Chapter 121

Xia Xi accepts everything quickly, except her own sprained ankle; all day she stays sullen, randomly cursing that Jiang Yunfan should die.

Three roommates took turns comforting her, and even pooled money to buy her a cane, ostensibly to cheer her up.

Xia Xi couldn't cheer up, wielding the cane like a machine gun, pointing at the few people trying not to laugh: 'You sure this is to cheer me up, not to embarrass me?'

"Xi Xi, be carefree; things have happened, no matter how angry you get you can't change the situation, better to accept it calmly." After school, Zhao Lei helped her with her backpack, both hands supporting her elbows to help her up: "Come, slow down."

The other two roommates went ahead to clear the way, occasionally reminding passersby: 'Sorry, please make way, we have an injured person here, don't bump into her, thanks.'

Students on the hearing stepped aside to both sides, making a wide path for the injured to walk.

Xia Xi had never been so speechless in her life: 'Why don't you get me a wheelchair? Pushing me would be more convenient.'

Zhao Lei spoke a blunt truth: 'It's a bit expensive.'

Xia Xi: '…'

The bag on her shoulder kept slipping down; Zhao Lei hung it around her neck and thoughtfully asked Xia Xi: 'What do you want to eat? You barely ate any lunch—if you don't eat more you'll become an immortal.'

Wang Qiuyu, walking ahead, turned her head: 'It's peak cafeteria time now, crowded and unsafe; why don't you two go back first, and I'll have Lu Lu pack food for you after we finish eating.'

Zhao Lei let Xia Xi decide: 'What do you think, Xi Xi?'

Xia Xi: 'Alright.'

Wang Qiuyu asked what they wanted to eat.

Zhao Lei thought and decided on beef noodle soup, with an extra serving of beef. Xia Xi really couldn't think of what to eat; despite having eaten little at noon, she still didn't feel hungry.

Her leg was injured, but her stomach seemed to have become strong.

As they neared the fork, Xia Xi said she'd have the same as Zhao Lei: beef noodle soup.

Zhao Lei said: 'I remember you said last time beef noodle soup didn't suit your taste.'

'Seems so.' Xia Xi recalled, having tried it once and never returned to that stall: 'Then I'll have a bowl of tomato sauce noodles, thin noodles, not wide.'

'Got it.' Wang Qiuyu gave an OK sign, linked arms with Wu Qinglu, turned at the fork, and headed to the cafeteria.

Zhao Lei and Xia Xi returned to the dorm; just go straight.

At the end of the flowerbed, the view opened up; Zhao Lei widened her eyes, pointing at the side of the print shop door, and whispered to Xia Xi: 'You've been running into Xu Yanfeng a lot lately.'

The temperature dropped; Xu Yanfeng wore a blue-and-white thin-striped shirt, a gray sweater, the shirt collar flipped over the sweater collar, topped with a navy overcoat, layered look; his slender, bony fingers held a phone, turning it twice in his hand, face toward the shop, speaking to someone.

Even male models on magazine covers aren't a third as good-looking as him.

Xia Xi stopped walking, staring blankly at him.

Zhao Lei, acting as a human cane, had to stop as well; she felt that if Xia Xi's leg weren't injured, she would have already turned into a butterfly and flown over, just like her previous chance encounters with Xu Yanfeng.

'Shall we go over? I can support you.' Zhao Lei remained thoughtful.

Xia Xi shook her head, wistfully: 'I look too terrible like this.'

'Nonsense.' Zhao Lei laughed at her for being burdened by idol worship.

Xia Xi pulled out her phone from the bag Zhao Lei had slung around her neck and secretly snapped a photo at the print shop door.

With a 'click,' Xu Yanfeng sensitively turned his head, and their gazes met on the phone screen.

Xia Xi remained calm, no embarrassment at being caught; her eyes peeked over the phone, meeting his in reality, she curved her lips—a greeting.

She thought Xu Yanfeng would pretend not to have seen her, quickly avert his gaze and turn his head back; in fact, he had looked at her for a while. She seemed to understand: he probably saw her holding a cane in one hand and being supported by someone in the other, finding it bewildering.

A person walked out of the print shop—Xu Yanfeng's roommate, Chen Mian. Xia Xi had a deep impression of him because he was lively and enthusiastic.

Chen Mian stuffed a stack of documents into his bag, lifted his head, also saw Xia Xi, and openly waved his arms: 'Junior Xia Xi, what a coincidence! I heard you were injured—how are you now?'

Xia Xi smiled: 'I'm fine, just sprained my ankle, no bone injury.'

Chen Mian glanced at the person beside him, bumped his arm, and whispered: 'Looks like the rumor was wrong—people said she was hospitalized, but she's fine; someone should stop worrying so much they can't sleep.'

