C11 Xiaoya both of Us Are Sick!

Zhao Zhe and Chen Xiaomeng stealthily slipped into the lingerie store, yet he still hadn't figured out who had spilled the beans about his truancy to Vice Principal Xu Jian.

Zhou Haoyang, the class monitor, wouldn't have waited until now if he intended to snitch. He would've reported Zhao Zhe's absence to Xu right away. Besides, Zhou Haoyang had never wanted Zhao Zhe to return to class; he was actually fine with him skipping.

So, who was out to get Zhao Zhe?

Chen Xiaomeng, looking somewhat scared, tugged at Zhao Zhe's sleeve. "Zhe, stop overthinking it. We won't figure out who's trying to harm you anytime soon. Just hurry up and get what you need so we can get out of here. The way those women are staring at us... I'm worried it'll tarnish our reputation at school if word gets out."

Zhao Zhe nonchalantly picked up a bra and held it up for size, deeming it too large. The girl in question was barely bigger than an A-cup, and the color was too garish for someone who constantly referred to herself as a servant. She probably wouldn't appreciate such a loud, showy hue.

"Zhe, are you done yet?" Chen Xiaomeng was exasperated. He hadn't expected Zhao Zhe to dawdle in the lingerie store, let alone fondle a bra so openly. This was beyond inappropriate—it was brazenly lecherous! In the old days, such behavior would have landed him in serious trouble!

Zhao Zhe felt a mix of frustration and disappointment. "Listen, Cutie, what's there to be afraid of? We're not here to steal; we're here to shop! We're customers, not criminals."

Chen Xiaomeng replied, feeling wronged, "I know we're not stealing, we're buying. But Zhe, we don't need this stuff. If you're into it, just order online—nobody will know what you bought. But if this gets out, how will we ever hold our heads up at school?"

Zhao Zhe saw his point. He did care about his dignity, after all. So, he hastily chose a few smaller bras and paid for them. Recalling the cashier's judgmental gaze, Zhao Zhe felt a twinge of embarrassment. He hadn't anticipated the need for such items before—who would have thought to stock up on feminine products in the Space-time Shelter within the world of ice and snow?

Zhao Zhe was suddenly struck by a thought. What if Xiaoxue needed feminine products during her monthly cycle? Should he also stock up on some small quilts?

"Cutie, could you pop over to the supermarket across the street and grab a few packs of sanitary pads for me?" Zhao Zhe delegated the task to his underling.

Chen Xiaomeng, sprawled on a roadside bench, didn't budge. "Zhe, just pretend I'm dead, okay? Sanitary pads? You've got to be kidding me. If you're so keen, go get them yourself. I'm not going. Why do you even need these things? If Xiaoya needs them, she'll buy them herself. Plus, the cup size you picked out won't even fit her."

Zhao Zhe fixed Chen Xiaomeng with a glare. Realizing his mistake, Chen Xiaomeng quickly clarified, "Zhe, don't get the wrong idea. I didn't sneak a peek at Xiaoya. I just estimated, and the cup size you bought doesn't seem right for her."

Zhao Zhe huffed, "I'm not buying them for her. What do you know? During my quest to save the world, I rescued a girl who needs some clothes, so naturally, I have to buy sanitary pads."

Chen Xiaomeng looked at him as if he were from another planet. "Zhe, you're in too deep. Stop acting like you're the hero of the world. You're just you. You can't keep living in a fantasy."

Dwelling in a fantasy? Zhao Zhe was tempted to give Chen Xiaomeng a piece of his mind. Did he enjoy this? Of course not. He was compelled, okay? The evening was setting in, and there were only 28 days left before they had to head to Mars for fertilization duties. Who in their right mind would want to work for Nusbath to save the world? Without any perks from the Goldfinger, he was clearly being forced into this situation.

In the end, Chen Xiaomeng was just a sidekick and inevitably got dragged into the supermarket by Zhao Zhe. They covertly snatched a few packs of sanitary pads from the hygiene products aisle, using bags of snacks to camouflage their haul as they skulked to the checkout.

"Zhao Zhe? Chen Xiaomeng? What are you two up to?" Just as they were about to pay, a voice called out from behind, startling them so much they nearly stuffed the sanitary pads into the cashier's apron pocket.

"Xiaoya?!" Both of their faces drained of color as they turned around. They were racked with guilt, knowing that if anyone discovered they were buying sanitary pads for girls at the supermarket, they'd be the butt of jokes for life.

Sun Xiaoya noticed her classmates' ashen complexions and wondered if they were ill. "Are you two feeling okay? You look terrible. I actually need to talk to you both about something. Let's step outside."

Amid the cashier's curious stare, Zhao Zhe and Chen Xiaomeng sheepishly presented their selected items. The cashier was far from sympathetic, making a scene by loudly suggesting, "Handsome, these sanitary pads are on sale. Why don't you check out the discounted packs?"

Zhao Zhe was fuming, tempted to shove the sanitary pad into the cashier's mouth. Her loud voice had broadcasted their business to the entire store. How could Sun Xiaoya, standing right behind them, not hear?

As expected, Sun Xiaoya approached, and upon seeing what the boys were holding, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Girls are typically discreet about such personal items, and she certainly hadn't expected her male classmates to be openly purchasing sanitary pads. Wait a minute, they were boys. Did they also have a monthly cycle? That made no sense; without the necessary anatomy, how could they even use them?

