Keeping the Appointment

Room 330, Building 17.

Su Yuan devoured her pork chop rice, leaving the plate and bowl a mess, as if a wild boar had been through it. Putting down her chopsticks, she contentedly wiped her mouth with a tissue.

Her phone rang again. Glancing casually, it was the same number as before!

This guy is really persistent. Ignoring him won't work, and the longer this drags on, the more it'll bother me. Su Yuan thought about it and decided to go meet him. She picked up her phone and told the two people in the dorm, "I'm going out for a bit."

Gao Jun, staring at his computer, nodded without paying much attention.

Ji Yehao suddenly remembered Instructor Tan's instructions—to look out for Su Yuan. He said with concern, "Call me if anything comes up."

"Don't worry, what could possibly happen!"

About ten minutes later, Su Yuan finally ambled her way to the small sports field on Back Mountain. Back Mountain is also called Jingyu Mountain, a small, raised hill. It's said to have existed before the school was built, with a long history. The mountain is densely vegetated, with ancient trees reaching for the sky. A winding path circles the mountain, with pavilions faintly visible. In spring, the flame-red kapok flowers and the delicate pink peony flowers bloom along the stone steps, creating a beautiful scene.

It was already past seven, and the sky was dim, with the streetlights on either side casting a faint glow.

The pale moon veiled in mist, graceful and elegant.

All the way, Su Yuan wondered who had called her to the small sports field. She had kept him waiting for so long, he wouldn't be angry, would he?

Now she felt a bit annoyed. Since she had decided to come in the end, she shouldn't have kept him waiting so long. She hadn't thought it through.

Passing a patch of greenery, she suddenly stopped. An idea struck her, and she immediately limped, hobbling towards the small sports field.

As she got closer, she saw a hazy white figure. He was wearing a white tracksuit, tall and burly, looking quite strong.

Getting a few steps closer, she finally saw his face clearly. Su Yuan's expression changed drastically, and she immediately turned to go back.

The person in the white tracksuit was Lin Jun! This afternoon, Su Yuan had "coincidentally" ruined his plans. Could they still be cordial now?

At this moment, Lin Jun also saw Su Yuan walking over. He thought bitterly, "This bitch is finally here!" But the thought only lasted two seconds before he saw Su Yuan turn and run away as if she had seen a ghost.

The cigarette butt in his mouth fell to the ground, and he cursed, "Damn it!!"

"Su Yuan, stop!" He strode forward a few steps and grabbed Su Yuan's arm. Lin Jun had been trained by his father since he was young and was strong.

Feeling Lin Jun's grip on her arm, so strong it caused Su Yuan pain, she thought, This is bad. She struggled with all her might but couldn't break free from Lin Jun's grasp. He dragged her backward, towards Jingyu Mountain.

"Lin Jun, let go of me!!"

All sorts of terrible thoughts flooded her mind. Is this guy going to find a secluded spot to beat me up? Although Su Yuan wasn't afraid of fighting, she never fought a fight she wasn't sure she could win! More importantly, she wasn't the Su Yuan from high school anymore, and she didn't have her trusty brick with her!

Looking at Lin Jun's imposing figure, she figured he could probably send her to the hospital for two to three months.

Lin Jun ignored her, looking like a ferocious beast, full of rage.

He dragged her dozens of meters, gradually moving from the small sports field into the winding path. This path was usually quiet and secluded, with tall trees blocking the view, forming a special corridor, a favorite spot for couples to stroll. But now, this seclusion only added to her fear.

Walking step by step uphill, they arrived at a pavilion. Su Yuan seemed to accept reality now, or perhaps resigned herself to her fate, no longer shouting or making a fuss.

He suddenly let go of Su Yuan's hand and was surprised to find an indescribable warmth from the hand he had been holding.

Calming himself, he looked at Su Yuan, who was pursing her lips without saying a word, with a scrutinizing gaze. He couldn't help but smile inwardly. She's scared too? Remembering how he had been stood up for nearly an hour, he snorted coldly.

"Su Yuan, you really put on airs, making me wait for you for so long for nothing!" he said fiercely.

Su Yuan forced an awkward smile, trying to bluff her way through, "Um, I sprained my ankle this evening..."

"Did... you?" he drawled, "You didn't seem hesitant at all when you turned and ran away after seeing me just now."

"Uh, I suddenly remembered something important I forgot to do."

