Chapter 88: She was actually after Xu senior

Xu Yanfeng had not yet answered when another voice sounded, teasing: "Our Xu Er excels in everything; even in kindergarten girls showed affection for him, let alone now—having girls chase him is quite normal."

Only Tang Yizhou has a sharp tongue.

"Speaking of this, I've also heard a bit of gossip," Fu Li said. "That girl is very pretty, campus belle–level… What's her name again?"

"How do you all know?" Luojinnan, who usually wasn't interested in this topic, suddenly became curious: "Do you have a photo? Let me take a look—I want to see what Nan Da's campus belle looks like."

Fu Li pulled out his phone, found a photo someone had sent him two days earlier, and said: "Here."

Luojinnan took it and looked, his eyes widening: "She really is pretty." He nudged Xu Yanfeng's arm: "Xu Er, this girl is chasing you, right? You should give it a try—you won't lose."

Tang Yizhou couldn't possibly miss such excitement; he turned his palm up and curled his fingers: "Camel, let me have a look."

"Camel" is Luojinnan's nickname. Hearing that, he handed the phone to Tang Yizhou. After looking, Tang Yizhou let out a "Heh"—the words he didn't say should have been: "She's pretty enough."

Ling Yan grew a bit anxious, seeing Xu Yanfeng still silent, and said: "What kind of character do you men have? You can't possibly have to date every pretty girl who chases Ah Feng—how many relationships would that be?"

Tang Yizhou returned the phone to Fu Li, glanced at Ling Yan, and immediately saw through her little thought: "Xu Er hasn't said anything yet—why are you so worked up? Could it be that you also like our Xu Er?"

"Tang Yizhou!" Ling Yan's face flushed, a mix of embarrassment and anger: "You can joke about those girls, but now you're joking about me too?"

"Sorry, I spoke too hastily." Seeing she was displeased, Tang Yizhou quickly apologized: "Miss Ling, please don't take offense."

The Ling family's cherished pearl certainly isn't something to joke about casually.

Ling Yan feared they'd think she was petty and unable to take a joke, so she pressed her lips and added: "We're all friends; saying this kind of thing is just awkward. Tang Yizhou, you just can't keep your mouth shut."

Tang Yizhou nodded, saying, "Yes yes yes, it's my fault, Miss, don't be angry," while thinking, "The Ling eldest miss really cares about face—clearly she has thoughts about Xu Er, yet she pretends she doesn't want to get involved romantically with him."

I wanted to ask her, "Aren't you tired?"

It would be better than that woman named Xia Xi, who is straightforward—if she likes someone, she pursues them; if she can't catch them, she pursues even harder. At least she dares to act and own it.

Tang Yizhou still thought Xia Xi was a brave woman, but after seeing her various tricks, he changed his mind, thinking she was utterly shameless. He didn't like her.

The gathering ended at ten; Xu Yanfeng hadn't drunk, took his car keys, and said goodbye to the others.

"Are you going home or back to school?" Ling Yan asked casually.

If he went home, they'd be on the same route, and she could take the chance to ask him for a ride—he usually wouldn't refuse such a small thing.

Xu Yanfeng replied: "Back to school."

Ling Yan didn't want to show disappointment, responding in a slightly lower tone: "Oh."

This group of childhood friends didn't attend the same school; Xu Yanfeng and Fu Li were at Nan Da, while the others were at a local finance and economics university, slightly inferior to Nan Da. These rich heirs, by rights, should have been sent abroad to polish their résumés once they came of age, but Xu Yanfeng was special—he had an older brother overseas managing the Xu Clan's foreign assets, so as the younger son he stayed in the country to keep his parents company, attend a domestic university, and later take over the Xu Clan's domestic business. The few friends followed suit, convincing their families to remain domestically as well.

Each of them was a willful sort.

Ling Yan watched Xu Yanfeng's retreating back, couldn't help it, jogged up to him, and, inexplicably heated, blurted out the question she'd held all night: "You probably don't like that flamboyant type of girl like Xia Xi, do you?"

