Chapter 122
With a mix of excitement and disappointment, Xue Shaohua returned to his group of male classmates, shrugging helplessly.
“Failed, huh? I told you, a girl that pretty must have a boyfriend,” one of them remarked.
“Exactly! She’s beautiful, has a lovely voice, and a gentle personality. A girl like that is the ideal in this world. Even if she doesn’t have a boyfriend, she won’t lack for admirers,” another chimed in.
“Come on, if the most handsome guy in our class doesn’t stand a chance, we probably don’t either,” someone else added.
“Failed?” Xue Shaohua chuckled lightly. “Where did you see me fail?”
“What do you mean? Didn’t Hu Yuying just say she has someone in her heart?”
“Even if she does, can you guarantee they won’t break up?”
“And from what I’ve observed these past few days, there hasn’t been a single guy around her. In other words, at least her so-called boyfriend isn’t at A University.”
“Could it be a long-distance relationship?”
“Doesn’t matter. As long as they’re not together, my options are limitless. There’s no wall I can’t dig through; it’s all about how you dig!”
Xue Shaohua spoke confidently, his gaze drifting toward Hu Yuying’s figure in the distance. “Chasing a woman like that is what gives you a sense of achievement, a feeling of conquest.”
“Wow, that girl is really something,” one of his friends said.
“Seriously, she’s stunning. Compared to Hu Yuying, they both have their own charms,” another added.
“Wait, don’t they seem to know each other...?”
Hu Yuying noticed the finance department’s group dispersing and stood up to head to the supermarket for two bottles of water.
“It’s so hot! Yuying, you’re the best! I’m about to melt!” Li Qingxue complained playfully from a distance.
The loose military training uniform she wore didn’t detract from her overall beauty; if anything, it accentuated her petite charm.
As she walked over to Hu Yuying with a playful demeanor, she caught everyone’s attention.
Both she and Hu Yuying were equally beautiful, yet they exuded different vibes.
Hu Yuying gave off an impression of being well-behaved, reminiscent of a classical beauty from ancient times.
In contrast, this girl radiated a lively energy, embodying the spirit of youth; her beauty was free and unrestrained.
Li Qingxue reached Hu Yuying’s side, skipping the water and instead giving her a hug. “You’re the best! I’m so thirsty right now.”
Hu Yuying chuckled, her presence making it hard for anyone to feel down. “Why don’t you take a break for a bit?”
Seeing this scene, Xue Shaohua couldn’t help but smile confidently. “How about a bet, guys?”
“A bet on what?”
“A bet on whether I can win over Hu Yuying in three months...”
---
**Chapter 147: An Important Person**
In the girls’ dormitory of the music academy.
“Wan Ning, are you sure you’re just going out for a meal?” a roommate asked, amused, as she watched Lin Wan Ning, who had been getting ready for over an hour.
Lin Wan Ning nodded. “Yeah, just going out for a meal.”
“But you’ve changed outfits six times already...”
At this, Lin Wan Ning bit her lip, unsure how to respond.
Her roommate laughed and said, “I think you’re not just going out to eat; you’re going out on a date, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. No wonder they say that the seemingly aloof ones in school, who blush at dirty jokes, often end up dating and marrying first, while those of us who joke around are the real single dogs...”
A hint of embarrassment crept onto Lin Wan Ning’s cool face. “No way, it’s really just a meal.”
“Alright, if it’s just a meal, then go enjoy it. I just want to know if it’s that hero from last time?”
Seeing the curious expressions on her friends’ faces, Lin Wan Ning quickly turned away. “I’m not telling you! I’m heading out!”
Her cool tone sounded somewhat distant, but the subtle shyness hidden within didn’t escape the ears of her perceptive friends.
Leaving the dorm, Lin Wan Ning walked toward the school gate.
As she walked, she took out her phone, biting her lip as she glanced at the chat interface.
She wasn’t the type to take the initiative.
Besides, she had already arranged to treat Long Aotian to dinner yesterday.
He hadn’t even bothered to contact her...
But then she thought about how, during their two encounters, he seemed so serious yet could also be a bit silly at times...
Yesterday, when he had grabbed her wrist, he even went out of his way to explain himself...
She hadn’t said anything at all...
“Could it be he’s never been in a relationship before?”
The thought made Lin Wan Ning smile unconsciously.
Her smile was like ice flowers blooming atop a snowy mountain—pure, delicate, and warm.
Suddenly, her mood lifted.
With a tap of her fingers, she sent a message.
Sitting on the same bench as yesterday, Lin Wan Ning occasionally glanced at her phone, leaning back against the bench while admiring the tall trees lining the road.
The sunset’s glow filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light on the ground.
“Sorry I’m late.” Long Aotian approached from the direction of T University and was greeted by this picturesque scene.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, the orange light illuminated her graceful profile, as if she were surrounded by a halo.
She lifted her gaze to meet Long Aotian’s, a faint smile gracing her lips, and in that moment, her cool demeanor seemed to vanish. “You’re here.”
As she slowly stood up, her white dress flowed with her movements, fluttering like a butterfly, as if ready to take flight.
Seeing the look of awe in Long Aotian’s eyes, Lin Wan Ning felt a little thrill of joy.
“What’s with you, staring at me like that?”
“Ahem.” Long Aotian cleared his throat, a bit embarrassed, and smiled. “You look especially beautiful today.”
After changing six or seven outfits over an hour, Lin Wan Ning indeed looked stunning.
Hearing his compliment, a flicker of joy passed through Lin Wan Ning’s eyes, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. Instead, she nodded gently. “Let’s go eat.”
As she turned, the smile on her lips couldn’t be contained.
No one dislikes being complimented, not even those who pretend to be aloof...
“I feel a bit shy, haha.”
“Why should you feel shy? You helped me. You might not care, but I can’t just brush it off.”
Arriving in a strange city and facing such unpleasant situations, Lin Wan Ning felt an indescribable panic when she had no one to turn to for help.
At that moment, Long Aotian stood before her like a hero, rescuing her from danger.
Not only was she willing to treat him to one meal, but she’d gladly do it ten times over.
Perhaps this feeling is something those who haven’t experienced it will never understand.
If someone truly understood, they’d realize that treating someone to a meal is really nothing at all.
At least for now, that’s how Lin Wan Ning felt.
No matter what anyone else thought, or what feelings she had inside, she knew this meal couldn’t make up for the injuries Long Aotian had endured to help her.
But she felt she had to do something.
Perhaps this was what seeking a bit of comfort meant.
Just as they sat down, Long Aotian’s phone rang.
Seeing the contact on the screen, his gaze softened unconsciously.
Noticing the smile on Long Aotian’s face, Lin Wan Ning’s eyes shifted to the phone in his hand. She opened her mouth to ask but, true to her nature, didn’t.
After a moment, Long Aotian set his phone down.
Looking at the person across from him, he said apologetically, “Just replying to a message.”
“Is it your girlfriend checking up on you? I didn’t consider that I was taking up your free time.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
At this, Lin Wan Ning couldn’t help but look up at Long Aotian.
He seemed to recall something, smiling as he continued, “But she’s a very important person to me.”
“A very important person?”
“Yeah.” Long Aotian’s smile widened. “Pretty important.”
She was the first person he met when he came to this world.
Lin Wan Ning nodded. She didn’t really mind this, as she already knew what mattered to her.
Before this, she had never realized that simply sharing a meal with someone could bring her such joy.
Long Aotian was enjoying his food so much, taking big bites as if he had no need to maintain an image, just relishing the moment, even with a beautiful girl sitting across from him, one he had openly acknowledged.
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