Once you entered Pedestrian Street, there were snack stalls first, followed by restaurants, and then supermarkets, bathhouses, barbershops, and open-air barbecue stalls.
At that moment, the girls from Financial Class 3 had just come out of the supermarket. Carrying bags full of daily necessities, they chatted and laughed as they walked back. Their lively group attracted quite a few male college students' gazes along the way.
"Qingqing, don't you think the guys in our class are seriously lacking in quality?"
"Yeah. There isn't a single one who's easy on the eyes."
The girl called Song Qingqing nodded noncommittally. She wore heavy makeup and false eyelashes, and the hair framing her temples had even been dyed blue. Wherever she went, she was the center of attention.
"Not really. I think that Jiang Qin guy is pretty good."
Pan Xiu, who was walking behind them, offered a different opinion. Her looks were fairly average, but she had a sweet, well-behaved air about her, which made her seem rather cute.
Song Qingqing frowned slightly. "Which one is Jiang Qin?"
"The one sitting by the window in the back row. He's about 180 centimeters tall and has a very refined appearance. You didn't notice him?"
"Nope."
"Jiang Tian, did you see him?"
"Yeah, I vaguely remember him. He is pretty good-looking, but he's too low-class."
Jiang Tian was a long-legged beauty with a slightly childish voice. Remembering how Jiang Qin and Cao Guangyu had pretended to be rich while borrowing a phone made her feel that he was an idiot. She had always looked down on him somewhat.
Pan Xiu revealed an ambiguous smile. "Did you know? Jiang Qin is planning to pursue Qingqing."
Jiang Tian's eyes widened slightly. "Seriously?"
"Of course. He has a roommate named Ren Ziqiang. I just chatted with him for a bit, and he told me."
"Qingqing, you're really charming. You already have an admirer right after the semester started?"
Song Qingqing found it rather amusing. "Do I really look that approachable? How come anyone has the courage to pursue me? That's hilarious."
Jiang Tian recalled what Jiang Qin looked like. "Actually, he isn't bad-looking. He passes my standards. Qingqing, are you really not considering him?"
"Tian Tian, you're too innocent. What use is being handsome if he has no money? You know my spending habits are high. I'm not looking for a boyfriend from an ordinary family. He gets envious over a three-thousand-yuan phone, so how could he afford to buy me cosmetics?"
"That's true. Jiang Qin definitely couldn't afford to support you."
Just then, Pan Xiu suddenly looked north, then quickly grabbed the others. "Look, that's Jiang Qin!"
Song Qingqing and Jiang Tian followed her gaze and saw Jiang Qin walking out of Nanshan Restaurant. Their eyes lit up despite themselves. "He really is pretty refined. Should we go talk to him?"
"Then let's go. It's not like chatting costs anything."
Pan Xiu was famous for being a gossip addict, so she immediately went forward and called out to Jiang Qin.
Jiang Qin had been seething with anger and did not want to deal with anyone, but when he realized they were his classmates, he restrained himself somewhat. After all, it was only the beginning of the semester, and making enemies of everyone was not his style.
The girls from Financial Class 3 were quite direct. They immediately asked whether he liked Song Qingqing, while Song Qingqing stood to the side with her chin raised, looking rather condescending.
Jiang Qin was utterly speechless. I'm here to make money, damn it. Why do I have to get tangled up with girls?
Can someone splash a golden shower on these women and wake them up? Damn.
"Jiang Qin, don't tell me you're shy?"
"What the hell would I be shy about? That was all Ren Ziqiang talking nonsense. You might as well believe in ghosts as believe him."
The girls in the class immediately burst into laughter. They thought all boys were the same—once exposed, they did not dare admit it.
Just then, a stunning figure suddenly rushed out of Nanshan Restaurant. She angrily pushed through the girls and grabbed Jiang Qin's arm.
Once they saw her face clearly, all the girls from Financial Class 3 froze, their eyes widening involuntarily.
