After leaving school near the subway entrance, Hu Yuying spotted Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning from afar.
Earlier that morning, after Hu Yuying had left, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning had been wandering around the vicinity of University A. When they received Hu Yuying’s message, they agreed to meet at the subway entrance.
Now, as Hu Yuying approached, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning stepped forward, handing her a fruit tea while their narrowed eyes scrutinized her from head to toe.
“Tell me, did you dress up this nicely just to seduce my brother?”
Li Qingxue suddenly let out an exaggerated “Oh!” and added, “No wonder you were so focused last night—just a little lag in the video and you were already getting all worked up...”
Hu Yuying rolled her eyes at Li Qingxue. “Which one of us is really the desperate one here?”
Accusing her of trying to seduce Long Aotian? Fine, she couldn’t deny she had some thoughts along those lines. But saying she was impatient over a video? That was something she absolutely wouldn’t admit.
“I really don’t know how your waist stays so perfectly slim,” Lin Wanning remarked, unable to hide her envy as she eyed Hu Yuying’s slender figure.
Especially against the simple black outfit, her curves stood out even more. Before, Hu Yuying’s clothes had always been loose and casual. But ever since Long Aotian started picking her outfits, her figure had been showcased flawlessly—that tiny waist was practically a lethal weapon.
It wasn’t just the guys who noticed; even her friends sometimes couldn’t resist reaching out to tease her.“Strike first.” Hu Yuying flashed a bright smile and immediately pinched Lin Wanning’s long legs.
After spending so much time together, Hu Yuying knew Li Qingxue was all talk—despite her bold words, she’d still blush when things got real.
Lin Wanning, on the other hand, was a different story. She was genuinely shameless, always managing to fluster both Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue until their ears burned red.
She was just too good at it.
After a bit of playful banter, the trio finally made their way into the subway station.
“So, where are we going now?” Hu Yuying asked quietly.
“To the private road near our school,” Lin Wanning replied. This had been discussed and agreed upon between her and Li Qingxue, and Hu Yuying had no objections—after all, there was a chance they might run into Long Aotian.
“Yuying, you’ve become so shameless lately. Just look at that smug grin on your face...”
“That’s not true!” Hu Yuying turned her head away. “Keep teasing me, and I’ll tickle you...”
When they arrived at the secluded path near the music college, the towering trees on either side showered them with falling leaves, immersing them in the beauty of autumn.
“It’s so pretty here,” Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue murmured in unison as they gazed up at the drifting foliage.
“Right?” Lin Wanning chuckled softly. This was the very place where she and her brother had first met.
“That’s my school over there, and this side is my brother’s campus. Want me to take you guys around later?”
“Sure.” Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue nodded with smiles. The youthful atmosphere was undeniably uplifting.
“Then let’s have Hu Yuying decide—should we tour the music college first, or my brother’s school?”
“Why do I have to be the one to choose?” Hu Yuying knew exactly what they were up to—they were just looking for another chance to tease her.
If she said Long Aotian’s school first, she could already imagine the endless jokes they’d make at her expense the whole way there.
“If I really have to pick, then let’s go to the music college first.” Hu Yuying wasn’t about to fall into their trap.
“Really?” Lin Wanning smirked, her usual cool demeanor nowhere to be seen.
“Are you sure?” Li Qingxue also grinned, clearly not buying it.
Lin Wanning even made a show of checking the time. “If I remember correctly, my brother had a cultural class this morning. Right about now, he should be in a specialized course. Who knows—we might just spot him on one of the fields...”
“So think carefully...”
Seeing the two of them looking at her like she was a child being coaxed, Hu Yuying bit her lip. “W-well... maybe we should go to Long Aotian’s school first?”
The moment the words left her mouth, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning burst into laughter.
Realizing she’d been played, Hu Yuying reached out to grab them, but they were already two steps ahead, dodging out of reach.
Even though she knew she’d fallen for their trick, she couldn’t bring herself to mind.
......
Ye Liangchen instinctively tried to flick his hair, only to remember he’d styled it today—the gel made it impossible to move.
With a resigned chuckle, he brought the single rose in his hand to his nose, inhaling deeply before closing his eyes and tilting his head back in exaggerated appreciation.
Satisfied, he nodded to himself and began walking toward the prearranged meeting spot.
“Mengjie.”
Her eyes landed on his slicked-back middle part, meticulously styled to perfection, with the dividing line so sharp it could cut paper.
“What kind of look is this?!”
Shen Mengjie doubled over laughing, pointing at Ye Liangchen’s greased-up hair.
Holding the rose, Ye Liangchen sighed at her reaction. “This is a fashionable hairstyle, the mark of a high-quality modern gentleman.”
Little did he know, this very style would become a trend in the coming years, even adopted by celebrities for red carpets and events.
Who could deny its sophistication?
As they walked, Shen Mengjie led Ye Liangchen forward, her mind already working on how to dig deeper into whatever scheme he had against Long Aotian.
She didn’t like owing favors—might as well give Long Aotian a heads-up later.
Mid-stride, Ye Liangchen suddenly frowned, his steps halting as he stared at a figure in the distance.
Shen Mengjie followed his gaze. “You know him?”
Ye Liangchen nodded. “Xue Shaohua?”
Hearing his name, Xue Shaohua whipped around, his eyes landing on Ye Liangchen—middle-parted hair, rose in hand, the whole package.
“What are you doing here?” Ye Liangchen asked, stepping closer.
Xue Shaohua couldn’t exactly admit he’d come to eavesdrop on Long Aotian and Hu Yuying, so he shot back, “What about you?”
At that, Ye Liangchen smirked, flicking his immovable hair. “Just spotted a beauty over there. Came to charm her, that’s all.”
Following his gaze, Xue Shaohua’s eyes lit up.
The sight of that elegant, mature beauty hit him like a revelation.
Noticing Xue Shaohua’s stare, Shen Mengjie frowned, mentally grouping him in the same category as Ye Liangchen—utterly hopeless.
Seeing Xue Shaohua staring in a daze, Ye Liangchen curled his lips into a confident smile and waved a hand in front of his eyes. "You still haven’t told me why you’re here."
Snapping out of his trance, Xue Shaohua lifted his chin, signaling Ye Liangchen to look ahead...
[Hey lovelies, keep the support coming—love you all...]