Qiao Yuxian and Jiang Shouzhuo walked to the end of the corridor.
There were also stairs at this end of the corridor, which could be taken straight down. But because the area was dimly lit and somewhat secluded, most people preferred the elevator and rarely came this way.
It was class time, so the corridor was empty and very quiet.
The two stood facing each other, and Jiang Shouzhuo smiled at her.
Qiao Yuxian also smiled politely and said, "Young Master Jiang, thank you for liking me."
Jiang Shouzhuo looked at her with a smile in his eyes and said, "Yuxian, how many times have you said that now?"
"No matter how many times I say it, I should thank Young Master Jiang for his affection." Qiao Yuxian glanced at the items in his hand and said warmly, "But I still can’t accept these things."
Jiang Shouzhuo wasn’t too surprised, just a little regretful. "Still don’t want to accept me?"
Qiao Yuxian tacitly agreed.
Jiang Shouzhuo was silent for a moment, then asked, "Yuxian, I don’t understand why you keep rejecting me."
Qiao Yuxian thought seriously for a moment, then dropped a bombshell: "Young Master Jiang, I’m married."
At the words "I’m married," Jiang Shouzhuo’s eyes suddenly widened in surprise.
He was prepared for her to say things like "we’re not suitable," "we might not have destiny," or "I’m not ready for a relationship," but he never expected her to suddenly claim she was married.
"Married?" Jiang Shouzhuo frowned and asked.
"How is that possible?" Jiang Shouzhuo said, "You don’t even have a boyfriend. How could you be married?"
"Destiny struck, shotgun wedding." Qiao Yuxian maintained the distance between them, her tone polite yet distant.
Jiang Shouzhuo looked at her, observing, and after a few seconds, he smiled. "Yuxian, to refuse me, there’s no need to use such an excuse, right?"
"I have no reason to lie to you about such a thing," Qiao Yuxian said flatly. "Young Master Jiang, as I said before, thank you for your affection. But please, Young Master Jiang, don’t waste your thoughts on me in the future. It’s causing me some trouble and also undermines your dignity."
"Yuxian, there’s actually something I’ve always wanted to ask," Jiang Shouzhuo said, curling his lips. "Do you keep rejecting me because of Qiao Lech? Did you hear about me and Qiao Lech?"
At the mention of Qiao Lech, Qiao Yuxian frowned slightly.
"She had just started college, and we were in the same academy. I just took extra care of her. She liked to ask me for help when she had issues. Since she’s a girl reaching out for help, of course I wouldn’t refuse." Jiang Shouzhuo explained, "There was never anything between us."
"Young Master Jiang, matters between us shouldn’t involve my family." Qiao Yuxian’s voice turned a couple degrees colder. "It has nothing to do with Qiao Lech. Even without her, we wouldn’t be destined either. Let’s just leave it at that."
After she finished speaking, she nodded slightly and turned to leave.
Jiang Shouzhuo, holding roses in his left hand and a gift box with a car key in his right, tilted his head to watch her walk away.
After a while, he rubbed the gift box with his right hand, smirked, let out a disdainful laugh, and casually threw the roses into the garbage can at the corner of the corridor before heading down the stairs.
Qiao Yuxian had a packed class schedule that afternoon and sat next to Ji Xiaoxiao for half the day.
Ji Xiaoxiao showed off the seven-figure necklace around her neck to her.
Qiao Yuxian was in a good mood today, so she pretended not to see it and ignored her.
After class, Ji Xiaoxiao, who had been waiting for a response, left feeling uninterested.
Qiao Yuxian still didn’t leave; she finished reading the novel at her desk before heading out.
When she left the classroom, it was already past seven. Seeing her classmates engrossed in study made her feel a tinge of guilt.
While others were studying diligently, she was all caught up in a book about fictional romance...
Qiao Yuxian left the classroom with newfound determination.
Going downstairs and out of the elevator, Qiao Yuxian made a phone call.
