Chapter 18

So the friends filling out the "blank market survey forms" gained another task—while mocking Yue Bin for being hopeless at naming things, they also had to put their heads together and name this still-unborn bracelet brand!

After being mocked in every possible way until he began questioning his life, Yue Bin miserably rested his chin on Lu Chi's shoulder. "...Don't put my bracelet design in there. You came up with that for me. It's one of a kind, and only I can have it."

Lu Chi glanced at Yue Bin, whose every strand of hair seemed to have wilted, and couldn't resist reaching out to ruffle his hair. He nodded reassuringly. "Alright. That's your globally unique custom design. No one else will have one."

Since this was, after all, Qiao Shiyu's birthday party, once everyone had filled out the "blank market survey forms," Yue Bin and Zhang Yang did not continue with the statistics too excessively. Instead, they carefully put away all the survey sheets, planning to get down to business after they got back...

Meanwhile, Qiao, the campus belle, had finally steered the brand workshop back onto the proper track of a birthday party. She led the group into the club's stables, where, under the professional guidance of the club's horse trainer, they eagerly began choosing horses.

Yue Bin, now the proud owner of the world's one and only Morse Code Bracelet, was delighted. He trotted over to Lu Chi. "Lu Chi, Lu Chi, let me teach you how to ride. I'm pretty good at riding too—I can even do show jumping~"

Qiao Shiyu could not stand Yue Bin's smugness. She rolled her eyes and mocked, "Show jumping on horseback... Why not just ride through a ring of fire while you're at it..."

Chapter 18

At an equestrian club, those with the means would bring their own riding gear, while guests without it could rent a set from the club. These outfits were not merely for looks; they also prevented chafing injuries from prolonged riding.

So after the group had chosen their horses, they returned to the changing rooms to get changed.

Since the men's and women's changing rooms were not only separate but located at opposite ends of the club, Qiao Shiyu deliberately took Lu Miaomiao's hand before they parted. Smiling sweetly, she promised Lu Chi, "Don't worry. I'll definitely take good care of Miao Miao."

It was Lu Miaomiao's first time riding at a club, and she was excited too. She obediently waved at her big brother. "Don't worry, Big Brother. I'll stay right beside the pretty sister. I'll listen and won't run around."

Lu Chi smiled and rubbed Lu Miaomiao's hair. "Then I'll have to trouble you," he said to Qiao Shiyu.

"It's no trouble at all. Miao Miao is so cute—everyone likes her." Qiao Shiyu's eyes curved with her smile. "Besides, what's our relationship? Why are you being so polite with me?"

Aside from the faint stirrings of a crush, Qiao Shiyu was mainly referring to how Lu Chi had saved her, only to be retaliated against by the hooligans afterward. Especially since his retaliation might have been caused by her own carelessness, Qiao Shiyu had always felt guilty toward him.

But most of those present did not know the details. Hearing Qiao Shiyu phrase things so ambiguously, everyone's expressions immediately became meaningful.

Several of Qiao Shiyu's close female friends immediately activated their "piercing eyes," sizing Lu Chi up from head to toe, inside and out. Their final verdict was that he was quite handsome, had a good temperament, was the top student of the second-year class at Yanda Affiliated High School, and could even weave bracelets to make people happy. Unfortunately, his family circumstances seemed average—one could tell from what he and his sister were wearing. There was not a single designer item on either of them, and even their clothes had been washed until they faded white. It was rare that the siblings stood among them without the slightest awkwardness, showing that they had strong mental fortitude as well.

A boy like this was actually quite suitable for dating. Bringing him along to class gatherings would definitely be a source of pride. The girls grinned and exchanged knowing looks, silently giving Qiao, the campus belle, a thumbs-up for her taste.

However, several male students who clearly had feelings for Qiao, the campus belle, were not nearly as comfortable. Since Lu Chi had been brought by Yue Bin and this was Qiao Shiyu's birthday celebration, they could not show it too obviously. Still, after returning to the changing room, someone could not help probing indirectly. "I think Qiao Shiyu really likes you. Before you came, she kept talking about you."

"More than that—Qiao, the campus belle, even posted a missing-person notice on the school bulletin board, trying to find Lu Chi among the more than two thousand students in Yanda Affiliated High School Senior Section. Sounds romantic, doesn't it?" The boy who brought this up sounded sour. Clearly, he was also a student at Yanda Affiliated High School and had witnessed that "confession incident."

The other boys heard this and looked at Lu Chi with even more envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"I heard Qiao, the campus belle, even personally made soup for you in the small cafeteria." The boy who had just spilled the news looked at Lu Chi eagerly and said sadly, "We've been classmates from elementary school through high school, and our families are neighbors too, but I've never had any soup she made."

Once those words were spoken, everyone's feelings became even more complicated.

Yue Bin and Zhang Yang, who knew the full story, exchanged glances and forced themselves to explain, "It's not what you think..."

Before they could finish, more than a dozen pairs of eyes snapped toward them. A ghostly green light bloomed from black pupils, and the air of sorrowful grievance was practically tangible. Yue Bin and Zhang Yang shuddered and could not get another word out.

Ever since taking a blow to the back of his head, Lu Chi's powers of observation and way of thinking had become extraordinarily sharp. He had long noticed everyone's furtive comments and exchanged glances. Originally, he had thought there was no need to explain something like this, but now... looking at more than a dozen tall, burly boys all appearing as aggrieved as drenched golden retrievers, Lu Chi could only sigh softly and speak. "Qiao Shiyu is indeed a very good girl. But she never confessed to me. The reason she posted a missing-person notice on the school bulletin board to find me was because I helped her out before..."

Yue Bin and Zhang Yang sucked in sharp breaths, staring at Lu Chi in stunned disbelief.

The other boys' attention had all been drawn to Lu Chi, and no one noticed Yue Bin and Zhang Yang's odd reactions. They only kept urging him, "Then what exactly did you help Qiao Shiyu with?" What could make a girl disregard her pride enough to post a missing-person notice on the school bulletin board?