She stood behind Xiao Ling and quietly reminded her.
Xiao Ling gritted her teeth and suddenly raised her voice, "I helped Yunqi cheat the votes, but didn’t Shen You’an have someone helping her cheat the votes too? It’s just the pot calling the kettle black."
"Clap, clap, clap." The sound of applause rang out.
Leng Yunyang stood up with a smiling face. His tall frame gave off an oppressive aura, like dark clouds descending, and Xiao Ling’s knees instinctively trembled.
"Yes, Shen You’an cheated votes. I helped her cheat them."
The youth’s alluring voice echoed resoundingly across the vast cafeteria and lingered for a long time.
I helped her cheat them...
Everyone froze in place and stared at Leng Yunyang as if they had been petrified. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel·fıre·net
The sharp features of the young man were brash and unapologetic—matching his daring and uninhibited personality.
He was always so bold and ostentatious.
Xiao Ling’s smile was uglier than a cry; she questioned why she was even there.
Luuo Yunqi clutched the corner of her shirt tightly from behind, her voice low and warning, "Don’t panic."
Xiao Ling wanted desperately to say—offending Young Master Leng, could she still have a peaceful school life in the future?
She regretted getting involved in this mess.
Gao Yuyue blinked and wanted to remark that Leng Yunyang had finally done something decent for once.
With faltering resolve, Xiao Ling retorted weakly, "Why... why can you cheat votes for her, but I can’t cheat votes for Yunqi?"
"Of course you can’t."
The youth smirked wickedly. His peach blossom eyes carried an intoxicating charm, like aged wine brewed from peach flowers.
"This Young Master doesn’t want to take photos with ugly women; is that reason enough for you?"
The disdain in his tone was laid bare without reservation.
Luuo Yunqi dug her sharp nails into the palm of her hand, her teeth clenched tight.
Humiliation—bare, blatant humiliation.
She, a dignified elite girl, was insulted and called ugly. It was laughable.
That Leng Yunyang was simply detestable to the extreme.
Yet, in the next moment, Luuo Yunqi shifted the blame onto Shen You’an.
Shen You’an quietly finished her meal and slipped away from the periphery of the crowd in the cafeteria. Everyone had been stunned speechless by Leng Yunyang’s unrestrained words and failed to notice Shen You’an’s departure.
Tasting the fresh air outside, Shen You’an let out a long sigh.
So this whole maneuver of Leng Yunyang’s was just an elaborate way to get her to take photos with him?
Shen You’an sensed footsteps behind her and stopped walking, turning her head to glance back.
The young man halted briefly and then walked past her as though nothing had happened.
Shen You’an suddenly called out to him, "Liu Runxi."
Liu Runxi had never thought his name could sound so pleasant coming from someone’s lips.
He froze for a moment but continued walking without responding.
Behind him came the girl’s cool and clear voice, "How much longer are you planning to avoid me?"
Liu Runxi pressed his lips together, his voice hoarse, "I’m sorry..."
"What are you sorry for?"
Shen You’an despised dithering, yet at this moment, she spoke with extraordinary patience.
Shen You’an stepped in front of him, locking her gaze on his eyes.
"You once told me that we’re friends. What is this now—unilateral severance of ties?"
Liu Runxi stared deeply into the eyes of the girl before him and said quietly, "It’s because I’m selfish. Staying away from me means you’ll be safe."
"Don’t give me this nonsense. I’ll only ask you one thing: Are we still friends?"
The youth in front of her lowered his eyelashes softly, appearing fragile and lonely.
"I thought you’d never talk to me again."
Like an abandoned puppy—pitiful and sad.
Shen You’an let out a breathy laugh, "You’re really good at turning the tables, aren’t you? It was you who stopped talking to me first."
He shook his head, "It’s my fault... I wronged you..."
"Stop right there. Never use someone else’s mistakes to punish yourself. You did nothing wrong, and you don’t need to apologize."
The girl’s gaze was bright, her tone resolute, and even the sun above didn’t shine as brightly as her countenance.
Liu Runxi froze in place.
Never use someone else’s mistakes to punish yourself.
You did nothing wrong, and you don’t need to apologize.
The girl’s crisp voice reverberated, lingering in the air and piercing through the world.
In that instant, his soul trembled.
No one had ever told him something before.
"I’m going to the library now. Do you want to come with me?"
This time Liu Runxi didn’t retreat. When he raised his head, his deep black eyes were firm with resolve, and he said decisively, "I’ll go with you."
Shen You’an returned his smile brightly, "That’s more like it. Don’t worry about what your mom thinks of me. I’m not that fragile."
Shen You’an flexed her biceps playfully and whispered a secret to him, "I’m actually a ninth-dan in judo."
Liu Runxi shook his head with a smile, clearly taking her words as a lighthearted joke between friends.
Their figures slowly disappeared into the distance.
Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, a thoroughly humiliated Luuo Yunqi finally couldn’t take it anymore and fled in disgrace.
Leng Yunyang stretched lazily, "Boring."
Leng Xuexi sipped on her juice and looked at him differently for the first time.
"You finally did something decent, but seriously, brother, aren’t you being a bit too presumptuous? Shen You’an avoids you like the plague—why would she ever take photos with you?"
Leng Yunyang raised an eyebrow and rubbed her head playfully.
"Your brother has his ways."
Leng Xuexi felt a pang of sympathy for Shen You’an. Being targeted by her brother was truly unfortunate. She wondered if she should secretly warn Shen You’an.
Maybe Shen You’an would be happy enough to lend her those notes.