Until one day after class.
Ye Qingli, as usual, packed her things and followed Xu Yan out of the classroom. Just as she reached the door, a hand blocked her way.
"Ye Qingli."
Familiar voice, familiar tone. She paused and looked up.
Xiao Yu was leaning against the doorframe, tall and slender, his clothes carrying a faint, clean scent. His eyes were lowered—no longer dark and gloomy, but this time with the most genuine luster.
He smiled, his tone rising, making her name sound playful and ambiguous.
Teasing voices came from the girls nearby, "Oohs" and "Ahs" everywhere. Ye Qingli's face flushed, and she clenched her fingers to keep her voice steady.
"When were you discharged?"
"A few days ago."
"Oh," Ye Qingli said. "Then why didn't you come to school?"
"I just got better; I needed a few days to recover, didn't I?" Xiao Yu retorted, then thought of something and smirked. "You're pretty observant, knowing I wasn't in school."
"I just meant I hadn't seen you at the Youth Association lately."
Ye Qingli was afraid he'd get conceited, so she quickly made up an excuse, but her rapid speech betrayed her nervousness.
At that, Xiao Yu laughed so hard his shoulders shook.
As if she had hit his funny bone.
"..."
Ye Qingli couldn't understand what was so funny. Under the curious gazes around them, she unconsciously gripped her backpack straps, face reddening. "If you don't have anything else, I'll be going now."
She started to step away, but Xiao Yu reached out and grabbed her arm.
Ye Qingli tugged her arm. He wasn't using force, but she couldn't pull free.
She looked up, their eyes meeting.
"What's the rush? I came to pick you up," Xiao Yu said, looking down at her. His hand still gripped her arm firmly.
Ye Qingli was stunned, remembering that day at the Youth Association when he suddenly said the same thing.
"Pick you up"—the phrase sounded so jarring between them.
Besides, Huang Xu wasn't here today. She couldn't think of any other reason. Xiao Yu seemed to think she was hesitating, and probably afraid she wouldn't come, he stated plainly, "I just want to treat you to a meal to thank you."
So it was about his alcohol allergy.
Passersby kept glancing at them—some out of curiosity, others out of jealousy. After all, Xiao Yu was the idol of all the girls at this school.
Ye Qingli bit her lip. "It's really nothing. We're all classmates. Besides, you guys drove us to the scenic spot. Consider it mutual help."
Her refusal couldn't have been more obvious. She really didn't want to be seen as a rival by those girls.
After all, she didn't like Xiao Yu anyway.
He didn't say anything after hearing that, just quietly stared at her. But his silence only made Ye Qingli more uneasy. She opened her mouth to speak, and then he said,
"Fine, I won't force you."
Ye Qingli paused. Xiao Yu's hand dropped from her arm. He stopped leaning against the wall, stood up straight, and said, "But you should know, you'll have to eat that meal with me sooner or later."
"..."
It sounded like a threat.
With that, Xiao Yu left, hands in his pockets, walking briskly.
Ye Qingli didn't understand what he meant. Wasn't it up to her whether she wanted to eat or not? Could he just drag her away?
Until next class ended, she saw him again at the door.
Ye Qingli glanced at him, then pulled Xu Yan away without saying a word.
As they walked, Xu Yan looked back. "Qingqing, Xiao Yu seems sincere."
"Anyone can wait for someone," Ye Qingli said. She didn't care—she just wanted to see how long he could persist.
Maybe a day, maybe two.
But Xiao Yu appeared at her classroom door for several days straight, even though he knew Ye Qingli might not acknowledge him.
Such a thing might not be surprising for someone else, but the fact that it was Xiao Yu—the most famous player—actively pursuing someone was something no one would believe unless they saw it with their own eyes.
The news quickly spread on the forum.
[No way? Am I seeing things? They're still together?]
[Doesn't seem like they're together. Feels more like Xiao Yu is chasing Ye Qingli. Didn't you see she's ignoring him?]
[Why though? Xiao Yu is so handsome. With that face alone, Ye Qingli should have agreed already, right?]
[Ah, you don't understand a player's mentality! The more she plays hard to get, the more satisfying it is! Especially since this fish is someone as rich and good-looking as Xiao Yu.]
[Hey, if you hadn't reminded me, I'd have forgotten Ye Qingli is also a player. Xiao Yu has finally met his match. Two players' romantic entanglement? Interesting.]
[Alas, the girls who like Xiao Yu will have to wait even longer now.]
"..." Ye Qingli frowned through the whole thing. Finally, unable to take it anymore, she turned off her phone.
What nonsense were they discussing?
Xu Yan walked over with a teacup, wearing an amused expression. She patted Ye Qingli's shoulder and sighed. "No wonder Xiao Yu sounded so confident that day. He's really perfected the art of forcing someone's hand."
"I feel like I've refused him clearly enough. Why won't he give up?"
Ye Qingli hadn't told Xu Yan Xiao Yu's true motive. Some things were better kept to herself; unrelated people knowing could only lead to more misunderstandings.
Even though the answer was already set in stone.
"It seems he won't give up until he gets you," Xu Yan said, rubbing her chin. She offered a suggestion: "Why don't you pretend to go along with him for a few days? With Xiao Yu's personality, he'll probably lose interest in you quickly."
Maybe that really was a good idea.
Ye Qingli pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on.
Author's note: