Chapter 034 – Playing Hard to Get

This time, when Shen Qingli took the bus, she didn’t run into Pei Songjiang.

She was a little surprised.

Lately, she had practically seen him on this bus every day.

She looked at the time on her phone—yes, it was the usual bus.

Maybe Pei Songjiang didn’t have class today?

Shen Qingli rode the bus alone to school. On the way, she held her phone and thought about whether she should text Pei Songjiang.

But after some thought, she felt it wasn’t appropriate.

They weren’t close enough to be checking in on each other’s daily routines.

But not just that day—over the next three consecutive days, Shen Qingli still didn’t see Pei Songjiang.

At that point, she received a notice from the logistics department: her dorm application had been approved!

Shen Qingli was thrilled and immediately went to check out the dorm with Qian Xiqiao after class.

Qian Xiqiao told her, “We’ll be on the fifth floor. I’m in 504, and you’re in 502. I asked around—your other three roommates are from the History Department. I’ve seen them around; they’re pretty easy to get along with.”

Shen Qingli nodded. “That’s good.”

In truth, because she came from a single-parent household and had a modest background, Shen Qingli had always felt a little insecure growing up.

Though it didn’t turn her into a people-pleaser, she was always extra careful with others’ emotions, especially with roommates.

That’s why, over the years, she hadn’t had any bad experiences in shared dorms.

They knocked on the door of the dorm, and at that time, only one girl was inside. She wore thick glasses and pajamas and glanced over at them.

Qian Xiqiao quickly said, “Hi! My friend is moving in soon. We’re just here to tidy up a bit.”

The girl nodded and stepped aside to let them in.

The dorm was a four-person room with lofted beds and desks underneath.

There was only one empty bed. Shen Qingli walked over and saw that the previous occupant had already cleaned it up nicely. So they decided to go shopping for supplies.

Tomorrow, she’d officially move in.

Now that Shen Guiqi had resigned, she could finally cut ties with the Jiang family for good.

The girl with the glasses asked, “Which one of you is moving in?”

Shen Qingli replied, “Me. I’m Shen Qingli, a freshman in the College of Literature.”

The girl looked at her. “I’m Qi Wenjing, from the History Department. You look kind of familiar.”

Shen Qingli: “…”

She could guess why she looked familiar—probably from the time she took photos of Jiang Junwen in class for Gao Xuanzhen. The photos had made it into the campus gossip group chat.

But Shen Qingli had grown thick-skinned. She’d already been through all this in her previous life, so now she was completely unfazed.

Qian Xiqiao grinned and said, “Qi Wenjing! You look familiar too. I remember now—you performed at the opening ceremony, right?”

She walked over and started chatting with Qi Wenjing warmly.

By the end of it, the two had added each other on WeChat and were calling each other “sis” like old friends.

Shen Qingli was amazed by how quickly Qian Xiqiao could make friends.

When they left the dorm, Shen Qingli said she was going to the campus supermarket to buy some daily essentials.

After tidying up the dorm a bit, she planned to go back early after her afternoon classes and move in that very night.

Qian Xiqiao was puzzled. “Ali, why are you in such a rush to move?”

Shen Qingli nodded. “Of course I am. I’ve been waiting forever.”

Besides, she had just picked up a part-time job at a fishing park. In the afternoons and evenings, when it got busy, she’d help out at the front desk registering members and selling gear. It was simple work and sounded easy enough.

But the location was far from school—and even farther from the Jiang house.

Now that she had a dorm, she wouldn’t have to commute from the Jiang home, making her job much more convenient.

That afternoon, she packed up her things, told Shen Guiqi, and dragged her suitcase out of the Jiang household.

Just as she was leaving, Gao Xuanzhen came home from work and asked the butler, “Why is Shen Qingli moving out?”

The butler sighed and said, “Driver Shen resigned, so Ali is moving into the school dorm.”

Gao Xuanzhen replied indifferently, “Then just hire a new driver. With the salary we offer, it won’t be hard to find someone good.”

The butler sighed inwardly but nodded.

While handing her bag and coat to the butler, Gao Xuanzhen added:

“It’s for the best that Shen Qingli moved out. I used to see her riding with Ah Wen every day, and I was worried she’d start having inappropriate thoughts about him. Luckily, last time I had her take photos of Ah Wen in class and made him mad. Otherwise, with how pretty she is, he might’ve actually taken her seriously.”

The butler: “…”

He forced a smile and nodded. “Yes, Madam, you really thought this through.”

As expected from the Jiang family’s matriarch—what a strategist.

Even Shen Qingli probably hadn’t realized that Madam Jiang’s reason for having her take those photos in class wasn’t really to monitor Jiang Junwen’s attendance.

It was to make Jiang Junwen dislike her.

Because she’d been taking those pictures, Jiang Junwen had stopped skipping class—so he couldn’t see Luo Shuyao.

At the same time, he’d begun to resent Shen Qingli.

Madam Jiang had truly killed two birds with one stone!

That evening, after settling into her dorm, Shen Qingli picked up her phone. After hesitating for a long time, she finally sent Pei Songjiang a message:

[Senior, I’ve moved into the dorms now. I won’t have to rush to catch the bus early anymore~]

[GIF: Cat rolling around wagging its tail]

…

At that moment, Pei Songjiang had just stepped out of the school gates with some classmates when he suddenly paused.

His brows furrowed, and his expression darkened.

His friend Yang Qianyu noticed his expression and couldn’t help but ask, “Old Seven, what’s going on with you these past three days? You keep checking your phone like you’re waiting for someone to text you.”

Pei Songjiang wasn’t usually glued to his phone, but for the past three days, he kept glancing at it as if waiting for someone’s message.

Yang Qianyu had already told him: instead of waiting, why not take the initiative?

But Pei Songjiang had replied, “I am making a move. You just don’t get it.”

That completely shut Yang Qianyu up.

He muttered in disbelief, “What is this? Playing hard to get? Are you launching some grand strategy now—using The Art of War?”

Pei Songjiang didn’t answer.

Now, finally, Shen Qingli had messaged him.

The stone that had been weighing on his heart was lifted.

After deliberately avoiding the bus for three days, she had finally texted him.

Good. That was a very good sign.

It meant Shen Qingli cared about him…

Pei Songjiang paused in his steps, face darkening.
“She moved into the dorms?”

Great. How was he supposed to execute his plan now?

Damn Art of War… it betrayed him!