Chapter 246: So, It Was an Acquaintance (Part II)

Xiāng Ri's movements were simple—he quietly approached Boss An from behind and gently tapped her on the head. However, the reaction it triggered was entirely due to Miss An's unexpected response. 

Thinking it was one of her friends seeking her attention, An Xin turned her head casually, but upon seeing the man behind her, her eyes lit up, and she broke into a sweet smile. "You're here, Xiang Kui?" 

A collective "thud" resounded as spectators metaphorically hit the ground in shock. Expecting the infamous Demon Queen An to unleash her wrath, they were instead met with an alluring softness in her expression. The startling shift left some men clutching their chests, unable to handle the overwhelming sight. 

The reactions of others held no interest for Xiang Ri. He glanced deliberately at An Xiao Niu's hand, which was still wandering casually over the ice queen beside her, and responded with an indifferent, "Mm, just arrived." 

An Xin, acutely aware of Xiang Ri's pointed gaze, felt a jolt of realization. She hastily withdrew her hand, her composure faltering as she stammered, "I… we…" 

"I understand," Xiang Ri interrupted, raising a hand to stop her explanation. His gaze carried a knowing reassurance. 

Xiang Ri didn't believe An Xin still had any real interest in women. Her gaze, filled with affection during her confession that night, left him no doubt about her feelings for him. The way she acted around the ice queen was likely an ingrained habit, nothing more. 

Recalling the scene he had witnessed earlier, he remembered how she idly fondled the ice queen while watching the basketball game. Her touch was unconscious, devoid of ulterior motive. 

An Xin, comforted by Xiang Ri's understanding, but still somewhat unsure, quickly offered a gesture of goodwill. "Come, Xiang Kui, sit here with us." She patted the seat beside her invitingly. 

Xiang Ri noticed the ice queen's lack of visible displeasure and decided to comply, walking around to take the seat. However, just as he was about to sit beside An Xin, she suddenly shifted aside, leaving the space between herself and the ice queen empty. Her intention was clear—she wanted him to sit between them, perhaps to clarify any lingering misunderstandings. 

Surprised but understanding her reasoning, Xiang Ri couldn't help but smile faintly. This little troublemaker really didn't want him to get the wrong idea. Without hesitation, he sat down, meeting the ice queen's conflicted gaze. 

No sooner had he settled in than An Xin pressed herself against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and resting her head on his chest like a docile kitten. 

Xiang Ri instinctively pulled her into his embrace, his arm tightening around her. Seeing her so utterly compliant, he couldn't help but feel a surge of desire. Were it not for the crowd of onlookers, he might have done something far more intimate. 

What happened next, however, set Xiang Ri's blood racing. On his right side, another soft, warm body leaned into him. Without looking, he already knew who it was. 

And precisely because he knew, he found it strange. The ice queen, whose disdain for him was evident, was the last person he expected to willingly approach. 

It wasn't until he felt the subtle movement of An Xin's hand guiding the ice queen toward him that he realized what was happening. He couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry—was she deliberately trying to make things harder for him? 

But what shocked him even more was that the ice queen, after an initial flicker of hesitation in her expression, leaned in voluntarily, pressing herself against him. 

Heavens! Xiang Ri swore he wasn't imagining it. This time, she had moved on her own—it had nothing to do with An Xin's coaxing. But why? 

Still stunned, Xiang Ri barely registered An Xin lifting his injured right hand and placing it on the ice queen's shoulder. In an instant, the man seated between them found himself in a classic pose: one woman in his left arm, the other in his right. 

Xiang Ri was utterly numb. He couldn't tell if today was some predestined "lucky day," but one thing was certain—this was no dream. The faint tremor of the ice queen's body beneath his embrace confirmed its reality with startling clarity. 

The onlookers were utterly dumbfounded by the series of dramatic events unfolding before them—so much so that even the basketball players on the court were affected. Some slipped and fell, while others lost control of the ball, allowing their opponents to steal it. A certain middle-aged coach on the sidelines erupted in a tirade, hurling curses at the distracted players.

