Chapter 189

Zhou Xiaoyu had been secretly observing for a long time; that new member who joined the Student Union seemed to be called Cheng Manyi, right?

The neatly pressed blue shirt-dress made her look extremely sexy; the necklines on both sides were pulled down, hanging on her shoulders, her rounded shoulders barely revealed, which was even more alluring than fully exposing them, and a large area of skin on her chest glared white. A dark brown belt cinched her waist, outlining her slender waist and shaping her leg lines, successfully making her figure look more elongated. She knows how to play to her strengths and avoid her weaknesses.

Everyone else wears hiking shoes when climbing the mountain, but she alone wears light-colored lambskin boots with a slight heel, making a 'tap-tap' sound on the stone path.

How did she notice Cheng Manyi?

While climbing the mountain, she took pictures of the scenery with her phone; Cheng Manyi accidentally walked into her frame, she pressed the shutter, lowered her head to look at the photo, and unexpectedly discovered Cheng Manyi's gaze fixed on someone, his eyes filled with infatuation.

In the photo, only an arm of that person was visible, yet Zhou Xiaoyu recognized him at a glance—it was Xu Yanfeng.

Her gaze shifted from the photo back to reality, and indeed Cheng Manyi was looking at Xu Yanfeng—not overtly, but in the way of occasionally glancing sideways while pretending to be casual, using the corner of her eye or the motion of turning her head. Every time Cheng Manyi looked at him, her eyes were filled with obsession.

So many girls at school secretly crush on Xu Yanfeng, including her; adding one more Cheng Manyi is hardly surprising.

Since Xu Yanfeng and Xia Xi officially announced their relationship, no girl dares to openly show her feelings for him, because moral standards and personal upbringing do not allow it; this does not mean those girls no longer like him—they bury that liking deep in their hearts, letting it fade over time. Those with literary talent write lengthy essays to commemorate the pain and sorrow of secret love.

Cheng Manyi clearly does not belong to that category.

Although she tried to conceal it, she is not mature enough, and it is easy for others to see the restless desire in her eyes.

That little thought of hers is practically written all over her face.

Zhou Xiaoyu gloated over the drama. She had never liked Xia Xi's ways; in their several confrontations she always lost, never reconciled, and could do nothing about her. Moreover, Xia Xi had won the object of her long-secret crush, Xu Yanfeng, driving Zhou Xiaoyu into a jealous frenzy; behind the scenes she cursed Xia Xi repeatedly, wishing she would fall from a high place and lose her glory.

Now Cheng Manyi has appeared, causing trouble for Xia Xi; Zhou Xiaoyu practically wants to applaud.

At first glance, Cheng Manyi is no pushover; of course, Xia Xi's combat ability is not weak either. If they clash, even if Xia Xi wins, she will inevitably suffer some stimulation; it would be best if Cheng Manyi could lodge a thorn in her heart, making her feel uneasy all the time.

Then she would feel satisfied.

Zhou Xiaoyu did not expect Cheng Manyi's offensive to come so quickly.

Seeing Xu Yanfeng walk aside to take a call, Cheng Manyi picked up his coat placed on the moon chair, put it on herself, hugged a thermos, assumed the airs of a young lady, and sat there to rest.

Zhou Xiaoyu felt jealous while wondering when Xia Xi would notice.

She stopped looking at Cheng Manyi, her gaze drifting to rest on Xia Xi, who wore a black shirt, casual style, with sleeves slightly puffed—a not exaggerated bell-sleeve style, the front pleated, paired with straight ivory trousers. For convenience in work, she rolled up the sleeves and cuffed the trousers once, revealing her slender, lustrous ankles as she squatted on the ground hammering nails one by one, securing the tent's bottom cloth and the joining of its edges.

Zhou Xiaoyu watched silently for a while; Xia Xi seemed tired, she supported her waist and rose to her feet, turning her head, and her line of happenstance fell exactly where Cheng Manyi was.

Wow.

The show is about to begin.

A sound of schadenfreude rose from Zhou Xiaoyu's heart.

Indeed, Xia Xi's expression changed—not the anger Zhou Xiaoyu had expected, but a look somewhere between smiling and not smiling, like looking at a mischievous child. In short, there was no sign of her about to lose control or fly into a rage.

