Chapter 82

The barbecue restaurant was booming; from the gorgeous evening clouds on the horizon until the sky turned completely dark, the waiter finally brought out the two large plates of barbecue they had ordered, plus a few items served in foil bowls—grilled brain, grilled eggplant, garlic chive enoki mushrooms, and the like.

Xia Xi came for the first time, tried a lamb skewer first, her eyebrows rose in delight, and she couldn't stop praising: "Indeed, the food around the new campus area is the best."

Liang Yuan said: "You guys in the Architecture Department graduate in five years; are you still planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam? Don't worry, I'll make sure you eat your fill—I'm just afraid you'll get sick of it by then."

Zhou Du opened a bottle of beer, didn't get a cup, and drank straight from the bottle. Hearing that, he looked at Xia Xi and asked: "Are you still planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam?"

"That's for sure." Liang Yuan cut in first, hooking her arm around Xia Xi's neck and tilting her head to rest on her shoulder: "We, Xi Xi the academic ace, not getting a PhD or something would be a waste of that smart brain!"

Speaking of academic aces, Xia Xi thought of another person, she was chewing on a meat skewer, and suddenly laughed.

When Liang Yuan lifted her head, she happened to catch the smile at the corner of Xia Xi's mouth, which was different from her usual smile. Liang Yuan was very perceptive, narrowed her eyes suspiciously and said: "I see your smile seems a bit swaying."

Really? Xia Xi instinctively raised her hand to touch her mouth, got oil on her hand, and pulled out a tissue to wipe her fingers.

You do." Liang Yuan said firmly.

Knowing she couldn't hide anything from her sharp eyes, Xia Xi didn't even try to conceal it; she simply stopped restraining herself and burst out laughing: "Do you still remember me telling you this afternoon that I met an incredibly handsome guy?"

Liang Yuan was eating grilled eggplant, it was hot so she opened her mouth to blow on it, her speech a bit muffled: "Re... remember."

"You don't want to know what he looks like?" Xia Xi said, pulling out her phone from her pants pocket, opening the photo album, finding the saved frontal photo of Xu Yanfeng from the group, and showing it to Liang Yuan: "Here, this is him."

"Where did you get that? Weren't you saying you didn't get a photo?" Liang Yuan quickly put down her chopsticks, took the phone from Xia Xi's hand, lowered her head to look at the screen, her mouth opening wide enough to fit an egg: "Holy crap, he's kinda handsome!"

Xia Xi affectedly said: "Take away the 'kinda'."

Liang Yuan: "……"

Xia Xi, while skewering meat, excitedly said: "You have no idea how coincidental this is—we actually go to the same school! He's a senior one year ahead of me. He's been staying at the new campus all along, so I never saw him before."

Liang Yuan also thought it was a coincidence, slapping her thigh: "So, isn't this fate sent from heaven?"

Xia Xi raised her head, her tone rising, let out an "engh" sound, agreeing with Liang Yuan's words—this is heaven-sent fate! You can't dodge it!

She shared the information she'd gathered in the group about Xu Yanfeng: "He doesn't have a girlfriend yet; supposedly many girls have chased him, but none have succeeded so far. Oh, his name is Xu Yanfeng, and his family is the Xu Clan Group, the richest in Nancheng."

Liang Yuan was shocked, almost dropping her phone.

This guy actually has such a background?

And still chase him? Pfft.

Zhou Du had drunk half a bottle of beer, skewered some meat, still didn't understand what the two girls were talking about—were they speaking Martian? He couldn't help but interject: "What are you guys talking about?"

Liang Yuan seemed not to hear him, directly ignoring his words; she grabbed Xia Xi's hand, like an old lady of seventy or eighty, earnestly saying: "Honey, don't say anything else—we've been through so much together, I get what you mean. Are you trying to pursue him? But I sincerely advise you: people like him, we'd better not obsess over him; just admire him as an idol."

Xia Xi didn't expect her best friend to also advise her to give up; she pointed at herself: "You also think I have no chance?"

"Also?" Liang Yuan seized on the key word: "Who else is doubting you?"

"Just some strangers." Xia Xi said: "I joined a big group for our department, said I wanted to pursue Xu Yanfeng in there, and not a single person encouraged me—they all poured cold water on me."

"……"

Liang Yuan was thunderstruck by Xia Xi's words—externally scorched, internally tender—she made a grimacing face, wondering how she hadn't noticed this guy was so impressive before. She didn't think: she had publicly declared she'd pursue Xu Yanfeng; if she ultimately failed, those people would surely mock her behind her back.

"I truly don't want you to get hurt." Liang Yuan spoke sincerely.

