Chapter 8
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"Peanut sandwich for breakfast? Made it myself~"
"Hate PE? No problem—I'll pay for a substitute teacher next semester."
"Sweetie, want to enter that competition? Just chill—I'll submit your name."
Despite my relentless pursuit, Cersei Wright didn't bite. Danny Lawrence, however, came to rain on my parade.
【You're using Cersei Wright's ID to enter competitions?】
【What's it to you?】
I turned off my phone, but seconds later my computer was hacked. When I rebooted, all my competition materials had vanished.
【Seriously, Danny Lawrence, what the hell?】
【If you use her ID and lose, she'll lose her scholarship next semester.】
【So what?】
【I can win.】
I was livid.
What was this—competing with me for the heroine?
Surprisingly, a month later, Cersei Wright won the national award.
Her social media, dormant for six months, suddenly featured a photo of her receiving the award alongside a candid shot of Danny Lawrence sleeping.
Caption: 【The one I owe everything to.】
Comments flooded in immediately.
【OMG, the school bad boy and the poor scholarship girl? Straight out of a romance novel!】
【This is literally my "Bad Boy Falls for Nerdy Girl" fantasy come true.】
【Can't even be mad—he's too damn hot.】
I stared at my screen. Danny Lawrence and Cersei Wright... were together?
This time, Henry Growth joined our bar outing.
Sansa Woods looked between us, clearly exasperated.
"First time I've seen someone bring their fake boyfriend out so boldly."
I wanted to crawl into a hole.
"We have a purely financial relationship now."
Henry Growth wailed. "I don't want your money! I only want Cersei!"
"What kind of financial arrangement is this exactly?" Sansa Woods asked.
"He's tutoring me on Cersei Wright's interests and hobbies."
"Class is canceled!" Henry Growth snapped.
What a jerk. I could cry just hearing this.
Sansa Woods frowned. "So Danny Lawrence is dating your crush?"
Henry Growth looked murderous. "Yes! He's a goddamn homewrecker!"
"And you?" Sansa Woods turned to me. "Why are you heartbroken?"
"I wanted Cersei Wright too. She's exactly like a novel heroine."
"What about Henry Growth?"
"I thought he was the hero type."
Sansa Woods shook her head. "I want my novel subscription back. Those books are rotting your brain."
I glumly raised my carrot juice, still served by the puppy-eyed boy.
"Why are you so obsessed with these hero and heroine types?" he asked.
I considered this. "It's my destiny as the protagonist of this world." Just like my mother.
The puppy boy wagged his finger. "No one is the protagonist of the world."
I frowned. "Then how does anyone find true love?"
The puppy boy laughed. "You're funny. I don't know about true love, but love... it's like sitting beside a fireplace."
"How could anyone sitting next to a fire not feel its warmth? We just overlook it sometimes."
I sort of understood, yet didn't.
Could there really be something a protagonist doesn't understand? Could I actually be the villain?
"Danny Lawrence?"
Sansa Woods said in surprise.
Danny Lawrence had arrived. We locked eyes.
This time, Danny Lawrence didn't approach. His cold gaze swept over me and Henry Growth before he headed to his friends' booth.
Behind him trailed Cersei Wright in a white dress.
"I've lost," Henry Growth whispered.
