"Dekun, Cai Keke is just using you as a sucker, yet you still follow her around like a puppy every day."
"Exactly, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Why get hung up on a single flower?"
"Bro, I’ll take you to a foot massage parlor. I’ll show you what heaven on earth feels like."
Faced with his friends’ persuasion and temptations, Guo Dekun remained unmoved. He even went to great lengths to defend Cai Keke in front of them.
"No, Keke already said that as long as I help Xue Yang sign in for class, she’ll agree to have dinner with . Her agreeing to eat with proves I have a place in her heart. If I just try a little harder, I’m sure I can win her over."
Guo Dekun had it all planned out. If she would be his girlfriend, he would work hard to give her a good life and make her the happiest woman in the world.
But his friend brought him crashing back to reality with a sharp remark, "Didn’t Zhang Wuji ever teach you that the more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive you?"
"No, she won’t deceive ."
Amid these thoughts, Xue Yang’s voice echoed in Guo Dekun’s ear.
"What’s wrong? Is Classmate Cai not happy with the arrangent?"
Cai Keke looked visibly upset. But she had already spoken, and to back out now would be even more humiliating, especially since Xue Yang’s rejection was so obvious.
"Happy? Of course, I’m happy! Guo Dekun, I’m treating you to dinner. Are you coming?"
From her tone, it sounded as if she would leap forward and bite his neck off the very next second if Guo Dekun agreed.
Guo Dekun, you’d better not agree, or else... I’ll never speak to you again.
Guo Dekun studied Cai Keke’s expression. After falling for her, he had made a point of learning her habits, including her body language and the way she thought. He naturally understood what she was implying now.
A sharp pain lanced through his heart, and suddenly, life felt utterly aningless.
Maybe my friends are right. There are plenty of fish in the sea, so why should I hang myself on a single crooked tree? And an unfaithful one at that.
He gave a self-deprecating laugh, then said to Xue Yang, "No, thank you. I genuinely wanted to help Classmate Xue, so this has little to do with Classmate Cai. I don’t feel right accepting this al."
Hearing Guo Dekun’s words, Cai Keke smiled smugly.
"Did you hear that, Xue Yang? He doesn’t want to eat. It’s not that I didn’t offer."
Xue Yang nodded and patted Guo Dekun on the shoulder. "Classmate Guo, let’s get a al together soti."
Guo Dekun smiled. "Sure."
With that, Xue Yang stood up and left the classroom.
"Hey, class hasn’t even started. Why is Xue Yang leaving again?"
"I thought he was actually going to attend class today, but I guess he just ca to show his face. Busy people really are different."
Xue Yang’s figure quickly vanished from sight.
Cai Keke retracted her gaze and looked at Guo Dekun, wanting to speak to him. But for the first ti ever, Guo Dekun wasn’t looking her way. She tried to get his attention several tis, but he didn’t react at all. Frustrated, she was about to call out to him when the advanced mathematics teacher appeared at the classroom door, her high heels clicking on the floor.
Cai Keke had no choice but to clamp her mouth shut, glaring at Guo Dekun.
Damn it, what’s wrong with Guo Dekun?
Beside her, Cen Xue couldn’t watch any longer. She whispered, "Keke, you’re being too harsh on Guo Dekun. I think he’s angry."
"What right does he have to be angry?" Cai Keke blurted out.
"You were the one who asked him to sign in for Xue Yang, yet you offered to treat Xue Yang to dinner. After Xue Yang refused and told you to treat Guo Dekun instead, you played petty tricks to stop him from accepting. Didn’t you see it? The mont he said he didn’t want it, the light in his eyes just went out. Keke, I think you might have just lost Guo Dekun."
That last sentence nearly broke through Cai Keke’s defenses. But since they were in class, she managed to keep her composure. After a mont, she quickly rationalized the situation. "For him to stop pestering ... isn’t that exactly what I wanted? This is great! That annoying leech is finally off my back."
Seeing Cai Keke’s heartless attitude, Cen Xue knew that saying anything more would be useless.
"Just don’t regret it later."
"I will never regret it."
Cai Keke insisted she had no regrets, but soon, she found herself unconsciously wanting to talk to Guo Dekun. However, Guo Dekun was already slumped over on his desk, looking as if he were fast asleep. It was the first ti he had ever slept in class.
Cai Keke felt a pang of anger and wanted to wake him, but a thought stopped her.
Why should I be the one to make the first move? You’re the one who likes , not the other way around. Since you don’t want to talk to anymore, then I won’t talk to you either.
With that settled, she tried to listen to the lecture, but after a few monts, her mind drifted off to who knows where.
With his back to Cai Keke, Guo Dekun could sense that she wanted to talk to him.
From now on, I’m never taking the initiative again. I don’t want to like her anymore. I’m going to be myself again.
He had even given up his habit of sleeping in class just to pursue her. Now, he was going to let himself enjoy a good nap.
When the bell finally rang, Guo Dekun woke up as if by clockwork. He saw the teacher walk out, quickly gathered his things, and followed right after her.
Watching Guo Dekun leave so naturally, Cai Keke’s face turned pale.
Is Guo Dekun really going to ignore forever?
Ti flew by, and soon it was the eve of the college entrance exams.
During this period, Lin Xi’s phone was still confiscated by her horoom teacher, so she and Xue Yang hadn’t been in contact. But even without communication, they were still constantly on each other’s minds.
After class, the students remained in the classroom, cramming until the last minute and even cutting down on their bathroom breaks.
Lin Xi gazed out the window. The banyan tree outside was lush and verdant, showcasing its vigorous life force to the world. Its branches, swaying in the wind, seed to offer the third-year students the most heartfelt congratulations, wishing them success on their exams.
Lin Xi pulled her thoughts back and turned to Si Wen, who was still writing furiously.
"Si Wen, are you going to get sothing to eat?"
"The entrance exam is tomorrow! How could I possibly think about food?"
"Does the exam an you don’t have to eat?"
"I’m too nervous to eat."
"Oh. Si Wen, can I borrow your phone for a minute?" Lin Xi asked, holding out her hands.
Si Wen took her phone out of her desk drawer. "Here, use it."
The day before the exam, the school had relaxed its strict rules, and many students had already gone ho to rest. Only a small portion remained in the classrooms to continue their review. Since Harlow School wasn’t being used as an exam site, they didn’t need to clear out the rooms.
"Thanks, Si Wen," Lin Xi said, her eyes curving into a smile. She took the phone, opened WeChat, found Xue Yang’s profile, and started a video call.
Xue Yang was just about to ssage Si Wen to ask if she could find Lin Xi for him when the video call request popped up on his screen.
Xue Yang’s expression imdiately softened. He knew without having to look that it had to be Lin Xi calling him from Si Wen’s phone.
Although he and Si Wen had a superior-subordinate relationship, they had never chatted privately before.
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