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Shang Li turned her head and saw Bo Yanzhi standing there with one hand in his pocket, waving at her.
She quickly greeted him politely, “Senior Bo.”
Bo Yanzhi only gave her a glance before his gaze landed squarely on Tan Weiwei beside her.
“Yo, your friend? She’s pretty.”
Tan Weiwei frowned and stayed silent, then give Shang Li a look.
Shang Li understood instantly—Tan Weiwei’s look said, *“What’s with this guy? So sleazy.” *
When neither of them responded, Bo Yanzhi chuckled and asked, “Classmate, what’s your name?”
Tan Weiwei gave him a cold glance.
*Looks decent, but clearly he has a hole in his head. *
Shang Li quickly said, “Senior Bo, this is my best friend Tan Weiwei, Senior Chu Yan’s girlfriend.”
“Oh,” Bo Yanzhi nodded thoughtfully. “Chu Yan has good taste.”
Just as Shang Li thought Bo Yanzhi was about to leave, he unexpectedly pulled out his phone and asked Tan Weiwei, “Can I add you on WeChat?”
Shang Li: “……”
Tan Weiwei rolled her eyes. “My WeChat is full.”
“Oh? Then just delete Chu Yan. That’ll free up space.”
Shang Li: “?!!”
That was it. Tan Weiwei couldn’t hold it in anymore. She cursed without hesitation, “Are you f*cking insane?!”
Bo Yanzhi was stunned for a second.
*What the hell? This is the first time I’ve ever asked a girl for her WeChat, and this is what I get? *
*Are all girls this fierce now? *
Shang Li knew full well how hot-tempered Tan Weiwei could be. If they didn’t leave now, Tan Weiwei might just kick Bo Yanzhi in the face the next second.
So, she quickly stuffed the paper bag in her hands into Bo Yanzhi’s arms. “Sorry, Senior Bo, Weiwei and I have something to do. Could you please return this to Senior Lu for me? I already took it to the dry cleaners. Please thank him for me!”
Without waiting for any response, Shang Li grabbed Tan Weiwei and bolted.
Moments later, the two sat facing each other in the cafeteria.
Shang Li quietly scooped rice into her mouth. Suddenly—*bang! *—a loud slap on the table startled her so much that she almost dropped her chopsticks.
Tan Weiwei slammed the table, face filled with righteous indignation. “That Bo Yanzhi is crazy, right? Just because he’s some rich second generation and Lu Tinghe’s business partner, does that give him the right to hit on girls like that? Does he think I’m some shallow tramp who’ll fall for any new guy that comes along?”
Shang Li half-joked, “Well, you’re pretty. Pretty girls attract admirers.”
“Oh, so being pretty is a sin now? Being pretty means I must deal with all this garbage attention?”
Shang Li smiled. “Still better than no attention. Look at me—no guys like me at all.”
Tan Weiwei nearly laughed in frustration. “No one likes you. Please. You just play dumb whenever someone confesses to you. Be honest with me, Li Li—do you already like someone? Otherwise, why do you keep rejecting everyone?”
Shang Li choked a little, and even the braised pork she had just put in her mouth lost its flavor.
“No, it’s just… I feel like when people confess to me, it’s only because they think I look okay. They don’t really like *me*. I’m so busy just trying to make ends meet with part-time jobs—how do I even have time or energy to date?”
They were deep in conversation when suddenly, two figures appeared and sat down on either side of them.
Lu Tinghe wore his usual carefree smile. “Shang Li, who said you just ‘look okay’?”
Bo Yanzhi leaned his head on one hand and stared at Tan Weiwei. “Fancy seeing you again so soon.”
Tan Weiwei: “……”
Shang Li instinctively shifted away; her clear, watery eyes gleaming slightly. “No one… no one said I looked okay…”
Tan Weiwei felt puzzled. Why did Shang Li always seem a bit scared whenever she saw Lu Tinghe?
“What are you talking about, Li Li? Tons of people think you’re beautiful. I heard from Chu Yan that the guys in the Medical School group chat are calling you the goddess of the Design School.”
“……” Shang Li froze instantly.
Lu Tinghe gave a wicked, taunting smile. “Who said that? Those brats in the medical school must be too idle—maybe we should hand them a few more cadaver dissections to help them get a better grip on life.”
Shang Li: “……”
Bo Yanzhi gave a sly smile and glanced at Tan Weiwei. “If Shang Li is the goddess of the Design School, then what about you?”
Tan Weiwei replied without missing a beat, “I’m your father.”
Bo Yanzhi: “……”
At that moment, Lu Tinghe was still in the same black basketball jersey from earlier. The sweat-soaked fringe on his forehead clung to his skin, revealing the sharp lines of his brow bone.
Strangely, the pinewood scent on him had only grown stronger after exercising—so much so that Shang Li briefly lost focus, entranced by how good he smelled.
Lu Tinghe tilted his head and asked, “Why didn’t you return the clothes to me in person?”
Shang Li avoided his gaze and focused on her food. “You looked busy.”
“Oh?” Lu Tinghe lazily leaned back in his chair; hands stuffed in his pockets. “I thought you were trying to seduce me.”
At those words, Shang Li abruptly lifted her head, the corners of her eyes tinged with pink. “How am I seducing you?”
“Because…” Lu Tinghe deliberately stretched out the syllables. “I found this in the paper bag.”
With a sharp *slap*, he dropped something on the table.
A sanitary pad lay there brazenly in full view.
Across the table, Tan Weiwei and Bo Yanzhi, for once in perfect sync, both let out a startled exclamation: “What the hell…”
Shang Li snatched the pad and examined it in her hand.
Sure enough, it was from Brand S—the exact same kind Lu Tinghe had bought her yesterday.
But how could she have put a pad in that paper bag? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Had she zoned out while folding the shirt and gone completely out of her mind?
In that moment, Shang Li could practically hear the last thread of her rationality snapping in her brain.
She felt like she’d rather die from embarrassment.
Head hanging low, she mumbled to Lu Tinghe, “Sorry… I must’ve been in a rush and messed up. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Her voice was soft and sweet, like cotton candy—gently melting on the tip of the heart.
Lu Tinghe narrowed his eyes slightly, tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek. And smiled like a scoundrel.
“And what if I do take it to heart?”
Shang Li suddenly looked up, her voice trembling, “What… what do you want to do?”
Seeing her sitting there all delicate and wary, Lu Tinghe found his mood inexplicably lifted.
“I’ll think about it,” he said, “and let you know.”
Just as he finished speaking, his phone rang.
Shang Li inadvertently caught a glimpse of the caller ID: [Ning Mo].
Lu Tinghe got up with his phone, reminding Shang Li, “Wait for my message.”
Then he answered the call and strode out of the cafeteria, long legs carrying him away with ease.
Behind him, Tan Weiwei also caught a glimpse of the name on the screen. She turned to Bo Yanzhi with curiosity. “Is Lu Tinghe dating Ning Mo?”
Bo Yanzhi smirked mysteriously. “Dump Chu Yan, and I’ll tell you.”
“Get lost!”
Off to the side, Shang Li kept her eyes on Lu Tinghe’s retreating figure, trying to suppress the sour ache rising in her chest. She lowered her gaze and quietly went back to eating.
Might as well finish her food—she’d need the energy for her shift at the restaurant tonight.