Chapter 43: No Misunderstandings, No Need for Explanations

After stepping out of the Literature Club's activity room, Jiang Qin gazed at the clear, rain-washed sky and pondered whether it was time to treat the two meals he had promised. After all, cool weather like this was rare. Once the temperature climbed back to its previous highs, even rewarding himself would leave him drenched in sweat, and going out to eat would become a luxury again.

Hong Yan, Feng Nanshu…

Jiang Qin opened his contacts list, hesitated between the two names, then glanced at the time. He decided to invite Hong Yan for lunch first and save dinner for Feng Nanshu. Playing footsie at night would probably be more convenient, right? Doing it in broad daylight would easily make him infamous.

Soon, the call connected, and Hong Yan's soft, sweet voice came through the receiver, laced with a hint of pleasant surprise. After settling on a time and place, Jiang Qin slipped his phone back into his pocket, took the mineral water handed to him by Dong Wenhao, and cast his gaze toward the college girls by the lake—white legs, slim waists.

"The looks at your East Campus aren't that impressive," Jiang Qin remarked with a tsk, his expression tinged with disappointment.

Dong Wenhao immediately bristled. This was a matter of East Campus pride. "It's the weekend! The good-looking ones have already been asked out. You wouldn't see them even if you wanted to."

"Bragging, huh?"

"I'm not exaggerating. Just take this year's freshmen, for example. We've got two campus-beauty-level girls who've completely redefined East Campus's standards."

Jiang Qin took a quiet sip of water, already guessing who he meant. "From the Law Department?"

Dong Wenhao's eyes widened. "Your intel's pretty spot-on. Interested?"

"Love? Even dogs wouldn't bother."

"Even if you were, it'd be pointless. Pretty girls are colder than ice. Even adding them on QQ is a struggle. My roommate's a rich kid—offered a thousand bucks online for their contact info and still came up empty."

Jiang Qin nearly spat out his water. "There's a sucker like that? I'll let you in on a secret: I'm old friends with them. I'll sell, you tell your roommate to come find me."

Dong Wenhao gave him a look. "Bullshit."

"Damn it, no one believes the truth these days. What a shitty world."

Grumbling, Jiang Qin walked forward, strolling with Dong Wenhao through the flower-vine corridor until they reached the southern shore of East Campus Lake. Perhaps because Dong Wenhao felt guilty for earning 150 yuan in manuscript fees with only eight drafts, he insisted on playing tour guide and sticking by Jiang Qin's side.

The vice president of the Literature Club was quite popular. Along the way, several people greeted him主动ly, and Dong Wenhao took the chance to introduce Jiang Qin to two friends: Pang Hai, a graphic design student, and Gao Dapeng, the president of the Part-Time Job Club. He figured Jiang Qin's website promotion would need on-campus publicity soon, and these two could come in handy.

Jiang Qin hit it off with them, even sketching out a preliminary plan for promotion and poster designs. They'd kick things off once the content volume was sufficient. But just as they started discussing prices, Dong Wenhao tugged at Jiang Qin's sleeve and pointed toward a pavilion in the garden across from them.

"Look, one of the campus beauties—Chu Siqi."

"?"

Jiang Qin glanced over and, sure enough, spotted Chu Siqi in a flowing white dress. She looked like the heroine of a literary novel today—long, fluffy hair cascading over her shoulders, her bare arms as pale and delicate as jade. Standing in front of her was a guy in a black T-shirt, about 1.8 meters tall, wearing silver-rimmed glasses and a pair of Nike ZK3 Kobe sneakers.

Gao Dapeng looked over too, his eyes widening in surprise. "Isn't that Zheng Qinglong, the Law Department's student council president? I heard he's been chasing Chu Siqi since the semester started. Finally got her out on a date?"

"Damn it, the ones closest to the water get the moon first. What a beast," Pang Hai muttered, clearly unimpressed.

"Let's go over and eavesdrop!"

Jiang Qin quickly waved them off, desperate to avoid it. "You guys go. I'll pass. I know her—don't want any trouble."

"Stop talking nonsense and come on. Don't be shy. You'll get to see East Campus's top-tier beauty up close," Dong Wenhao said, dragging him along.

"I really don't want to see this!"

"No choice. You can't keep saying our campus lacks looks!"

The four of them sneaked over, hoping to catch them off guard. But their target was too obvious—Chu Siqi and Zheng Qinglong weren't blind. A single glance, and they were spotted. No hiding now.

Being caught didn't faze them, though. Pang Hai, Gao Dapeng, and Dong Wenhao dropped all pretense and strode over confidently.

"Zheng Qinglong, you sly dog! Hitting on a freshman—and the prettiest one—just after the semester starts?"

Zheng Qinglong flashed a charming smile, adjusting his glasses. "Don't mess around. I just found a chance to chat with her, that's all."

Pang Hai let out a teasing tsk. "Cut the crap. How come you never 'chat' with me?"

"Fine, I'll admit it—I've got a thing for Chu Siqi. But she hasn't said yes yet, so don't go spreading rumors."

"'Yet'? Pfft. Don't agree to him, junior! This guy's full of sweet talk—watch out, or you'll get played!"

Zheng Qinglong maintained his gentlemanly smile. "If she doesn't say yes to me, who else could possibly deserve her?"

Chu Siqi grew a little embarrassed by their banter. She was about to say she wasn't planning to date in college, but when she looked up, her face paled instantly, and her hands clenched together unconsciously.

Jiang Qin…

There he stood, at the back of the group, not moving much, his expression neutral.

"Hm?"

Zheng Qinglong paused, noticing Chu Siqi suddenly step toward the unfamiliar guy at the back. Her lashes trembled, and her face carried a trace of panic. Pang Hai, Gao Dapeng, and Dong Wenhao's gazes followed, landing on Jiang Qin.

Three seconds later, they witnessed a scene that nearly made their jaws drop.

"Jiang Qin, what are you doing at East Campus?"

Jiang Qin took a step back and nodded politely. "Just here to handle some stuff."

Chu Siqi seemed dazed by his retreat. "Don't misunderstand! That's just a senior from the Law Department's student council. He said there's an issue with my enrollment info and asked me to meet up to talk."

"Whatever. You guys chat. Don't mind me."

"What's with that attitude? I'm telling the truth!"

Jiang Qin sighed helplessly. "I know, I heard you. But I really don't care. You've got your stuff to deal with, so go ahead."

Chu Siqi stopped in her tracks, biting her soft lips tightly, her eyes welling up with tears. "Why won't you just listen to me properly? You're trying to drive me insane!"

"What did I do now?"

"Pretending you don't care about me, pretending you don't like me—I admit it's working. You win, okay? I'm so fed up. Just make up with me already!"

Jiang Qin took a deep breath. "How many times do I have to say it? I don't like you. It's not an act. Stop acting like I'm your boyfriend—we're not even a thing. This makes me really uncomfortable."

Chu Siqi forced her temper down, softening her tone. "Let's make up. I can forgive you for ignoring me all summer. We can go back to how things were."

"Are you serious, Chu Siqi? Do you even hear yourself? How can you say something so cruel and cold with that 36-degree mouth of yours?"

Jiang Qin couldn't wrap his head around it. He had no idea how Chu Siqi's mind worked.

Go back to how things were?

Me chasing you desperately, you rejecting me, then turning around to hug your new boyfriend while asking me if he's handsome?

Might as well have someone with jaundice piss on me and kill me—why bother with rebirth then?

Chu Siqi stared at him, a wave of sorrow rising from deep within her. Tears brimmed in her eyes, her nose turning red. In that moment, she suddenly understood what it meant to meet again as strangers.