Chapter 128: Where Are You? (2)

He had stood through an entire class and was finally released when the bell rang. Even so, he was still called to the office and given a scolding. The moment he came out, he ran into Ouya.

Of course, he knew Ouya had not been summoned there for a reprimand like he had. As the vice president of the student council, Ouya was the very model of an outstanding student.

“Let me tell you a secret.” He put on a mysterious air and lowered his voice to Ouya. “Yesterday—no, the day before yesterday—I saw Qiaoxi.”

He had originally intended to “show off” to Yufan, but when he returned yesterday and went looking for him, he learned that Yufan had already gone abroad with his father that morning.

He was only a senior in high school, yet his father was already making him follow along and learn the family business. It was a complete waste of his youth. And the worst part was that Yufan thought it perfectly natural. He was beyond saving. In the future, he would certainly become a workaholic just like his father.

Ouya froze.

The day before yesterday—the very day Qiaoxi had called him, and the day he had called her back only to find that she would not answer.

Even now, she had not replied to a single one of his messages.

“And you definitely won’t guess where I saw her…” Jiniansheng was still trying to keep him in suspense when Ouya’s homeroom teacher called for him to come inside.

“How boring. I haven’t even gotten to the important part.”

By the time Ouya came out of the teacher’s office, class was about to begin.

On his way back to the classroom, he passed Class Three.

Through the window, he saw that Qiaoxi’s seat was empty.

Without pausing deliberately, he walked straight on.

During the break after second period, he heard his classmates talking and only then learned that Qiaoxi still had not come to school.

He could not help thinking again of the overly tranquil tone she had used that day at the end…

In those brief few seconds, had he truly missed something?

Elsewhere, Xu Jia’er was also puzzled. Why had Qiaoxi not come to school today? Could it be that, because of the incident in which she had pushed Gu Dieyan down the stairs, Qiaoxi had decided not to come back?

If so, that would be ideal. She would not have to waste any more time driving Qiaoxi away. But would Qiaoxi really disappear from Yingran so easily?

As she pondered this, her gaze shifted toward Ouya.

He had his head lowered, looking at his phone…

He usually read during breaks. It was rare to see him holding his phone in public.

He must have heard that Qiaoxi had not come to class. Was he looking at his phone because he wanted to call her?

The thought of Ouya thinking about Qiaoxi filled Xu Jia’er with jealousy and fury. Her hatred boiled over, and she gnashed her teeth inwardly.

Qiaoxi, no matter what you decide, I will never let you find a place for yourself at Yingran. Just you wait!

As soon as school let out, she waited for Ouya to leave the classroom, then hurried after him and linked her arm through his with practiced intimacy. She smiled sweetly.

“Brother Ya, let’s go have lunch together.”

Ouya eased his arm out of her grasp and said, “I have something to do later.”

“What is it? You turn me down every time. It makes me so sad.” She pressed him, looking a little aggrieved.

“I really do have something to do,” Ouya said.

Xu Jia’er was unwilling to give up, but she knew that clinging to him would only damage the image he had of her. So she could only say, “All right, then. Next time—next time, you have to come with me.”

Ouya nodded and walked away.

It was not until Jiniansheng reached the sports field that he suddenly realized something—Yufan had not come to school, so what was he going to do about lunch?

Damn it. His allowance had been cut off, and he was genuinely poor now—poorer than ever.

He was still racking his brains when he caught sight of Ouya.

He ran over. “Let’s go get lunch. Together?”

“No. I have something to do,” Ouya said again.