Chapter 143: I Have a Boyfriend

Xu Yanfeng couldn't tell whether Xia Xi was pretending or it was genuine. She always spoke the truth like a joke and acted fake like it was real. Even if it were true, with her intelligence, she wouldn't lack a countermeasure.

Thinking about it, her saying "running away from home" was more of a joke.

Xia Xi rested her elbow on the sofa arm, chin on her palm, the other hand holding her phone, fingers scrolling back and forth. After waiting a while for Xu Yanfeng's reply with none coming, she knew he wouldn't reply.

This person thinks quickly, so he's not so easily fooled.

Xia Xi tapped her cheek with her fingertip a few times, decided to step back: "Can I use you as a shield for a bit? I don't really need you to be my boyfriend; I just want to borrow your name to put off those aunts and uncles, so I can have some peace."

Xu Yanfeng wasn't that heartless after all: "Do as you please."

Xia Xi curled her lips in a smile, silently thinking, "You have a conscience after all."

She locked her phone, put it on the sofa arm, felt a secret joy, her gaze sweeping over the relatives' faces, thinking they didn't seem so unpleasant either.

"Xi Xi, don't sit so far; come look at the photo too—maybe it's your type. I just sent your picture to that guy, and he's very pleased with you, saying that if you nod, he'll fly over tomorrow to meet you."

"And this one too—take a look. I just got this photo from him, guaranteeing no beauty filters, just a casual snapshot. What a handsome young man. You might not see his height in the photo, but Auntie guarantees he's definitely 1.8 meters tall."

"My family bought two apartments and a shop in the city center; if you marry in, you'll be set for life—nothing for you to do."

Along with the old-man-selling-melon sales patter, several phones were handed to Xia Xi, their screens showing those guys' photos—tall, short, fat, thin, black, white, wheatish, all types.

Out of politeness, Xia Xi leaned forward slightly, patiently looking through each one, suppressing the urge to twitch her mouth.

She admired the mental fortitude of those aunts and uncles—how could they, with eyes wide open, praise "this guy is handsome" or "that guy is 1.8 meters tall," as if her two eyes were just for show?

Xia Xi gave a dry laugh twice, shooting Su Jinru a pleading look.

"Great, even Mother isn't helping me." Xia Xi turned her gaze to Xia Xuan, who sat there leisurely cracking melon seeds.

Xia Xuan looked at her sympathetically, her eyes seeming to say: "Don't look at me; I can't help you with this either."

Xia Xi had no choice but to bring out her trump card, lifting the corners of her mouth so her smile wouldn't look too stiff: "All the gentlemen you've introduced are excellent…" she said, speaking against her true feelings.

"Since that's the case, you might as well meet them; I'm not insisting you be with the one I introduced—it's still up to you."

"Exactly, exactly, pick whichever you like."

They knew that blind dating depends on mutual feelings—you can't force someone who won't drink.

Xia Xi shifted gears: "But I have to tell you, unfortunately, I already have a boyfriend. Our relationship is stable; we can get the certificate as soon as we graduate. In this situation, it wouldn't be appropriate to go on another blind date with the guys you've introduced, right?"

The relatives looked at each other, then all turned to Su Jinru, half-believing, half-doubting: "How come we haven't heard that Xia Xi has a boyfriend?"

Su Jinru was hearing this for the first time too, her eyes fixed on Xia Xi, her expression blank with confusion and a hint of surprise.

Xia Xi responded with a smile all over her face.

The ladies took in Su Jinru's expression, a few suspicions forming in their minds; they turned to look at Xia Xi, one jokingly saying: "Xi Xi, you wouldn't be making up a lie just to turn us down, would you? Look, even your mom is shocked."

Xia Xi had a plan ready; she pretended to be nervous, tugging at her sweater's hem, glanced at Su Jinru, and said timidly: "I've been dating him secretly, keeping it from my mom all along. Xuanxuan knows."

When Xia Xuan was called by name, she froze for a moment, first thinking of the guy on Xia Xi's phone wallpaper—whom Xia Xi had even told her to call brother-in-law—Xia Xuan nodded in agreement: "I really do know."

The relatives weren't convinced, pressing on: "Is your self-arranged relationship reliable?"

Knowing they'd say that, Xia Xi pulled out the photo on her phone: "Here, this is the guy I'm dating. He's better-looking than a star, his height is about 187 or maybe 188 centimeters."

Xia Xi's phone passed among the relatives and finally ended up in Su Jinru's hands.

Everyone fell silent; compared to the guy in the photo, the ones they'd introduced really weren't worth looking at.

After a moment, someone cautiously asked: "Xi Xi, you're still young; maybe you don't realize that a guy's height and looks aren't enough to live on—when getting by, you still need to consider character and ability. Look at your own excellent conditions; you should find someone who matches you."

Xia Xi: "I know. This guy is a student at our school, one year ahead of me, quite famous on campus. His character is evident to all teachers and students—no one has ever said a bad word about him. As for ability, there's even less to worry about; he's studying three majors and still has energy for other work. Oh, his family runs a company involved in many fields."

She held back, not daring to say outright that Xu Yanfeng was the young master of the Xu family, the richest in Nancheng.

The relatives had no more doubts; they had a meal at Peishan Grand Hotel at noon and left in the afternoon.

Xia Xi knew this wasn't over; sure enough, when she got home, her grandmother and Su Jinru stopped her, asking about the guy in the photo and when they'd started dating.

In front of her family, Xia Xi confessed honestly: "Sorry, Grandma, Mom, I lied. He's not my boyfriend; I'm not dating anyone. I didn't want to go on blind dates, so I roped in a friend as a shield."

Su Jinru fell silent for a moment, then took her hand and asked: "Really?"

Xia Xi raised three fingers and swore: "Really, I'm single right now."

Just for now; who knows what will happen later.

January 17th was the day Xia Xi had long awaited—the start of school.

She had never looked forward to school this much, even though she studied well and was seen by others as a top student.

Liang Yuan and Zhou Du both sneered at her—was she really looking forward to school? Clearly, she was just eager to see Xu Yanfeng.

In the high-speed rail car, the three of them still sat in a row. Liang Yuan advised Xia Xi: "Don't bother chasing if you can't catch him; Xu Yanfeng is like a god descending to earth, and there's no reason for a great beauty like you to pursue him for a semester plus a winter break."

They couldn't get morning tickets; the train departs at 2:35 p. m., expected to arrive in Nancheng around five.

Xia Xi crossed her arms; just thinking about seeing Xu Yanfeng at school made the corners of her mouth lift uncontrollably, beyond her control. She turned her head to Liang Yuan, blinking: "But what can I do? I just like him. Maybe I owed him a debt in a past life, and this lifetime I'm repaying it."

Zhou Du snorted with laughter: "I think you didn't grow a brain in your past life; this life you've grown two—both are love-brains."

Xia Xi hit him: "Stop studying Lu Xun—his is literature, you're just spouting nonsense."

Xia Xi hit him: "Don't learn from Lu Xun; that's literature, you're talking bullshit."

Xia Xi gripped her phone with both hands and messaged Xu Yanfeng: "Have you arrived at school? Want to grab dinner tonight? PS: If you don't reply, I'll come to your dorm to find you—I heard you can just walk in on the first day of school."

Xia Xi held her phone with both hands and sent a message to Xu Yanfeng: "Have you arrived at school yet? Do you want to grab dinner together tonight? PS: If you don't reply to my message, I'll come to your dorm to find you—I heard that on the first day of school, you can freely enter the dorms."