Once connected, she said, "I sent you a novel; it would be perfect for a radio drama."
"I’ll take a look." The other party, a woman with a cool, almost frosty voice that chimed with the efficiency of a career woman, briefly scanned it and said, "We haven’t worked with this platform before... let’s discuss it first."
"Okay," Qiao Yuxian replied. "If the negotiations go through, let me know. If not, there’s no need to inform me."
"Understood," the other person replied.
"Busy yourself then," Qiao Yuxian began to take the phone away from her ear.
The other party quickly interjected, "Wait a minute."
Qiao Yuxian paused, sensing a dull throb at her temple.
"You should come back and have a look," the woman said icily and resolutely.
Qiao Yuxian took a gentle breath, "The semester just started, and things are busy."
Ignoring her reasoning, the woman insisted, "There’s a role that needs your voice. You’d better return by next weekend."
Before Qiao Yuxian could finish, the call ended abruptly on the other side.
She stood there staring at her phone in disbelief, murmuring, "What employee talks to their boss this way? Seriously!!!"
Qiao Yuxian touched her chest, feeling her heartbeat race. "She’s terrifying..."
This morning she had told Shang Chen not to pick her up, planning instead to grab an e-bike at the gate and ride back to Fenglin Villa.
But as soon as she exited the campus gate, she saw Shang Chen’s car.
Parked prominently in the center, attracting all the attention.
Shang Chen stood in black, arms crossed, leaning against the car.
With a cold and stern face, emitting an aura resembling a merciless assassin.
Anyone stepping out of the campus would take a glance at him.
Qiao Yuxian thought he didn’t seem like someone here to pick up; more like someone out for revenge.
Abandoning the idea of riding back, Qiao Yuxian walked over to where the attention was focused— in front of Shang Chen.
Shang Chen remained expressionless watching her, his tone chilly, "I’ve been waiting for you for an hour."
Qiao Yuxian hesitated: "......"
Whenever Qiao Yuxian couldn’t sense hostility, she’d always treat others warmly, just varying in closeness. But as soon as there was any animosity, she’d firmly push back, letting her own presence dominate.
"I told you this morning, there’s no need to pick me up," Qiao Yuxian said, her voice gaining in coldness.
After her words, Shang Chen didn’t speak again. Seconds later, he straightened up, opened the back car door, and suddenly flashed a... smile.
"Miss Qiao, please get in the car."
Qiao Yuxian stared at the sudden change in his expression, smiling... like a menacing ghost.
The voice sounded more like it was saying: Miss Qiao, please—hit—the—road—
Carrying a gift bag and holding a book, standing still, Qiao Yuxian eyed him cautiously.
Shang Chen, holding the car door open, stood by without saying a word, simply waiting for Qiao Yuxian to get in.
They were at an impasse...
People briskly moved around the crowded area.
After a moment, feeling eyes increasingly upon them, Qiao Yuxian finally got into the car with an exasperated look as if she’d seen a ghost.
Seated inside, she muttered dully, "Thanks."
Shang Chen paused with his hand on the door, then smiled, "You’re welcome."
Qiao Yuxian shivered slightly; for a moment, she thought Shang Chen’s smile looked like a wooden puppet suddenly showing emotion.
In such scenarios, the plot would entail the puppet turning into a killer...
Qiao Yuxian stared at Shang Chen.
Shang Chen shut the door, circled around to the driver’s seat, fastened his seatbelt, and started the engine...
This morning when Qiao Yuxian said she didn’t need a pickup, he had reported back to Mr. Gu.
Mr. Gu hadn’t said much, just, "Shang Chen, Qiao Yuxian is now my wife. Please respect her a bit more."
They were in the company’s office at that time.
Gu Yanjing had said just that one line, and when Shang Chen left the office, a cold sweat broke out on his back.
He knew well enough that though Gu Yanjing’s words were polite, he was displeased.
So when it hit afternoon class-end time, Shang Chen parked his car at Kyoto University’s gate to pick her up...