Zhou Wan understood the implication behind his words, her entire body stiffening.
Lu Xixiao drew closer and closer. Zhou Wan wanted to retreat, but with her chin gripped in his hand and her body frozen in shock, she could only widen her eyes helplessly.
Lu Xixiao leisurely observed her reaction. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, Zhou Wan abruptly turned her head away, evading him.
The movement was too sudden—her hand accidentally knocked over a glass on the coffee table.
With a thud, it shattered on the carpet.
Lu Xixiao paused, maintaining his original posture and distance.
Zhou Wan leaned back further, lowering her head, her chest heaving from the fright.
It's over.
He's definitely going to be angry...
But to her surprise, Lu Xixiao laughed the next second.
He leaned back on the sofa, tilting his head as he chuckled. His voice, heavy with nasal tones from a cold, emerged from deep in his throat—magnetic, low, and husky, like a subwoofer.
"I thought you could keep pretending to be obedient till the end," he said. "Seems like that's all there is to it."
"..."
Zhou Wan thought, how could someone be this despicable?
He had seen through her long ago, knowing she wasn't as docile and obedient as she appeared. He didn't ask why, nor did he care which side of her she showed him—he just wanted to see her flustered and blushing.
Zhou Wan's face grew even redder.
Lu Xixiao admired the sight for a moment before smiling and saying, "Go back."
Zhou Wan was taken aback.
He raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have class?"
Zhou Wan returned to school just in time for Competition Class.
Only she and Jiang Yan had qualified for the National Physics Competition, so the teacher arranged a small classroom for the two of them.
When Jiang Yan saw her, he asked quietly, "Didn't you say you weren't coming?"
Zhou Wan replied, "Something came up."
Though Jiang Yan found it a bit strange, he didn't press further.
After the Competition Class ended, Zhou Wan packed her bag and headed out.
Gu Meng linked arms with her, chatting idly as they descended the stairs.
Gu Meng had recently developed a crush on a senior boy but was too afraid to ask for his number or make any moves. She could only endlessly gush to Zhou Wan about how handsome he was.
Zhou Wan had no recollection of the appearance Gu Meng described and asked, "Do you have a photo of him?"
"How would I dare take his picture?" Gu Meng said. "Just know he's super, super handsome!"
Zhou Wan thought for a moment and asked, "Compared to Lu Xixiao?"
"Of course, Lu Xixiao is better-looking," Gu Meng laughed. "He's the recognized school heartthrob, after all." But too many people like him—having a crush on him is just torture. Only a fool would fall for him."
Zhou Wan remained silent.
"Zhou Wan!" Jiang Yan called out from behind as he caught up.
"What is it?"
"Tomorrow's Saturday. Do you want to study together at the library?"
"Tomorrow..." Zhou Wan thought for a moment. "I'm not sure if I have other plans. I'll text you later."
Jiang Yan nodded. "Alright."
As they reached the school gate, Zhou Wan suddenly paused.
Lu Xixiao was standing under the crooked-neck tree by the entrance, leaning lazily against the trunk. The golden sunset bathed him in light, making everything around him seem brighter.
Many girls were stealing glances at him.
Suddenly, he looked up and saw Zhou Wan.
Then, noticing Jiang Yan standing beside her, he frowned almost imperceptibly.
He strode over.
Zhou Wan's heartbeat tightened abruptly.
Gu Meng also noticed Lu Xixiao but didn't pay much attention until he walked closer and closer, finally stopping right in front of Zhou Wan.
"Hospital or Arcade?" he asked indifferently, his eyes lowered.
Gu Meng's jaw dropped, wide enough to fit an egg.Zhou Wan clutched the hem of her school uniform tightly. "The arcade."
"Let's go."
He turned around as he spoke, offering no explanation for his actions and completely disregarding the many eyes around them.
Zhou Wan hesitated for two seconds before whispering to Gu Meng, "I'm leaving first," and silently followed Lu Xixiao.
"Zhou Wan." Jiang Yan suddenly called out to her in a low voice.
Zhou Wan paused mid-step and looked back.
Jiang Yan frowned deeply. "Are you really going to hang out with him?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Wan heard Lu Xixiao's mocking snort.
Afraid they might fight like last time, Zhou Wan immediately glanced at his expression. There wasn't much anger visible, just pure annoyance.
He couldn't be bothered to waste words on Jiang Yan, nor did he want to become a spectacle in front of everyone.
He grabbed Zhou Wan's backpack, slipping the straps off her shoulders, and carried it in his hand.
"You've got one minute to sort this out." After saying this, Lu Xixiao walked ahead, still holding her backpack.
Zhou Wan didn't use the full minute because she had no idea how to explain her relationship with Lu Xixiao. She simply glanced at Jiang Yan and said softly, "He's not what you think."
Regardless of the conflicts between their mothers, regardless of who the real victim was, Lu Xixiao was innocent.
And now she could also confirm that Lu Xixiao wasn't a bad person.
Maybe he was self-centered, maybe too carefree, maybe fickle in love—but at his core, he wasn't bad.
Jiang Yan's gaze was complicated. "You're taking his side."
"I'm not taking anyone's side." Zhou Wan shook her head. "Jiang Yan, you're an important friend to me, but you can't control who I choose to be close to."
Lu Xixiao deliberately lengthened his strides.
By the time Zhou Wan caught up to him, she was panting. While catching her breath, she asked, "Why did you come?"
