Chapter 23

“I like you.”

At first, Qin Xiaoxiao suspected she had misheard, then she thought Ji Wenchen was just talking nonsense.

In any case, she didn’t believe it. Qin Xiaoxiao believed that Ji Wenchen simply couldn’t swallow his pride and was unwilling to be the one rejected by someone else.

A moment of frustration and confusion had been mistaken for “liking.”

However, she couldn’t argue with a teenager of his age and temperament. The more she contradicted him, the more stubborn he was likely to become.

Qin Xiaoxiao chose a more tactful approach and said, “I only like studying. I just want a peaceful high school life and don’t want to get into a relationship.”

Ji Wenchen’s gaze locked onto her. “Then why did you confess back then?”

It wasn’t her who wanted a relationship in the first place, alright?

Qin Xiaoxiao felt helpless but still had to reply, “Back then was back then. Now is now.”

Somehow, as they kept talking, they seemed to circle back to the starting point.

The bright half-moon rose to the mid-sky, with its cool, water-like light streaming down through the gaps in the lush branches.

Ji Wenchen’s half-turned body was shrouded in the dark shadows of the trees, and his outstretched right hand trembled slightly.

It must be tiring to hold it up for so long… Qin Xiaoxiao kindly reminded him, “You can put your hand down now.”

Hold it. That’s what Ji Wenchen wanted to say.

But his pride and ego wouldn’t allow him to speak a second time.

His long fingers curled inward, and his arm dropped to his side.

“Also, breaking up, unlike getting into a relationship, doesn’t require mutual agreement—it only takes one party to decide to end it.”

The edge of the box pressed uncomfortably against his palm.

…

When Qin Xiaoxiao returned to the dormitory, most of her roommates had already finished their evening routines.

She went to the balcony sink to brush her teeth, and the image of the boy’s face as she left flickered through her mind.

It wasn’t very clear, but his expression definitely didn’t look pleasant…

Stop thinking about it. This time would be better spent reviewing the new biology material taught today.

“Just got back?” Dong Yunfang came out of the restroom and turned on the faucet to wash her hands.

Qin Xiaoxiao, with her mouth full of foam, gave a muffled “Mhm.”

“Didn’t Sister Fang also just get back not long ago?” a roommate teased.

Dong Yunfang said nothing.

The roommate awkwardly lowered her head to change her shoes.

“Xiaoxiao, are you back? Do you guys want some egg tarts?” Yang Min, an unofficial member of the dormitory, came over with a large box of egg tarts. “Xiao ah, come have some egg tarts!”

Qin Xiaoxiao spat out the mouthwash and politely declined, “I’ve already brushed my teeth.”

“Ah, it’s fine, just brush your teeth again after eating!”

“No thanks, I’m good.”

After lifting her washbasin, Qin Xiaoxiao lowered her head to wash her face.

“What facial cleanser are you using?” Yang Min came out to the balcony to find her. “Let me see.”

“Nothing.”

“I’m turning into a jealous lemon spirit!” Yang Min exclaimed sourly. “You don’t use lotion, cream, or even facial cleanser, and your skin is still so good. Where’s the justice in that?”

Qin Xiaoxiao: “…” She just didn’t have enough pocket money to buy those things.

But at seventeen or eighteen, skincare wasn’t really a necessity yet.

“Dong Yunfang, go have an egg tart!” Yang Min called out to Dong Yunfang. “Eat Xiaoxiao’s share too.”

Dong Yunfang, who was facing away from them and gazing into the distance, replied, “Okay.”

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing. Aren’t you going back?” Dong Yunfang turned around and walked inside. “Lights out soon.”

“No rush. Doesn’t your dorm have late-night chats? I want to join the group conversation.”

“We don’t.”

…

In a high-end nightclub, colorful lights swayed, and the deafening music pounded in the air.

“It’s my birthday today, so everyone, party as hard as you want and drink to your heart’s content,” shouted the birthday boy, Han Ziping. A second-year student from Third High School, he was a slacker with a family fortune built on mining.

