Page 43

Their laughter soon caught Shen Xiche's attention. The moment he looked their way, Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze wiped the smiles off their faces. They silently apologized and turned to slip away.

"Wait." Shen Xiche had no intention of letting them go. He crooked a finger at them. "You two. Yes, you. Shen Jiayan's classmates. Come here."

The two unlucky souls had no choice but to step forward. As they passed Shen Jiayan, they shot him frantic looks: Brother Yan, save us!

Shen Jiayan didn't move. He wanted to see what Shen Xiche was up to this time.

Shen Xiche summoned Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze in front of him and questioned them again, right in front of his little fangirls. "What were you laughing at? What, you think my hairstyle looks bad today? Is it funny?"

Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze trembled. How could they say it looked bad in front of all these fangirls? Did they want to be torn apart?

"No, no." Both of them shook their heads in denial.

Then, wearing determined expressions, they gave him thumbs-ups. "How could it be funny? Brother Xi Che looks better than ever today!" If only he'd stop making those moves.

The fangirls beside them hurried to agree. "He's always handsome, but he looks even better today!"

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Shen Xiche looked toward Shen Jiayan and Shen Luoluo and raised his brows. His proud gaze said it all: See? Everyone says I'm handsome!

He had called them over just to make them say he was handsome and prove that everyone thought so? Shen Jiayan was speechless at how childish Shen Xiche was.

No wonder he'd been fooled by a "woman" who pulled out something bigger than his!

Shen Luoluo shook her head too. [He really knows how to reassure himself.]

Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze were practically in tears, nodding furiously to themselves. Luoluo understood them!

Shen Xiche: ...

Was his image in their minds really that bad?

Wait. Hadn't she just said a face that good-looking was going to waste? Wasn't that a compliment?

He got it. The little girl was too proud to admit she thought he was handsome!

"Xi Che?"

Shen Xiche was about to say something when the voice interrupted him. He turned toward it.

"Xi Che, it really is you!" The young man adjusted his glasses and walked over. "I didn't expect to see you again at our old school after two or three years."

The newcomer wore jeans, a plaid shirt, and black-rimmed glasses. He looked like an honest, easygoing person. He was Zhou You, Shen Xiche's high school classmate.

Shen Xiche frowned slightly. As he recalled, they'd never been close in class. They were the sort who wouldn't even speak when they crossed paths. Why had Zhou You come over to greet him today?

Still, since Zhou You had greeted him first, Shen Xiche couldn't ignore him. "Long time no see."

"Long time no see." Zhou You smiled. "Here to pick up..."

"There's a family dinner. I'm picking up my younger brother and sister," Shen Xiche answered honestly.

"What a coincidence. I'm here to pick up my younger sister too. What year is your sister in? Maybe they know each other."

"Second year." After Shen Xiche answered, silence fell between them. The atmosphere was awkward.

Anyone could see that Shen Xiche didn't want to catch up with him. Every answer he gave brought the conversation to a stop.

But Zhou You acted as if he hadn't noticed. "My sister's in her second year too. What class is your sister in..."

Shen Jiayan couldn't help rolling his eyes. "Who's this guy? Can't he take a hint?"

As he muttered, he heard Shen Luoluo's thoughts—

[That's Second Brother's high school classmate.]

[Wow, he acts so normal. If I hadn't checked the Intelligence System, I'd never have known he only looks honest. He's actually jealous of Shen Xiche and has done who knows how much to badmouth him behind his back!]

At some point, Shen Luoluo had opened the Intelligence System again and started digging into the gossip. [Looks like he's the reason Shen Xiche's reputation took a hit.]

Shen Jiayan raised an eyebrow. Well, now!

Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze had been about to slip away while Shen Xiche wasn't paying attention, but they stopped at once. There was gossip! They were in no hurry to leave now!

Shen Xiche looked up and studied his old classmate again. He really hadn't known about any of this.

[Oh, it's the classic love-rival drama. I love you, you love him, he loves her. All three girls this guy had crushes on during high school liked Shen Xiche instead!]

[Too bad Shen Xiche didn't like any of those girls. What he preferred was...] Shen Luoluo's brows suddenly knitted together, as if she'd seen something unbelievable.

Even Shen Jiayan grew impatient. What did he prefer?

Beside him, Duan Yixing gripped Lu Yanze's arm tightly. Don't stop there. Come on, say it!

[Hahahahaha—]

Shen Jiayan rubbed at his ears, which were tingling from the noise. Why had she suddenly started laughing?

Shen Luoluo was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

[When those girls confessed to him, he actually said—hahaha—]

[Hahaha—]

Said what? Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze looked pained. Getting only half the gossip was driving them crazy. What did he say? Please, stop laughing and tell us!

Her laughter thundered in their heads. [He actually said, "Don't fall for me. I'm a man you can never have!"]

"Pfft—"

"Hahahaha—" Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze reacted before they could stop themselves, bursting out laughing.

[Huh? What are they laughing at now?]

"Lu Yanze, how did I only just notice that matchmaker mole on your face? Hahahaha—a matchmaker mole!"

"A matchmaker mole! That's hilarious, hahaha!" Duan Yixing laughed stiffly while shooting Lu Yanze frantic looks. Play along, will you? If Luoluo finds out we can hear her thoughts, how are we supposed to get more gossip?

Lu Yanze: ...

It wasn't that he didn't want to play along. Duan Yixing's acting was just too fake!