Sun Xiaoya had no time to ponder these questions. She wished she'd never known these two, quickly stepping back and gazing outside, feigning disassociation.

With Zhao Zhe and Chen Xiaomeng glaring daggers, the cashier quickly rang up their purchase. Chen Xiaomeng, head hung low, approached Sun Xiaoya. "Xiaoya, let's talk outside."

Sun Xiaoya stared out the supermarket doors, feigning ignorance. "Who are you? I don't know you."

Mortified, Chen Xiaomeng and Zhao Zhe had no choice but to slink out of the supermarket. Only then did Sun Xiaoya discreetly follow.

Zhao Zhe paused to think and realized he needed to clear the air. He wasn't a creep, after all. Taking the initiative, he approached Sun Xiaoya and began, "Um... Sun Xiaoya, let me explain what happened..."

Sun Xiaoya gave Zhao Zhe a dismissive glance. "I don't care about your business. Where did you two sneak off to just now?"

Zhao Zhe glanced at Chen Xiaomeng, who chimed in, "Where did we go? We just popped over to the supermarket to grab some stuff. Xiaoya, it wasn't even my idea; Zhe here was the one who wanted to buy..."

Zhao Zhe was tempted to silence Chen Xiaomeng. Talk about not having your back; he hadn't even been pressed, and he was already spilling the beans. Sun Xiaoya really had no say over their purchases, but the embarrassment was too much to bear.

However, Sun Xiaoya cut off Chen Xiaomeng's explanation, "I'm not talking about any weird stuff you did in the supermarket just now. What were you up to before that?"

Chen Xiaomeng glanced at the black bag in Zhao Zhe's hand, filled with several bras, and gave Zhao Zhe a look that screamed, 'Zhe, we've been busted. It's your move.'

Zhao Zhe flashed Sun Xiaoya a sheepish grin, trying to defuse the tension. "Xiaoya, here's the thing. We got held up by Xu Jian. You know how he is; once he starts talking, there's no end to it..."

But Sun Xiaoya was already pulling out her phone. "Cut the excuses and don't try to dodge the question. Is this a picture of you two or not?"

Zhao Zhe and Chen Xiaomeng leaned in to see the photo and immediately wished for a hole to crawl into. The image on Sun Xiaoya's phone captured them rummaging through women's lingerie at a store. Chen Xiaomeng was holding a larger bra, seemingly discussing something with Zhao Zhe, who was sizing up a smaller one.

"This is a misunderstanding!" Zhao Zhe declared with conviction.

Chen Xiaomeng quickly added, "Exactly, it's a misunderstanding. Xiaoya, how did you even get this photo? Have you been following us?"

Sun Xiaoya was seething with frustration and wanted to hurl her phone at the two culprits. "Do you think I have nothing better to do? The whole school is talking about it now! You two thought you were so clever, didn't you?"

Chen Xiaomeng's panic was palpable as he rummaged through his backpack for his phone. Since it was the weekend, he had sneakily brought it to school, hidden in his bag. After scrolling through the messages in the school and class chat groups, he handed the phone to Zhao Zhe with a look of utter disgust on his face.

Zhao Zhe could barely stomach a glance at the screen. He had no idea who the jerk was that had snapped photos of them entering a lingerie store, selecting the most incriminating frames to capture and maliciously sharing them with the school and class groups. Now, they were being lambasted as perverts and degenerates.

With a tone of bitter disappointment, Sun Xiaoya lectured, "We've been in the same class since middle school. Even though we didn't talk much back then, we've been desk mates for a good while in high school. I've always seen you as friends. I never made a fuss about your grades, as long as you didn't cross certain lines. But this time, you've done something utterly despicable. Do you find it amusing? Thrilling? If you're interested in girls, then pursue them honorably! Aren't you mortified by your disgraceful behavior?"

After the scolding, Zhao Zhe and Chen Xiaomeng felt utterly defeated, but they knew they had to set the record straight. Chen Xiaomeng hastily defended themselves, "Xiaoya, please let me explain. Here's what happened: Zhe heroically saved a girl while he was out saving the world. We were just buying her some everyday items. We're not perverts, I swear."

Sun Xiaoya retorted to Chen Xiaomeng, "Cutie, have you lost your mind too, following Zhao Zhe's delusions? Saving the world? I'd like to see that! Fine, even if you were out saving the world, where's the girl? Have her come forward and vouch for your so-called innocence!"

In his mind, Zhao Zhe pleaded with his assistant, "You're the only one who can clear my name now. Please, bring Xiaoxue to Earth."

Unexpectedly, the assistant responded indifferently, "I'm sorry, Master. At the moment, I lack the energy to teleport additional people. Apart from you, no one from Earth can travel to the world of ice and snow, and vice versa."

Chen Xiaomeng gazed at Zhao Zhe with hopeful eyes, silently urging Zhe to quickly summon the girl he had supposedly rescued during his world-saving adventure. To his surprise, Zhao Zhe simply shook his head, which most likely meant there was no such girl—confirming Chen Xiaomeng's suspicion that Zhao Zhe had been spinning tales.

Sun Xiaoya confronted Chen Xiaomeng, "Where is this girl? She's not here, is she? What other excuses do you have?"

With a sigh, Chen Xiaomeng echoed the tone Zhao Zhe had used with Zhou Haoyang, "Xiaoya, I... I'm sick too... We're both sick..."

Sun Xiaoya stormed off, clearly intent on putting as much space as possible between herself and these two eccentrics, as if to assert her own purity.