Chapter 8
Li Qingxue didn’t say a word, but the smile on her face spoke volumes.
Seeing this, Ye Liangchen couldn’t help but sneer inwardly, thinking, “Now you’re smiling? Now you think Long Aotian is a gentleman? Ha! Just wait until you see his true colors and his dirty tricks; then you won’t be smiling anymore!”
With that thought, Ye Liangchen straightened his back, fixed his gaze ahead, and walked toward the cafeteria.
As he passed by Li Qingxue, she instinctively wanted to call out to him, just like she always did, asking him to wait up.
They had known each other for far too long—since fourth grade when they sat together, through fifth and sixth grades, middle school, and now into their third year of high school. Nine years had passed.
Such a long time and such familiarity had formed an instinct.
Most of the time, Ye Liangchen would never refuse her.
But just as she opened her mouth, she suddenly recalled Ye Liangchen’s strange behavior today, and the words she intended to say got stuck in her throat.
Ye Liangchen, out of the corner of his eye, noticed her attempt to call him.
He felt a flicker of joy in his heart.
But soon, he reminded himself sternly.
No turning back. Even if Li Qingxue called his name, he wouldn’t look back. He had to appear nonchalant and tell her, in a voice devoid of any emotion, “I don’t have time to wait for you!”
He would no longer be the one who unconditionally catered to her.
No more being a “licking dog” (a term for someone who is overly submissive).
No more rushing to her side just because she gave him a playful look!
But why hadn’t she called out to him yet, even after he had walked so far?
Furrowing his brow, he considered turning back for a moment, but doing so would be too obvious.
So he turned to his friend Gao Quan beside him. “Quan, take a look back at Li Qingxue and see what’s going on.”
Gao Quan, hearing Ye Liangchen’s words, casually glanced back.
Then he told Ye Liangchen, “Chen Ge, Li Qingxue is just standing there, watching you.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait for her?”
Having seen Ye Liangchen secretly distressed in the hallway under the pretense of going to the restroom, Gao Quan, as his best friend, knew just how much Ye Liangchen liked Li Qingxue.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked him to check on her.
He clearly hadn’t let go of Li Qingxue.
Hearing Gao Quan’s words, Ye Liangchen’s lips curled into a slight smile; everything was unfolding just as he had dreamed.
“No, Quan, there are some things you just don’t understand. Let’s go; this time, I’ll take you to fly!”
With that, he quickened his pace, fearing he might not be able to resist turning back.
Watching Ye Liangchen’s retreating figure, Gao Quan sighed. He couldn’t shake the feeling that if Ye Liangchen continued to ignore Li Qingxue like this, he would regret it one day!
“Qingxue, did you have a fight with Ye Liangchen?”
Li Qingxue shook her head. In truth, she didn’t know either. She was completely in the dark about Ye Liangchen’s plan to confess for the 99th time.
Having known each other for so long, she had always been reluctant to make Ye Liangchen look bad in front of their classmates.
In private, she had told him countless times that she wasn’t interested in dating, at least not before college.
She had clearly rejected him many, many times.
So many times that Li Qingxue couldn’t even remember how many times she had turned him down.
Not only that, but she had also repeatedly told him that being friends was just fine.
In fact, she really only saw him as an older brother.
But how had things turned out like this?
Perhaps her mood was a bit off. After nine years, how many nine years could one person have?
But if Ye Liangchen could think clearly and give up on confessing to her, that would be good too. She just hoped he could gradually adjust his emotions and that it wouldn’t affect their friendship...
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Chapter 10: I’m the Best at Homework, I Can Tutor You Too
Long Aotian brought Hu Yuying to the cafeteria.
He grabbed two trays, placing one in Hu Yuying’s hands.
As they queued at the counter, Hu Yuying hesitated, glancing at the food laid out. She stepped forward and quietly asked, “Excuse me, can I pay in cash?”
She had just transferred to this school today.
