Chapter 36: The First Meeting of Fan Xi and Ying Ziyun

By the time Xu Heng and the other three arrived at the location, several girls were already waiting at the entrance.

Dan Yuyue stepped onto the stairs with her long legs, fanning herself with her small hand, and complained, "Do you have any gentlemanly manners, making girls wait for you?"

She was wearing light makeup today, along with a light blue off-shoulder long dress; the beauty beneath the fabric was faintly discernible, giving her a feeling of being both pure and seductive.

Cheng Huaiyu had originally been a bit suspicious of her in his heart, but seeing her dressed so beautifully that she outshone everyone else, he immediately ran to her side and said with a chuckle, "Yueyue, you look really beautiful today."

"I should hope you wouldn't dare say your girlfriend doesn't look good." Dan Yuyue gave a cold snort, then saw Xu Heng standing behind Zhao Gaoyang, her brows slightly furrowed: "Are you Xu Heng?"

Although Xu Heng had changed quite a bit, almost making her fail to recognize him, she could guess who this person in a suit and leather shoes, looking like a boss, was by using the process of elimination.

Xu Heng nodded.

"Damn! How did you turn into a different person!" Dan Yuyue hissed, sucking in a breath of air.

When she saw Xu Heng last semester, he was still the type to wear solid-colored long sleeves with loose sweatpants, his hair unwashed for days, long and greasy—the typical image of a 2007 college student.

Today, however, he had undergone a transformation; his hair was cut to a medium-short length and styled in a very unique way, the lines of his face were highlighted to look clearer, and he wore a suit and trousers with a gold-rimmed watch of an unknown brand.

At first glance, Xu Heng didn't look like a peer coming to eat with them, but rather like an elder accompanying them.

"I told him this outfit was old-fashioned before we came out, but he wouldn't listen. Sigh, it's my fault for not persuading him," Zhao Gaoyang said with a sigh.

Dong Xinxin, with her round face, retorted, "I think it's quite handsome, it fits my aesthetic perfectly. Xu Heng, how about we try dating?"

Before she could finish speaking, Wang Yi, who was beside her, coughed and tugged at the hem of her clothes.

Only then did Dong Xinxin remember that a certain ex-girlfriend of Xu Heng was present, and that saying such things was inappropriate for the atmosphere, so she tactfully shut her mouth.

The scene suddenly became quite awkward; several people subconsciously looked at Ying Ziyun, who was standing expressionless at the very back of the girls' dormitory group, and then looked at Xu Heng, unable to help but sigh.

They had personally played matchmaker for this couple, and had also personally witnessed the process from their falling in love to their breakup.

Actually, it wasn't very appropriate to invite both of them to this gathering, but because Dan Yuyue on the girls' side was bold and fearless, desperately stoking the fire, and Zhao Gaoyang on the boys' side helped out, it led to the current situation.

Ying Ziyun glanced at Xu Heng twice, then, as if out of spite, shifted her gaze away without saying a word.

As for Xu Heng, he didn't even look at her; his attention was entirely drawn away by Dan Yuyue.

Just as Dan Yuyue was sizing him up, he was sizing up Dan Yuyue.

For no other reason than that she was wearing so little.

Looking at looks alone, Dan Yuyue couldn't compare to Ying Ziyun, but Ying Ziyun always went out wearing no makeup or just a bit of lipstick; her makeup skills were far inferior to Dan Yuyue's. Plus, with Dan Yuyue dressed so "coolly" today, Xu Heng couldn't help but take a few extra looks.

This scene was inadvertently seen by Ying Ziyun, and she sneered in her heart.

Very well, finding a new flame right after breaking up, and then openly peeking at someone else's girlfriend—the little bit of favorability she had recently felt for Xu Heng dropped by a large margin.

"Let's go in quickly, it's hot as hell out here," Dan Yuyue urged. "Zhao Gaoyang is treating us today, you're the leader, you take the lead."

