Chapter 152: Reaping What One Sows (Part 2)

"Considering you remembered, I'll let it slide."
"Didn't you say last year that birthdays cost money and that's why you didn't invite anyone? Are you actually planning to have guests this year?"
"Well, a birthday only happens once a year, and it's much more lively with people around," Qian Yinyin said.
"To put it bluntly, you just want birthday gifts."
"Hey!"
"Alright, I'm just joking. So, how are you planning to spend your birthday?" Gu Panxi asked.
"Right at home. Both of my parents are working overtime tomorrow. You guys can come over around four or five. Earlier is fine too, and we can hang out until eight or nine before leaving." At this, Qian Yinyin turned to Qiao Xi, "Qiao Xi, you should be free tomorrow, right? Come along with us."
"Since Yinyin invited you personally, it would really break her heart if you said no," Gu Panxi added.
"Yeah, if you refuse, it'll make me so disappointed. Come and have some fun, my house isn't that far either," Qian Yinyin said, looking at Qiao Xi expectantly.
Given how much they had both said, it wouldn't be nice for Qiao Xi to refuse anymore. Besides, she was free tomorrow, so she nodded.
"That's great! It's a deal then. You two are not allowed to stand me up," Qian Yinyin said seriously.
"Don't worry, we won't," Gu Panxi said, then turned back to Qiao Xi. "Since you don't know the way to Yinyin's house, how about this? Let's meet at... that intersection outside the school, the one with the phoenix tree. What do you think?"
"Okay," Qiao Xi nodded.
In the afternoon.
As soon as the after-school bell rang and the teacher dismissed the class, the students left cheerfully.
Naturally, after a whole week of classes, they were finally able to enjoy the weekend.
"Qiao Xi, tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, see you at the intersection," Gu Panxi said, putting on her backpack and walking over.
"Got it," Qiao Xi replied.
"I'm heading out first, bye-bye," Gu Panxi said, leaving with some classmates.
It was Qiao Xi's turn for cleaning duty today, so she had to stay and finish tidying up before she could leave.
The three students on duty divided the work and finished quickly.
The others hurried off the moment they were done, leaving Qiao Xi behind to lock the door.
Since school had been out for nearly half an hour, there weren't many people left on the sports ground when she walked past it.
She headed toward the main gate, but stopped after only a few steps, suddenly thinking of Yu Fan.
When she left home this morning, his car was already parked outside waiting for her. She still refused to get in, and as a result, that car slowly trailed behind her all the way to school just like it did yesterday. In the end, the whole school found out that she was unwilling to ride in Yu Fan's car, giving rise to all sorts of speculative rumors.
Although school had been dismissed for half an hour and he might have gotten tired of waiting and left, just to be safe, she decided to take the back gate, even if it meant taking a much longer detour.
After walking for a little while, she heard a text message notification. Qiao Xi took her phone out of her pocket; it was a message from Chou Chou: Are you coming back tomorrow?
Even if she hadn't promised Qian Yinyin, she had no intention of going back, so she simply replied with two words: Not coming.
After sending the text, she put the phone back in her pocket and continued walking, only to halt when someone suddenly came into view.
Just a few steps ahead of her was an intersecting path, and he happened to be walking out from it.
The moment she saw him, he looked over as well, and their eyes locked instantly.
Being in the same school, running into each other was normal, so her emotions didn't fluctuate much.
Their gazes having met, she politely nodded and walked straight past, but then she heard him call out:
"Qiao Xi."