Chapter 7: Male “Third Party”?

But as time passed, she gained Shenzi and everything she had ever wanted.

The love and care Shenzhi gave her had filled her entire world, and the thought of finding her biological parents no longer crossed her mind.

She should have remained calm and indifferent when she first heard about this news, her heart unmoved as if nothing could stir it.

But why, now, did she feel a bit anxious, a bit hopeful…?

Qi Shenzhi noticed Su Baili’s unease. He gently kissed the top of her head, comforting her, “It’s okay, don’t overthink it. With me here, you only need to enjoy everything happily, Li Li.”

With the familiar scent around her, Su Baili was comforted. She lazily stretched and relaxed against Qi Shenzhi.

“Right, with you backing me up, what do I have to fear? They should be the ones trembling, not me. Tremble, humans!”

Qi Shenzhi saw her playful attitude and knew she had calmed down a bit, relaxing his previously furrowed brow.

She quickly changed the subject, “Let’s go, let’s eat. Aunt Li made your favorite shrimp dumplings.”

“Shrimp dumplings!!!” Su Baili instantly straightened up, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

In the next moment, she was already at the door, no longer looking like the person who had been suffering from back pain moments ago.

Seeing that Qi Shenzhi hadn’t followed, she quickly turned around and peeked around the corner, “Shenzhi, hurry up!”

Qi Shenzhi chuckled lightly, “Coming.”

After finishing this early lunch, Su Baili headed back to school.

Of course, she was still driven by the family chauffeur to get out at the “usual place.”

Afterward, she struggled under the “heavy love” from Qi Shenzhi and Aunt Li, making her way toward the school.

Although B University was one of the top universities in the country, the students who got in were among the best and brightest in the nation, they were no different from regular college students in other ways. They studied but also spent their time browsing gossip forums.

Su Baili, however, was somewhat well-known in the school. After all, she had made it onto the list of candidates for the school’s flower selection in her freshman year.

Although she didn’t win the title of campus beauty, she was definitely the flower of her department.

When the young and ambitious boys around the school saw her, a delicate girl, carrying so many things and struggling to move them onto campus, many of them couldn’t help but feel pity and tenderness.

Heh, maybe this could spark an unexpected connection.

Unfortunately, despite their intentions, Su Baili had firmly rejected every one of them, and her mind had started to bitterly complain.

What was wrong with these people? Shouldn’t they be studying instead of chasing relationships?

She already had a boyfriend!

At least, everyone who knew her knew this. Were these guys trying to be a “third wheel”?

No way. Even if they were willing, she was determined to keep her purity.

These guys didn’t compare to her boyfriend, Shenzhi. He was handsome, talented, caring, and perfect in every way. How could anyone be so compatible with her? He was surely a gift from heaven, custom-made for her.

Thinking about this, Su Baili couldn’t help but let out a dreamy giggle.

“What’s so funny? You seem so happy?” Suddenly, a hand patted her shoulder, startling her.

She turned to see it was a senior from her department.

She nodded slightly, not explaining why she was laughing, “Hello, senior.”

“Junior sister, no need to be so polite, just call me Gao Yuan,” he said, reaching out to take the numerous items from Su Baili’s hands.

But Su Baili sidestepped and avoided him.

Gao Yuan didn’t feel awkward. He smiled and said, “Junior sister, you’ve got so many things. Let me carry them to the dormitory for you, it’s on my way anyway.”

“No need, thank you, senior brother, I can handle it myself,” Su Baili coldly refused.

“Ah, I just said not to be so polite with me, and now you’re being distant…” Gao Yuan didn’t back down.

Su Baili frowned. He was talking as if they were so familiar. What was with all this back-and-forth?

She was a woman who had to uphold her female virtues. What if her older brother found out she was attracting attention from men outside? He’d be so heartbroken!

This wouldn’t do. She couldn’t let him be upset. Su Baili’s “wife mode” kicked in.

She was about to refuse more firmly, not caring whether it hurt his feelings, but at that moment, a few figures ran up behind Gao Yuan, successfully rescuing her.

“Baili, you’re back!”

A girl with short hair excitedly took the items from her hands. “Let me do it. How can I let your delicate hands carry these things?”

Her words were extremely obsequious, but none of the people present found anything wrong with it. Su Baili finally sighed in relief and smiled. “Yaning, Manman, and you, You, what a coincidence!”

Zhou Manman said with a fake enthusiasm, “Yes, we just didn’t have class this afternoon and were heading to the dorm. We’ll take these, so you can relax.”

The last girl, who wore glasses, said coldly, “Senior Brother, you’re here too. Leave this to us. No need to trouble you.”

Her gaze was full of wisdom, as if she could see straight through Gao Yuan’s intentions.

With more people around, Gao Yuan awkwardly withdrew his hand. “I’m also on the way, how about I carry a bit for you?”

“No need, we can manage with just these things,” Feng Gaoyuan pushed her glasses up. “The sun’s too hot. Let’s hurry up.”

Gao Yuan replied, “Right, right. Let’s go. Are you sure you don’t need help? It wouldn’t look right for me, a big man, to be walking with you without offering assistance…”

Gao Yuan’s smile was a little forced, but he stressed again that it really was on his way.

But his forehead glistened with sweat, though whether it was from the heat or guilt, it was unclear.

The scene made Zhou Manman and Qin Yaning feel something was off. They stole a few glances at him as they walked.

As they headed toward the dorm, the atmosphere became a little awkward. Gao Yuan forced a smile and tried to chat casually like a regular senior brother. “By the way, junior sister, you haven’t told us why you were smiling so happily just now?”

“Oh? Really?” Zhou Manman curiously asked, “Did something good happen to Baili?”

Su Baili shook her head, smiling. “It wasn’t anything special, just thinking about my boyfriend.”

“Ooh~” Qin Yaning teased, “But didn’t you meet your boyfriend yesterday? And now you’re already here at school. You’ve been apart for just a little while and already miss him? So love-struck, totally love-brained.”

“Ahhh!” Su Baili became flustered and jumped to cover her mouth. “Shut up already.”

“Junior sister has a boyfriend?” Gao Yuan said, looking quite surprised.

Feng Gaoyuan glanced at him. “You didn’t know? She mentioned it when she started freshman year.”

Pretty people often have admirers, and with such a sweet girl like Su Baili, many people had their eyes on her from the first day she enrolled. But unfortunately, all the confessions went unanswered. No one had expected such a seemingly well-behaved girl to already be in a relationship before starting university.

That was when many hearts were broken.

Gao Yuan nervously touched his nose. “Ah… I thought it was just something the junior sister made up to get rid of the annoyances. After all, there were so many rumors, but no one’s ever seen her boyfriend, right?”