During the three days of the college entrance exams, Xu Huaishi didn’t initiate any conversation with Zhao Yi, afraid that talking to him might inadvertently add pressure.
Zhao Yi was also buried in last-minute cramming. After each exam, whenever classmates asked him, “How’d it go?” his answer was always the same: “Guess I’ll have to wait four more years to inherit the family business. What a shame.”
Others thought he was just joking, but only Xu Huaishi knew it truly was a great pity.
On the final day, under a clear blue sky, students flooded out of the exam halls, cheering all the way. Xu Huaishi finally relaxed completely. On her way back to the classroom, she thought of Zhao Yi and stopped at the intersection, scanning the crowd to see if he had come out yet.
Standing on tiptoe at the edge of the steps, she craned her neck to look, unaware of someone approaching from behind until a large hand lightly tapped her shoulder.
Startled, she turned to see Zhao Yi grinning at her. “Looking for someone? Your sweetheart?”
“...”
She choked for a second but quickly regained her composure. “Yeah, actually. Had a little romantic encounter during the exam. The guy sitting in front of me looked exactly like Shican Gege. Thinking of going for it.”
Zhao Yi knew she was teasing. He was about to say, “Yeah, right,” when suddenly a fair-skinned, handsome boy stopped in front of Xu Huaishi, his face flushed red.
The two exchanged a glance before the boy stared at Xu Huaishi and stammered, “Uh, classmate… did you just say you were going to pursue me?”
Xu Huaishi froze. No way, what are the odds?
Blinking, she asked, “You were the one sitting in front of me?”
The boy’s ears turned red as he nodded.
This is a huge misunderstanding.
She was about to wave her hands and explain when Zhao Yi, thoroughly annoyed, grabbed her wrist and dragged her away.
The boy stood there dumbfounded before chasing after them. “Hey, classmate, you don’t have to pursue me—I actually—”
Zhao Yi strode ahead, pulling her along, and shouted over his shoulder, “Actually, you’re a karst landform ! Are you blind? Can’t you see she’s taken?”
“...”
Xu Huaishi stumbled along, stammering, “Who—who’s taken?!”
He hauled her all the way to the school building before stopping. Waiting for the crowd to pass, he pulled her aside. “What do you think?”
“If I knew, would I be asking?”
“You really don’t know?”
Xu Huaishi feigned innocence with a straight face. “Nope. Tell me!”
Zhao Yi shoved his hands into his pockets, pulled them out, then stuffed them back in again. After repeating this a few times, he said, “I’ve estimated my scores. I should be able to get into college—if not a second-tier, then at least a third-tier one.”
Xu Huaishi pretended to be indifferent. “But most programs at Hangzhou University are first-tier.”
“Already checked. There are a few second-tier programs on the same campus. And if I can’t make second-tier, there are third-tier schools one kilometer north and three kilometers east of Hangzhou University.”
Xu Huaishi looked up at the sky and muttered, “You missed one—five kilometers west, too...”
Zhao Yi paused, then laughed. “You researched that thoroughly?”
She glanced at him. “Since I’m aiming for Hangzhou University, of course I’d investigate the surrounding geography and local culture.”
“Hmm,” he said, suppressing his smile. “We’re getting off-topic.”
Seeing him turn serious, Xu Huaishi suddenly grew nervous. Her hands, hanging at her sides, clutched her skirt. “Oh,” she murmured, lowering her gaze to the toes of her canvas shoes.Zhao Yi cleared his throat, gazing at the crown of her head as he said, "So, it's just a few kilometers. With my long legs and two-meter stride, as long as you're willing, even if it's late after evening self-study and you can't see the road clearly, I can still walk you down the stairs... as your boyfriend."
His gaze was like a laser beam, and Xu Huaishi felt her scalp practically burning. She touched her hair, kicked the toe of her shoe, and let out another "Oh."
Zhao Yi was exasperated: "I've already laid it all out. Aren't you going to give me a straight answer?"
She looked up, equally annoyed: "Is this some kind of forced sale? You didn't even ask—why should I have to answer?"
Zhao Yi choked, his bravado deflating. He rubbed his nose and mumbled, "Then... would you be willing to be my girlfriend...?"
She let out a soft hum and said with a grin, "No way!" Then she turned and bolted.
Zhao Yi laughed in frustration, yanking her back and pulling her straight into his arms. "You're forcing me into a forced sale!"
Suddenly, a chorus of exaggerated "Ooooh—!" echoed from the school building above.
The two looked up to find a crowd of onlookers leaning over the railing, watching the scene unfold.
Xu Huaishi's face burned crimson with embarrassment. Furious, she shoved Zhao Yi away and stomped hard on his sneaker. "Can't you take a hint?!"
Author's Note: The Xu-Zhao side story ends here for now. They'll make guest appearances again in the main couple's extra chapters later!
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