I had to admit.
Shen Wanyu's icy expression really was intimidating. Her sharp eyes and fierce brows made her look every bit the cold, domineering mother tyrannosaurus.
But Liu Tingting wasn't some delicate, helpless girl either.
After all, she was a B-rank Little Green Tea, and besides, her whole fish pond had already capsized.
She had nothing left. What was there to be afraid of?!
Liu Tingting's retreating urge gradually faded, replaced by a steely resolve.
Liu Tingting rose to the challenge!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
She lifted her determined face and met Shen Wanyu's gaze:
"Who are you! How dare you just butt in... Mmph, mmph, mmph!"
Before Liu Tingting could finish, someone behind her grabbed her in a hold.
A hand clamped over her mouth to keep her from speaking.
Oh my god!
It was Su Muzhi, Queen of the Downers!
"What a coincidence."
Su Muzhi paid no mind to the struggling Liu Tingting, smiling as she looked at Shen Wanyu.
Shen Wanyu looked back at her and said bluntly:
"Looking for trouble?"
"I don't understand."
Su Muzhi smiled sweetly.
What a woman! What a woman! The whole crowd cheered!
Department Head, go give that Downer Girl a good beating!
When Su Muzhi appeared, Jiang Linyuan realized that Liu Tingting's sudden visit probably had something to do with her.
That little brat was a total rebel!
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Jiang Linyuan asked.
Su Muzhi looked at Jiang Linyuan, her expression innocent:
"It's not what I'm trying to do. It's what Senior Liu wants to do, isn't it?"
Then she lowered her voice and whispered in Liu Tingting's ear:
"Don't drag that woman into your business with Jiang Linyuan. Otherwise, you'll die a horrible death."
Liu Tingting wanted to cry.
Was I the one trying to drag her into it? I hadn't even said more than a few words to my junior before she came running out like a guard dog.
"Shall we talk?"
After saying that, she let Liu Tingting go, then raised an eyebrow at Shen Wanyu.
Shen Wanyu didn't look at her. She glanced at Jiang Linyuan first.
"Department Head, I just finished peeing."
Jiang Linyuan lowered his head, embarrassed.
"I'll leave you girls to it, then."
Shen Wanyu sighed softly. This guy, honestly...
"Fine."
Shen Wanyu nodded and followed Su Muzhi away.
"Which one does my junior like?"
Liu Tingting asked, watching the two of them leave.
"Is that even a question?"
Jiang Linyuan looked at her in puzzlement.
Liu Tingting's mouth twitched.
By now, she realized that perhaps the Jiang Linyuan she saw now was who he'd always truly been.
All their past bickering had just been an act.
You knew I had ulterior motives, and I knew you meant no good.
They'd each gotten what they wanted, but...
"Junior, I really like the hair tie you gave me."
Liu Tingting shook her head, her high ponytail swaying behind her, lively and cute.
"My taste is naturally impeccable," Jiang Linyuan said with a smile.
At that, Liu Tingting lowered her head and smiled.
"So you're not going to fall for me, right?"
They'd finally gotten to the point.
Jiang Linyuan turned to look at her and chuckled softly.
"That depends on what you mean by 'fall for you.'"
"If you mean keeping a bunch of fish like you do, then I suppose I did fall for you once, Senior."
Liu Tingting fell silent. Suddenly, she turned her head and stared at Jiang Linyuan with bright, lively eyes.
"Why did you confess to me that day, when you knew I'd reject you?"
Because I wanted to earn a reward.
Jiang Linyuan naturally couldn't say that. He thought for a moment, then replied:
"Maybe I was being stupid."
Liu Tingting smiled.
"Did you ever think about what you'd do if I'd said yes that day?"
"Impossible," Jiang Linyuan said firmly.
"The Liu Tingting I know isn't the kind of girl who'd do something foolish."
"She's clever and shrewd, so there's no way she'd agree."
Liu Tingting bit her lip and touched the hair tie in her hair, feeling a little desolate.
That was right. Even if she could do it all over again, she still wouldn't accept his confession.
But the more right Jiang Linyuan was, the more it hurt Liu Tingting.
The person who understood her best didn't like her at all.
