"Yes, in middle school, she never attended swimming class. Maybe she’s afraid of water."
She wasn’t wrong. Shen You’an never took swimming lessons, though no one knew why.
The school pampered her, always granting her special treatnt.
Hong Cuiting frowned deeper.
"Could it be just soone with the sa na?"
"If there’s nothing else, teacher, I’ll head out first," Qin Xiangge nodded and turned toward the pool.
Gao Yuyue sat on the edge of the pool, splashing water with her feet while staring provocatively at Qin Xiangge: "How about you and I have a contest?"
Qin Xiangge replied indifferently: "Boring."
"You’re just afraid of losing to , aren’t you?"
Qin Xiangge curled her lips: "Gao Yuyue, you’re really annoying."
"The feeling’s mutual."
Gao Yuyue raised an eyebrow: "So what? You won’t dare?"
"Fine, let’s compete."
As soon as the two goddesses decided to race, a crowd quickly gathered, eager to watch the drama unfold.
Gu Bichen didn’t want to join the spectacle and was about to leave when Gao Yuyue called out to him.
"Gu, you co be the judge."
No one noticed a shadow silently leaving the swimming hall.
Shen You’an curled herself up in the equipnt room, laying out a yoga mat for a nap.
Half-asleep, she seed to sense movent.
Shen You’an’s eyes snapped open, and the boy standing by the window, closing it, stiffened slightly.
"A chill breeze to the head can make you sick."
The boy’s voice was dispassionate, almost emotionless, as if he were stating simple facts.
"If you’re feeling unwell, you should take a leave and go ho."
With that said, he turned and left the equipnt room.
Shen You’an glanced up and saw a steaming cup sitting on the windowsill.
She picked it up, and the warmth eased her physical discomfort.
Gazing at the brown sugar water inside, she murmured to herself, "Liu Runxi, what kind of person are you, really?"
Song Xiaojing happened to see Liu Runxi walk out of the equipnt room, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind.
Was there soone inside the equipnt room?
At that mont, Liu Runxi seed to sense sothing and raised his gaze toward the spot where she was hiding.
Startled, Song Xiaojing quickly shrank back.
After a while, she cautiously peeked out again.
The place was vacant—Liu Runxi had long since disappeared.
"Are you looking for ?" a low and chilly voice sounded behind her.
Song Xiaojing felt as though her soul was about to leap out of her body. She turned around trembling.
The boy stood poised and elegant, his refined face slightly smiling, looking approachable.
Song Xiaojing stared blankly at his stunningly handso face, "Liu... God Liu, I..."
Her hands clutched the fabric of her clothes, and her face blushed red as a ripe cherry.
"What about you?" The boy’s voice was gentle beyond description; under his gaze, it felt as if she were soaking in a warm spring.
This was Liu Runxi’s charm—when he wished, he could drive any woman mad for him.
"I..." Song Xiaojing stepped forward excitedly, but the boy stepped back, maintaining a perfect distance between them.
"I like you..."
Finally mustering her courage, she confessed, her heart pounding wildly.
The boy raised a hand and lightly touched her hair.
Song Xiaojing’s excitent surged—could it be that Liu Runxi liked her too...
Liu Runxi’s fingertips rolled a small dry leaf between them, his lips curved slightly: "Like ?"
Song Xiaojing nodded fervently.
"You like , don’t you? Otherwise, why would you co to my birthday party? Why would you give a birthday gift? You like too, don’t you?" Song Xiaojing said eagerly.
The boy slightly raised his brow, the eyes behind his glasses like a misty forest after rain—unclear yet tantalizingly enchanting.
"Like...?" The boy drew out the word deliberately.
To Song Xiaojing, hearing this felt like celestial music. She almost passed out from joy.
The boy glanced to the side, where, at the corner of the wall, sunlight cast a shadow that flickered briefly.
The curve of his lips grew mocking and cold.
"...You? What do you think you are?"
It was like a bucket of ice water poured over her.
Through tear-blurred eyes, she saw a face as breathtakingly beautiful as it was indifferent.
~
Helian Yu hung up the phone, her elegant face darkened with storm-cloud fury.
"Uncle Liu."
Housekeeper Liu approached: "Madam, any instructions?"
"Cancel all Yongrui Fund’s collaborations with the governnt. Send the Song family a harsh ssage. If they dare to target Xixi, I will not let this go."
Her tone was ruthless, decisive.
"Madam... should we discuss this with sir first?"
"No need. Yongrui Fund isn’t much of a company anyway; he probably doesn’t care about it. Let’s not bother him with such trivial matters."
"Understood, I’ll act on it right away."
"Wait," Helian Yu stopped him.
"That girl, Song Xiaojing—I don’t want her appearing in front of Xixi, understood?"
Housekeeper Liu deliberated for a mont and said, "Madam, the young master has always been astute and disciplined. I don’t think it’s what you’re worried about."
"It better not be. But I’d rather make a mistake than allow any danger to persist."
Housekeeper Liu sighed, "Madam, the young master may not be pleased with your decision."
Helian Yu sneered coldly, "We’ve been stuck in this desolate Qingzhou for so many years. If we don’t leave soon, no one will rember Helian Yu. Xixi’s marriage is my best card."
"And my card cannot be stained by even the slightest blemish."
Housekeeper Liu bowed respectfully: "I understand."
Helian Yu lightly adjusted her hair, her expression icy: "He must understand that, born into the Liu family, his marriage has never been his choice."
Especially girls raised in this backward corner of Qingzhou—they’re unworthy of Xixi.
Even the thought is repugnant.
~
Song Xiaojing fled, covering her face in embarrassnt.
The boy slowly straightened, glancing up, then froze.
Not far away, Shen You’an stood, watching him quietly.
A few ters apart, yet the distance felt like an insurmountable chasm.
The air seed to freeze in that mont.
Liu Runxi opened his mouth, as if to speak, but finally, it turned into a silent sigh.
Shen You’an averted her gaze indifferently, turning to walk into the classroom.
"Hahaha, Shen You’an, I won!"
Gao Yuyue stord into the classroom, beaming.
Shen You’an lay on the desk, idly solving practice problems.
"Oh, congratulations."
"Aren’t you curious who I beat?"
"Swimming, Qin Xiangge," Shen You’an said without looking up, her pen never stopping.
"Your brain is way too sharp—it’s honestly a little scary."
"Then stay further away from ."
Gao Yuyue plopped into Gu Bichen’s seat, clinging to Shen You’an’s arm.
"I won’t! They say you soak up the brilliance of those you’re close to. If I hang out with you, maybe I’ll catch your smarts. You can be number one; I’ll settle for second."
Shen You’an: "Haha...."
"Seriously though, lately Song Xiaojing’s been downright annoying, pouring all her energy into chasing n—as if she couldn’t survive without them. What’s so great about those lousy guys? Even free, I wouldn’t want them. Shen You’an, mark my words, don’t ever fight over a guy. If you do, I’ll kill him."
Shen You’an glanced at her: "You’re too extre."
Gao Yuyue squinted, suddenly leaning close: "So, you really do like guys?"
Shen You’an pushed her face away: "You’re irritating."
"Shen You’an, why won’t you look in the eye?"
"Guilty conscience!"
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