Zhou Xiaoyu felt puzzled, yet she continued to observe silently without showing any emotion.

Xia Xi looked at Cheng Manyi for a moment, then, hammer in hand, walked over.

Everyone's backpacks were piled together; Xia Xi put the hammer beside her feet, found her own bag, took out a bottle of orange juice, wiped her hands clean with a wet tissue, then twisted off the cap.

Cheng Manyi sat three steps away from her, not that she wasn't nervous inside; she put on a calm facade, capped her thermos, lifted her gaze to Xia Xi, curved her lips into a smile, innocent and harmless: 'Senior, you've been looking at me several times—is there something?'

Xia Xi took a few sips of orange juice, met her gaze, then looked away after a second, searching for Xu Yanfeng's figure.

The signal in the mountains was poor; Xu Yanfeng received a call from the company and went to a distant spot to answer. Most staff were on leave, and urgent matters had been settled before the holiday, but an item had been overlooked; the subordinates were unsure and dared not act rashly, so they came to him for instructions.

Seeing him busy with official business, Xia Xi did not call him; her gaze returned to Cheng Manyi, and she said with a light smile, 'Your clothing…'

'What's wrong with my clothes?' Cheng Manyi interrupted before she could finish, 'The department head said it's cold on the mountain, but I didn't believe it—I didn't bring a jacket, and now I regret it; it's quite chilly. Fortunately, the senior brought one, so I borrowed it to wear.'

'Borrowed to wear?' Xia Xi's heart tightened: 'Did he agree?'

Cheng Manyi smiled: 'I'll let him know when he comes back.'

That's doing it first and asking later. Xia Xi nodded, understanding, and said Xu Yanfeng would never do something so indiscreet.

'What if he doesn't agree?' Xia Xi mimicked her, blinking her eyes with an innocent expression.

'The senior wouldn't be that stingy, would he?'

'I don't know whether the senior is stingy or not, but I myself am rather petty.' Xia Xi, too lazy to act, dropped her smile, her tone aloof with a hint of chill: 'Before wearing my clothes, you should at least greet me. Of course, close friends are an exception. You, junior, don't seem to be my friend yet—is this our first meeting?'

Cheng Manyi's smile could not be maintained, stiff as if a layer of plaster had been brushed on: 'Is this… your clothing?'

She was making up nonsense; this is clearly a men's coat, Xu Yanfeng's clothing, which had just been draped over his arm. Cheng Manyi felt indignant inside.

You don't believe me? Xia Xi pulled out her phone from her pants pocket, opened the purchase interface—an all-English foreign shopping site, a niche designer brand, labeled unisex, with a price converted to over 30,000 RMB.

'Try feeling your pocket again to see if you have my lipstick.' Xia Xi pressed the lock screen key and put the phone away.

Cheng Manyi instinctively felt the pocket area; through a layer of fabric she indeed touched a long, hard object, reached in and pulled out—a black-tube Chanel lipstick.

She could no longer stay calm; she stood up and took off her clothes: 'Sorry, I…'

'What's wrong?' Xu Yanfeng finished his call and happened to see Xia Xi talking with a girl; sensing the odd atmosphere, he hurried over.

Cheng Manyi's motion of removing her clothes froze; she lowered her eyelids, pressed her lips, and her face instantly showed a hint of grievance: 'I… I felt a bit cold in my skirt and wanted to borrow a jacket, but the senior refused, thinking I was impolite. Sorry, I acted on my own first.'

Xia Xi curled the corner of her mouth and let out a short laugh from her nose; it turned out that when someone is speechless, they really do laugh.

Describing her by cutting off the head and tail—she really has that trait, but Xia Xi has no intention of explaining.

When Xu Yanfeng saw clearly that the girl confronting Xia Xi was Cheng Manyi, his expression sank; upon seeing the pure black, well-tailored coat on Cheng Manyi, his gaze also turned deep and cold, like a thick night: 'This is not her clothing; it's mine.'

Cheng Manyi had not yet had time to feel pleased when she immediately heard his voice, much colder than before, a metallic chill devoid of emotion: 'But you are indeed quite impolite.'