Chapter 101: The Design (Part 1)

“I’m already with my cousin, yet you still come looking for me, little brother. How despicable! I will never forgive you!” She gritted her teeth, consumed by jealousy and hatred.

Only after glaring at Qiao Xi’s disappearing figure did she pull her gaze back and turn toward the studio. Through the window, she could see Ou Ya.

Her expression softened into an innocent smile as she trotted over.

“Little brother, I knew you’d be here.” She clung affectionately to Ou Ya’s arm, her face flushed with shy sweetness.

“Is something the matter?” Ou Ya asked.

“Nothing, I just wanted to see you. Have you eaten, little brother?” Xu Jia’er lifted her face, her big, watery eyes fixed intently on Ou Ya.

“I’ve eaten,” Ou Ya replied, trying to free his hand from her grasp, but she held on tightly.

“Oh, this painting is beautiful. Did you paint it?” She glanced first at the canvas, then back at Ou Ya.

“Yes.”

“There’s a girl in it—who is she?”

Ou Ya remained silent, eyes still fixed on the painting.

His focused gaze unsettled Xu Jia’er deeply; he’d never looked at her that way.

Why was he staring so intently at this painting? Could it be... that the girl depicted was Qiao Xi?

The girl in the painting had her hair tied in a ponytail, just like Qiao Xi always did...

Not wanting Ou Ya to keep staring, she searched for something to say. “Why is there a tear here? Little brother, I can help you fix it.”

“No need,” Ou Ya said, eyeing the rip at the edge of the paper. Originally, he had planned to tear it up, but that call he had just received changed everything...

He knew he would eventually have to answer it, though he never wanted to.

“I have something to do,” he said, gently pulling his hand free.

“What is it, little brother?” Xu Jia’er pressed.

“Something with the student council.” Ou Ya took the painting off the easel and left without another word.

Standing alone, Xu Jia’er’s heart ached with sorrow and frustration. She liked Ou Ya so much, but he never seemed to care for her.

Why did Qiao Xi get his attention the moment she transferred here, while she was ignored? How was she any less than Qiao Xi?

“Ou Ya is mine, and no one is allowed to compete with me for him.” Her eyes darkened as she looked at the easel, recalling the painting Ou Ya had taken. In anger, she shoved the easel over and spat through clenched teeth, “Qiao Xi, just wait!”

Gu Dieyan sat alone on the grass, her mood heavy and distracted, lost in thought until a voice called out, pulling her back to reality.

“Sister Die,”

She looked up to see Xu Jia’er approaching.

“What are you doing sitting here all alone, daydreaming?”

“I’m not,” she replied.

“Don’t lie,” Xu Jia’er said, sitting beside her. “I called you several times, but you didn’t hear me.”

“Did I?” Gu Dieyan’s tone was low, her expression sorrowful. “What did you want?”

“There’s no rule that I can’t come find you if I don’t have anything special to say. We’re friends, after all,” Xu Jia’er pouted, a little upset.

Gu Dieyan hurried to explain, “It’s nothing—I just have things on my mind and didn’t want to bring you down.”

“What’s on your mind?” Xu Jia’er asked with concern.

“Not much, it’s just... I don’t really know how to say it.”

“Is it because of my cousin?”

Gu Dieyan lowered her eyes, a deep sadness clouding her brow.

“Speaking of which, Sister Die, I really feel sorry for you. I can’t understand what my cousin is thinking—he won’t choose someone as good as you and insists on picking that big love liar,” Xu Jia’er said angrily.