Chapter 34: You’re Much More Annoying Than Her

It was close to 7 o’clock when Jiang Mingyue finally understood all the questions. The two of them packed up their things and went downstairs.

As soon as they reached the ground floor, they ran into Li Ge.

They hadn’t expected her to still be at school this late.

And over the past few days, Jiang Mingyue had been running into her—intentionally or not—quite frequently.

Of course, most of the time, these encounters happened when she was with Qi Ze.

Li Ge saw them and exclaimed in surprise: “You haven’t left yet either? What a coincidence!”

Qi Ze remained silent, as always. Jiang Mingyue replied: “It really is. Why are you only leaving now?”

“Oh, I was doing some homework. I have something to do at home tonight, so I finished my assignments at school in advance. What about you two?”

Li Ge casually walked over to stand next to Qi Ze. Though she was asking Jiang Mingyue, her gaze kept drifting toward Qi Ze.

Jiang Mingyue said: “Same here. There were some questions I didn’t understand, so he helped explain them.”

“Wow, then you must be really good at studying. We should study together sometime!”

Li Ge’s eyes immediately sparkled as she looked at Qi Ze.

Qi Ze: “…”

Seeing that Qi Ze still ignored her, Li Ge blinked and said with a hint of grievance,  

“Seriously, Qi Ze, we’ve run into each other so many times now, how are you still so stingy with your words?”

Sometimes, Jiang Mingyue almost admired Li Ge. After being brushed off so many times, she never seemed embarrassed, never backed down.

It reminded her of when she had first gotten to know Qi Ze.

Back then, she had also tried repeatedly to get close to him, and most of the time, he had responded just like this—with indifference.

Was she just like Li Ge back then—maybe a bit over-the-top?

What had Qi Ze thought of her at that time?

Meanwhile, Li Ge was still relentlessly trying.

“How about we add each other on WeChat first? I asked Mingyue for your WeChat before, but she wouldn’t give it to me—so stingy.” Li Ge suggested.

Jiang Mingyue, who was glancing at her phone like an old man on the subway: “……”

Although she truly hadn’t wanted to give it, she had clearly said at the time that it was Qi Ze who didn’t want her to share it. So what was Li Ge trying to imply by saying this now?

Just as she was about to clarify and defend herself, Qi Ze finally spoke.  

“It was me who didn’t let her give it.”

“Oh, right, I think that’s what Mingyue said. I kind of forgot… sorry.” Li Ge said, sticking out her tongue awkwardly. “Mingyue, you don’t mind, do you?”

Jiang Mingyue: “……”

She smiled without answering, feeling a little confused by whatever game Li Ge was playing.

Then Li Ge turned to Qi Ze again and asked: “Why are you always so cold to me? Did I do something wrong?”

Qi Ze stopped walking and, for the first time today, gave her a direct look. His voice was flat.  

“Can you stop bothering me?”

Li Ge: “……”

Li Ge finally went quiet.

Not only did she go quiet, but her eyes also began to turn red. As they neared the school gates, she spoke again, but this time without her usual cheerful tone.

With her head lowered, she said, sounding aggrieved,  

“Sorry. I guess I’m just annoying. I only wanted to be friends with you. I won’t appear in front of you so much anymore.”

She kept her head down and walked away alone after saying that.

Jiang Mingyue watched Li Ge’s retreating figure, then turned to look at Qi Ze, who wore an expression of perfect calm.

Suddenly, she said: “Qi Ze.”

“Mm?” Qi Ze turned his head to look at her.

Jiang Mingyue hesitated for a moment but finally asked the question that had been lingering in her mind since earlier.  

“When I kept pestering you back then… was I just like Li Ge? Did I annoy you too?”

Qi Ze’s lips curved slightly, and his deep, calm eyes were tinged with amusement.

Seeing that expression, Jiang Mingyue thought he was about to say, ‘Of course not, you were way better than her.’

But Qi Ze was still Qi Ze.