He replied indifferently, "I was passing by."
"Is your cold better?"
"Mostly."
He shortened his steps a bit, allowing Zhou Wan to finally slow down. "Your voice still sounds a little hoarse. Take medicine again before bed tonight—I left it on the coffee table."
"Mm."
His tone remained detached, sparing with words, clearly still irritated.
Zhou Wan walked quietly beside him, unsure how to cheer him up. She could only try to make herself as unnoticeable as possible so he wouldn't be further annoyed.
They walked all the way to the arcade without Lu Xixiao saying another word to her.
As usual, Zhou Wan went to the counter, minding the shop while doing her homework. Lu Xixiao randomly picked a game machine to play, the arcade tickets sputtering out incessantly from the machine's slot at his feet.
Zhou Wan hadn't been working on her assignments long when her phone kept vibrating.
A classmate she was on good terms with sent her a string of messages.
[?????]
[What's going on! You and Lu Xixiao!!!!]
[Why was he waiting for you at the school gate!!!!]
[OMG! Is Lu Xixiao trying to chase you!?]
"..."
Zhou Wan glanced in Lu Xixiao's direction. His lips were pressed into a tight line, his eyes lowered, playing the game expressionlessly.
[Zhou Wan: No way, why would Lu Xixiao chase me?]
He didn't seem like he'd have the patience to chase any girl.
All his girlfriends had been the ones actively clinging to him.
[Zhou Wan: He often comes to the arcade, so we've just gotten a bit familiar.]
[But! He! Came! To! The! School! Gate! To! Wait! For! You!]
Zhou Wan's fingers stilled.
She didn't know why Lu Xixiao had come either.
She often couldn't figure out the motives behind Lu Xixiao's actions.Lu Xixiao was an extremely capricious person who never bothered with explanations.
Shortly after, her friend sent another link.
Zhou Wan clicked on it—it was content from the school forum.
Yangming High School's forum was quite lively, partly due to Lu Xixiao. Girls from other schools often visited the forum to ask about him.
But Zhou Wan hardly ever browsed the forum.
The title of the post her friend sent was—
"??? Was Lu Xixiao waiting for Zhou Wan at the school gate today??????"
[Is Zhou Wan his new girlfriend??]
[Damn, Lu Xixiao's previous girlfriends were never this type?]
[I think Zhou Wan is super pretty, pure, and well-behaved! Good grades, good personality—feels like she's not in the same league as Lu Xixiao...]
[Already feeling sorry for the beauty. Though Lu Xixiao is genuinely handsome, he's also genuinely a player!]
[I thought it was weird when I saw Lu Xixiao's friend greeting Zhou Wan before.]
[Even if they're really together, it probably won't last long. None of Lu Xixiao's girlfriends have lasted over a month.]
[But still, even if you get played, getting to look at Lu Xixiao's face every day is enough.]
[I added Lu Xixiao on WeChat before. I wanted to say—one time he posted a photo of a girl's back on his Moments, and I thought it looked a lot like Zhou Wan.]
[Actually, I think Zhou Wan is prettier than all of Lu Xixiao's previous girlfriends. She has this ethereal big sister vibe, totally the face of a first love!]
...
Zhou Wan scrolled through the comments one by one.
Unlike Gu Meng, everyone else wasn't particularly shocked. After all, Lu Xixiao had plenty of girls around him. It was easy to assume he was just momentarily interested and would grow tired of her soon enough.
No different from any of his previous girlfriends.
Late at night, people came and went at the arcade until only Zhou Wan and Lu Xixiao remained.
He handed her a thick stack of Arcade Tickets.
Zhou Wan helped him register all the Points. When she finished, she saw him lowering his head, using one hand to shield the wind as he lit a cigarette.
"Leaving?" he exhaled a puff of smoke and asked.
"Yeah." Zhou Wan glanced at him and said softly, "Your cold hasn't gotten better yet. You really shouldn't smoke."
Lu Xixiao lowered his gaze, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and ignored her.
Zhou Wan didn't press further. She packed her bag and left with him.
The moon was hidden behind gloomy clouds, not even as bright as the streetlights.
The rain had just stopped, leaving puddles along the roadside that splashed when cars sped past.
Lu Xixiao pulled Zhou Wan by the wrist, tugging her to the inner side of the sidewalk.
They remained quiet.
After a while, Lu Xixiao asked in a low, hoarse voice, "Want noodles?"
"Do you want some?"
"Doesn't matter. Up to you."
"I'm still pretty full," Zhou Wan said. "If you're hungry, I'll go with you."
"Forget it then."
They passed by the noodle shop.
Raindrops dripped from the eaves, pattering steadily.
The sound of a car came from behind again.
Without turning around, Lu Xixiao raised his hand and rested it naturally on Zhou Wan's shoulder, half-embracing her as they took a few steps further inward.
Even through their clothes, the overly intimate posture made Zhou Wan stiffen. Lu Xixiao seemed to notice and dropped his hand once they reached the inner side.
Zhou Wan silently let out a breath.
The next second, Lu Xixiao's ambiguous chuckle sounded by her ear.
Zhou Wan's face warmed.
He was teasing her again.
How could someone love teasing others so much?
Suddenly, a car horn blared beside them.
Beep beep—Zhou Wan turned her head, her eyes dazzled by the glaring car headlights.
She saw Guo Xiangling roll down the window and lean halfway out, calling toward Lu Xixiao, "A Xiao!"
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