Chapter 89: (Seek First Subscription!) Yes, I Can

This may be cruel, but that’s how things are.

Ding Jiahui and Guo Zi’s relationship had grown much closer, but from Xu Qingzhou’s observation, Ding Jiahui seemed to view Guo Zi more as a buddy—someone she could talk to about anything, yet never as a romantic partner.

She might have feelings for Guo Zi, might rely on him, but if it came to dating, she would very likely pull back.

“Then what should I do?” Guo Zi suddenly snapped to attention—right, he was definitely no match for a paper-thin character.

Xu Qingzhou thought for a moment and suggested: “Treat him as a regular friend. Don’t show any romantic intentions. Let time slowly breed affection—let her feel your presence.”

“Make her realize on her own that you matter.”

Guo Zi pondered, nodded slightly, and found it feasible: “Like you and Song Yao?”

With Ding Jiahui clinging to his arm, Guo Zi’s heart pounded wildly; all he could do was scratch his head and grin foolishly.

Read!{

“Yes, perfect timing for the holiday.” Xu Qingzhou nodded, frowning slightly—he couldn’t shake the feeling that the two girls beside Tian Shuang held strong hostility toward him.

Guo Zi waved his hand inwardly grumbling: I’m right here, a full-grown man! How can you only see Xu Qingzhou?!

But she didn’t want to admit it was her own fault, so she pulled Guo Zi close and retorted: “Who says that? I know Guo Zi isn’t like that!”

“Is it really you?!” Tian Shuang’s tone held profound surprise—and delight.

Downstairs, the two boys fell silent. Xu Qingzhou was thinking about Song Yao; Guo Zi was wallowing in self-pity, convinced his romantic path was too rocky.

Seeing Xu Qingzhou pull out his phone, Song Yao raised an eyebrow, thinking: You’re not doing this because of old classmates—you’re just hungry for Xu Qingzhou’s body! Ding~ “I’ve added you. Let’s stay in touch.”

“Huh? Xu Qingzhou?”

“Better ignore guys like him.”

“Shuang’er, what’s so great about that guy?”

As she spoke, Tian Shuang’s gaze grew wistful. “Yes, I haven’t used QQ in a long time.”

Laughing and chatting, the four of them arrived at the nearby mall.

But they two were tangled, unable to untangle.

The two girls walked arm in arm, full of enthusiasm; Xu Qingzhou and Guo Zi, two big guys, trailed behind like attendants, both inwardly exasperated—girls were truly strange: they didn’t buy anything, yet stared at everything with such intensity.

At 5:30, they ate hotpot in the mall.

“Jerk?” Tian Shuang scrolled through Xu Qingzhou’s Moments—but found nothing.

“Who was that girl just now?” Ding Jiahui couldn’t help asking. This dorm building housed students from other colleges besides their Law School.

Tian Shuang nodded stiffly. Song Yao was too dazzling; before such a girl, the gap was too vast to even spark a sense of competition.

Meeting Tian Shuang was just a minor detour. The four of them continued toward the school gate.

“I don’t know, but Xu Qingzhou isn’t that kind of person—it must be a misunderstanding.”

!.

“Wait, add me on WeChat. We’re old classmates—easier to keep in touch. Last time I added you on QQ, didn’t you forget to accept?”

Downstairs, seeing the group had already walked far away, one girl asked: “Shuang’er, how do you know that jerk?”

After finishing shopping, they went to the arcade to kill time.

Xu Qingzhou rolled his eyes: “No way. My heart’s cemented shut. Song Yao and I are just friends.”

Ding Jiahui paused, realizing it might actually be true.

“I don’t have a boyfriend. The guy last time? Just a friend who came with me to drop something off.”

“Xu Qingzhou.” A cool, clear voice rang out. “.”

Xu Qingzhou smiled and nodded: “Long time no see.”

At 7 p.m., they parted at the subway station entrance.

Tian Shuang and the others’ gazes were drawn to two approaching figures—more precisely, the girl on the left.

“No, it sounds more like cheating.” The girl on the left corrected.

At that moment, a surprised voice sounded behind them.

The two girls chattered back and forth; Tian Shuang interrupted: “He’s my junior high classmate—he’s not like that.”

Xu Qingzhou and Guo Zi turned to see three girls standing behind them; the middle one, a short-haired girl, held books and stared at them both.

“But you were just joining us in condemning him.”

Song Yao stopped beside Xu Qingzhou, gave Tian Shuang a slight nod, then turned to Xu Qingzhou and said: “Let’s go.”

“We haven’t seen each other in months, right?” Tian Shuang stepped in front of Xu Qingzhou and the others.

“Tian Shuang, we have something else to do—we’ll be going now.” Xu Qingzhou said.

He marveled that art truly imitated life—just as written: men always took things for granted after getting them. Song Yao had just begun showing interest in Xu Qingzhou, and already he was surrounded by drama.

Tian Shuang seemed unwilling to continue the topic, turned to Guo Zi, and asked: “Are you here to see Guo Zi?”

Tian Shuang’s current style differed from how Xu Qingzhou remembered her—she wore makeup, dressed more elegantly, in a hoodie and ultra-short jeans, quite attractive. “March already? And your boyfriend?”

Tian Shuang smiled brightly: “I happened to be free this afternoon—if you don’t mind, maybe...”

Xu Qingzhou had no reply—Song Yao had once coldly declared she wouldn’t date until after university, and he himself had declared his heart cemented shut.

Song Yao also looked at Xu Qingzhou, waiting for his explanation.

“Lousy.”

Guo Zi scowled.

“Fine.”

“Tian Shuang?” Xu Qingzhou was slightly surprised—what a small world, meeting a junior high classmate here.

“I’m not blind—you two are already dressed like a couple.”

“My junior high classmate.”

“Shuxiang Square,” another girl said. “We were just talking about this guy—he’s rumored to be dating two girls at once.”

Although Guo Zi had previously said Xu Qingzhou had a girlfriend who was very beautiful, that had just been Guo Zi’s description—he hadn’t taken it seriously then. But now, seeing her in person, she realized Guo Zi’s words had been woefully inadequate.

Song Yao’s attention was suddenly drawn to Ding Jiahui’s behavior; her eyes darkened, lost in thought.

“No contact info with your junior high classmate?” Ding Jiahui remained skeptical.

Xu Qingzhou sighed: “Ding Jiahui, do you see every guy as a villain?”

“Wait.” As Xu Qingzhou and the others stepped forward, Tian Shuang’s voice called out again.

Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao walked into the subway station together. Now, a small panda, palm-sized, sat atop Song Yao’s white purse, bouncing with each step she took.

Finding seats, Xu Qingzhou exhaled deeply: “What a tiring day.”

Song Yao happily clutched the plush toy Xu Qingzhou had struggled for hours to win. “It’s because you never exercise—you get tired after walking just a few steps.”

Xu Qingzhou had no rebuttal—he truly couldn’t match Song Yao in physical stamina.

(End of Chapter)