104 Do You Like Guan Lei?
Guan Lei’s treatment of Xiang Cheng was a complete and utter humiliation, which embarrassed Jiang Xue. Fortunately, there were not many people present.
Jiang Xue surveyed their surroundings with frosty eyes. Other than Shen Xi, Guan Lei, and Zhao Yuan, there was another girl she did not recognise. That girl did not seem to be part of their class.
When Jiang Xue’s gaze landed on that girl, the girl hastily bowed her head in panic.
Amused by Jiang Xue’s posturing, Shen Xi snarked, “What’s the matter? Do you feel that Xiang Cheng has embarrassed you? Are you looking to silence anyone who’s seen his ugly side?”
Shen Xi’s words caused the girl to jump in fright, spurring her to hide behind Guan Lei. It was a wholly involuntary reaction prompted by Guan lei’s earlier display of physical strength, a display which made her feel safe.
Seeing Xiang Cheng whip around to stare at her through slanted eyes, Jiang Xue grew angry, outraged and flustered. “Shen Xi, what nonsense are you spouting?” She growled like a savage as she attempted to deflect attention.
Suddenly, Jiang Xue snaked an arm around Xiang Cheng’s, speaking coquettishly, “Brother Xiang Cheng, don’t listen to Shen Xi’s nonsense. She can’t stand the two of us being together, so she’s doing everything she can to drive a wedge between us.”
Xiang Cheng shot Jiang Xue a hard look and tried to regain his metaphorical footing in his conflict with Guan Lei, “Fights are normal. How else is one supposed to get to know another? I quite admire you. Let me treat you to a meal, and we’ll call it quits. What do you think?”
Shen Xi pulled Guan Lei to her side. With her understanding of Xiang Cheng, there was no way he would let the matter slide so easily.
Guan Lei had offended Xiang Cheng because of her. Shen Xi felt she could not allow Guan Lei to fall for whatever nefarious scheme Xiang Cheng had in the works. After all, Xiang Cheng was the only heir to the Xiang Group; there were plenty of ways he could get revenge on Guan Lei.
Shen Xi did not want Guan Lei to be hurt because of her.
Shen Xi’s action fell caused him some surprise. The feeling of having her warm, soft hands on his arm caused a strange stirring in his heart.
Was Shen Xi worried that Xiang Cheng would bully him?
It was his first time receiving a girl’s protection, and he enjoyed the feeling. Caught in this new high, Guan Lei felt the fatigue from the previous day’s nightmare melt away.
“What? Are you scared of me treating you to a meal?” Xiang Cheng sneered, eyeing Guan Lei disdainfully. Someone who could not even speak up for himself was nothing in his eyes.
The pleasant cloud buoying his mood evaporated into thin air. A glacial mask slid into focus, though tinged with the earlier warmth Shen Xi had brought him, “Alright. Since you’d like to treat me to a meal, I’d be more than happy to accept your invitation.”
Shen Xi tugged Guan Lei’s arm in worry, but she assuaged her worries, sporting a comforting smile.
It was Guan Lei’s decision. She had tried to warn him, but she could not stop him if he decided on a course of action she advised against. Xiang Cheng was the one inviting, not her. It would not be appropriate for her to decide his matters for him.
Xiang Cheng glared at the two who seemed to be flirting in front of him. His face fell, turning as black as ink. Even Jiang Xue could feel that Xiang Cheng was in an extremely bad mood.
A sense of crisis blared in Jiang Xue’s mind. Xiang Cheng was Jealous of Shen Xi. No, she had to think of a way to stop those feelings from developing.
The opportunity presented itself as Shen Xi established eye contact with Guan Lei. “Ah! Xixi, are you in a relationship with Guan Lei? Do you like Guan Lei?” She crowed, feigning surprise.
In an instant, Shen Xi became the centre of focus.
Shen XI tilted her head in confusion. She did not understand what was going on with Jiang Xue. How was she suddenly in a relationship with Guan Lei?
“Jiang Xue, you can eat whatever you want, but you need to be mindful of what you say,” Shen Xi remarked sternly.
Jiang Xue covered her mouth in surprise. “Don’t tell me you don’t like him? Don’t you like Guan Lei?”
Jiang Xue’s question was vicious, aimed at driving a wedge between Shen Xi and Guan Lei and Shen Xi and Xiang Cheng.
If Shen Xi said she didn’t like Guan Lei, it would give Xiang Cheng leverage to continue his aggressive pursuit of her, but if she said she did, then Jiang Xue would hop onto it and spin the image to her advantage. It left Shen Xi in a conundrum where she had to consider her words carefully.
Guan Lei’s complete attention was trained on her, waiting for an answer. Shen Xi could feel the pressure mounting by the second and racked her brain for an answer which would turn the tables on Jiang Xue.
For some reason, Guan Lei wanted to know Shen Xi’s answer. Yet, if she did affirm Jiang Xue’s words, he would be distressed. He did not know what to do if Shen Xi said she liked him. Their relationship was not as simple as it seemed.