"Hey hey hey, can you two at least pay a little attention to me while you chat?" Zhou Du, who had never gotten a word in, grew angry, snapped his fingers between them to assert his presence, straining to be noticed: "Can someone tell me what's going on?" He remained completely bewildered.

Liang Yuan sighed, stopped drinking sour plum tea, switched to beer: "Let's talk about Xi Xi—this afternoon at the swimming pool she almost drowned, was rescued by a guy, and fell for him at first sight. Now we learn that guy goes to the same school and has a not-so-simple family background. I'm just trying to get her to think it through, not rush in head over heels."

After hearing that, Zhou Du looked as if his glasses had fallen off, pointing at Xia Xi: "You? Pursuing a man?"

"What, not allowed?" Xia Xi brushed away his outstretched hand, "Drop that look of disdain—what's wrong with me pursuing someone? Even if I've never eaten pork, I've at least seen a pig run."

Although she had no experience pursuing men, she thought it shouldn't be hard—after all, isn't it said that women pursuing men is like chasing through a gauze barrier?

Zhou Du hooked his finger at her: "Come on, show me which man could catch the eye of our Miss Xia."

Xia Xi's phone was in Liang Yuan's hand; hearing that, she handed it over to Zhou Du.

Zhou Du studied the photo seriously, objectively speaking, that guy's looks were indeed outstanding—no wonder Xia Xi was dazed by him—but the arrogance radiating from him, like a 258‑million‑volt aura, almost pierced the screen; he guessed he'd be a tough nut to crack.

Like Liang Yuan, he advised Xia Xi to give up: "Forget it, I'm not trying to discourage you, but this guy looks hard to catch. I'm afraid you haven't tasted life's bitterness yet, and you'll first taste love's bitterness."

With two people doubting her, Xia Xi felt a strong urge to conquer, and on the spot decided: "Let's make a bet. Three months—if I fail to pursue Xu Yanfeng, I'll treat you both to a month of fancy meals, restaurant of your choice."

Zhou Du held the wine bottle in one hand, ready to bring it to his lips, hearing this he couldn't stop laughing, raised his index finger toward her: "Don't say I'm bullying you, I'll loosen the deadline—one semester."

Xia Xi pouted, he really knows how to insult people—what 'loosen the deadline,' deep down it's just not believing her.

Liang Yuan raised her beer bottle: "Then let's bet."

Xia Xi also stopped drinking sour plum tea, picked up another beer bottle, clinked it with theirs, the wager was set. Xia Xi suddenly realized: "Wait, what if you two lose?"

Liang Yuan: "I'll buy you that Giant bike you've been eyeing."

Zhou Du: "You like swimming, right? I'll cover your swimming annual pass all the way until you graduate from Nan Da."

"Wow, that's generous." Xia Xi's fighting spirit was ignited; she bounced to her feet, still feeling the height insufficient, she lifted a foot onto a chair, towering over everyone in the shop, she raised her beer bottle high, her waist‑long hair fluttering in the electric fan's breeze, becoming the focal point of the whole place—everyone turned to look. She seemed unaware, shouting boldly: "Just wait and see—I will eventually catch Xu Yanfeng!"

A few meters away, besides Xu Yanfeng, the three other guys all spat out the beer they'd just swallowed, staring in unison at the person involved.

"Xu Er, hear that? That girl declared she'll eventually catch you—get ready mentally, hahahaha." Chen Er, while coughing from being choked, kept grinning, almost choking on air.

Xu Yanfeng gave a cold glance back, looking at the girl standing on the stool, she seemed somewhat familiar.

Liang Yuan sat beside Xia Xi, shrinking her neck, tugging at Xia Xi's pant leg, signaling her to get down quickly. She truly felt defeated—so many people in the shop, this guy couldn't restrain himself a bit, her lively little self was about to be turned introverted by Xia Xi.

Liang Yuan turned her neck to scan the crowd, fearing someone would give her a strange look; to her surprise, everyone was smiling good‑naturedly.

In a flash, Liang Yuan caught sight of an exceptionally handsome face, her gaze locked, she blinked twice.

Wait, this face looks familiar…

After thinking for two seconds, Liang Yuan had an answer in her mind—isn't this the guy Xia Xi declared she'd pursue? She had just shown Xia Xi his photo; it seemed to be called Xu Yanfeng.

Liang Yuan swallowed, lifted her eyelids, glanced at Xia Xi posing like the Statue of Liberty, her eyes holding both sympathy and despair: "Sis, put down that lame beer bottle—look at your left side."

Acting so unbecoming in front of her male god—really okay? Xu Er: ………………………………

(End of chapter)