“Brother Chen,” Han Ziping stood up and raised his glass toward Ji Wenchen, who was seated nearby. “I didn’t expect you to show up. It’s an honor for me…”

“Alright, enough,” Ji Wenchen’s voice carried a trace of impatience.

“Got it, got it,” Han Ziping quickly skipped the long string of pleasantries. “Then, Brother Chen, have a great time.”

Because Ji Wenchen, the notorious school bully from Second High School, was present, the boys who knew of his reputation were initially a bit restrained.

Gradually, as the drinks flowed and the alcohol fumes mixed with the upbeat music, the tension eased.

Later, as the alcohol kicked in, everyone got into their groove—some danced, some sang, and some played drinking games. The atmosphere became lively and intoxicating.

A bold school bully from a vocational high school even ordered two hostesses to join them. Including a few girls who had tagged along with some of the boys to “have fun” and “let loose,” there were a total of six girls in the area Han Ziping had reserved.

Out of the six girls, five had sneaked glances at the same boy, all showing interest in him.

That boy sat in the corner, playing on his phone alone, not participating in the activities with the other boys. Just his side profile, posture, physique, and aura made him stand out remarkably.

—No one dared to disturb Ji Wenchen, nor did anyone dare to call him by name. As a result, these girls, who had never seen Ji Wenchen in person, didn’t realize that he was the infamous school bully of Second High School, well-known across all the schools in Guangjian City.

They simply assumed he was an exceptionally handsome young master from a wealthy family.

A pretty girl, who had come out to party with her classmates, couldn’t hold back. She adjusted her long, wavy hair and approached him with a charming smile, saying, “Hey, handsome, can I add you on WeChat?”

Ji Wenchen didn’t even lift his head. “No, you can’t.”

“I…” The girl with the wavy hair paused mid-motion, her hand hovering over her phone to open WeChat. She hadn’t expected such a blunt rejection.

At school, she was considered a beauty with plenty of admirers and had never been treated so coldly. She was confident that if this guy saw her face, he wouldn’t possibly reject her.

Determined to get this handsome guy’s WeChat, she swayed her slender waist and attempted to sit beside him. “Hey, handsome, could you please move over a bit…”

“Get lost.”

The faint air of hostility emanating from the boy made the girl with wavy hair freeze.

Han Ziping frowned and waved at the audacious yet oblivious girl, silently warning her: Don’t mess with him.

The girl retreated while biting her lip.

The other girls who had been secretly eyeing “Brother Chen” abandoned their thoughts of approaching him after witnessing the scene.

After playing for a while and downing a few drinks, Han Ziping stepped away from the card game.

“Brother Chen, is there anything you’d like to do?” He was worried that Ji Wenchen wasn’t enjoying himself and came over to ask.

“Don’t bother about me.”

Han Ziping, curious, leaned over slightly to glance at Ji Wenchen’s phone screen, wanting to know what had kept him engrossed all evening.

What he saw was a WeChat chat box with a background photo of a girl with a ponytail…

“What are you looking at?” Ji Wenchen’s fingers moved swiftly, flipping the phone screen down onto his lap.

Han Ziping chuckled awkwardly, “I didn’t see anything, I didn’t see anything.” He could vaguely tell it was a pretty girl but hadn’t gotten a clear look at her face.

“Brother Chen, come drink with us. Let’s go have a drink.”

…

At the end of May, it was time for the monthly exams.

Qin Xiaoxiao’s exam seat number decreased by two, prompting Yang Min to jokingly claim that her deskmate had “leveled up” by two ranks, making the gap between them even wider.

The weekend of the monthly exam coincided with the mid-month break. After returning from the break, the first-year and second-year students only had a few days of classes before getting a three-day holiday for the National College Entrance Exam.

After completing the National College Entrance Exam, the third-year students bid farewell to Second High School. The teachers announced that the second-year students could now call themselves “final year students.”

