Chapter 21.2

Tang Wan asked, “Who?”

“Who else but Shen Chen Chen? The one who always has nothing better to do than to hover around Gu Jing Yuan.”

Shen Chen Chen did not expect to meet Tao Yi Xi here. She quickened her steps towards them. 

“Yi Xi, what a coincidence!”

“It is.”

Shen Chen Chen glanced around but did not spot the person she wanted to see, “Where’s Jing Yuan?”

“He isn’t with me today.”

“Ah, I see…” Her tone contained a hint of disappointment.

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Mys Zk Dk alrzkle, “Elzz, R esd’v vbkdj vbyv’p vbl nypl.”

But what Shen Chen Chen evaluated was not unreasonable. She, too, had not seen other girls around him. 

Shen Chen Chen could not figure it out, “Then it doesn’t make sense at all.”

Cai Li Ling interjected, “That means he just doesn’t like your type.”

“What did you say?” Shen Chen Chen glared at her, as her expression sank.

At that moment, Cai Li Ling just brainlessly blurted those words out. Everyone likes Gu Jing Yuan, but only Shen Chen Chen dared to candidly chase after him. It caused others to become jealous. However, seeing that she was unable to capture him, they were secretly happy.

Sometimes, the thoughts circulating in a girl’s mind were just that despicable.

If I’m unable to get it, then it’s best that no one else is able to get it. 

But Cai Li Ling was also cowardly. As she was always on the front lines munching on melon seeds, she managed to hear numerous rumors regarding Shen Chen Chen. Things like engaging in fights, smoking, drinking, and patronizing places like bars. From the sound of it, it was just like some syndicate. To a student, like herself, who was still living under a protected ivory tower of the school, the ever rampant Shen Chen Chen, terrified her.

“Nothing. But it doesn’t change the fact that what I said is true.” Her second sentence was muttered under her breath. 

“Oi, if you have something to say, then say it out loud. The hell you pretending for?” Shen Chen Chen had a short fuse. Additionally, since she socialized with so many types of people outside, how could she not tell what this female student was trying to do? 

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. As Tao Yi Xi was the only one that knew both parties, she had to be the middleman to mediate the situation between them.

“Chen Chen, please sit down. With the waiters hurrying about, they might accidentally spill the porridge onto you. Actually, Li Ling might be right. Gu Jing Yuan might have a unique taste hence, he doesn’t like the good-looking type of girls.”

As soon as Gu Jing Yuan was mentioned, Shen Chen Chen’s attention was immediately shifted away.

Her expression became complicated, “Then he likes ugly ones?”

Tao Yi Xi continued to smear Gu Jing Yuan without any qualms, “Otherwise, how does one explain why he doesn’t even pay a single attention to such a beautiful girl like yourself? In fact, he even said that I was just average.” 

The other three girls looked at her in shock. No one with a normal sense of aesthetics would say that Tao Yi Xi was average-looking.

Shen Chen Chen fell into deep contemplation. According to Tao Yi Xi’s logic, it seemed to make sense.

It was easy to be beautiful, but who would say that they have experience with turning ugly?

Seeing that Shen Chen Chen was seriously pondering her words, Tao Yi Xi continued to persuade her, “There are so many good-looking boys out there. Chen Chen, you’re so pretty, so you’ll definitely find someone better than Gu Jing Yuan.”

Shen Chen Chen shook her head, “But Jing Yuan is different. He saved me before.”

The spoon of congee paused in Tao Yi Xi’s hand, “You mean?”

“Previously, I went to a bar and was harassed by some dude. Jing Yuan was the one who rescued me. He didn’t even need to lift a finger and the person cowardly scurried away. That whole scenario was too cool!”

“Oh, so that was what happened,” Tao Yi Xi’s eyes lowered, and somehow her chest felt a little stuffy. 

How many girls had he saved thus far? How… heroic of him.

Shen Chen Chen was still recalling how handsome Gu Jing Yuan was that day. Zhou Zhi could not help but sigh after listening to her story, “Isn’t this just like a beginning of a love story between the school tyrant and the school flower in those campus novels?”

“But the current school flower is Tao Yi Xi.”

Cai Li Ling could not bear to remain silent; shooting off her mouth needlessly. 

Everyone fell silent.

Tao Yi Xi put down the spoon in her hand, “Everyone has different standards of beauty, I just happened to be aesthetically pretty to the majority.”

Shen Chen Chen did not mind, staring at Tao Yi Xi’s facial features, “You’re, indeed, prettier than me. If the title of the school flower is taken by you, I’m okay with it.”

Tao Yi Xi gave a polite smile as she prepared to head to the cashier to pay for their food.

Shen Chen Chen took a few more quick bites before departing first.

Zhou Zhi saw that Tao Yi Xi only ate so little and could not help but coaxed, “Why did you only eat so little?”

“I can’t eat anymore.”

“At least, take two more bites or you’ll be hungry in the afternoon.”

“It’s okay. When my period comes, I usually don’t have much appetite.”

Zhou Zhi patted her head in distress, “But that’s not good for the stomach. I’ll go and buy a bit of snack for you.” 

“There’s no need to trouble you for that.”

“We’re friends! Where’s the trouble in that, you just wait here for me.” 

Another person’s sincerity towards oneself could be easily perceived.

Tai Yi Xi could feel Zhou Zhi’s meticulous care towards her. There was no other reason, other than simply because she was her friend.

