Chapter 106: Here Comes an Ultraman

Nan Guangchang, as time passed, the temperature kept dropping, the wind carried a biting chill that seeped into clothing from all directions. Xia Xi was dressed lightly, her calves shivering from the cold.

At first, the onlooking students packed the square so tightly not even water could seep through; later, people came and went, and later still, everyone lost their patience for the show while waiting, and those who left never came back.

Only a scattered few dozen people remained, all stubborn individuals waiting to see an outcome.

Xia Xi's roommate felt sorry for her, brought her a thick wool scarf to wrap around her exposed shoulders, and tried to persuade: "It's blown up this big; Xu Yanfeng should have known you're waiting for him by now—if he hasn't come, he won't come."

"Xi Xi, let's go back; it's not worth ruining your health from the cold."

"Yeah, we have class tomorrow; Professor Li Zongyu's class is no joke."

Xia Xi felt grateful to them, but she wouldn't give up easily. She pulled the scarf tighter on her shoulders, exhaled gently, and gave them a faint smile: "You don't need to keep me company; go back now."

They sighed, knowing they couldn't persuade her and hating to leave her, so they stayed to keep her company.

"Listen to me, go back." Xia Xi reached out to push them, "Don't worry, I'm not stubborn enough to wait all night. I'll head back when the dorm is about to lock up—I can't sleep out here, right?"

While speaking, Xia Xi kept smiling, trying hard to show her roommates she was fine and they needn't worry. But they weren't fooled—they'd seen her genuine happy smile before.

Xia Xi was clearly forcing a smile, like wearing a fake laughter mask; her true emotions lay hidden behind it—sadness, loss, fragility, helplessness.

Don't let her usual fiery, carefree demeanor fool you; she seems never to be knocked down by anything.

Impossible—no matter how strong someone is in this world, they have moments of weakness.

"How about this: we'll keep you company for another half hour." Zhao Lei exchanged a glance with her two other roommates, stood up, and proposed, "When the half hour is up, we'll head back right away."

Xia Xi couldn't argue, so she had to go along with them.

The cold wind howled, her carefully styled hair was blown into disarray, Xia Xi looked around; while she talked with her roommates, another group of onlookers passed by, leaving only a handful behind.

Someone couldn't stand it, cupped hands around their mouth like a megaphone, and shouted at her: "Xia Xi, go back! Senior Xu won't come!"

Xia Xi heard it but paid no attention.

In Sushe 503, Fang Huaiyuan and Yu Tingbo, who had been out wandering, returned, joined by Chen Mian; the three put their heads together and occasionally broadcast the latest news about Xia Xi.

"It's already past nine, and Xia Xi still hasn't left."

"Nan Guangchang is windy from all sides; she's dressed so thinly, she must be frozen solid."

"I heard even those waiting to see her embarrass herself couldn't bear it, urging her to stop waiting and go back early."

"Sigh, I have a premonition of how those people will attack her tomorrow."

Xu Yanfeng had just finished replying to emails, was leafing through a hefty volume, his ears full of the noise from several people talking; he furrowed his brows, looking irritated: "You guys, can you keep it down?"

Chen Mian looked at him, opened her mouth to say, "Then why don't you wear noise‑cancelling headphones?"

Seeing Xu Yanfeng's annoyed face, Chen Mian swallowed her prepared remark and instead said something that revealed her cowardly nature: "Well, well, let's just speak more softly."

The three unconsciously lowered their speaking volumes and continued discussing the topic just mentioned.

"Whoever has Xia Xi's junior sister's contact, tell her Xu Yanfeng isn't coming—no matter how stubbornly she waits, it's pointless. If she catches a cold from the freeze, she'll suffer for days."

"You think nobody's tried to persuade her to go back? She won't listen."

"I finally understand that saying: loving someone you shouldn't love is destined to be a tragedy."

Xu Yanfeng's inner irritation gradually turned to anger; with a "bang" he shut the book and tossed it onto the table. "Do they think their voices are so low no one can hear?"

He stood up, kicked his chair aside, grabbed a coat, and went out.

Just as he reached the door, Xu Yanfeng heard Chen Mian call out from behind: "Hey, where are you going?"

"Since you guys can't keep quiet, I'm going to find a quiet place to stay awhile; I'll come back after you finish talking." Xu Yanfeng tossed off the line coldly and flung the dorm door shut behind him.

With a "bang," the room fell silent.

After a moment, Fang Huaiyuan stroked his chin and said, "You say this goading tactic works on Xu Yanfeng?"

"Who knows."

Chen Mian jumped up from her chair, pushed open the balcony door, gripped the windowsill and stretched her neck to look down. After a while, Xu Yanfeng's figure emerged from the dorm building, elongated and shortened by the streetlight, blending into the deep night.

"What are you looking at?"

Fang Huaiyuan and Yu Tingbo came over.

Chen Mian pointed downstairs: "I just saw Xu Yanfeng go out."

Fang Huaiyuan's expression showed no ripple: "So what? That doesn't mean he's going to see Xia Xi. I think we'd better not interfere. I feel Xia Xi, having chosen to confess this way, should have expected this outcome—she's not someone who can't handle losing."

Success and failure each have a fifty‑percent chance. Xia Xi surely understands that.

Chen Mian almost got dizzy from his reasoning, thought it over seriously, shook her head, and said, "No."

Fang Huaiyuan asked him what was wrong.

Chen Mian explained calmly: "Whether he accepts or rejects her, at least he should tell her in person. The problem now is that Xu Yanfeng isn't seeing her; the blow she suffers isn't on the same level as a rejection."

Fang Huaiyuan pondered his words: "You make a lot of sense. Come on, Mianmian, work hard, graduate, and you can compete for the Women's Federation chair—stop stealing our jobs."

"Get lost." Chen Mian kicked him.

Half an hour later, Xia Xi reminded the roommates keeping her company in the cold: "Time's up; you said you'd go, so let's go."

"You also have to keep your word and come back before the dorm locks." Zhao Lei said.

Xia Xi gave an "um," waved her icy‑cold hands, gestured for them to hurry, and urged them not to dawdle.

The three roommates linked arms and walked away, glancing back every few steps. Suddenly, they saw a tall figure standing beneath a nearby osmanthus tree. Though the blossoms had long fallen this season, the tree's leaves stay green year‑round, casting a patch of shade.

The person's face was hidden in the deep shadow, indistinct, as if holding something in their hands.

Estimated height was over 1.85 meters, with an outstanding bearing—could it be…

The three were a bit excited, pinching each other's arms, unanimously decided to change course, not return to the dorm, and walk toward where the male student stood. They whispered a plan: pretend to pass by him unintentionally, then catch him red‑so he couldn't escape or avoid.

The plan was flawless, but as they inched closer to the male student and could see his face shadowed, they discovered he was actually wearing a mask.

That mask was Ultraman.

What is this? Instead of waiting for Xu Yanfeng, an Ultraman shows up???

Could Xu Yanfeng wear such a chuunibyou mask? They simply couldn't imagine it.

But maybe Xu Yanfeng didn't want others to know he'd come, so he chose this way to respond to Xia Xi.

He held in his hands a bouquet of fresh flowers, fiery red roses, symbolizing passionate love.

The three of them froze simultaneously, no longer moving forward.

Wang Qiuyu and Wu Qinglu each extended a hand, pushing Zhao Lei's lower back, signaling her to speak. Zhao Lei really wanted to shout, "Why me!" but she didn't shout out loud; she helplessly took another step forward, cleared her throat, and tentatively asked: "Classmate, what are you doing here?"

As long as he spoke, they would know whether the face behind the mask was really Xu Yanfeng.