Episode 4-The genius and the fool

[Scene: Classroom. Teacher stands at the front, holding papers.]

Teacher: Alright, everyone. This year’s Science Exhibition is coming up. Each team must submit a project idea by next week.

Class: (collective groan) Ughhh…

[Mengqi slumps onto her desk, Youyou pokes her side.]

Youyou: (whispering) Hey… what if we sign up?

Mengqi: (squints) Are you crazy? That sounds like more work.

Youyou: (grins) But think! No boring math class if we’re “busy” with the exhibition.

Mengqi: (perks up) …No math? (slams hand on desk) SIGN ME UP!!

[Both rush to the signup sheet, scribbling their names dramatically.]

⸻

[Scene: After school, Mengqi and Youyou sit under a tree, scrolling through their phones.]

Mengqi: (groaning) Nooo… everyone already did “volcano project” a thousand times.

Youyou: (shakes head) Solar system? Too boring.

Mengqi: Robot arm? Too expensive.

Both: (sigh) This is hopeless.

[A shadow falls over them. They look up—Hanxu stands there, arms crossed, smirking.]

Hanxu: (teasing) Wow… you two look like scientists about to invent snacks instead of experiments.

Mengqi: (snaps) Hanxu! Mind your own business!

Hanxu: (leans closer) What’s the assignment?

Youyou: (sighs) It’s for the science exhibition. We signed up but… we’re stuck.

Hanxu: (smirk deepens) Then drop it. Clearly too hard for you two.

Mengqi: (jumps up) Hey! Who says I can’t do it?!

Hanxu: (chuckles) Okay then… prove it.

[Just then, another voice joins.]

Yun: (calm, polite) Hanxu, don’t bully them.

[A tall boy steps in, fixing his glasses. He smiles kindly.]

Yun: (to the girls) Hi, I’m Sang Yun. Hanxu’s classmate… and unfortunately, his best friend.

Youyou: (blinks, whispering) …He’s so polite.

Mengqi: (thinking) Wow, totally opposite of Hanxu.

[Hanxu rolls his eyes.]

Hanxu: Yun, stop acting like a saint.

Yun: (smiling slyly) I’m just being respectful. Something you should try, Hanxu.

[The teacher passes by and notices them.]

Teacher: Oh good, you four are here. Since you all signed up, you’ll work together in pairs.

Mengqi & Hanxu: (horrified) WHAT?!

Youyou & Yun: (at the same time) …Okay.

[Hanxu and Mengqi glare at each other.]

Mengqi: (grumbles) Why do I get stuck with him?!

Hanxu: (sighs) Believe me, I’m the one suffering here.

[Yun hides a chuckle while Youyou secretly admires him.]

⸻

[Scene: After school, on the street. Yun and Hanxu walk together, bags slung on their shoulders.]

Yun: (casually) You know… Youyou is really pretty.

Hanxu: (groans) Here we go…

Yun: (grinning) And smart. And polite. Totally my type.

Hanxu: (snaps) Yun. STOP IT. If I hear “Youyou” one more time—

Yun: (teasing) Youyou\~ Youyou\~ Youyou\~

Hanxu: (covering ears) AHHH my earsss!! Someone shut him up!

[Scene: After school. Mengqi and Youyou walk home, each holding a tofu skewer. The sunset paints the sky pink.]

Youyou: (dreamy sigh) Sang Yun… ahh what a beautiful name…

Mengqi: (rolling eyes) You said that like… a hundred times.

Youyou: (ignoring her, starry-eyed) And so polite! And cute! He’s literally the opposite of Hanxu. A real gentleman\~

Mengqi: (snorts) Gentleman? More like “walking rulebook.”

Youyou: (gasps dramatically) How dare you insult my Yun!

Mengqi: (chokes on tofu stick) “My Yun”?! Oooohhh, Youyou’s in loooveee\~

Youyou: (smirks, pokes her arm) Fine, fine. But tell me this—what about you then? Hanxu gave you water and you turned into a tomato.

Mengqi: (flailing) N-No I didn’t!!

Youyou: (sing-song) Puppy boyyy\~ puppy boyyy\~

Mengqi: (covers ears) AHHH Youyouuu, stopppp!!

[They walk a few steps. Mengqi, still red, secretly smiles to herself, whispering in her head.]

Mengqi (thinking): Hanxu…

[But Youyou catches her.]

Youyou: (grinning, sly) Still, Qiqi… what’s Hanxu’s full name?

Mengqi: (startled) H-Huh?! W-Why would I know that?!

Youyou: (teasing) Ohhh\~ so you do wanna know, huh?

Mengqi: (face burning, waving her hands) No no no!! Who cares about his stupid full name anyway?!

Youyou: (teasing harder) Mhm… liar. You probably repeat “Hanxu\~ Hanxu\~” in your sleep.

Mengqi: (snaps, stomps ahead) Y-YOUYOUUUU I’M GONNA KILL YOU!!

[Youyou laughs so hard she almost drops her tofu stick. Mengqi storms ahead, hiding her flushed face. The street fills with their playful bickering.]

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***