Chapter 22: The Future Daughter-in-Law

Huh~

Another stir broke out in the crowd; the information in that statement was clearly greater, and everyone’s gazes began to change.

The two of them chatted among themselves, clearly affectionate, completely ignoring Li Dingkang as they prepared to leave.

“Xu Qingzhou, if you’re a man, let’s compete fairly!” Li Dingkang reached out to block the slender boy beside Song Yao, his face dark with rage. He had spent this entire time folding roses, hoping to surprise Song Yao, only for some outsider to crash the scene.

Song Yao was who? She’d never had much contact with boys—how could she possibly be dating someone?

So he called two close buddies, and together they worked until midnight, finally finishing the flowers ahead of schedule, planning to make another heartfelt confession—even if it failed, at least she’d accept his feelings, and everything else could be worked out.

“Yeah, fair competition.”

“If you’re a man, accept the challenge. So what if he’s just a better student? What’s so impressive?”

The crewcut guy behind Li Dingkang chimed in.

“Has it affected you?” Song Yao pressed her lips together and turned to look at him.

Read!

"Let's go." He had lost all his pride, had no face to stay, and slunk away with the bouquet.

Ding Jiahui’s eyes sparkled with excitement—she was sure these two would end up together. Guo Ziyan felt a tinge of admiration, imagining when he might ever have a moment of glory like Xu Qingzhou.

With no more spectacle to watch, the crowd began to disperse. Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao walked side by side out of the school gate.

Song Yao quickened her pace slightly to match Xu Qingzhou’s, her voice cool and clear: “I’m the same.”

“Look, that’s Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao.”

“They really do look good together—I’m shipping them.”

Aside from studying, this summer, he and Song Yao had become “bound” together.

Guo Ziyan muttered a silent curse and shifted his steps closer to Xu Qingzhou—these guys were notoriously arrogant and violent, always getting into fights.

Just as Guo Ziyan was about to ask Xu Qingzhou where he’d learned that skill, Ding Jiahui grabbed his arm: “Use some sense—don’t ruin the mood!”

“Oh.” Guo Ziyan nodded. He and Xu Qingzhou weren’t heading the same way anyway—they’d part at this intersection. Seeing Ding Jiahui was walking with him, he frowned: “You’re taking a detour from here.”

Li Dingkang was left speechless, cursing under his breath as a fool, yet still felt uneasy—he hadn’t expected elite class students to be this ruthless, especially that old hag Liu Ying, who’d already called his parents and warned that further harassment would lead to expulsion.

He smiled sweetly at the crewcut guy: “I’ll go get Director Liu. Want to repeat what you just said to her?”

Ding Jiahui walked backward, still able to see Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao, saying: “I don’t know if she likes him, but from what I know, Yao Yao treats Xu Qingzhou differently from everyone else.”

“Song Yao really likes Zhouzi?” Guo Ziyan was stunned. That morning, Xu Qingzhou had slapped his chest and sworn to him they had absolutely no relationship. Passersby glanced at them, their eyes lingering, whispering quietly.

!.

Today, the weather was fine; brilliant sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell upon the girl, making the strands of hair at her forehead glow softly.

Ding Jiahui sighed, paused, then added: “I did it all to give your buddy a chance. I don’t care—you owe me an ice cream.”

Guo Ziyan nodded, but suddenly realized something was off.

The girl’s eyes were clear and round, like the spring sky—pure enough to stir the heart. Xu Qingzhou shook his head, unconcerned: “No, it’s just rumors. I haven’t lost anything.”

Xu Qingzhou smiled confidently, showing no fear, staring at Li Dingkang: “What, still pissed? Let’s settle this right now—draw a line and fight.”

Li Dingkang’s face turned purple as a liver; he clenched his fists threateningly, and the two men behind him glared at Xu Qingzhou with equal hostility.

“But… that just confirmed the rumors in class.”

“Just now… thanks.” Song Yao whispered. Seeing Xu Qingzhou about to step forward to help her, she decided to act first—after all, if Xu Qingzhou showed up himself, it might escalate things, and she feared he’d get hurt.

Xu Qingzhou looked at them like they were idiots, turned, walked up to Li Dingkang, and said bluntly: “Are you mentally ill? Can’t you understand? The girl said she doesn’t like you—why are you still clinging like a sticky plaster?”

“Envy much~”

“Wait, even if he is dating, why am I buying you ice cream?!” “Don’t focus on the details~”

Xu Qingzhou suddenly realized that, with his rebirth, his life’s trajectory had undergone a complete transformation.

Xu Qingzhou stretched lazily in the sunlight, not giving it another thought: “We’re classmates, after all. How can we let boys from other classes bully a girl?”

In the sunlight, beneath the shade, two youthful figures walked side by side—perhaps the most cherished moment for these emotionally naive high schoolers.

He’d wanted to tease Song Yao—after all, she was his “future bride”—but their current relationship made that inappropriate.

Xu Qingzhou didn’t think much of it; knowing Song Yao as he did, if she said she didn’t care, she truly didn’t.

Neither spoke, walking in silence. They’d already noticed Guo Ziyan and Ding Jiahui slipping away quietly behind them.

Sunlight, pedestrians, old streets, weathered walls… and two young people standing silently in the dappled light.

Everything felt just right.

(End of Chapter)