Xie Heng received news that Jiang You was nearby, just at the school next door.
So he had walked straight over.
After entering the campus, Xie Heng didn’t just wander around looking for her. Instead, he approached the old man in the security booth by the gate.
"Sir, have you seen a very good-looking girl with pink hair come in with two or three ugly punks?" Xie Heng asked the old man in the security booth.
The old man nodded upon hearing this. "The girl, does she have very long legs? And a proud, feisty air about her?"
Xie Heng’s expression grew a little peculiar, but he still replied, "Yes."
"Based on your description, the one you’re talking about does sound like that girl," the old man said, stroking his beard.
"Then did you see where she went?" Xie Heng’s gaze fixed on the old man again.
The old man’s gaze grew distant, his cloudy eyes looking off into the distance as if trying to remember something.
Xie Heng followed the old man’s gaze, thinking Jiang You had gone in that direction.
But then the old man suddenly exclaimed, "That’s not right. The guy with her wasn’t as ugly as you described."
The old man continued, "That girl’s boyfriend was wearing a big gold chain—he looked like a man of good fortune. And he was especially handsome, not ugly at all! I’m afraid the girl you’re looking for probably isn’t the one who just came in."
Xie Heng’s expression stiffened. He could only say rigidly, "No, the one I’m looking for is exactly the girl you just described."
"You should’ve said so earlier." The old man looked as if he’d had a revelation, then he saw something and pointed. "Hey, isn’t the person you’re looking for right over there?"
Xie Heng froze. Turning his head toward the main path, he saw Jiang You standing with those same punks. He had no idea how long they’d been there, but they were looking right at him. ’Did she overhear what I just said to the old man?’
For some reason, the line of his lips tensed.
Jiang You also paused when she saw Xie Heng look over. They had been walking toward the school gate, and when they passed a small shop, Yang Qi had insisted on going in to buy her some of their delicious cake and mochi.
So she was waiting here for him with his lackeys.
And that’s when she heard the last two sentences of Xie Heng’s conversation with the old man.
She hadn’t heard what they said before that.
"Sister You, I’m back!" Yang Qi came out holding several bags of pastries. He grinned at Jiang You and walked over quickly, a bright breeze rustling the carefree tips of his hair, making him look radiant and passionate. "Let’s go."
Jiang You glanced at him, nodded, and started walking toward the school.
Yang Qi, of course, walked with her, carrying the pastries. He was so focused on her that he didn’t even notice Xie Heng over on the side.
And to get to the school gate, Jiang You and Yang Qi had to walk right past Xie Heng.
Xie Heng just stood there, watching Jiang You without a word.
"Hey, young lady! This handsome fella is looking for you!" the old man suddenly shouted. "See! I told you! The girl’s pretty, and her boyfriend is handsome too! And here you were, saying her boyfriend was..."
"Okay, thank you, sir," Xie Heng cut the old man off, his eyelid twitching violently.
Jiang You stopped next to Xie Heng, glancing from him to the old man.
"Sir, what do you mean? Did he say I wasn’t pretty just now?" Jiang You narrowed her eyes at the old man.
"It’s nothing!" Xie Heng blurted out before the old man could speak.
Seeing him act like this, Jiang You became even more suspicious. ’Did he call me ugly just now?!’
"You be quiet. I’m asking the sir!" Jiang You frowned and looked at the old man. "Sir, you tell me. Did he say I wasn’t pretty just now?"
Xie Heng’s fingers by his side clenched into a fist. His sharp eyes lowered, and his jawline tensed. He said no more.
"No, he said a very good-looking girl with a few ugly punks..." the old man began with a cheerful smile.
Jiang You froze. Beside her, Yang Qi’s eye twitched, and he ground out through his teeth, "What the hell? I’m this handsome. Anyone who can’t see that must be blind."
Jiang You, however, just blinked and gave Xie Heng a curious look. "Oh. So in your eyes, I’m a ’very good-looking girl’?"
Xie Heng’s eyelashes fluttered. His handsome face became expressionless as he glanced at her. "I was just stating a fact. Since you’re fine, I’ll be going."
With that, he turned to leave.
Jiang You immediately chased after him, walking right beside him. "Oh, so you were worried about me."
"No," Xie Heng said, still expressionless.
"Yes, you were!" Jiang You raised an eyebrow slightly.
"No," Xie Heng denied again.
"Then why did you say I’m very good-looking and they’re ugly?" Jiang You’s tone was light and her posture proud. "Are you jealous?"
"I was stating a fact. They *are* ugly," Xie Heng said, lying through his teeth.
He would never admit he was jealous.
Hearing this, Jiang You’s lip twitched. ’This guy is so stubborn.’
"You are too jealous!" Jiang You insisted, being deliberately difficult.
"I’m not jealous," Xie Heng denied again.
"You are, you are! I don’t care, you’re just jealous!" Jiang You chanted.
"No." Xie Heng didn’t even realize that his own gloomy expression had unconsciously softened a great deal.
Being pestered by her, he actually felt a genuine sense of delight.
He heard her talking in his ear and, surprisingly, didn’t find it noisy at all.
A short distance behind them, Yang Qi trailed after Jiang You and Xie Heng, clutching the bags of pastries. His once-enthusiastic puppy-dog eyes were now rather fierce, and if you looked closely, a little sad. He was like a stray mutt abandoned by its owner, hair disheveled, with a gloomy aura around him.
The lackeys beside him exchanged glances. Then, one of them asked placatingly, "Boss, are those heavy? Want us to carry them for you?"
"No need!" Yang Qi dodged their hands, his tone heavy and tinged with jealousy. "These pastries are so delicious, of course I have to hold them myself. I’ll guard them well, so Sister You and her boyfriend can eat them together!"
The last sentence was strangely pointed.
The lackeys gave awkward laughs. The jealousy was practically radiating off him. They rubbed their noses and fell silent.
"Yang Qi, bring the pastries over and let my fiancé hold them." Jiang You stopped and turned to look at Yang Qi, her posture the very picture of arrogance. "My fiancé is walking me back to school, so we won’t need your company."
Yang Qi’s expression froze for a moment. He then brought the pastries over and handed them to Xie Heng, smiling through gritted teeth. "Of course, Sister You. I’m sure you and your fiancé will love the pastries I bought. And if your fiancé doesn’t like them, I can go buy another batch just for you, Sister You."
Jiang You snatched the pastries from Yang Qi’s hand. "Enough of your nonsense. Get lost!"
Yang Qi was taken aback. His red, puppy-dog eyes drooped, and he looked at Jiang You with a wronged expression. "Ah... so I’ll be going then?"