Li Yuan had a quizzical look on his face, feeling utterly baffled.
"Classmate Shen, what are you talking about? I don’t seem to understand."
Just as Shen Xiyu was about to speak up and get some "justice" for Xia Zhijin, Xia Zhijin, who was beside her, quickly interjected to explain, "Li Yuan, it’s like this. Xiyu wanted to add me on QQ... I thought I should ask for your opinion first. After all, you’re my..."
Xia Zhijin trailed off, not daring to say the last two words. She remembered Li Yuan mentioning the day before that he wanted to keep the fact he owned a company secret for now.
After hearing Xia Zhijin’s explanation, Li Yuan couldn’t help but sigh and rub his forehead. He looked at the anxious girl, who seemed as if she’d done something wrong, and a unique feeling swelled in his chest.
This treasure of a girl is just too innocent.
He spoke gently, "Zhijin, you don’t need to overthink it. It’s your phone; you can make your own decisions."
After speaking, he unconsciously added a caveat, "Right, Zhijin, it’s fine for girls to add you, but as for boys, try not to. If any guys try to add you, they definitely don’t have good intentions. They’re all up to no good."
Xia Zhijin nodded lightly. "Oh, I understand."
Shen Xiyu teased playfully from the side, "Well, well, Li Yuan. So, it’s okay for Zhijin to only add you and no other boys, is that it? All other guys are up to no good, but you’re pure and noble, right?"
"You’d better feel a sense of urgency. You have to treat Zhijin well. Otherwise, once other guys discover how beautiful she is, you’ll definitely have a lot more competition..."
Li Yuan just chuckled, offering no rebuttal.
Shen Xiyu was right. The only reason no other boys had pursued Xia Zhijin was, first, that she deliberately kept a low profile. She was extremely understated, always walking with her head down and dressed very plainly. Second, they had just arrived at school, so the other boys hadn’t known her long enough to notice her divine beauty before he beat them all to the punch.
Seeing her forehead beaded with sweat, Li Yuan reminded her gently, "Zhijin, military training is tough, hot, and exhausting. You need to take care of your skin. Don’t be reluctant to use the cosmetics you bought yesterday. Make sure you don’t get a tan."
"I... I don’t really tan," Xia Zhijin replied, her shy gaze fixed on Li Yuan.
Li Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then realized it was probably true. Xia Zhijin would surely be reluctant to use those expensive cosmetics, probably using a cheap moisturizer at most. Yet her skin was no worse than Bai Weixi’s and the other girls’. It could only be explained by natural beauty.
Li Yuan laughed. "Haha, well, using them will still have some effect. Zhijin, if you use them, your skin will become even better."
"Mhm!" Xia Zhijin answered bashfully.
Her roommates had already filled her in on the prices of those cosmetics last night. They were astronomical figures she would never have dared to imagine before. Based on her earnings from her previous part-time job at the school cafeteria, it would have taken an entire year of work just to barely afford a single set.
Li Yuan wanted to continue chatting with Xia Zhijin, but a whistle blew suddenly. The girls’ squad that Xia Zhijin belonged to was starting to assemble.
Reluctantly, Li Yuan said, "Zhijin, I should go now!"
Shen Xiyu asked in confusion, "Li Yuan, are you not participating in military training?"
Xia Zhijin gave him a puzzled look as well.
Li Yuan chuckled. "I made a bet with the instructor. I won, so I get to arrange my own schedule."
Shen Xiyu gave him a thumbs-up. "Li Yuan, you’re awesome. I don’t want to do military training either."
Noticing it was already eleven in the morning, Li Yuan reminded Xia Zhijin, "Zhijin, after training, make sure you go have a proper meal with Classmate Shen and the others. Don’t go to that place again, alright?"
Looking at Li Yuan with her beautiful, shy eyes, Xia Zhijin nodded softly.
She understood what he meant. Just yesterday, Li Yuan had given her a month’s salary in advance.
"Mhm, thank you!"