He slammed his hand on the stone table in the center of the pavilion and roared, "Do you take me for a three-year-old child?"

Swallowing hard, Su Yuan was too embarrassed to say anything.

"You're not going to hit me, are you?" she asked after a pause.

"Hit you? Why would I hit you!" Lin Jun was taken aback. Despite his brute strength, he wasn't entirely unreasonable. He quickly realized, "Oh right, I really, really want to hit you right now!!"

Hearing his words, Su Yuan wished she could slap herself a few times. She had dug her own grave! She carefully considered that there was no need for her to be Xiao Yiyan's shield. Xiao Yiyan was proud and would surely find her own way. It would be better to tell Lin Jun the truth and resolve their animosity. Whether Lin Jun believed her or not was another matter.

"Um... about this afternoon..."

"Yes, I brought you here because of this afternoon. Speak! What is your relationship with Yiyan!!" Perhaps feeling he wasn't intimidating enough, Lin Jun pulled off a vine and slapped it onto the stone table with a crisp, loud sound. If it had landed on someone, it would surely leave them with torn skin and flesh.

Su Yuan was startled and said directly, "I have no relationship with her!!"

"You have no relationship with her?"

Lin Jun paused, then roared even more furiously, "You bastard, do you think I'll believe you if you say that? I, Lin Jun, despise cowards like you who dare to act but not admit it! Yiyan chose you in vain, and I didn't expect you to be just a showy but useless good-for-nothing!"

Su Yuan thought of every possibility but never expected this reaction. She felt a sense of helplessness against fate.

"Brother, I really have no relationship with Goddess Xiao..."

Lin Jun wouldn't believe her, thinking Su Yuan, this weakling, was denying it to save himself. He glared, and the vine in his hand was about to whip down. Su Yuan flinched and took half a step back, tripping and falling backward. Fortunately, there was a wooden bench behind her, so she landed squarely on it.

"Close call, close call!" She broke out in a cold sweat.

"..."

Seeing her timid, fearful demeanor, Lin Jun showed no remorse for being the instigator. A flicker of pain flashed in his eyes, and his anger intensified. The more cowardly Su Yuan appeared, the angrier he became! Had Yiyan's mind been clouded by greed? Why did she choose such a man? How was he inferior to him? Why did "he" win in the end?

Beat him! He absolutely had to beat "him" soundly!

Only by beating him until he felt satisfied could he quell the hatred in his heart!

The vines snapped and crackled, whipping against the stone table. Su Yuan's expression shifted repeatedly.

Seeing Lin Jun closing in, her mind raced. She suddenly stood up and said, "Lin Jun, wait! I swear, Xiao Yiyan and I really have nothing going on. I'm a victim in this too; she was using me as a shield."

The vines hung suspended in mid-air. Seeing Su Yuan holding her palm up with a look of sincere devotion, Lin Jun snorted, but asked in surprise, "Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course. Think about it, with Xiao Yiyan's taste, how could she possibly like me?"

"Why not? Maybe Yiyan just likes handsome guys like you!" Recalling his own rugged appearance not being well-received, Lin Jun couldn't help but wonder if Xiao Yiyan simply preferred pretty men.

Xiao Yiyan came from a wealthy family, so she naturally didn't need a man's protection. It was understandable that she would look for a man who fit her aesthetic. And this Su Yuan in front of him... damn! The more he looked, the prettier she became. She was too damn enchanting!

Su Yuan froze for a moment, but stubbornly continued, "But I don't interact with Xiao Yiyan much normally. We've only met a few times in total!"

"Think about it, with my timid nature, even if Xiao Yiyan liked me, I wouldn't dare face your wrath! Love is a matter of mutual consent. How could I possibly influence Xiao Yiyan's thoughts?"

Lin Jun pondered for a moment, then looked suspiciously at the person speaking so confidently. After confirming she wasn't playing some hidden game, he said, "Even if Yiyan was using you as a shield, don't you like her even a little bit?"

Su Yuan's reaction surprised him. Someone like him, Lin Jun, would have been thrilled to be used as a shield by Xiao Yiyan. But Su Yuan seemed to want nothing to do with it, and her demeanor didn't seem fake. The problem was, it was hard for him to believe so easily.

"I do like her." Seeing Lin Jun's expression change drastically, she quickly added, "Everyone appreciates beauty. But you don't need to worry, there's definitely no possibility between her and me."