This went on for a whole week. Every time class ended, Ye Qingli would see Xiao Yu waiting at the door.
His persistence even moved Xu Yan a little. They weren't in the same department, and she had no idea how he got her schedule or found her classroom so accurately.
At first, he just came to wait for her after class. But starting from some day, he would show up with a bubble tea or a small cake.
It was Xu Qingsong's idea—apparently, that was how he had chased his first love back in the day.
He said girls don't care how expensive the gift is; what matters is the sincerity.
But things weren't going smoothly for Xiao Yu. Ye Qingli seemed determined to cut ties with him, refusing everything he offered, no matter what.
After enduring so many days under everyone's gaze, Ye Qingli had lost her initial nervousness and even grown used to it.
She looked at him and said awkwardly, "When will you stop coming?"
He was trying to drive him away again. Xiao Yu lowered his eyes, appearing to think seriously. "I can't really calculate that. Right now, chasing you means I have to come every day. Once we're together, I'll have to come even more."
"..."
He smiled. "So the answer you want, I really can't give."
Xiao Yu was always like this—you could never see a serious attitude on his face. Ye Qingli frowned deeply. "Don't waste your efforts on me. There's no future for us."
She even showed a hint of irritation, trying to signal that she didn't like him, even disliked him a little.
But Xiao Yu showed no sign of backing down. He raised his chin at her. "Why not? Name your terms."
Ye Qingli thought for a moment, gritted her teeth, and came up with the most absurd reason she could. "I don't like boyfriends who have parents. I think dealing with in-laws is too troublesome..."
For some reason, after saying that, she suddenly didn't dare to look at him.
Xu Yan's heart tightened. Her eyes went wide as she secretly squeezed Ye Qingli's fingers. Her good friend was being too harsh with her terms.
Ye Qingli realized it too and quickly lowered her head. Xiao Yu leaned against the wall. From his angle, he could only see the top of her fluffy head and her soft hair.
He stared at her quietly for a few seconds, then curled his lips.
He chuckled. "That's great. I'm the only one in my family."
At those words, not only Ye Qingli and Xu Yan were stunned. When they got back and told Xu Qingsong, his jaw nearly dropped.
"Holy crap, have you lost your mind!"
His parents were alive and well, but Xiao Yu had just declared them dead.
The news fermented in Xu Qingsong's mind for a while. He puffed out his cheeks and sighed.
"Well, it's not much different. They're alive but don't care about you anyway."
After his lament, Xu Qingsong suddenly realized what he said and waved at Xiao Yu.
"I'm just stating facts. Don't overthink it."
The two had grown up together. Xu Qingsong knew that what Xiao Yu hated most was pity.
Pitying looks, pitying tones.
They could all wound his inner pride.
What he wanted was never sympathy. That was why he was so irritable and treated everyone coldly.
Even if it attracted endless hatred, Xiao Yu didn't care. He would never be crushed by it.
...
In the end, Ye Qingli accepted Xiao Yu's invitation.
Given his status and the fact that he was pursuing her, he naturally wouldn't take her to a cheap place.
Even though Ye Qingli understood this, she still froze when they got out of the taxi and she looked at the signboard in front of the door.
It was a high-end restaurant, popular online. It was said to have elegant interior decor and was a great spot for social media photos.
Seeing that she hadn't followed, Xiao Yu turned back. "Come on."
"Let's go somewhere else," Ye Qingli said bluntly. "This place is too expensive."
"Why do you care about that? I'm treating you, you don't have to pay," he said carelessly.
It was precisely this careless tone that made Ye Qingli suddenly realize they weren't from the same world.
Not in personality, not in views on love, and certainly not in family background.
If it weren't for Huang Xu, two people who had nothing to do with each other might never have crossed paths.
Ye Qingli lowered her head, lost in thought. Xiao Yu had to come over to pull her, but just as he was about to touch her, she dodged.
Xiao Yu paused. Ye Qingli looked up at him and said, "Your money is still money. Is it worth spending it on someone who will never reciprocate?"
She asked very seriously, and she said this to remind him that it wasn't too late to regret.
Before he invested too much in her.
Before she started to like him.
If he made it clear now, everything would still be okay.
Xiao Yu stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.