The speed at which gossip spread in school was comparable to a rocket. Just one day was enough for it to reach every corner of the entire campus.
God knows where those tidbits of information even came from.
Even though Chi Han had deliberately avoided the name “Song Yao”, by the end of the day, he had still managed to more or less piece together the girl’s family background.
Song Yao’s family was from a neighboring province. While they couldn’t compare to the Fang or Rong families, they were still a force to be reckoned with.
Song Yao had been born here and stayed through elementary school. After her parents divorced, she followed her mother abroad, only returning recently.
In the original novel, there wasn’t much mention of Song Yao. One could say that even up to Rong Xu’s final suicide, not a single female character had ever appeared by his side.
It was as if Rong Xu’s entire life had been split into two halves: the first spent taking revenge on the Rong family, and the second locked in a struggle with Fang Jingluo.
Naturally, Chi Han had always subconsciously separated Rong Xu from everyone else—until that night, when Song Yao called.
“…Chi Han? Are you going or not?”
Chi Han snapped out of his thoughts to find Geng Xue’s face looming in front of him. He glanced at the watch on his wrist—ten minutes until self-study ended.
He stacked his papers together, lazily ruffled his hair, and replied offhandedly, “Go where?”
Geng Xue tapped quickly away on her phone screen, as if messaging someone. “The class dinner, duh! Haven’t you joined our class group chat? The class monitor just posted about it. And—”
Geng Xue clenched her fist, eyes sparkling: “I heard that Song Yao from No. 2 High School and the school heartthrob from their school will be there too!”
She pushed up her invisible glasses, her gaze solemn and determined.
Wherever there were pretty boys and girls, how could she possibly not be there?
But even if she spent every day chasing after new ships, her ultimate OTP would always be Rong Xu and Chi Han!
rxchszd!
Chi Han felt a sudden heat from Geng Xue’s intensely passionate gaze; he frowned and took a step back, saying, “…Have you gone crazy with these problems?”
Geng Xue: “…………”
Hmph, men.
***
To be honest, when Geng Xue asked Chi Han if he was coming, eighty percent of it was just a joke, because knowing his usual style, there was no way he would join this kind of event.
But what surprised Geng Xue was that after school, Chi Han actually followed everyone and came along.
Originally, this event was only for their class, but some classmates wanted to bring their friends from No. 2 High School, and somehow it ended up turning into a social gathering between No. 1 High School and No. 2 High School.
When they arrived at the dining place, Geng Xue quickly counted—there were roughly more than thirty people.
Chi Han sat back in a chair, drinking barley tea, somewhat bored. He fiddled with his phone. The boys sitting nearby twisted and turned excitedly, whispering or speaking loudly.
He had already packed his bag to leave, but the moment he heard the name “Song Yao” in his ears, inexplicably, he followed Geng Xue and the others to come.
He just wanted to see what kind of girl could make Rong Xu like her!
The result, needless to say, was that as soon as Song Yao arrived, she captured everyone’s attention.
Tall and slender with a beautiful appearance, her eyes shifting with full confidence and radiance.
Listening to the constant whispers around him, Chi Han lowered his gaze to the play of light and shadow in his cup, feeling a sour bubble rising inside his heart.
Tsk.
No wonder Rong Xu has such good taste!
“Wow, Song Yao is way too beautiful!”
“What, you gonna go introduce yourself? Bro, I’m rooting for you here!”
“Forget it, she’s so pale—what, you wanna be her shadow?”
“Pfft… what a coward.”
“……”
Chi Han looked at the back of his hand and rubbed it hard. Suddenly, a strange thought popped into his mind:
I’m not exactly dark-skinned either!
Just then, Song Yao’s gaze happened to shift this way. Whether it was his imagination or not, Chi Han felt like there was a faint smile hidden in that look.
Right at that moment, Rong Xu sent a message asking why Chi Han hadn’t gone back yet.
Chi Han glanced up at Song Yao laughing and chatting with others, feeling a tightness in his chest—but of course, he couldn’t tell Rong Xu that.
