Chapter 11: Apologize to Qin Yingxia?

Qin Yingxia, who had been hiding in the corner, slowly raised her head, her gaze coincidentally meeting Jin Zhuo’s.

Jin Zhuo raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes seeming to ask: What, don’t I look like it?

How could he be a social phobic?

He had participated in so many competitions, he had been shining since she knew him, what kind of scene hadn’t he seen?

Qin Yingxia bit her lip, her tea-colored eyes drooping, she murmured softly, “Not at all…”

She pushed up her black-framed glasses and obediently stared at the freshman handbook in front of her.

Jin Zhuo leaned back, his long fingers tapping lightly on the table, “Is some new student having a problem with me, whispering about me like a cricket?”

The freshmen looked at each other, and in unison they said, “No, senior!”

Only Qin Yingxia, her head lowered even more, followed along in a small voice, “No, Senior Jin, I don’t have any problems with you…”

“Ah,” Jin Zhuo chuckled, his expression suave and composed, “That’s good, our club upholds freedom and democracy, if you don’t like me, just say it…”

He raised his chin, “I’ll help you rise to the top.”

If someone wanted to be his successor, Jin Zhuo would welcome it.

He spoke with a touch of noble arrogance, two seemingly contradictory words that surprisingly complemented each other when used on him.

Qin Yingxia secretly looked at him, her heart rate gradually increasing.

…

Half an hour later, the freshman meeting ended. Qin Yingxia put on her mask and followed the crowd out, but she didn’t rush downstairs.

She turned and went to the bathroom in the opposite direction, intending to wash her hands before leaving.

During the few moments she had locked eyes with Jin Zhuo, her palms had unconsciously started sweating.

The water that came out of the faucet was no longer icy cold, but had been warmed by the sun.

Qin Yingxia washed her hands, then patted her face with the water vapor to try to cool down.

She had used ice to soothe her eyes at noon, and they were no longer swollen like they had been when she woke up. She had also used concealer to cover the dark circles under her eyes, and the perfect light makeup added a lot of confidence to her.

But this confidence, which was based on the strategy of winning over Jin Zhuo, was shattered the moment she saw him in person.

She could only rely on Qin Yingxia’s pieced-together courage to face him and speak to him.

Just like right now, she bumped into Jin Zhuo at the corner of the stairs as he came out of the office.

As the scent of branches and leaves hit her, Qin Yingxia secretly encouraged herself.

Yes, the opportunity has come, this is how it’s done in TV dramas!

According to the plot development, she should faint into his arms right now!

Ah… but I’m being gradual… ૮O̴̶̷᷄·̫O̴̶̷̥᷅ა

This is the second step of being gradual!

Flirt with him! Hook him!

Qin Yingxia felt like there were two little people fighting in her head, making her head dizzy.

Forget it!

She gathered her courage, closed her eyes and prepared to pretend to faint, but Jin Zhuo interrupted her by grabbing her collar and lifting her up, “Stand steady.”

Qin Yingxia was startled, standing straight, “… Okay.”

Jin Zhuo laughed, “It’s not time for military training yet, why are you standing in such a standard military posture? Are you going to get a model soldier title when the time comes, Qin Yingxia?”

“Then, I’ll try my best…”

The girl’s skin was as white as snow, like jade that was unblemished and crystal clear, her delicate features were pretty, and she was wearing a simple denim pinafore dress today, looking full of energy.

Those tea-colored eyes were misty, and when she smiled, they radiated light, the two small dimples on her lips also rippled, a smile that was hard to forget.

Jin Zhuo was lost in thought for a moment, his memory suddenly pulled back to the heavy rain during the summer break of his first year of high school.

The girl he bumped into seemed to have the same bright and charming smile.

The girl that year was petite, but she had a cute baby face, with acne on her face. She didn’t have Qin Yingxia’s beautiful features, but she had a smile as beautiful as hers.

The hot wind blew past, carrying the unique scent of the girl, bringing Jin Zhuo back to his senses.

They were very close. Jin Zhuo noticed the faint dark circles under her eyes that were covered up, and her slightly swollen eyes.

“Di Cheng is quite a distance from Jinghe. Are you missing home since you just came here?”

Qin Yingxia looked up, her eyes full of shock.

Did he remember her?

Jin Zhuo placed the bookmark in her hand, his fingertips brushing against the girl’s palm, a tingling sensation. “I heard from Xie Chi that you are also from Jinghe High School. This is a graduation souvenir from the school back then. I don’t know what your year’s souvenir was. Did you bring it with you?”

The maple leaf bookmark was golden, shining brightly in the sunlight. It carried the warmth of his hand and landed in Qin Yingxia’s hand, feeling a little scorching.

So it was Xie Chi who told him…

She thought Jin Zhuo remembered by himself.

Qin Yingxia pursed her lips, feeling a little disappointed.

But she held the bookmark in her hand and raised her pink lips again, “Our year’s souvenir was a doll. It’s ugly and cute. Do you want to trade with me, senior?”

Jin Zhuo: “No trade, I’ll give it to you.”

He lowered his head slightly, the brim of his baseball cap blocking half of his face, revealing his jawline, and further down, his Adam’s apple moved as he spoke, a little seductive.

Qin Yingxia wanted to reach out and touch that protruding Adam’s apple, but she held back. “Why are you giving me this, senior?”

“Didn’t you cry because you missed home?” Jin Zhuo asked back.

Keeping this bookmark would at least give you some remembrance.

She was stunned, subconsciously reaching out to cover her eyes, but she forgot she was wearing glasses.

“You’re wearing glasses, don’t cover them.” Jin Zhuo stopped her before she did.

Qin Yingxia took a step back, creating some distance between herself and Jin Zhuo, trying to ‘create beauty through distance’.

She turned around a little annoyed, “I… I cried and then put on makeup to cover it up. Don’t expose me…”

Jin Zhuo found it funny, his gaze falling on her flushed ears, “Okay, I didn’t expose you, did I?”

“Your next sentence will definitely be about how my concealer didn’t cover the dark circles.” Qin Yingxia clutched the corner of her clothes tightly, her voice almost choked with tears.

“Ah,” he said slowly, without hiding it, “Yeah.”

He was actually going to say that.

Seeing that Qin Yingxia still hadn’t turned around, Jin Zhuo leaned over, a smile playing on his lips, “Apologize to Junior Qin?”

The moment he got closer, Qin Yingxia was so startled that she held her breath. She nodded dumbly.

“Forgive me for the sake of the bookmark, okay?”

Qin Yingxia: “Okay…”

Tsk, how easygoing is she?

She’s easy to take advantage of.

Jin Zhuo started to worry.

“Does Senior Jin have so much patience with all freshmen…” Qin Yingxia’s eyes were clear and bright, completely unaware of how suggestive her question was.

It was like a girlfriend who was angry and was petulantly questioning her boyfriend.

Jin Zhuo remained in that position, but he rested his elbow on the railing, lazily propping up his chin, letting out two soft laughs, “…Do you want to hear my answer?”

“Qin, Ying, Xia…”