Xing Tuo suppressed the urge to roll his eyes: “Every day girls tell me they like me and want to date me. If I agreed to all of them, wouldn’t I be overwhelmed!” He then turned and left the rooftop, leaving Li Na standing there at a loss.
“Goodbye, cute junior!” Lei Xi maintained his unchanging smile.
At the corner of the rooftop stairs, Xia Qianqi, moving quickly, almost collided with Xing Tuo coming down.
Xing Tuo coldly curved his lips: “Today I’ve only met annoying people!” Then he walked past her.
“Xing Tuo!” Xia Qianqi turned and walked up to block his path.
Xing Tuo coldly stared at Xia Qianqi standing before him, saying nothing.
Xia Qianqi ignored him, staring directly at Xing Tuo: “Why are you doing this?”
Xing Tuo coldly glanced at her: “What am I doing?”
She coldly returned his gaze: “You know in your heart!”
Xing Tuo leaned down, softly breathing in her ear: “I. Don’t. Understand.”
Xia Qianqi took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, patiently saying: “I know you hate me, but please don’t take it out on others! If you have any grievances, come at me directly! I’ll do anything you want, just please leave him alone!”
Xing Tuo sneered: “You’re thinking too highly of yourself, Xia Qianqi!”
Qian Zhi finally found the swimming pool he mentioned, only to find it completely empty. She stood by the poolside looking around; the pool surface was calm and still. She sighed and was about to leave when suddenly someone jumped out of the pool. Qian Zhi was startled and instinctively stepped back, fell to the ground. Only then did she realize the tall figure in swimming trunks was Xing Tuo!
Xing Tuo shook his wet hair and, without even looking at her, said, “Bring me the towel over there!”
Qian Zhi touched her elbow, which was sore from the fall, stood up, taking the large towel nearby and handing it to him. He draped the towel over himself and lay down on the beach chair, saying casually, “You can go now,” and then closed his eyes to rest.
Qian Zhi was about to turn and leave when she heard Xing Tuo’s voice. “Come earlier next time. I’ve been waiting too long!”
Without turning back, her expressionless face remained calm: “I understand.”
Qian Zhi slowly walked out of the club.
The sky was already dark, and she took a deep breath looking at the gloomy sky.
Just as she was about to change into slippers after entering her home, her phone rang. She stopped changing and pulled out her phone: “This is Xia Qian Zhi.”
“It’s me,” Xing Tuo’s voice came through: “I left a math book at school. Go get it for me. I’m at home.”
Qian Zhi frowned; this was clearly an unreasonable request. At this hour, the school was already closed.
“What? Now?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
She bit her lip and resignedly said, “No. I understand.”
Qian Zhi put her shoes back on and told her mother in the kitchen, “Mom, I forgot a book at school. I’m going back to get it now.”
Xia Xin Wei came out of the kitchen with a bowl, saying, “What book is so important? It’s so late. Can’t you wait until tomorrow?”
“No, it’s a very important book. I have an exam tomorrow and need to study tonight,” Qian Zhi said, her face slightly reddening.
“Oh, is that so? Then go quickly and come back soon, or the food will get cold,” Xia Xin Wei advised.
“Don’t wait for me. Go ahead and eat,” Qian Zhi said as she left.
Xia Qian Zhi walked alone on the road to Xing Tuo’s house. The night had completely fallen, and the dim streetlights stretched her lonely figure. It had been a long time since she’d been here; everything was as quiet as before, but this quietness felt somewhat scary in the late autumn night. Tree shadows swayed, and the wind shuttled between the trees.
She suddenly became afraid, though she knew behind these trees were garden villas. What flashed in her mind were scenes from ghost movies she’d watched before. Although she didn’t believe in ghosts, she couldn’t control her fear. She unconsciously quickened her pace and then started running.
Breathless, she stood at the brightly lit Xing family gate and rang the doorbell. As before, Li Ma came to open the door. Seeing Qian Zhi looking panicked, she thought something had happened and asked in surprise, “Miss Qian Zhi, what’s wrong?”
“I just thought that having a girlfriend at school wouldn’t be bad, to avoid being harassed by those stupid girls all the time.” “You mean you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?” “You could say that.” Qian Zhi said: “No, I refuse!” Xing Tuo looked at her and said: “Do you have the right to refuse?” “But, don’t you hate me? And, I am… with you…” She paused, then continued: “If you want to get a girlfriend, it would surely be easy, so why do you need me to pretend?” Xing Tuo laughed: “Isn’t that boring?” Qian Zhi coldly said: “No, I can’t do it!” Xing Tuo put away his smile, returning to his original coldness, and said: “I’m not asking for your opinion. I’m officially telling you that starting tomorrow, at school, we are in a romantic relationship!” “You…” Qian Zhi glared at him angrily, unable to speak.
The Porsche glided smoothly on the road, with an unusual silence inside the car. Xia Qianxi’s lips were tightly pressed, her eyes fixed on the window, her expression indifferent. Xing Tuo, however, seemed to be in a good mood, with a subtle smile constantly on his face. Suddenly, a pleasant phone ringtone broke the silence. Xing Tuo answered: “It’s me! … Okay!” He hung up, casually parked the car on the road, and said to Qianxi: “Alright, you can get out now!”
Xia Qianxi glanced at the road signs and markers and said calmly: “It doesn’t seem like a place where you can get off.”
Their position was right in the middle of three roads, with a straight and wide road surface, surrounded by rushing cars. It was clearly not a place to stop. If she were to cross the road, the chance of being hit would definitely be 100%!
Xing Tuo revealed a mocking expression and said: “Aren’t you brave? Can’t you cross a simple road? Don’t tell me you’re expecting me to take you home?”
Qianxi was speechless with anger and could only say: “Then please take me back to school!”
Xing Tuo sneered: “Forget it. Just letting you sit in my car is already a favor. I still need to wash the car!”
Qianxi tried to control her voice to hide any anger: “It seems like you were the one who wanted me to get in the car, not the other way around!”
Xing Tuo said carelessly: “Yes! But now, I want you to get out!”
“What if I don’t?”
Xing Tuo challenged: “Oh? Are you sure?”
“You…”
Three seconds later, a girl in uniform with a schoolbag stood by the busy road, as a bright red Porsche sped away. She slowly walked along the roadside, surrounded by cars whooshing past. The setting sun quietly shone on her, casting a stubborn shadow on the ground.
When she got home, it was completely dark. Her mother’s worried face and a table of slightly cooled food awaited her. Facing her mother’s concerned gaze, the lies she had prepared couldn’t be spoken.
Qianxi could only say: “Mom, if I’m late next time, just eat without waiting for me!”
Xia Xinwei agreed: “Mom knows you’re busy studying, but don’t exhaust yourself!”
A sense of guilt arose, and she lowered her head: “I’m sorry.”
Xia Xinwei smiled: “What are you talking about! Silly girl!”
Xia Qianzi helplessly said: “Qiqi, now is really not the time to talk, we’re about to have class!”
“Not the time? Do you know your current situation? You’ve become the public enemy of all girls, do you know that? They don’t know you’re Xing Tuo’s sister!” Tang Qiqi said anxiously, feeling angry thinking about those naive fangirls.
Qianzi calmly said: “Whatever they think, I don’t care.”
Tang Qiqi glared at her: “It’s not about whether you care or not, but your situation is dangerous! Women’s jealousy is truly terrifying!”