After a long silence, Liu Tingting finally spoke:
"Is there a girl you like?"
Jiang Linyuan thought about it, then answered hesitantly:
"Does it have to be a girl?"
Liu Tingting: ...
I'm pouring my heart out to you, and you're talking about this?
Liu Tingting was about to say something else when the class bell suddenly rang.
Jiang Linyuan turned and walked into the classroom without looking back, leaving only a breezy remark behind.
"Senior, I'm not responsible for your one-sided feelings."
Liu Tingting stared blankly at his departing figure, then lowered her hand.
Forget it.
She'd already gotten her answer. Why keep humiliating herself?
"What are you doing here?"
In class, Jiang Linyuan looked at Su Muzhi, sitting on his left, with surprise.
Why was this woman haunting him?
"I'm here to sit in," Su Muzhi said with a grin, then teased Jiang Linyuan:
"Am I interrupting your alone time with Shen Wanyu?"
Jiang Linyuan nodded.
"I get it. You're jealous that Department Head can take class with me and you can't."
He sighed as he spoke.
"Little Su, jealousy makes people ugly."
Su Muzhi kept smiling even after hearing his downer remark.
"Too bad the word 'ugly' doesn't apply to me."
"I envy you," Jiang Linyuan said with a sigh.
"I'm stuck with an ugly person pestering me every day."
Su Muzhi's smile slowly faded, shifting onto Jiang Linyuan.
Heh, got you, Downer Girl.
"Actually, I came to apologize this time."
Su Muzhi quickly changed the subject and leaned close to Jiang Linyuan's ear to whisper.
Huh? A cross-dressing guy comes to Chengdu, and nobody spills a drop?
"Heh, let's hear it."
"I'll help you with Yu Songsong."
Jiang Linyuan looked unimpressed.
"I've already got someone in mind."
You turncoat, selling out your own side! And you still have the nerve to bring up Yu Songsong?
"Xiao Yilin is too rigid. There are lots of things she can't do," Su Muzhi said with a beaming smile.
I had to admit, this Downer Girl had a point.
My junior was great in every way, except she was too single-minded.
She might still foolishly think I really meant to pursue Yu Songsong.
If this Downer Girl knew what I was up to, she might meddle. Better to keep her where I could see her than let her go messing things up out of sight.
After thinking it over, Jiang Linyuan said:
"Approved! Thank me."
Su Muzhi ignored the second half of his sentence, the corners of her eyes curving with a smile.
"Then here's to a successful partnership."
"What partnership?" Jiang Linyuan said unhappily.
"You need to understand the pecking order and keep your attitude in check. This isn't your first time playing wingman. Why are you still so clueless?"
What you're describing isn't a wingman. It's a subordinate.
No, that's still too kind. Maybe he thinks I'm his slave.
Su Muzhi's smile vanished. She jabbed Jiang Linyuan with an elbow.
Holy crap! Were you from the "jail" generation too?
Well, then I won't hold back either. Take this!
Jiang Linyuan wasn't one to show restraint either. He believed in repaying like for like, so he jabbed her back with an elbow.
Then, like elementary school kids, they started elbowing each other back and forth, fighting with gusto and making quite a racket.
Shen Wanyu glanced at the two of them, then turned back to the blackboard.
The old professor at the lectern's eyes had grown sharp again.
You little punk! Flirting right under my nose!
Wait, wasn't this girl different from the one who'd been sleeping earlier?
The old professor looked at Shen Wanyu, who was listening to the lecture, then at Su Muzhi and Jiang Linyuan shoving each other.
Young people really knew how to have fun.
"The girl to that boy's left, stand up and answer this question."
Su Muzhi behaved herself. She stood and blinked innocently.
"Teacher, the glare on the blackboard makes it hard to see."
The classroom burst into laughter. Only Su Muzhi looked bewildered, unsure what was going on.
The old professor laughed in exasperation and looked at Jiang Linyuan.
"Did you two rehearse that?"
This Downer Girl! Dragging others down with her! If you didn't know the answer, just say so. Why'd you come up with the same excuse as me?!
If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author. Maybe it was just renamed!
Before you continue