A friend… This was the first time she experienced such a thing.

Returning to class, she was surprised to spot Gu Jing Yuan already back in his seat.

She thought that she would have to spend some energy trying to dig him out from who knows where. Having saved her from this additional step, she could thank him for being so well behaved. 

Seeing the light bruising above his open neckline, she thought of Shen Chen Chen’s words.

These bruises were not worthy of her concern. Perhaps, he had long been accustomed to it.

She laid lethargically on the desk, not wanting to talk to him.

From her seat, Zhou Zhi retrieved something and placed it on Tao Yi Xi’s desk. This caused Gu Jing Yuan to look away from his phone and glance at the package.

Several vintage-style packets reading – Ginger Brown Sugar.

“My mother brought it over from our hometown. Every time I feel uncomfortable, I’ll brew this and it’ll make me feel much better. I had some stashed away in school, so here you go. I still have more at home if you finished these.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem, then, you have a good rest.”

Tao Yi Xi laid obediently on her stomach, like a well-behaved kitten, “umm.”

Gu Jing Yuan looked at her indifferently. Overhearing her reply, he felt a wave of inexplicable anger rising from within.

‘Have a good rest?’

She was a ruthless person who drinks coffee at twelve every night.

Her well-behaved actions sure could trick others. He had a hunch that she would not let herself rest early tonight either.

Originally, Zhou Zhi wanted to brew it for Tao Yi Xi but she was called away by the teacher. Since she was a member of the cultural and entertainment committee, she was responsible for discussing the topic of the day with the teacher before it was written on the blackboard.

So before she left, she did not forget to remind Tao Yi Xi, “Yi Xi, remember to drink it.”

“Umm, I will.”

After saying that, Gu Jing Yuan waited and waited but she showed no signs of moving to do so. She continued laying there, fast asleep. 

Her side profile was facing him. At this close distance, he could see that her skin was really flawless. White and translucent, that the slight dark circles under her eyes became even more conspicuous and her thick eyelashes cast a light shadow underneath. Her nose bridge was high and her mouth was tightly pursed. Completely different from her usually gentle smile. When she slept, she looked defenseless, giving a sense of distant detachment.

Not knowing what she was dreaming about her brows were slightly scrunched together as if she was uncomfortable. This caused others to feel distressed on her behalf. 

Unbeknownst to himself, his brows had also furrowed.

However, it was extremely clear to Qi Yue, who was in the back row; his heart skipped a beat.

Something was up with Brother Yuan!

Even if he had never eaten pork, he had seen a pig run¹A person might not have personal experience in the particular situation/aspect, but have at least seen, heard, or understood the situation..

This gaze was not one someone should be having when looking at their sister.

Qi Yue gulped. Was he about to witness an unparalleled romance?

He leaned forward and poked Gu Jing Yuan’s back with a pen.

“Brother Yuan, please sober up, incest is illegal.”

Gu Jing Yuan frowned indifferently at him, “Are you crazy?”

Qi Yue, “???”

He was extremely wronged! He sincerely warned Gu Jing Yuan but suffered a personal attack instead! 

Gu Jing Yuan lowly murmured to himself, “How could I possibly like her?”

She was the daughter of the woman he hated the most.

But it was only recently that he discovered that she was completely different from her mother.

She was clearly a separate individual.

His eyes were once again glued to her face. The sunlight shining in through the window was slightly glaring. Yet, when it shone onto her face, it covered her cheeks in a layer of golden velvet light making her look extremely lovely.

But it seemed that the sunray caused her discomfort as she hid her face within her arms, preventing him from continuing his observation.

Unsatisfied, he pursed his lips before turning to instruct Qi Yue, “Qi Yue, shut the curtain behind you.”

Qi Yue stared at his newly started game and without raising his head, he replied, “But it’ll be dark if the curtains are drawn. It’s not bad to leave it open.”

With a stretch of his long arm, Gu Jing Yuan grabbed his phone.

“Ah, ah, ah! I was on a killing spree, damn it!”

“f*ck, keep it down. You draw the curtains and I’ll carry you for the next round.”

Qi Yue’s eyes lit up, “I want to reach the rank!”

“Fine.”

“Hee hee…” Qi Yue happily went to close the curtains.

Unfortunately, she did not return to her previous state of rest.

Tao Yi Xi was still awakened by the teacher’s lecturing voice.

She groggily rubbed her eyes and he noticed her movement immediately.

“Awake?”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” When she woke up, her tone carried a bit of temper, but it felt like she was pouting.

“I’m afraid to cause your sudden death.”

“…” Shut up if you don’t know how to speak.

As she managed to sleep longer, she felt more refreshed this time around. Because she just woke up, her mouth was a little dry. Thus she reached for her thermos and twist the cap off. The strong scent of ginger and brown sugar whiffed into her nose. 

She remembered that she was too tired to brew the tea before she took her nap. Thinking back, Zhou Zhi most probably returned and help her brew it.

The tea was still boiling hot. She held the bottle and blew on its surface a few times before taking a sip.

Very hot.

She exposed her little tongue and sucked in the cool air, but her heart was filled with warmth.

Zhi Zhi was so nice to her.

Gu Jing Yuan squinted his eyes and pretended to casually observe her movements. He frowned when he saw that she scalded herself. But seeing her hugging the thermos with a slight lift of the corners of her lips, he was instantly placed in a better mood.

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LOL I think our Yi Xi was feeling a little jelly back there…