Without a meal card for the cafeteria, she didn’t have enough cash on her to buy two lunches.
Otherwise, since Long Aotian had helped her today and didn’t mind her tagging along as his sidekick, she felt she should treat him to a meal...
“Sorry, we don’t accept cash here, dear. You might want to load your card first and come back!” The cafeteria lady, seeing the sweet and innocent Hu Yuying, softened her tone and patiently advised her.
Hu Yuying felt embarrassed.
The next moment, she felt a hand on her head, gently pushing her back.
Long Aotian withdrew his hand and took her tray as well. “Use my card.”
Watching the cafeteria lady start serving food, Hu Yuying rubbed her hair where Long Aotian had touched and said, “I can give you cash.”
“What do you mean? You want something better?” Long Aotian glanced at Hu Yuying and continued, “This is the treatment of a sidekick. Whatever I eat, you eat too. If you want something better, buy it yourself.”
Hu Yuying quickly waved her hands, signaling that wasn’t what she meant.
“Just take the tray and go save a spot for me.”
Not giving Hu Yuying a chance to respond, Long Aotian looked at the food already served and said in a low voice.
Hu Yuying had no choice but to pick up the tray and look for an empty seat to save a spot for Long Aotian.
Fortunately, the cafeteria was large enough. Since the first and second-year students weren’t as busy as the third years, most chose to go home for lunch.
So finding an empty seat wasn’t too difficult.
“Look at you, wanting to say something but holding back. It makes me uncomfortable,” Long Aotian said, eyeing Hu Yuying, who seemed to be struggling with her words.
Hearing Long Aotian’s comment, Hu Yuying finally spoke up, “Long Ge, how about I just pay you back for the meal? I feel like I owe you something.”
This was a classic case of a giving personality.
No matter how much someone else did for her, she felt it was nothing.
But if someone just bought her a meal worth a few bucks, she immediately felt like she owed them a lot.
Her mind would race with all sorts of thoughts, and she would feel inexplicably guilty.
“If you say that again, I’ll hit you!” Long Aotian frowned!
It had to be said that Long Aotian’s earlier display of authority with Wang Shuo had been quite effective.
As soon as he said that, Hu Yuying immediately quieted down.
“Let someone overhear, and they’ll think I can’t afford to treat my little sidekick.”
“If you really feel guilty, just do more things to make it up to me.”
Upon hearing this, Hu Yuying’s eyes lit up. Suddenly, she thought this suggestion was pretty good, but soon the light in her eyes dimmed again.
Because she felt so clumsy, she couldn’t do anything right, and she didn’t know what she could help Long Aotian with!
Back at her previous school, she had seen sidekicks who followed their leaders around, helping them insult others, fight, or bully people.
But she couldn’t do any of that.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been bullied all the time.
Stealing a glance at Long Aotian, she wondered if he thought she was too foolish and would no longer want her as his sidekick.
With that thought, Hu Yuying’s mood suddenly sank again.
Without Long Aotian’s protection, would she be bullied again?
That feeling was strange; those who had never been bullied wouldn’t understand.
Having been bullied for so long, suddenly meeting a leader who protected her, preventing her from being bullied, and even making those who had bullied her apologize...
Long Aotian couldn’t see into Hu Yuying’s mind.
Watching her, one moment her eyes sparkled, and the next they dimmed again, he could only guess that she was lost in thought, but he couldn’t figure out what she was thinking.
“What’s on your mind? Is helping me with homework making you this anxious?”
Upon hearing this, Hu Yuying’s previously dimmed eyes brightened again. Right! A sidekick could help their leader with homework!
She was the best at homework.
“Long Ge, I can help you with your homework, and I can tutor you too.”
This was Hu Yuying’s strong suit, so when she said this, her confidence noticeably increased.
Long Aotian hadn’t expected that his casual remark would make Hu Yuying so excited.
He nodded in affirmation at her.
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