He bit his teeth, repeatedly typing and deleting, and finally sent a very cool reply:
“Dinner gathering, do not disturb.”
That message disappeared into silence like a stone sinking into the sea. Only after two dishes arrived did Rong Xu reply lazily: “Mm, have fun.”
Even shorter and more indifferent than Chi Han’s message.
Chi Han: “…………”
Just great.
The class monitor sitting nearby leaned over with a worried look and asked, “Chi Han, are you okay?”
Chi Han smiled and took a sip of barley tea, calm and peaceful as he replied, “What could possibly be wrong with me?”
The class monitor silently thought to herself: But your expression looks like you’re about to blow this place up at any moment!
Since that message was sent, Chi Han’s phone had been as quiet as if it were disconnected from the internet. In contrast, Song Yao’s phone on the table kept lighting up frequently. She would occasionally smile and lower her head to reply during conversations.
It was clear she was very familiar with the person she was messaging.
Chi Han’s fingers traced the edge of his phone, his gaze uncontrollably drifting toward Song Yao’s direction.
Although he kept mentally preparing himself, he couldn’t help but wonder if the person messaging Song Yao was Rong Xu.
What confirmed Chi Han’s suspicion were the occasional smiling glances Song Yao sent his way.
This was blatant provocation!
The more this happened, the less he could back down!
Chi Han slightly raised his chin, looking back fearlessly, his eyes full of righteous spirit.
Song Yao: “?”
Song Yao withdrew her friendly gaze, a little puzzled as she thought, Didn’t Rong Xu always say Chi Han had a good temper and a soft personality?
Why does he keep glaring at me like this?
After dinner, everyone continued the night out, moving on to karaoke.
Chi Han didn’t really want to go, but right now, he wanted even less to go home.
Just the thought of facing Rong Xu alone made his mind twist into a messy knot.
The KTV room’s dim, chaotic lighting was perfect for hiding one’s true feelings.
Chi Han found a corner on the sofa, put on one earphone, and played a single-player game.
During dinner, many girls had been looking at Chi Han, but his mind was full of Rong Xu, so he didn’t notice them at all.
Now, everyone was casually sitting together, singing and playing games—a great chance to make friends.
A girl from No. 2 High School let her long, black, smooth hair fall over her shoulders. Encouraged by her friends, she blushed slightly as she took the microphone and moved closer to Chi Han.
After taking a few deep breaths, her voice trembled slightly: “Um… classmate? Do you want to come sing?”
At that moment, Chi Han was playing Snake. Without paying attention, he crashed headfirst into another player.
His face darkened, and he quit the game.
The girl next to him tightened her grip on the microphone, startled, and hurriedly said, “Sorry! Did I distract you? Really sorry, classmate!”
Her soft, delicate voice was almost drowned out by the loud music.
Chi Han glanced at her, stretched his neck, and replied casually, “It’s nothing, I just slipped.”
Actually, it was because he had just remembered Rong Xu’s message again.
…Damn, he was getting angry again!
The girl heard Chi Han’s clear voice and blushed slightly. She quickly glanced at him again and asked once more,
“Then, do you want to sing… with me?”
The last two words were quiet but very firm.
Without a second thought, Chi Han refused.
Sorry, the only song he could sing was the national anthem.
Disappointment flickered in the girl’s eyes. She looked back at her friends and, determined, tried to say something else.
At the song selection station, Song Yao propped herself up on one leg, a slight curve at her brow and a smile at the corner of her mouth as she sent someone a message along with a dark, blurry photo:
“Looks like a little butterfly is about to land on your precious flower.”
A few seconds later, the phone vibrated. The reply came cold and sharp, as if it could pierce through the screen itself. Song Yao seemed to feel the chilling aura even through the phone:
“Address.”
Song Yao quickly typed out the address and sent it, then, with a hint of pity, requested the song “Wish You Peace” for the oblivious Chi Han on the sofa.
