Chapter 3
It was lunchtime, and the school was packed with people.
Long-legged Shen Xiyan walked ahead of me.
Every so often, he took a shot at an imaginary basketball hoop.
After each jump, he’d glance back at me, trying to look casual.
He might as well have written “Go on, fall hopelessly in love with me” across his face.
I couldn’t help thinking of the middle-aged Shen Xiyan.
Steady.
Discreet.
Lonely.
What on earth had happened over the years to turn this happy puppy into a gloomy old dog?
The thought prompted a question.
“Shen Xiyan, have you ever thought about what kind of girl you’ll marry?”
The boy beside me stopped walking.
When he looked at me again, there was something knowing in his eyes.
“Testing me already?”
“So what’s the right answer? Someone like you?”
I felt thoroughly awkward. “That’s not what I meant.”
This time, he didn’t joke.
Hands in his pockets, he thought seriously for a moment before answering.
“I don’t know. But definitely someone I love.”
That, I believed.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t still have been unmarried in my last life by the time I was divorced.
Apparently unable to bear discussing a subject like this any longer,
he looked embarrassed and asked, “Which cafeteria? I just saw Lu Chengyu heading west. Want to go there too?”
I was puzzled.
“Why would we follow him?”
“Isn’t that why you said yes?”
“What?”
“I heard about the debate team. You and Lu Chengyu had a fight.”
Then I understood.
“You think I agreed to date you to make Lu Chengyu jealous? That I’m using you?”
He didn’t answer, but his expression was clearly a yes.
Instead of explaining, I found myself curious.
“If you knew that, why did you ask me out?”
“Just because you lost that basketball game?”
Shen Xiyan looked insulted.
“Of course not. Who could make me do something I didn’t want to?”
“I asked because I like you!”
Something occurred to him, and he chuckled.
“And I thought I might take advantage of your moment of weakness and talk you into being my girlfriend. Even one day would be a win.”
His answer was so candid that I stared for a moment.
Then I turned and really looked at him.
The sunlight turned his hair the color of brown tea.
His round eyes held my whole reflection.
He was actually very handsome.
The kind of handsome that made you notice his face before his money, even though he had plenty of it.
I thought of the love letter he’d written me.
“Be my girlfriend. Even for a day. I’m begging you.”
I’d thought he was being deliberately ridiculous.
But that was really how he felt.
I was curious.
“If I could really only be your girlfriend for one day, what would you do?”
He turned his eyes toward me and stared.
Whatever he was thinking… his Adam’s apple moved slightly.
“Kiss you.”
He immediately looked away. “I—I was joking.”
Without hesitating, I leaned in and pecked the corner of his mouth.
Before he could react, I hurried a few steps ahead.
“I want grilled cold noodles. Let’s go to the east cafeteria.”
A full ten seconds passed.
Shen Xiyan, who’d been rooted to the spot, suddenly sprang into motion and ran after me on his long legs.
“Su Li, you’re in trouble.”
“Taking liberties with a young master like me? I’m not letting you get away with that.”
“Tomorrow—you have to be my girlfriend tomorrow too.”
The wind brushed my cheeks. Fireworks burst in his eyes.
Lu Chengyu, who’d been walking ahead, turned around just in time to witness what had happened.
His eyes darkened.