[Bonus chapter] Campus Nerd Lai x Campus Hunk Bai

Xiulan Lai was your typical nerd. Disliked sports because she was unfit. Disliked attention because she was an introvert. Preferred to be alone because she lacked social skills. And got straight A's because she was overly intellectual.

"You want me to what?" she gawked, her hazelnut eyes widened behind her red-colored glass frame.

Mr. Rong sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"I know it's a difficult thing to ask," he looked at her with pleading silver eyes, "but it's exactly why I'm asking you to do it. Just tutor him for a month."

Lai turned her attention to the student standing next to her. He smiled at her. He was a handsome guy with Amber eyes and black hair with brown streaks. His ears had multiple piercings and part of his big black tattoo was visible under the white shirt he wore.

"Please, Miss Xiuling," Mr. Rong clasped his hands together, "You're my only hope."

When he saw her hesitate, he quickly added.

"I promise to give you extra credits."

Lai tilted her head and pressed her lips together, deep in thought. The extra credits would be good for her.

But she was unsure if she could handle this student standing next to her.

"Please," she heard Mr. Rong breath out in despair.

She sighed and nodded.

"Fine, sir. But if it gets too difficult, I'm dropping him. Deal?"

Mr. Rong smiled in relief and nodded.

"That's a deal, Miss Xiuling. I just need him to improve his grades or else he will be taken off the basketball scholarship," he told her.

He then stared at the make student.

"Bai," Mr. Rong began with unblinking focussed eye contact, "You better do your best. Work hard in your studies as you work hard in basketball. If I hear any complaints from Miss Xiuling here, you will be dealt with.m and it won't be pleasant."

Ying Bai was a 1st year student like Lai. They were both studying medicine. Unlike Lai who was studying through a student loan, Bai had gotten into Waterfalls University through a basketball scholarship.

He was the best player in the university and the team captain.

"Yes, yes," Bai waved his hands dismissively, "I will do my best."

With that, Bai and Lai walked out of the teachers room and into the hallway which was buzzing with students walking to and out of class.

"Hi Bai," some female students cooed at him as they walked past.

He flashed a smile, leaving the students squealing in delight.

'Great,' Lai groaned, 'This is what I have to deal with for the next month.'

She sighed and, running her fingers through her long brown hair, glanced at him.

"Do you have practice today?" she asked him, crossing her arms.

He was waving at girls that walked past when he turned his attention to her. His Amber eyes stared into her hazelnut ones.

"No," he answered, "I have practice everyday except Wednesday and Friday."

"Then," Lai explained, "consider your Wednesdays and Fridays mine. I just have three rules."

"Go on," he leaned on the wall and smiled at her.

"One, be on time. We will be at the library from three to five. Two, on days that we can't meet, we have to let each other know," she began, her hands on her hips, "And the last one is that you need to do what I say, the moment you complain or mess out, it's over."

He picked his nose and closed his eyes. Nodding in agreement, he smiled at her.

"That's a deal," he held his hand out for her to shake.

She stared at his hand and placed her in his. His hand was twice the size of hers. When he wasn't letting go, she did.

She pushed her glasses up and nodded.

"Well, I didn't introduce myself," she stood up straight, "My name is Xiulan Lai."

He smiled and leaned forward.

"I know who you are so no need to introduce yourself. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon in the fourth floor of library, by the corner next to the window," with that she left him speechless.

He watched her disappearing figure with a fixed gaze.

"She doesn't look interested in me one bit," he sighed as he bowed his head, "This is surprising. Usually girls can't help but fawn themselves over me."

He then looked up and sighed.

"What an interesting student."

The next day, to her surprise, she saw Bai approach her. He sat next to her in the lecture room, causing some students to whisper amongst each other.

"Good morning, teacher," he crowed, resting his head on his hands and staring at her confused face.

"W-what?" she stammered, backing away from him, "W-why are you sitting next to me?"

He sat up straight.

"I thought I could sit next to you. Am I not allowed to?" he pouted as if displeased.

"It's not that you're not..." she paused, unsure of what to say or do.

She was too surprised. The attention she was getting and jealous looks mixed with evil glares where suffocating her. Before she could say anything, the lecturer arrived. The lecturer began the lecture.

Bai was sleeping, not that she was surprised.

'That explains why his grades are so poor,' she sighed and paid attention to the lecture.

Since Bai and her did the same courses, he sat next to her in all the classes. Even during lunch, he ditched his friends to look for her. He found her behind the chemistry lecture room playing and laughing with the small campus cat that was afraid of almost every student.

Every student except her.

Just like that, days passed and she began to tutor him. He was difficult at first, but eventually began to cooperate when she threatened him that she would tell Mr. Rong. Spending every Wednesday and Friday together made them develop a bond.

Since they had exchanged phone numbers, they sometimes met up to hang out. Although, it was hard for her to do at first because she considered herself too boring to hang out with, Bai thought the complete opposite.

"When I'm with you, I feel happy and relaxed," was what he told her.

When the tutoring month ended and the exams came up, Bai was ready. He didn't get excellent results, but his marks did improve drastically which pleased Mr. Rong.

"Thank you, Miss Xiuling. I knew you could do it," Mr. Rong clapped happily, "As promised, I will give you extra credits."

Now that the tutoring was over, Lai knew that there was no reason for her and Bai to hang out. It was not like they were friends. They were polar opposites belonging to different spectrums.

Although that was the case, her heart ached a little.

She hadn't heard from him for a long time. He avoided her in class and whenever he saw her. She was disappointed, but not surprised. After all, she was just there as his tutor and nothing else.

What made her so special to be next to someone like him?

One night as she was standing by the balcony of her dorm, she received a message from him. Her heart did a little jump upon seeing it.

"Meet me at Guantan Creak," was all it read.

She walked to her room and grabbed her jacket. She ran to Guantan Creak. Why she ran was beyond her. Perhaps she was overly excited at the thought of seeing him again.

"D-did you run here?" Bai asked flustered as he saw her crouching, panting and catching her breath.

She nodded and after a while stood up.

"Why did you want to meet me here?" she inquired, pressing her lips together.

Bai then walked towards her, causing her to back away from him because he was too close. She noticed that he looked hurt by her action.

"As I thought," he groaned, "you do hate me."

Her eyes widened.

"Why would I hate you?"

Bai looked down and away.

"Well, after the tutoring was over. I wondered if I could still hang out with you. I wanted to message you, but thought that would be too much. After all, you didn't exactly say we were friends. I then started to avoid you. I thought you would say something, but you didn't."

She gasped and stepped forward.

"I didn't say something because I thought you didn't want to hang out with me anymore," she explained, "After all, I'm just a nerd who's unpopular. What right do I have to be next to you?"

At her statement, he suddenly pulled her into his as and hugged her, catching her by surprise.

"I should be the one asking that," she heard him mumble, "This last month has been so fun for me. Being with you makes me feel peaceful. Please let me stay by your side, Lai. I really like you."

Her eyes widened and she lifted her hands in the air and wrapped them around him. He blinked in surprise.

"I like you too," she confessed.

Since then, they hung out almost every day and officially became a campus couple. At first, students hated their relationship due to jealousy and the sort. Eventually, they didn't care less after seeing how in love the two were.