Chapter 43

Their laughter soon caught Shen Xiche's attention. He shot them a look, and Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze immediately wiped the smiles off their faces. After a silent apology, they turned to slip away.

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

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

Shen Jiayan did not move. He wanted to see what Shen Xiche was up to this time.

Shen Xiche summoned Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze before him and asked again, in front of them and all his young admirers, "What were you laughing at? What, you think my hairstyle looks bad today? That it's funny?"

Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze trembled. How could they say it looked bad in front of his admirers? Did they want to get torn apart?

"No, no!" Both waved their hands in denial.

Then, with earnest looks and thumbs raised, they declared, "How could it be funny? Brother Xiche looks better than ever today!" If only he'd stop making those gestures.

The admirers around 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. He raised his brows, his proud gaze practically saying, See? Everyone says I'm handsome!

He had called them over just to force them to praise his looks and prove that everyone thought he was handsome? Shen Jiayan was speechless at his childishness.

No wonder he had been fooled by a "woman" who pulled out a dick bigger than his!

Shen Luoluo shook her head too. He certainly knows how to make himself feel better.

Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze were nearly in tears as they nodded furiously inside. Luoluo really understood them!

Shen Xiche: ...

Was his image in their minds really that bad?

Wait. Hadn't they just said it was a waste of such a good-looking face? That was a compliment, wasn't it?

He got it. The little girl was just being stubborn. She thought he was handsome but refused to admit it!

"Xiche?"

Shen Xiche was about to say something when someone interrupted him. He looked toward the voice.

"Xiche, it really is you!" A young man adjusted his glasses and walked over. "I never thought I'd run into you at our old school after two or three years."

The newcomer wore jeans and a plaid shirt with black-framed glasses. He looked honest and easy to get along with. He was Zhou You, Shen Xiche's high school classmate.

Shen Xiche frowned slightly. As he remembered it, they had never been close. They were the sort who would pass each other without speaking. Why had Zhou You come over to greet him today?

Still, Zhou You had greeted him first, and Shen Xiche could hardly ignore him. "Long time no see."

"Long time no see." Zhou You smiled. "Are you here to pick up—"

"We're having 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 sister too. What year is your sister in? Maybe they know each other."

"Second year." Shen Xiche's answer left them in silence, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

Anyone could see that Shen Xiche had no interest in catching up. He brought every attempt at conversation to a dead end.

But Zhou You acted as though he had not noticed. "My sister's in her second year too. What class is your sister in...?"

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

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

He was in Second Brother's class in high school.

Huh. He acts pretty 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 smear him behind his back!

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

Shen Jiayan raised an eyebrow. Well, well!

Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze had been about to sneak off while Shen Xiche was distracted, but they stopped at once. There was gossip! They were in no hurry to leave now.

Shen Xiche looked up and took a fresh look at his old classmate. He truly had not known about any of this.

Oh, it's the classic love-rival story. I love you, you love him, he loves her. All three girls Zhou You had crushes on in high school liked Shen Xiche instead—every last one of them!

Too bad Shen Xiche didn't like any of those girls. What he liked more was... Shen Luoluo's brows suddenly drew tight, as if she had seen something unbelievable.

Even Shen Jiayan grew impatient. What did Shen Xiche like more?

Beside him, Duan Yixing gripped Lu Yanze's arm. Don't stop now. Say it!

Hahahahaha—

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

Shen Luoluo could barely catch her breath.

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

Hahaha—

What did he say? Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze looked agonized. Getting only half the gossip was torture. Please stop laughing and tell us!

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

"Pfft—"

"Hahahahaha!" Duan Yixing and Lu Yanze reacted before they could think and burst out laughing.

Huh? What are they laughing at now?

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

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

Lu Yanze: ...

It was not that he did not want to play along. Duan Yixing's acting was just terrible!