Zhao Gaoyang, however, awkwardly scratched the back of his head: "There's still one person who hasn't arrived."

"Who? Isn't it just our two dorms?" Dong Xinxin asked curiously.

"Old Zhao's sweetheart hasn't arrived yet!" Cheng Huaiyu laughed.

"No, no, don't listen to Cheng Ge's nonsense," Zhao Gaoyang waved his hands repeatedly to deny it. "Just a friend."

This reaction made Dong Xinxin even more curious; could Zhao Gaoyang actually have a woman who likes him?

It wasn't that she was belittling Zhao Gaoyang, but Zhao Gaoyang was not handsome, his family had no money, and he had flaws in his personality; it would take a long time just to find a single bright spot on him.

What kind of girl could like Zhao Gaoyang? Dong Xinxin found it hard to imagine.

But soon, she knew what kind of girl it was.

A girl in a solid white dress, canvas shoes, and a red headband came running over, exhaling a turbid breath, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Fan Xi bowed slightly in apology, then straightened up, letting everyone see her full appearance.

Her skin was fair and delicate, her face like a lotus, her brows like willow leaves; her temperament was fresh and gentle, and she had a pair of expressive eyes.

It made people think of Jiang Nansun, played by Maggie Cheung in *Golden Years*.

The three of them, including Dan Yuyue, exclaimed "Holy crap" in their hearts, their eyes wide, unable to believe this girl had any connection to Zhao Gaoyang.

Did Zhao Gaoyang guard the Southern Heaven Gate for the Jade Emperor in his past life? To be able to pick up a fairy in this life?

Among the girls, only Ying Ziyun was stunned; although she was also surprised, she was mostly confused.

Last semester, she saw Xu Heng taking Fan Xi back to the girls' dormitory, and later heard Xu Heng on the phone with someone, subconsciously assuming the person on the other end was Fan Xi. But now, she was told Fan Xi was the one Zhao Gaoyang was pursuing. So what about Xu Heng? Who was the girlfriend Xu Heng found?

It couldn't be that he found a girlfriend outside of school, could it? Or was it that she really misheard that time, and the person Xu Heng was talking to on the phone was his younger sister, and he said "older brother" instead of "husband"?

Ying Ziyun's thoughts were a bit chaotic.

"Let me introduce her. This is the Class Monitor of our Chinese Language Class 3, Fan Xi," Zhao Gaoyang consciously acted as the middleman to introduce them to both sides. "This is Cheng Ge's girlfriend Dan Yuyue, then her roommates Dong Xinxin and Wang Yi, and finally this is Ying Ziyun, Xu Heng's ex-girlfriend, you know her."

"Alright, stop introducing, let's hurry in. If we're any later, there won't be any seats left," Dan Yuyue said impatiently.

She had been full of confidence that she would outshine everyone at this meal and become the most eye-catching girl, but her thunder was stolen by Fan Xi, who had appeared halfway through.

This made her feel somewhat unhappy and depressed.

However, as soon as she said this, the others echoed her.

The group of nine, divided into different small cliques, walked into the hotel chatting with each other.

In the front were Dan Yuyue, Cheng Huaiyu, and Zhao Gaoyang; in the middle, Dong Xinxin and Wang Yi were whispering; Sheng Bo was playing with his phone by himself.

At the very back, Xu Heng, Ying Ziyun, and Fan Xi formed a triangular formation.

Ying Ziyun didn't want to talk to Xu Heng, so she approached Fan Xi; she still held great doubts about Fan Xi's identity.

"What is your relationship with Zhao Gaoyang?"

Fan Xi didn't seem to expect Ying Ziyun to approach her for a chat: "Fellow classmates? Why?"

"Just classmates?"

"Not entirely. Zhao Gaoyang pursued me, but I rejected him," Fan Xi said with a gentle smile.

Hearing her answer, Ying Ziyun stopped in her tracks and stared at her intently.

"Then what is your relationship with Xu Heng?"