I saw her smile exceptionally gently when facing the children of the Yu Group's competitors, and she would even offer them help. But when she turned her head, she would subtly let the student council members "accidentally" leak some information that was detrimental to the other party.
Every instance of her gentleness and kindness was accompanied by a clear purpose and calculation.
She was like a master chess player, treating everyone around her as pawns, setting up her plans step by step, all to achieve her own goals.
But I just couldn't help but be captivated by her.
I like to see the indifference beneath her mask, the cunning glint in her eyes when she succeeds in her schemes, and the dangerous aura emanating from her even when she's still smiling after being provoked.
That was the real her—vibrant, sharp, and fatally attractive.
Using my connections, I was parachuted into the student council and became its vice president.
I deliberately showcased my abilities at work, whether it was handling complex documents, dealing with difficult students, or coordinating collaborations between the school and external organizations; I did everything perfectly.
I know that people like her only value things that are "useful." If I want to stay by her side, I have to make myself valuable.
"Rong Shenghan, this school-enterprise cooperation plan is very well done and has helped me a lot."
She held the proposal I had worked on all night, her eyes filled with genuine approval, though that approval was still based on the premise that "I am useful."
"I'm glad I could help the president." I lowered my head slightly, concealing the turbulent emotions in my eyes.
She smiled, raised her hand and patted my shoulder, the gesture natural and affectionate. "Keep up the good work, I have high hopes for you."
The moment her hand landed on my shoulder, a strange, semi-transparent interface suddenly appeared before my eyes.
The interface resembled a game panel, clearly displaying several lines of text:
[Host: Yu Jiuyuan]
[Current target: Rong Shenghan]
[Affection Level: 30 (Regular Colleague)]
[Character Tags: Useful, Intelligent, Utilizable]
[Trigger Event: Complete the school-enterprise cooperation plan, affinity +10]
I was stunned.
What is this? Is it a hallucination?
I blinked hard, but the screen didn't disappear.
I tried to look away from the other student council members next to me, but I didn't see any similar interface.
This interface only appears when I look at Yu Jiuyuan, or when she interacts with me.
I quickly realized that this was something only I could see, or perhaps... some kind of "secret" belonging to Yu Jiuyuan?
This discovery both shocked and excited me. It turns out that her "gentleness" and "kindness" were not just a mask, but also backed by a clear set of "rules".
And I was able to glimpse the core of this set of rules.
From then on, I went to great lengths to please and cater to her.
She needed help dealing with the mess in the student council, and I was the first to step up, working overtime without complaint.
She needed someone to accompany her to some boring social events, so I put aside my own things and stayed with her the whole time, shielding her from unnecessary trouble.
She might just casually mention that she likes a certain brand of cake, and I'll run all over the city to deliver the freshest cake to her.
With each effort I make, I can clearly see the favorability rating on that interface gradually increasing.
She beckoned me to get her a cup of coffee, which increased my favorability by 5 points.
She frowned and said she was having a headache looking at a certain document. I immediately took it and organized it for her neatly, which increased my favorability by 8 points.
When she encountered a formidable opponent, I subtly helped her resolve the situation, causing the opponent to suffer a hidden loss, thus increasing her favorability by 15.
The numbers on the screen slowly rose from 30 to 40, 50, 60... Each jump felt like a tap on my heart, bringing a strange sense of satisfaction.
I know that her affection for me is essentially because I am "useful".
Her gentleness and friendliness were merely "rewards" based on increased favorability. But I didn't care.
I don't care if her feelings are real, I don't care if I'm just one of her many pawns, and I don't care if the tenderness in her eyes has never belonged to me alone.
As long as I can stay by her side, as long as she needs me, as long as I can see even the slightest genuine smile on her face because of my existence, I am willing to do it all.
I know she's imperfect, I know her scheming, I know her indifference, but I still love her.
I love her mask, but I also love her authenticity; I love her gentleness, but I also love her sharpness; I love her scheming, but I also love the vulnerability she occasionally reveals.
After the college entrance examination, we went from the high school section of Sheng Ying to the university.
She was still the radiant Yu Jiuyuan, surrounded by all sorts of people, and I was still Rong Shenghan, standing behind her and doing everything for her.
I watched her chatting and laughing with other boys, watched her strive for her goals, and watched her occasionally show dependence and trust in me.
I know she's not heartless. She's just used to protecting herself with a mask, used to dealing with this complex world through calculation.
Her gentleness was genuine, and her kindness was not entirely a pretense; it was just that her love was tinged with too much defensiveness and testing.
And I am willing to wait.
I know it will be difficult, perhaps taking a year, two years, or even a lifetime. But I am not afraid.
Because I am Rong Shenghan, the one who saw through her disguise at first glance, yet still fell hopelessly in love with her.
Because I am useful, I can stay by her side.
Because I can see her secret, I know that I already have a place in her heart.
That's enough.
At least for now, I can stay by her side, watching her laugh, watching her make a fuss, and watching her step by step move towards the future she wants.
And I will always stand behind her, be her strongest support, and be someone she can always rely on.
Until one day, she will turn around and tell me that she loves me too.
I firmly believe that this day will come.
Until then, I will always stay by her side, guarding this love that is full of calculation and pretense, yet is incredibly sincere.
It's like guarding a prison that belongs to my heart. And yet, I accept it willingly.
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