Chapter 127: Find a Guy to Provoke Him

The few boys walking with Xu Yanfeng split off ahead, leaving only Fu Li, who glanced at Xu Yanfeng with a teasing smile: 'Don't say you didn't see Xia Xi lying.'

Xia Xi said the girl helping her stretch her legs had hurt her hand; hearing that, it was obvious she was making it up, and the girl's act of feigning injury was too ridiculous, yet Xu Yanfeng actually believed Xia Xi and went over to help her.

He didn't believe that with Xu Yanfeng's eyesight he would fail to see through Xia Xi's little trick.

He was very curious what Xu Yanfeng was thinking.

Last time at the golf course, this guy said, 'If you find Xia Xi interesting, go after her.' How long has it been, and already his thoughts have changed?

Fu Li had advised Xu Yanfeng back then not to overpromise, lest he end up being slapped in the face someday; he felt that day wasn't far off.

Xu Yanfeng took back his water from Fu Li's hand, drank the remaining few sips, his expression unchanged, calm as if saying the weather was nice today: 'So what if I noticed?'

Fu Li still worried he wouldn't admit it, but since he did, that made things easy. He then asked: 'You noticed, so why are you still going along with her? We know each other's temperament best—you're not someone easily persuaded.'

Xu Yanfeng was at a loss for words, his hand squeezing the flattened plastic bottle.

'Why aren't you speaking? Haven't you figured out how to explain your actions?' Fu Li laughed, 'Not having figured it out is right—it shows your helping her was purely a bodily instinct, giving your brain little time to think, so you can't find a reason for it.'

Xu Yanfeng gave him a slight glance: 'When did you study psychology?'

'Do you need to study it? Your thoughts aren't on display?' Fu Li spread his hands, 'It's obvious.'

'You and Chen Mian getting together should have something to say.' Xu Yanfeng crumpled the plastic bottle in his hand, making a crackling sound, and snorted lightly, 'You two both love spouting nonsense.'

'You think I'm talking nonsense?' Fu Li said, 'When did you become so evasive, Xu Yanfeng?'

'Whatever you think.'

'Alright then, give me a reason for helping Xia Xi.' Fu Li wouldn't let up, pressing step by step: 'If you give me one, I'll believe you have no feelings for her, that I overthought it and slandered you.'

Passing a trash can, Xu Yanfeng stopped, raised his hand and tossed the plastic bottle in, his tone light: 'I just wanted to see what tricks she's up to. Is that reason enough?'

Fu Li was left speechless, raising his hands in surrender. He had lost; in a battle of sharp tongues he couldn't match Xu Yanfeng.

'OK, I now believe you have no feelings for Xia Xi.' Fu Li slipped one hand into his pocket, gave him a sideways look, feigning relaxation: 'I wasn't joking with you earlier; I really think that girl Xia Xi is quite interesting, so should I go after her? I've checked in with you, so later don't say I don't value brotherhood.'

Xu Yanfeng's steps hesitated slightly, his gaze landing on Fu Li's face, probing whether his words were a joke or sincere.

However, Fu Li's eyes were earnest and resolute, with no trace of mischief; even Xu Yanfeng, well-versed in reading people, could not tell true from false, and his heart inexplicably tightened a bit.

Fu Li curled his lips, a faint smile, and asked again: 'May I?'

Having previously gone along with Fu Li's words to admit he had no interest in Xia Xi, could he now say no? He couldn't bring himself to do that.

'Whatever.'

He casually tossed off those two words, Xu Yanfeng pulled out his phone, pretended to check messages, and the topic ended there.

'Hey, don't go yet, we haven't finished talking about the important stuff…'

Xu Yanfeng strode out with quick, long steps, Fu Li trailing behind, shouting at the top of his lungs.

The physical test ended, still before noon twelve, the winter sun was not harsh, shining warmly on their faces.

Xia Xi and her roommates decided to first go to the cafeteria to fill their stomachs, then return to the dorm to sleep the afternoon, making up for the energy lost in the morning.

Today being Sunday, students' meal times varied, so the cafeteria wasn't very crowded now, unlike on school days when at noon each counter would be packed with people.

Xia Xi bought a set meal because it included the sweet-and-sour pork ribs she liked. She carried her tray to an empty seat, snapped apart disposable chopsticks, when suddenly someone approached opposite her, a shadow falling before her eyes; she needed to save a seat for her roommate, so before the person sat down she hurriedly explained: 'Sorry, this seat is…'

As she spoke, Xia Xi lifted her gaze, her voice trailed off, and she didn't finish her sentence.