But one could hardly blame them for being distracted. They were accustomed to seeing the assistant coach—a woman who looked and dressed like a man—exuding a cold disdain for the opposite sex, as if bearing a deep-seated grudge against men. Yet now, witnessing her sudden display of such delicate charm left everyone struggling to reconcile the contradiction.

What's more, they all knew of An Xin's preferences. The very idea of her, a woman renowned for her attraction to the same sex, lying so submissively in a man's arms was not only shocking but also provoked an intense wave of jealousy among the men present.

For a woman of her exceptional beauty, who habitually dressed in men's clothing, she naturally stirred the male instinct to conquer. When she first joined as the assistant coach, every player had eagerly sought her favor. Rumors abounded about her affluent family background, suggesting that winning her heart would not only secure a stunning beauty but also save one from decades of struggle. The allure was irresistible.

However, those dreams were shattered when the object of their affections showed up with bodyguards resembling Schwarzenegger himself. After a few overzealous suitors were taught painful lessons, no one dared to risk the humiliation. 

It was then that they learned An Xin's true preference—she was infatuated with the school's most illustrious ice queen, whom she had even persuaded to join the basketball team as its manager. This revelation extinguished any lingering hopes and ensured that no one dared cast another glance her way.

Yet today, the unthinkable happened: the woman who had been deemed unattainable and uninterested in men was willingly clinging to one. Even more appalling, the ice queen—renowned for her hostility toward any man who dared approach within a meter of her—was now leaning gently against the same man. 

Heavens! Could this be a dream? Why couldn't such fortune fall upon me? This was the collective thought of every man present.

As for the center of attention, Xiang Ri, he was utterly bewildered. Staring at the elegant and intellectual beauty mere inches away, he managed only a hesitant, "Hello." 

The ice queen, however, remained calm. Her bright eyes, partially concealed behind her white-framed glasses, reflected a resolute determination. "You once promised me you'd help me with something."

"Yes," Xiang Ri replied instinctively, nodding. 

"Help me punish a man." Her tone carried a distinct edge of hatred. 

"Who?" 

"His name is Yi Tianxing." 

"Yi Tianxing?" Xiang Ri murmured, the name sparking a faint recollection. Before he could delve deeper into his memory, An Xin eagerly interjected, providing a detailed explanation for the need to deal with this man.

The story was somewhat clichéd, but Xiang Ri listened intently, especially since it involved a certain female police officer and revealed her familial ties to the ice queen. 

In short, the ice queen's grandmother and the officer's mother were cousins, despite a significant age gap. This familial connection tied the two households together. 

Years ago, a despicable man named Yi Tianxing, frustrated by his failed pursuit of the female officer, shifted his focus to the officer's beautiful niece as a form of revenge. At the time, the ice queen had been a naïve high school girl in the throes of adolescent infatuation. Yi, masquerading as a gentleman, quickly won her trust and affection. 

However, his true intentions were anything but noble. Eager to exploit her for leverage against the officer, Yi attempted to assault her, revealing his vile motives. In the nick of time, the ice queen threatened her life, successfully scaring him away. 

This traumatic event shattered her romantic ideals, leaving her distrustful of all men and fostering a deep-seated resentment that shaped her icy demeanor. 

Hearing the tale, Xiang Ri was filled with rage toward Yi Tianxing. Any lingering animosity he'd felt toward the ice queen melted away, replaced by a fervent determination to bring Yi to justice. 

As he contemplated, a sudden thought struck him. An Xin had referred to Yi as part of the "Yi family," a name that rang a significant bell. Recalling an incident in which he had dealt with a spoiled second-generation scion of the Yi family, Xiang Ri's suspicions solidified. 

Narrowing his eyes, he let a cold glint flash across them. 

The Yi family, huh? It seemed there wasn't a single redeemable person among the younger generation. Very well—this time, he'd settle both old and new scores, including the hit-and-run incident that had once left him injured.