Chapter 78: You Like Me (2)

Ouya laughed, a faint smile on his lips. “You like me.”

It was a direct answer, and it was the truth.

There was no denying it, no matter how calm she tried to appear on the surface.

“So what if I do?” Qiao Xi made no attempt to deny it, meeting his gaze with composure. “Feelings can change.”

With those words, she didn’t wait for his response. She simply walked away.

As they brushed past one another, Ouya reached out and took her hand.

Turning slightly, he looked at her profile. “Would you like to come with me—”

At that moment, his phone rang. He paused, answered the call, but still did not let go of her hand.

“Are you with Qiao Xi?”

It was Ji Niansheng.

“Yes,” Ouya replied.

“That’s good. We’ll head off first. You can take Qiao Xi home. That’s all.” With that, Ji Niansheng hung up.

“They’re leaving first. I’ll take you home,” Ouya said to Qiao Xi.

“No need. I’ll go back by myself.” Qiao Xi pulled her hand free from his and turned away.

“Aren’t you curious?” Ouya looked at her.

Qiao Xi hesitated, not meeting his eyes.

The moment grew quiet. After a while, Ouya spoke again, “Let me walk you home.”

Meanwhile, Dan Chouchou shot a disgruntled glance at Ji Niansheng beside her. This guy was truly odd. Obviously, she and Qiao Xi were headed the same way, yet he insisted on walking her back, saying that since the vice president was with Qiao Xi, the vice president should see her home instead, to avoid unnecessary hassle.

Honestly, what hassle could there possibly be? Couldn’t she just wait for Qiao Xi outside the park?

Finally, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She stopped and demanded, “What exactly are you up to?”

Ji Niansheng was momentarily caught off guard, but then he laughed. “Relax, I’m not planning anything with you.”

Dan Chouchou regarded him, sensing he was telling the truth.

“Hey, don’t tell me you’re trying to set up Qiao Xi and the vice president?”

“Oh, you figured it out?” Ji Niansheng sounded surprised. Was he really that obvious?

“Obviously. You had Wang Xiaowei take Pan Xi and Yinyin, and you’re with me, leaving the vice president to walk Qiao Xi home. If you’re not after me, then your aim must be on the other side.”

“Well, you’re not as clueless as I thought.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dan Chouchou clenched her fists in annoyance.

Ji Niansheng wasn’t afraid of a fight, but he had another goal tonight and couldn’t waste too much time here.

“Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. I take it back—you’re very sharp.”

“Of course I am,” Dan Chouchou retorted, undaunted. She might not be studious, but she’d never doubted her intelligence.

“When you were at Maple Sun, were you and Qiao Xi the closest?” Ji Niansheng asked. Though they’d been classmates, they’d barely spoken; this was the first time they’d ever walked and chatted like this.

“Well, not exactly.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“The one closest to Qiao Xi was always Gu Shao. They grew up together.”

“Gu Shao?”

“That’s Gu Heng—you must have heard of him,” Dan Chouchou replied with certainty.

Ji Niansheng wanted to protest that she made him sound like some kind of celebrity, but he couldn’t deny he did know Gu Heng. In fact, hardly anyone in the high school world didn’t. He’d also heard that Qiao Xi and Gu Heng were inseparable.

“So why did Qiao Xi suddenly transfer schools?” he asked.

“That I don’t know.” Dan Chouchou replied, then eyed him suspiciously. “Why all the questions? What are you after?”

“Relax, relax, I’m not trying to get close to your Qiao Xi.” Ji Niansheng smiled, then added thoughtfully, “If I’m interested in anyone, it’s probably that cold Xin Meng.”