Although many second-year students were reluctant to face this reality.

In Class 8, the seating arrangement was changed. Qin Xiaoxiao and Yang Min were moved to the second row of the first group, diagonally opposite their original seats.

“Hasn’t the school bully been absent for over a week?” Yang Min, feeling refreshed after the seating change, propped her chin on her hand in curiosity. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen him, hasn’t it?”

No one responded.

Yang Min turned to look at her deskmate, who was focused on organizing her desk compartment.

Strands of hair fell against her forehead, brushing lightly against her delicate nose. Her cherry lips appeared soft and dewy… Though she wore a simple ponytail and an ordinary school uniform, doing the most mundane of tasks, she looked as radiant as a goddess bathed in soft light.

And this goddess was not only hardworking but also excelled academically!

Yang Min was quite proud. This time, her deskmate didn’t disappoint her in the monthly exam and even surpassed Tao Lei, that effeminate class monitor.

However, what annoyed her was that even after the seating change, Tao Lei was still sitting right in front of her!

“Hey, classmate…”

Qin Xiaoxiao’s left side faced the window that opened toward the corridor. At that moment, outside the window stood a short-haired, round-faced girl.

“Excuse me, is this Class 8 of the second year?”

The girl was Bi Chun.

Qin Xiaoxiao, puzzled as to why Bi Chun was here, replied, “Yes.”

Bi Chun spoke softly, “I’m looking for Ji Wenchen. Could you please help me call him?”

“You’re looking for the—uh, Ji Wenchen? Why?” Yang Min, turning her head to look out the window, asked curiously.

“I… I… want to thank Ji Wenchen in person. Could you please help me call him?”

“Oh, I see,” Yang Min said, touching her chin. “Ji Wenchen isn’t in the classroom.”

“Then when… when will he come back to the classroom?”

“It’s hard to say. I haven’t seen him in the classroom for over a week. Uh, maybe when he’s in class, I’m too focused on listening to notice; or when I’m on break, he’s already left. In short, no one in our class really knows his whereabouts.”

“I see…” A hint of disappointment spread through Bi Chun’s clear almond-shaped eyes as she lowered her head and walked away.

“She’s holding something behind her back,” Yang Min muttered, craning her neck to watch the unfamiliar girl walk away. “A pink box—looks like a gift.”

“Ah, she’s turning back.”

Yang Min quickly pulled back, waiting for the girl to come over.

Bi Chun came back a second time, one hand hidden behind her back while the other reached forward. “Um, please help me return this to Ji Wenchen.”

Between her fingers was a school badge.

Her gaze was directed at Qin Xiaoxiao, who was sitting by the window.

Qin Xiaoxiao was lost in thought, her gaze hesitant.

Yang Min reached out and took the school badge instead.

“Alright, leave it to us.”

The petite unfamiliar girl walked away.

After a moment, Yang Min examined the school badge in her hand and muttered, “I forgot to ask her name or which school she’s from. By the way, how did she get the school bully’s badge?”

She found it.

When Bi Chun was returning to school alone from the hospital, the night was already deep. She was followed by a few thugs. Lacking strong awareness of her surroundings, Bi Chun, lost in thought, walked into a quiet alley. Seeing an opportunity, the thugs cornered her, harassing her and demanding money. Ji Wenchen, who happened to pass by, swiftly stepped in to help her, dispatching them cleanly without lingering.

Bi Chun had picked up Ji Wenchen’s school badge, which he had accidentally dropped during the fight.

—This was how the original plot unfolded.

Qin Xiaoxiao frowned slightly. On the day when the male and female leads were supposed to meet for the first time in the original story, she was certain that Ji Wenchen had not left the school.

Now… based on Bi Chun’s words, it was clear that Ji Wenchen had saved her and dropped his school badge.

So, did the original plot still occur after all?

Was this the “world’s consciousness” forcing the “storyline” back onto its original trajectory?