Xu Yanfeng averted his gaze, likewise replying in a low voice: 'Who's losing sleep over worry?'

'See, this is another case of hitting the nail on the head, right?' Chen Mian grinned slyly, on the road to exposing Xu Yanfeng's pretense never to return: 'Last night you tossed and turned in bed, restless—wasn't that worry keeping you awake, or were you…?'

'Don't force me to beat you.'

'Oh dear, Young Master Xu is annoyed and angry, wanting to hit someone—I'm scared.'

Xu Yanfeng realized he shouldn't have taken the bait, lifted his foot, and walked away.

The two muttered; Xia Xi didn't catch a word, looked doubtfully at Xu Yanfeng's retreating back, then at Chen Mian: 'How did Xu Yanfeng just leave?'

That remark certainly wasn't suitable to say to a girl; Chen Mian laughed and brushed it off: 'He's hungry, rushing to the cafeteria to chow down. Junior Xia Xi, I'm off to eat too—see you later.'

Xia Xi nodded, watching him catch up to Xu Yanfeng ahead.

The ever-silent Zhao Lei, at this moment, whispered in Xia Xi's ear: 'I feel Xu Yanfeng seems different now.'

Xia Xi turned her head to look at her: 'In what way?'

Zhao Lei frowned, thinking for a while, unsure how to put it: 'If you want me to say it, I really can't put it into words—just that she no longer has that icy, deathly chill, but has gained some warmth. Perhaps my description isn't precise, but I hope you understand what I mean.'

Xia Xi understood and offered a deeper interpretation: 'He's developed feelings for me, so from his gaze to his expression, even his whole person now has warmth.'

Zhao Lei reached out to feel her forehead temperature: 'You've got a fever again, sweetheart.'

Xia Xi swatted her hand away, not joking; she was serious.

'Don't just stand there foolishly—everyone's gone, let's hurry back to the dorm.' Zhao Lei said, 'I'm afraid that at our snail's pace, by the time Qiuyu and Lu Lu finish eating and return to the dorm, we still won't have arrived.'

'That's an exaggeration.'

Xia Xi began using the cane in earnest; actually she was still walking fairly quickly. She's a quick learner.

Just as the two entered the women's dormitory gate, they were stopped in their tracks by a magnificent sight in the distance.

At the base of their dormitory building lay a ring of Damascus roses forming a heart; a boy stood inside the heart, holding a bouquet, waiting for someone. Passing girls couldn't help but glance repeatedly, whispering to those nearby.

From a distance, Zhao Lei could smell the rose fragrance; she inhaled deeply this refreshing scent and sighed: 'Finally not the tacky candle display. Last month, the boys in the neighboring dorm set out candles; a gust blew them out, the boys scrambled to relight them, just lit and blown out again, spending the whole night just lighting candles. I heard the girls didn't come down; she thought it was a heavenly warning that this guy is unreliable. Hahaha, pretty miserable.'

Xia Xi said: 'Laying out roses isn't that high-class either.'

Zhao Lei, who likes roses, objected, proposing: 'Imagine if Xu Yanfeng arranged a circle of roses, stood inside, and confessed to you, saying, Xia Xi, please be my girlfriend…'

Before she could finish, Xia Xi abruptly changed her attitude: 'If it's Xu Yanfeng, I'd accept, and call it high-class romance!'

"A double-standard woman." Zhao Lei commented on her.

Xia Xi wasn't ashamed, raised an eyebrow and smiled: "The point isn't the way one confesses, it's the person. Xu Yanfeng, the person I like—I think everything he does is good, I unconditionally tolerate him."

"Don't be so love‑brain, Xia Xi."

"This isn't love‑brain, it's… you have to have the proper attitude toward rare species."

Zhao Lei was speechless, actually convinced by her twisted logic. Xu Yanfeng is indeed a rare species; ordinary guys can't compare to him. Who has good looks, high IQ, and a family background that's so damn impressive?

Someone born at the tip of the pyramid—how could they not be considered a rare species?

Xia Xi has good taste; she picked the top one right away, though he's a bit hard to handle. Of course, Xia Xi is also outstanding.

If Xu Yanfeng ends up choosing Xia Xi, Zhao Lei thinks it's reasonable. A handsome man and beautiful woman together is exactly what everyone likes to see.

Passing by a place where roses were displayed, Xia Xi didn't stop, leaning on her cane as she went into the hallway; a boy called out her name: "Xia Xi, wait, I have something to say to you."

This is the girls' dorm; the only male appearing downstairs is the one holding roses, waiting to confess to someone.

Xia Xi suddenly felt a bad premonition—uh oh, this person is coming for her.