To Jiang Qin in his previous life, the three characters Chu Siqi had been the nightmare of his entire college years.
It had taken him many years to emerge from that nightmare, to learn acceptance, to stop treating love as everything in life, and to stop blaming himself for every mistake.
Now that he had been reborn, he truly felt nothing for Chu Siqi.
No, it was more than just indifference.
To preserve his inner peace and serenity, he even vaguely suppressed his disgust toward Chu Siqi, displaying what little courtesy he had left for her.
That was called self-restraint.
Otherwise, he really would be cursing her mother right now.
But when he heard Chu Siqi say that they should return to how things had been before, Jiang Qin felt goosebumps break out all over him. That phrase was simply too vicious. This woman should have become the Minister of Justice.
"Junior, is this your friend?"
Zheng Qinglong frowned slightly and asked tentatively.
He had already asked around when he was pursuing Chu Siqi. This junior had no boyfriend, but he could not understand who this sudden stranger was.
He had not even moved, yet the goddess he had gone to so much trouble to invite out had taken the initiative to move closer to this guy. And this guy even looked annoyed, hurriedly backing away?! Zheng Qinglong could not understand how the contrast could be so intense. "Jiang Qin is my high school classmate." Chu Siqi bit her red lips lightly.
Jiang Qin did not want to get mixed up in this mess anymore, so he looked up at Dong Wenhao. "Old Dong, just call me if you need anything. If that doesn't work, come find me at the main campus. I won't be coming to the east campus anymore."
"Huh? Oh, oh, okay."
Dong Wenhao, who had suddenly been called out, snapped back from his astonishment and instinctively replied. Then he looked at Jiang Qin with a complicated expression, thinking, The Boss wasn't bragging—he really does know Chu Siqi! Even more unbelievable was that a goddess junior like Chu Siqi was actually pestering Jiang Qin relentlessly. How could this be real? But what was even more unreal was that another burst of footsteps came from the walkway on the left side of the garden.
Hong Yan approached with light, brisk steps. She wore a tight, waist-cinching short skirt paired with sheer black stockings, and a pair of black Small Leather Shoes with heels.
When she reached the middle of the garden and saw the scene before her, she could not help pausing slightly before stopping prettily in her tracks.
"Weren't we going to eat? What are you all doing?"
After coughing once, Jiang Qin said, "It's nothing, just a little misunderstanding. Let's go eat first."
"Oh, oh, okay." Hong Yan instinctively glanced at Chu Siqi before walking over to join him.
"Jiang Qin, do you really like Hong Yan? I'm telling you, if you take her away, I'll never speak to you again for the rest of my life."
Seeing how gentle he was with Hong Yan, Chu Siqi became furious. It felt as though several holes had been stabbed through her heart.
Jiang Qin widened his eyes when he heard that. "There's actually such a win-win deal? You'd better not go back on your word!"
"What did you say? Jiang Qin, you've gone too far!"
Seeing this scene, the few people who had only just come to their senses fell into endless silence once more.
Wasn't that Hong Yan, one of the campus beauties?
The Literature Department had a campus heartthrob named Wang Junyi, who had played guitar beneath her dormitory for five whole days without managing to ask her out.
Yet Jiang Qin merely called out to her, and she obediently followed him to eat?
"Jiang Qin, come back! I'm giving you one last chance. Did you hear me?!"
"Blah blah blah blah."
"????"
Jiang Qin waved his hand, reined in his expression, and took Hong Yan out of the east campus, heading all the way to Shi Wei Tian on South Street.
It was lunchtime, and South Street was crowded. The noise never stopped, and the atmosphere was thick with the bustle of everyday life.
Along the way, neither Jiang Qin nor Hong Yan said a word. They remained silent the entire time before finding an outdoor table beside the main road and sitting down.
Only after the dishes were served did Jiang Qin slowly begin talking about the past.
He told her everything about meeting Chu Siqi, his three years of unrequited love afterward, and his passionate confession after the National College Entrance Examination, leaving out not a single detail. He poured it all out as they drank.
Hong Yan sat in her chair with her legs pressed together, resting her chin on one hand as she listened quietly. Before she knew it, she had put herself in the heroine's role, feeling the affection this boy before her had for someone.
But after hearing the whole story, she felt somewhat puzzled. It seemed that Jiang Qin had not told her everything.
In her eyes, Jiang Qin was both mature and composed, as though he could see through the essence of everything at a glance. A person like him had no reason to fall for a girl with Chu Siqi's personality.
"Do you have someone you like now?"
Jiang Qin put down his empty wineglass. "My heart is sealed with cement."
"What does that mean?" Hong Yan asked, puzzled.
"It means I don't believe in love. I think dating is all nonsense. I only believe in profit, and I want to work hard to make enough money for myself and my family to live well."
Hong Yan's gaze dimmed slightly. "Then... have you ever met a girl who made your heart race? Aside from Chu Siqi."
Jiang Qin pursed his lips. "A guy only falls into a Love Brain once in his life. There absolutely won't be a second time."
"But you'll have to get married eventually. Could you really stay single for your whole life?"
"Not exactly. That's why I'm working hard right now, hoping some Little Rich Woman will come and keep me."
Hong Yan thought he was joking, but she could not help feeling a little disappointed by his answer. "Jiang Qin, why are you telling me all this?"
Jiang Qin filled his wineglass again. "I don't want to cause anyone any trouble, so I need to clear up all these misunderstandings. I hope you and Chu Siqi can still get along. After all, you'll be spending your entire college life in the same dormitory. It wouldn't be worth falling out over someone."
Hong Yan pursed her lips slightly. She knew that the "other person" he mentioned was actually her. He did not want to trouble her, did not want her to turn against her roommate, and hoped she could have a harmonious, warm college life.
See? Even when he's irritated beyond belief, this person is still considerate of others. How could little Hong Yan not fall for him?
But he did not like her.
But so what if he did not like her? She still had to like him.
Hong Yan suddenly felt an inexplicable courage well up inside her, enough to support her in confessing her feelings.
However, just then, a burst of footsteps suddenly sounded behind her. Three beautiful figures strolled over along the noisy, bustling street.
One was Chu Siqi, who had changed her outfit. Her long skirt had become a short skirt, her slippers had been replaced by Small Leather Shoes, and her originally bare face now carried light makeup, making her look exquisite.
Another was Wang Huiru. Her expression was deeply conflicted, and her eyes were filled with worry. One hand was gripping Chu Siqi, seemingly afraid she would rush forward.
The last person was someone Jiang Qin had never seen before. Her name was Si Huiying, and she was also Hong Yan's roommate. Her face was icy, her expression murderous, and she stared fixedly at Jiang Qin.
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