Xu Yanfeng didn't stop, glanced sideways at her, and found her puzzling. Ling Yan's smile turned brittle: "Girls like her, whatever they do, are just three‑minute fads—now they're interested in you, pursuing relentlessly, but could switch to someone else tomorrow; they treat feelings like a game."

Xu Yanfeng wondered how she'd reached that conclusion: "Do you really know Xia Xi well?"

Even he doesn't know Xia Xi, so how could Ling Yan, who's never met her, base her judgment on anything?

Ling Yan was taken aback, her expression wavering, a little flustered: "I… I…" After stammering, she simply gave up: "Women naturally understand women better—I'm just guessing."

Xu Yanfeng gave a short "uh"—brief, with a hint of sarcasm.

Ling Yan's heart churned; she dared not speak recklessly anymore—the more she said, the more wrong she'd be.

*Freshmen military training ended, after the National Day holiday, the heat in Nancheng gradually faded, the weather began to turn cool, touching the hint of autumn.

Xia Xi was grateful for Zhou Du's tolerance; when they made the bet, he had changed the three‑month limit to a semester, otherwise she would surely have lost badly. A month has passed since then, and the number of times she's spoken to Xu Yanfeng is pitifully few—let alone actually catching him. Heaven will punish every blindly overconfident person.

On Tuesday, packed with classes, after a full day of lessons everyone had grown a bit gaunt; the four dormmates dragged their exhausted selves from the teaching building to the cafeteria, passing a tree‑lined path where the lively atmosphere contrasted starkly with their listless vigor.

That was the Student Union and various clubs recruiting new members.

One shade canopy after another stood side by side, with a few sets of tables and chairs underneath; upperclassmen held flyers for their respective clubs, waving them and shouting slogans, desperately trying to attract the tanned freshmen who hadn't yet regained their pale complexion.

Xia Xi recalled something, instantly energized as if injected with chicken blood, she dumped her roommate and plunged into the crowd of club recruiters.

The remaining three stood there, dazed.

"What's she up to?" Zhao Lei asked, eyes wide.

"Looks like she wants to join a club—I saw her heading… toward the basketball club's booth."

"Are you crazy? She's a junior, yet she's fighting freshmen for a club spot."

"Is she doing it just to join a club? She's actually after Xu senior. You guys don't get it, do you?"

Xia Xi mingled with the freshmen, picked up the application forms for the basketball club and the Student Union, pulled out a pen from her bag, filled them in swiftly, returned them, then, like a happy little bird, flapped her wings toward her roommates' embrace, her spirits high: "Let's go, let's eat!"

Roommates: "……"

Sometimes I really envy Xia Xi's mental state—after surviving a grueling schedule of classes, she still has this much energy.

Soon, Xia Xi received the interview notice, changed clothes, put on light makeup, and went to the designated classroom for the interview.

Her appearance was outstanding and she was articulate, so there was hardly any suspense; the next day she got a text saying she'd passed the interview. She replied with the two words "Received," hummed a tune in good spirits, and looked forward to meeting Xu Yanfeng.

I didn't expect the opportunity to come so quickly—the Student Union announced a meeting this Saturday night to introduce the members of each department and, by the way, assign some tasks.

When Xia Xi saw the message, she almost laughed out loud in class, but she restrained herself, pressing her arm against the textbook, burying her face in the crook of her elbow, she gave a quick furtive laugh, then lifted her head, resumed a serious listening expression, eyes on the blackboard, pen in hand, taking notes in the blank spaces of her textbook.

I really wish time would fly—just a swoop to Saturday, and she'd be able to see Xu Yanfeng.

This time she'll make sure Xu Yanfeng releases her from the blacklist, no matter what! Will Xi Xi succeed? Let's wait and see! Xi Xi: ……_(: з」∠)_(End of chapter)