The girl was simply too beautiful. Bright, spirited energy radiated from the corners of her eyes and brows, her figure was excellent, and her features were exquisitely delicate.
Song Qingqing was reputed to be the prettiest girl in Financial Class 3, but she suddenly felt inferior in front of this girl and unconsciously took half a step back.
"Jiang Qin, what exactly are you unhappy about with me? Why are you pretending we're strangers?"
"Chu Siqi, I'm not unhappy with you about anything. I just want us to part on good terms."
Chu Siqi pursed her lips, a layer of moisture rising in her eyes. "Then why did you suddenly stop liking me?"
Jiang Qin took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice calm. "Focus on your studies. I guarantee you'll meet someone you truly like very soon. As for us, there's no possibility."
"I don't care. You have to like me, and you can only like me. I haven't allowed you to leave, so you can't leave!"
"You're really something."
Jiang Qin truly did not want to say anything else. He turned to leave, but Chu Siqi refused to let go, insisting that he promise to continue liking her.
The girls from Class 3 were all dumbfounded. First, the girl was far too beautiful. Second, it was utterly unbelievable that such a beautiful girl would cling so desperately to Jiang Qin.
Before they could recover, another equally dazzling girl walked out of the restaurant. She first apologized to Jiang Qin, then grabbed Chu Siqi with one hand.
"Chu Siqi, let's go back inside and talk."
"Hong Yan, I treated you as my best friend. Why did you have to fall for Jiang Qin?" Chu Siqi glared at her resentfully.
Hong Yan spoke with a downcast expression. "I had no idea you two knew each other."
Chu Siqi was so angry she began to tremble. "I'm telling you, he doesn't like you. He only approached you to make me angry!"
"Let's not talk about this here. We'll discuss it slowly after we go back, okay?"
The next second, Wang Huiru also came rushing out. No one understood this tangled mess better than she did, so after weighing the situation, she immediately dragged Chu Siqi back into the restaurant without saying a word, leaving only Hong Yan and Jiang Qin behind.
The two of them faced each other like that, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know about your situation with Siqi." Hong Yan began by apologizing.
Jiang Qin shook his head. "I have nothing to do with her. Don't let this put pressure on you."
Hong Yan's eyes widened slightly. "Really?"
Jiang Qin had lived for more than forty years, and this was the first time he realized that some things truly could not be explained with words alone. "Things are too chaotic today. I'll treat you to a meal another day, and then we can talk."
"Okay. Then can it be just the two of us next time?"
"Then it's a deal."
Jiang Qin smiled slightly and turned to leave. He walked out of Pedestrian Street along with the bustling crowd, while Hong Yan took two deep breaths, composed herself, and went back into the restaurant.
At that moment, only the girls from Financial Class 3 remained on the road. They still had not recovered from what had seemed like a battlefield of romantic conflict.
"I think Jiang Qin might really have no interest in Qingqing."
After a long while, Pan Xiu's sudden remark jolted all the girls back to their senses.
They exchanged glances and felt that Pan Xiu was right. Either one of the two girls who had fought over Jiang Qin was dazzling beyond comparison, and neither was someone Song Qingqing could measure up to. This was not some idol drama. Jiang Qin had no reason to settle for less, so how could he possibly like Song Qingqing?
By then, Song Qingqing's face had already darkened, and she had clawed a hole in the shopping bag in her hand.
She had originally put on the air of a goddess to toy with Jiang Qin from a position of superiority. Who could have expected him to make a fool of her instead, ultimately revealing that she was the one who did not measure up? It was utterly humiliating.
What was more, Jiang Qin had not even spared her a glance when he left. This was difficult for the haughty Song Qingqing to accept.
When did I become an insignificant nobody who could be ignored? I'm the most beautiful girl in Financial Class 3!
But when she recalled the two girls who had appeared earlier, she felt that she did not even seem qualified to be angry. That was probably the most humiliating part of all.
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