He said with a cheerful smile: “You were way more annoying than her. You followed me around like a little tail all day long. Your skin was so thick I couldn’t even shake you off.”

Jiang Mingyue: “……”

Alright, she shouldn’t have asked.

“Hmph, farewell then, Classmate Qi.”

With that, Jiang Mingyue turned and walked straight toward her family’s car.

Qi Ze remained standing where he was, watching with a smile as Jiang Mingyue got into the car. Only then did he head off toward his motorcycle.

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The next morning, just as Qi Ze sat down at his desk, Li Ge came over with a box of chocolates.

She was lightly made up, standing beside Qi Ze’s desk as if nothing had happened the day before. Her almond-shaped eyes curved slightly as she smiled.

“Classmate Qi, I’m here to apologize. I’m sorry for causing you trouble these past few days. This is my apology—please accept it.”

As she spoke, she held the box of chocolates out toward Qi Ze.

“Scram.” Qi Ze blocked the box with his book. “Stay away from me.”

He hadn’t slept well the night before, and his mood was already foul that morning. Now there was this annoying person hovering around again. He didn’t even bother to maintain his usual calm and distant demeanor. His voice was cold as ice.

“This is your final warning. Stay away from me.”

Li Ge acted like she hadn’t heard him at all. She opened the box of chocolates and began handing some out to the classmates seated in front of Qi Ze.

“Hello, I’m the new student transferred from Class One. I accidentally upset Classmate Qi when I first arrived—please help me talk to him. I just want to be friends. I didn’t mean to make him unhappy. We’ll all be schoolmates from now on, so let’s get along.”

Zhao Rulan quickly waved her hands and declined: “No, thank you. I’ve got a toothache lately and can’t eat sweets, but I appreciate the thought.”

Li Ge didn’t seem bothered by the rejection. She simply placed the chocolates on the desks of the students seated around Qi Ze.

Zhao Rulan’s deskmate was Guo Daqing. Seeing that Li Ge was good-looking and polite, he smiled as he accepted the chocolate.  

“Ah, how can I accept this so casually? We’re all classmates—there’s no need to be so courteous.”

When only two pieces were left, Li Ge dropped them onto Qi Ze’s desk without hesitation.  

“Please, just take them.” she said pleadingly.

Then, without waiting for Qi Ze to respond, she turned and left.

Qi Ze didn’t even glance at the chocolates. He picked them up and, with a flick of his hand, tossed them straight into the trash can.

Guo Daqing couldn’t help but speak up.  “Qi Ze, she gave you those chocolates out of kindness. Even if you don’t want to eat them, you don’t have to throw them away like that. What kind of deep grudge do you two have that you’re being so harsh?”

Zhao Rulan rolled her eyes at her deskmate.  “Already acting like her spokesperson, huh? How much do you even know about what’s going on between them? Stop running your mouth.”

“But she seems really nice to me.” Guo Daqing said. “She’s not only pretty, but also polite. I think you’re just too spoiled to realize how lucky you are.”

The last part was directed at Qi Ze.

Qi Ze pulled out a new notebook, lowered his head, and began writing something. He replied casually,  

“Then this blessing is yours. I just threw it in the trash—go pick it up now, and you can still eat it.”

Zhao Rulan chimed in, not missing a beat:  “You’re just saying that because she’s good-looking.”

“She is good-looking. I’m just stating facts.” Guo Daqing replied shamelessly.

Qi Ze didn’t respond to the bickering anymore. He looked up and glanced over at Jiang Mingyue’s desk—it was still empty.

If she didn’t arrive within two more minutes, she would be late.

Li Ge returned to her classroom and had just sat down when her deskmate leaned over curiously.  

“So? Did Qi Ze accept your gift?”

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Li Ge pulled out a small mirror and looked at her reflection, replying nonchalantly,  

“Nope. I’ve seriously never seen someone so unresponsive. I don’t get it—what’s so wrong with me that he finds me this unbearable?”