Because both Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu insisted, Lin Jiayou didn’t drive them and instead let them take a taxi, as it wasn’t far anyway.
After Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu left, Lin Jiayou watched Jimo Cheng placing a stack of books on the sofa and holding a pen and a notebook, occasionally writing something down.
Upon checking the books on the table, titles like ’Overbearing Prince Loves Me’ and ’The Prince’s Nonsensical Sweetheart’ were brightly colored and obviously the type of novels girls like. Looking at another stack, similarly named but in magazines, with various tests included, Lin Jiayou was dumbfounded as he watched Jimo Cheng seriously answering the quizzes.
Jimo Cheng looked at the test results and slightly furrowed his brow—only seventy percent compatibility between the two? No, no, this can’t be right. Let’s try another one...
Watching Jimo Cheng’s brow tighten and then relax, Lin Jiayou silently returned to his room. He thought, perhaps this person has lost his mind.
After Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu arrived at their destination, they didn’t just stand around but entered a nearby café. Since they were early, they ordered milk tea and pastries and sat by the window where they could see anyone who arrived.
"Sigh," He Wenyu suddenly exclaimed.
"What’s wrong?" Luo Qianqian put down her fork. Though she hadn’t eaten much at lunch, it was still a recent meal, and even her favorite small cake was hard to swallow at the moment.
"I think, with your senior here comparing, even if you have feelings for Xu Tianyi, even if you two are already together, you’re bound to fall out of love..." He Wenyu said without hesitation.
"...Am I that fickle?" Luo Qianqian objected, though her mind was also comparing the two. Both were outstanding individuals, brilliant even aside from their family backgrounds.
"Do you know what I’m thinking?" Luo Qianqian gave a bitter smile.
"What?" He Wenyu looked up at her in surprise, feeling the loneliness in her voice just then.
"I suspect these two guys must be blind..." Luo Qianqian said seriously and earnestly, "Otherwise, why would they fall for me?"
"Pfft..." A few snickers came from directly opposite Luo Qianqian, behind their seats. Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu looked over in confusion, only to see a familiar figure.
"Sorry, sorry, we actually arrived early. I was just about to say hello when I overheard you doubting others’ blindness." It was Pei Yuhao speaking, his face brimming with smiles, and the corners of his mouth curved in a mischievous grin. He stood looking at Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu.
Luo Qianqian pouted, "I was just saying those big heads, they’re taller than a flowerpot."
"Don’t say that." Pei Yuhao approached Luo Qianqian, "Anyway, we can see those heads, right? It shows that all these years of nutrition haven’t gone to waste..." his implication being that the nutrition had been wasted on Luo Qianqian, just as she was about to glare and snarl, she saw Pei Yutian standing up.
"What are you talking about? Qianqian has also grown taller, okay?" He said earnestly, Luo Qianqian looked over gratefully, only to hear him add, "At least a centimeter."
Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes in annoyance, "I knew you guys are all rascals, I’m not talking to you anymore."
"You can’t say that." Pei Yuhao unapologetically sat next to Luo Qianqian, squeezing her into the couch, and cheekily tasted her cake, "You really haven’t grown much, have you? I hope it’s not because overthinking stunted your growth?" While saying this, his eyes drifted toward Luo Qianqian’s chest.
Luo Qianqian, annoyed, covered her chest and before she could speak, another person came over, Gu Yanzhi: "You haven’t used your brain much and you’re not much taller either." He stood next to Pei Yuhao, who was sitting, but there was hardly a difference in their heights, just a centimeter or two.
"Gu Yanzhi is still the most gentlemanly." Luo Qianqian huffed.
"That’s because his creepy side has never shown itself in front of you," Qiao Xiyang rolled his eyes, kneeling on the nearby chair as he turned back to look at Luo Qianqian, "He’s actually the creepiest one."
"It’s fine, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that," Luo Qianqian said with a giggle, defending him.
"You four really came early, didn’t you?" He Wenyu finally spoke lazily after finishing the cake in front of her. She definitely didn’t want to end up like Luo Qianqian, having her food eaten by others.
"We had lunch here," Gu Yanzhi smiled, their table still cluttered with dishes.
Luo Qianqian was about to say something when she heard the door open and a light call, "Qianqian!!"
Then she saw Zhang Jingjing, dressed in red, running over to the table like the wind, a look of surprise on her face, "You really... are still so short..."
The moment her words fell, several people who had just been discussing height couldn’t help but laugh.
Luo Qianqian, annoyed, stomped her foot under the table, "No more talking about height!! Move aside quickly and let Jingjing sit." Luo Qianqian didn’t hesitate to push Pei Yuhao away, and Pei Yuhao, with a look of aggrievement, stood up and leaned on Gu Yanzhi’s shoulder, "She’s abandoned me again, this fickle villain!"
Zhang Jingjing grabbed Luo Qianqian’s hand, "How come you feel just like you did in elementary school?"
??? Luo Qianqian’s eyes widened, "Are you out of your mind? I’m so pretty now."
Everyone immediately cast disgusted looks, but it was undeniable that Luo Qianqian seemed to have gained a bit more temperament than before, from every angle.
"Why did you come alone?" He Wenyu looked questioningly at Zhang Jingjing, scanning left and right to confirm she was indeed alone, and slightly frowned.
Zhang Jingjing’s face stiffened, "Ah, you’re asking about Jiang An, right? He’ll be coming with Jiang Qian, we’ve split up."
??? He Wenyu’s eyes widened in disbelief, but Luo Qianqian sighed softly, "See, I knew it. The relationships from our student days are so unreliable."
Still, she played the mediator, "It’s about time, shall we go outside to wait?" cutting off He Wenyu who seemed ready to probe into the reasons for the breakup.
Already hurt, why would she reopen her wounds for everyone to see? And more importantly, another main player would be arriving soon. Wouldn’t that just add awkwardness to awkwardness?
But looking at He Wenyu’s expression, it clearly seemed he was intending to help the two reconcile, and all she could do internally was sigh, hoping their many years of friendship wouldn’t lead to an all-out war over the breakup, although she didn’t know the reason, Luo Qianqian thought it might be due to studies, considering both had been top achievers originally.
"Have you finished your homework yet?" With this thought, Luo Qianqian quipped, wearing a slightly teasing smile, and changed the subject.
"If you hadn’t brought that up, we would still be good friends," Zhang Jingjing immediately looked disgusted, glancing at Luo Qianqian beside her.
Pei Yuhao agreed, "Can’t we just have fun? Or why don’t you finish our homework for us? College girl?" his face full of dissatisfaction. They were all classmates, yet this kid somehow ended up as an upperclassman, and what’s more, she didn’t even have homework???
"Sure." Seeing the look Pei Yuhao shot her, Luo Qianqian chuckled, "Pay up, one dollar per ten characters, punctuation included."
"Are you robbing us?!!!" Pei Yuhao exaggerated his expression, playing along with Luo Qianqian.