Chapter 131: He Kissed the Corner of Her Lips

Xia Xi never expected Xu Yanfeng to say such a thing.

She savored the three words "you try" over and over, as if his tone when he said it was very flat, without any threatening implication.

What is a threat?

It's like someone saying, "I'll beat you up, you believe it or not," and another person, unwilling to accept it, threatens, "You try."

Xu Yanfeng absolutely did not mean that.

So... what exactly does he mean?

This person is so annoying; every time I have to guess what he's thinking, his expression and his words altogether are impossible to figure out.

Xia Xi's gaze moved down from his deep-set brows and eyes, across his high nose bridge, and landed on his lightly pursed lips. His lip color wasn't dark, nor was it pale, just the perfect shade of pink; his lip shape was beautiful, looking soft, like strawberry-flavored QQ candy, as if inviting a kiss.

With a "gulping" sound, Xia Xi swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

She froze slightly, as if she hadn't imagined she would sink to such a low point—she actually swallowed saliva; was she thirsty? Xu Yanfeng probably didn't hear her swallow.

Xia Xi steadied her fluttering heart and stammered, "This, this is what you yourself said."

If you say try, then I'll try.

It was him who told her to try; it's not her fault.

Xia Xi clenched her fingers, gave herself encouragement, and then really moved closer.

Don't look at her usual boldness; right now her heart was still a little nervous, her movements cautious and probing, inching closer bit by bit, her heartbeat racing beyond capacity. Her lips drew nearer and nearer to the corner of Xu Yanfeng's mouth.

When only two centimeters remained, Xia Xi felt her heart about to burst, but Xu Yanfeng at that moment tilted his head back, increasing the distance between them.

The two centimeters instantly became twenty centimeters.

Xia Xi lunged at nothing, stood there stunned for a long while; her heartbeat returned to normal, yet something felt off—her heart felt hollowed out, a huge sense of loss washed over her like a tide.

The self-study room was so quiet that not even breathing could be heard, because just then that scene played out before their eyes, and many people unconsciously held their breath.

Xia Xi did not hide the disappointment in her eyes, quietly gazing at Xu Yanfeng; after a moment, her voice filled with sky‑high resentment: "You just like to toy with people."

Having said that, she stopped looking at him, lowered her head, and flipped the papers on the desk with a rustling sound, venting her dissatisfaction.

Bastard Xu Yanfeng, he always keeps her at arm's length, playing with her like flying a kite—when she flies far, he tugs the string and she comes back; when she nears, he loosens the line, letting the wind carry her away.

Xu Yanfeng showed no reaction at all; he felt like a block of wood, as if a string in his brain had snapped and could not be reconnected. He never imagined Xia Xi would actually dare to kiss him.

His chest beneath his clothes heaved violently; if it weren't for maintaining outward composure, he would have taken deep breaths to ease his tension.

After who knows how long, Xu Yanfeng glanced to his right; Xia Xi's side profile faced him, she was drawing intently, as if nothing had just happened. Yet her breath's warmth clearly lingered on his face—how could it not have happened?

As noon approached, Xia Xi's stomach signaled hunger; she couldn't focus, letting her thoughts drift.

She looked to the left; Xu Yanfeng was typing, she tapped lightly on the desk, he glanced over distractedly, she moved her lips silently forming the words "let's go eat."

Xu Yanfeng glanced at his wristwatch and realized it was lunchtime.

He closed his laptop, stood up, and left; Xia Xi followed.

As soon as the two left, the previously quiet self-study room burst into a murmur of whispers.

"What's going on with these two? Are they together or not?"

"Harder to understand than a math problem."

"Watching this makes my cerebellum shrink; who can tell me what's actually happening?"

"Probably only the people involved know for sure."

"I somehow feel Xu Yanfeng likes Xia Xi a little."

"Damn, the male god really let her get him!!!"

"Don't talk as if Xia Xi took advantage; she's a great beauty, plenty of people chase her, right?"

"I really want to gossip, I really want to gossip—does any class rep have a timeline summary? How exactly did these two develop to this point?"

Xu Yanfeng and Xia Xi had no idea how others were speculating about their relationship; after eating in the cafeteria, they walked together to the library, leaving their belongings in the self-study room, planning to continue studying in the afternoon.

Xia Xi bought a can of coffee and a can of Wangzai milk from the vending machine on the first‑floor lobby, gave the coffee to Xu Yanfeng, and said, "Aren't you going back to catch some sleep?"

Xu Yanfeng: "I still have things left to finish."

"Oh." Xia Xi popped open the can's tab, took a sip of milk, tilted her head to look at him, unable to erase the rejected kiss from her mind, she muttered resentfully, "Coward."

Xu Yanfeng glanced at her, puzzled, seemingly not understanding who those three words that suddenly popped out of her mouth were directed at.

Xia Xi held the stair railing, walking up while looking at him: "I'm talking about you, need I doubt it? You dare say it but lack the guts to follow through—who else is a coward if not you?"

Xu Yanfeng understood what she meant, pressed his lips together and remained silent.

"I said it that night when the library lost power, and I'll say it again now—are you really enjoying my pursuit of you?" So he drags it out, not letting go, giving her a bit of hope, and she will dutifully circle around him.

Men's base nature.

She just never thought Xu Yanfeng had that too.

How she previously doubted herself, thinking she was being overly sentimental.

She wasn't being overly sentimental; Xu Yanfeng does have feelings for her, and her feeling is correct.

She doubted herself only because she was momentarily confused by his attitude.

Xu Yanfeng paused on the landing, turned sideways, looked down at Xia Xi, who stood two steps lower, and said, "No." Regardless of whether she believes it, he did not intentionally keep her hanging.

"Then why won't you agree to be my boyfriend, yet you don't deny feeling moved by me?" Xia Xi lifted her head, her nails digging into the wooden stair rail, leaving a few shallow scratches, "How can you be so bad."

Xu Yanfeng couldn't explain it to her.

Xia Xi stared at him for a few seconds, not expecting him to give her an answer right then, she walked past him and ran upstairs, leaving him behind.

When Xu Yanfeng entered the self‑study room, Xia Xi was already slumped over the desk, beginning her nap, her coat draped over her back, the unfinished can of Wangzai milk resting at the corner of the desk, the doll printed on it grinning with its mouth wide open.

As if mocking him for being a coward.

At 12:40, the self‑study room had few people; most had gone out to eat, and among those remaining, some, like Xia Xi, were slumped over the desk sleeping, while others wore earphones watching videos.

Xu Yanfeng moved gently, sat down in the chair, opened his laptop, but did nothing, just stared blankly at the screen.

Not long after, even breathing sounds came from beside him; Xu Yanfeng's gaze naturally shifted over—Xia Xi had both arms resting on the desk, forming a safe enclave, her head buried in it, only a small half of her face visible, her hair casually draped over her face, the ends touching the corner of her mouth, and even a strand caught between her two lips.

Isn't this painful?

He couldn't help but reach out, his fingertips lifting that strand of hair and tucking it behind her ear.

By the time he reacted, he had already done that action. He stared blankly at his own hand, unable to believe he would actually do such a thing.

Xu Yanfeng pulled his hand back like a guilty thief, glanced at Xia Xi, who slept soundly with no sign of waking, which unknowingly fueled his impulse and desire.

He slowly lowered his body and kissed the corner of her mouth.

To prove he wasn't a coward.