016 Who Made You Angry?
"Do you like her?"
The soothing jazz came to an abrupt halt, replaced by a stirring symphony.
"Whether I like her or not doesn't matter. What matters is that you two aren't suited for each other, and she won't like you."
Jiang Shiyu crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, looking utterly convinced.
Liao Junyu's face flushed red. "What makes you say that?"
Jiang Shiyu leaned forward, his dark eyes fixed on him. "Then let me ask you: what do you like about her?"
Liao Junyu opened his mouth, a flood of compliments racing through his mind, but not a single word came out.
A smirk curled at the corner of Jiang Shiyu's mouth. "Let me say it for you. You think she's pretty and a top student, so having her around would make you look good. That's why you want to chase her."
"No, that's not..." Liao Junyu, as if caught red-handed, quickly denied it. "I think she's hardworking and ambitious. We could grow together."
Jiang Shiyu laughed out loud. "Then do you know her? Do you know what she likes or dislikes?"
Liao Junyu was stunned.
"See? You don't even know the basics about her. How can you talk about growing together?"
The stirring symphony continued, dense drumbeats pounding down, making it hard to breathe.
Liao Junyu clenched his fists and shot back, "What about you?"
Jiang Shiyu suddenly stood up, his tall frame imposing. "I misunderstood her before and made her suffer a lot. So... I won't stand by and do nothing. If you can't even get past me, you'd better drop those thoughts."
With that, he pushed open the door and left.
*
Zeng Keqin returned to the dorm and began organizing her materials. With the help of the book, she made rapid progress. She carefully reviewed the revised plan and sent it to the group chat.
This time, Zheng Zhixi said nothing.
Qiao Meng responded with a thumbs-up emoji.
Perhaps it was the tense final sprint, but the subsequent group collaboration went surprisingly smoothly.
Zheng Zhixi no longer contradicted every word and occasionally offered one or two useful suggestions.
On the other side, Su Wanyi's group was also progressing methodically. Even when they met in the hallway, they would greet each other amicably.
Zeng Keqin went to the break room to refill her water and happened to run into Zhao Mo.
He stood in front of the coffee machine, holding a cup, wearing only a dark brown vest. He took the initiative to greet her. "Classmate Zeng."
Zeng Keqin nodded in response.
Zhao Mo stepped aside to make room, took a sip of coffee, and glanced at her profile. "How's your case going?"
Zeng Keqin paused while pouring water and replied politely, "Pretty smoothly."
Zhao Mo didn't ask further.
Zeng Keqin left with her cup, a little surprised that he had initiated a conversation.
Only a day and a half remained before the submission deadline.
To complete the task perfectly, she worked overtime until nine in the evening, finally finishing the final version of the complaint and evidence list.
She stretched her stiff neck and looked around. The entire Bai Run'er was almost empty.
Just then, her phone vibrated on the desk.
Jiang Shiyu: [Still working overtime?]
Zeng Keqin was a bit surprised: [Yeah, something up?]
After a few seconds, he replied: [Wanted to ask if you've finished reading that book. I want to take a look too.]
Zeng Keqin frowned, too lazy to respond. A design major reading "A Practical Guide to Contract Law"?
She exited the chat and sent a message to Qiao Meng: [I've saved the materials in the group shared folder. Double-check them tomorrow morning.]
Qiao Meng replied with an OK emoji and added, [Good work! Victory is in sight!]
Zeng Keqin shut down her computer and left the office.
The heavy weight in her heart finally lifted. She slept especially soundly that night, not even hearing the alarm go off several times. It took Fang Yu shaking her awake.
She glanced at the time—eight o'clock!
Zeng Keqin hurriedly got up, washed up, casually grabbed a claw clip to put up her hair, and rushed out the door.
Just as she got on the bus, her phone rang. It was Qiao Meng.
"Xiaoke, you said yesterday that you put the materials in the group shared folder, but I can't find them."
"Impossible! I definitely put them in yesterday."
"Really, I've looked several times."
"Check the recycle bin."