Fu Li rarely came to the cafeteria to eat, nor did he live on campus; he was even more particular than Xu Yanfeng, circling the two rows of windows once, buying a set meal identical to Xia Xi's. He had just been in line behind her, though she had never turned around to look.

Xia Xi: 'It's you.'

'Do you still remember me?' Fu Li chuckled.

'Of course.' Anything related to Xu Yanfeng—people and events—are marked in her mind with emphasis, so how could she not remember? 'Xu Yanfeng's childhood friend, called Fu… Li. Right?'

'That's right.' Fu Li tapped the empty seat opposite her with his chin, 'You just said someone was sitting here, right?'

The table seats six; two strange girls occupied two seats, leaving four just enough for Xia Xi and her three dorm mates. As Fu Li finished asking, the two girls finished eating, picked up their bowls and plates, and left.

Xia Xi then amended: 'You can sit now.'

Fu Li lightly raised his eyebrows, set down his tray, and sat opposite her. Being tall, his gaze easily swept over Xia Xi's head to Xu Yanfeng a few tables behind her.

Their gazes briefly met in midair.

Xia Xi had no eyes in the back of her head, so she didn't know Xu Yanfeng was behind her, but she quickly noticed that the dishes on Fu Li's tray were exactly the same as hers—sweet-and-sour pork ribs, peas and shrimp, salt-and-pepper mushrooms, stir-fried gai lan, and the soup was tomato egg drop. She shifted her gaze without expression, ate a shrimp, and asked first: 'You looking for me for something?'

Fu Li didn't beat around the bush, stating his purpose plainly: 'Can I pursue you?'

Xia Xi's three roommates walked over with their food, and by sheer coincidence hearing Fu Li's sentence, they were so startled they nearly knocked over their bowls, momentarily unable to sit or stand.

They all knew perfectly well that the person before them was Xu Yanfeng's close friend.

What the hell is this, swinging an iron shovel to pry open a good buddy's corner?

You aristocrats are really chaotic!

Xia Xi secretly breathed a relief that the food in her mouth had already been swallowed, otherwise she'd have choked: 'You… what do you mean?'

Fu Li hooked a finger at her; Xia Xi, not understanding, leaned forward slightly, only to hear him propose: 'I know Xu Yanfeng better than you do—his self-control isn't something ordinary people can match, his life plan is already set five years ahead, allowing no deviation in between. No matter how you chase him, he won't waver. Besides, I asked him about you today.'

He paused deliberately; Xia Xi hung on his words, subconsciously swayed by them, and asked: 'What did you ask?'

'I asked him whether, during the physical test, he helped you because he likes you.' Fu Li coaxed, 'Guess what he said.'

Xia Xi's heart pounded; this was exactly the question she wanted to ask Xu Yanfeng, her throat tightened, her voice a bit hoarse: '…What did he say?'

Fu Li told her: 'He said he helped you to see what tricks you're up to, and he has no other thoughts about you.'

Xia Xi's racing heart dropped with a thud to the bottom of a valley, the light in her eyes dimming accordingly; now there was no need to ask Xu Yanfeng, since he and his childhood friend both said the same thing, especially to her face.

'Don't lose heart.' Fu Li raised a hand and patted her shoulder twice, without forgetting to glance sideways at someone in the distance, 'I have a plan here—do you want to hear it?'

Having just been struck by his words, Xia Xi couldn't muster enthusiasm, she poked her rice with her chopsticks listlessly and asked: 'What plan?'

'Find a guy to stimulate Xu Yanfeng a bit.' Fu Li gave her the idea, 'Ordinary goading won't work on Xu Yanfeng; you need to bring out the big move. Do you understand what a big move is?'

Xia Xi didn't understand.

It wasn't that she didn't grasp Fu Li's meaning; rather, she thought this approach was too risky, a slight misstep would backfire, not worth the loss. Moreover, where would she find a suitable guy to cooperate with her?

How about Zhou Du?

Not from the same school, it's not very convenient.

Fu Li seemed to see through what she was hesitating about, pointing at himself, he gave a slight smile, like an old, crafty fox: "Am I not already a ready-made man? With my relationship with Xu Yanfeng, it's definitely enough weight to achieve the goal of provoking him."