really bad, could I ask you for help in the future?"

The sunlight slanted through the window and fell on the floor between them, forming a distinct dividing line.

Shen Mo stood in the shadows, while Wen Ci was bathed in sunlight, as if she glowed.

Shen Mo lowered his eyes and didn't speak. He really wanted to agree, but suddenly felt some inexplicable fear… fear that she would discover his dark side.

Wen Ci wasn't discouraged, "Just occasionally! It won't take up too much of your time." Her tilted head looked like a kitten awaiting a caress.

Shen Mo's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he finally nodded.

"That's great!" Wen Ci said in a hushed voice, "Then can we meet tomorrow during lunch break? There's a problem I really don't understand..."

"Mm."

"See you at the library?"

"Mm."

Wen Ci's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, "Thank you, Shen Mo." She called him by his first name, without adding "Student."

Shen Mo's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and he turned to walk towards the self-study area.

His back was as straight as a pine, but his footsteps were half a beat more erratic than usual.

Wen Ci watched his retreating figure, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

She opened the book Shen Mo had just found for her and discovered a tiny line of text written in pencil on the flyleaf: "When we gaze at the stars, all we see is the past."

The handwriting was neat and sharp, much like the impression Shen Mo gave people.

The dismissal bell rang, and Lin Xi's movements as she packed her bag were much slower than usual.

She deliberately dawdled, only getting up when most of the people had left the classroom.

Zhang Yang had said he would wait for her at the school gate and walk her home.

This development was much faster than planned, but she needed this "protection," needed to prove her charm to Shen Mo, that even without him, she, Lin Xi, could still attract other boys.

"Lin Xi."

A voice suddenly called out to her.

Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat, and she turned to see Shen Mo standing at the back door of the classroom, the setting sun casting his shadow long.

He really couldn't be truly indifferent to her; he must have been faking it before.

A twisted sense of satisfaction swelled in Lin Xi's heart.

"Something wrong?" She lifted her chin, deliberately exposing the cheap necklace Zhang Yang had given her on her neck.

Shen Mo's gaze swept over the necklace, his eyes showing no emotion.

He took a few steps closer and handed her a notebook, "Your math homework, you left it here."

Lin Xi was stunned.

She didn't remember leaving any homework with Shen Mo, but when she took the notebook and opened it, it indeed had her handwriting inside.

"Thank you," she said dryly, suddenly thinking that Shen Mo might just be using an excuse to talk to her, "Zhang Yang and I..."

"You don't need to report to me." Shen Mo interrupted her, his voice as cold as ice, "Your private matters are none of my concern."

Lin Xi opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.

In her previous life, at this time, Shen Mo had already started monitoring her every move, even asking about which girls she spoke to.

Now, he actually said "none of my concern"?

Shen Mo turned to leave, and Lin Xi suddenly blurted out, "Aren't you angry?"

Shen Mo stopped, tilting his head slightly, "Why would I be angry?"

"Because Zhang Yang and I..." Lin Xi's voice grew fainter and fainter.

Shen Mo turned his head, a hint of mockery flashing in his dark eyes, "You overestimate your importance to me." With that, he strode away, his back cold and distant.

Lin Xi stood rooted to the spot, the notebook in her hand almost crumpled.

She didn't understand why things were developing completely differently from her previous life.

Did rebirth change Shen Mo's personality? Or was it...

A terrifying thought surfaced in her mind: perhaps Shen Mo's control over her in her previous life was never the kind of "caring" she had imagined.

Walking out of the school gate, Zhang Yang was indeed leaning against his motorcycle, waiting for her.

Seeing Lin Xi come out, he grinned.

"Get on, I'll take you home."

Lin Xi hesitated.

In her previous life, she was most afraid of these delinquent boys, but now she needed Zhang Yang to prove that she had escaped Shen Mo's control.

She gritted her teeth and got on the back seat of the motorcycle.

"Hold tight." Zhang Yang started the engine, and the motorcycle roared deafeningly.

Lin Xi cautiously grabbed Zhang Yang's jacket corner.

The motorcycle accelerated sharply, she cried out, and had to hug Zhang Yang's waist.

Zhang Yang laughed triumphantly, deliberately driving faster.

The wind messed up Lin Xi's hair and also scattered her thoughts.

She didn't know if this was the right thing to do, but at least... at least she was free.

She didn't see that from the top-floor window of the school library, Shen Mo was coldly watching the departing motorcycle.

His gaze was terrifyingly sinister, but not because of Lin Xi.

On the table behind him, a black notebook lay open, the latest page densely filled with observation records:

"Wen Ci, likes blue, often uses Sakura brand pencils, unconsciously bites her lower lip when encountering a difficult problem..."

The edges of the notebook also had several small sketches, all of Wen Ci's various expressions.

At the bottom was a line recently written:

"I want her to look only at me, forever."