Extra chapter (1/1) from me, Koffeam! Buy me a koffee on ko-fi for more chapters. Thank you for your support!
Tong Yi’s sudden appearance and explosive remarks left most people in the room stunned. Soon afterward, the silence was broken as people returned to their senses, and hushed murmurs filled the private room.
Shen Mian, who was still holding onto the man she had hugged, was too shocked to let go.
Tong Xu subconsciously glanced at Jiang Li, then frowned at Tong Yi, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
Tong Yi paused, then pointed at Shen Mian, as if he had just realized something, and said, “Oh, nothing, I was just joking. Big Brother, you don’t have to mind me. Please keep going.”
Tong Xu: “…”
What “keep going”?! He had finally found a chance to get close to Jiang Li, and Tong Yi suddenly barged in and ruined the atmosphere. How was he supposed to continue?!
However, Tong Yi completely ignored Tong Xu. He walked over to Jiang Li, casually sat down between her and Qin Zheng, picked a piece of pear from the fruit platter with a toothpick, and put it in his mouth. Then he looked at Jiang Li and asked, “So your class reunion is here? I thought you said you all were going to split the bill and find a random place?”
Jiang Li explained, “Qin Zheng decided to treat everyone at the last minute. He chose this place.”
Tong Yi nodded thoughtfully, “That’s quite gul-… I mean, how generous of him.”
Then he turned to Qin Zheng, squinting slightly, “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
“…” For a moment, Qin Zheng didn’t respond. Although Tong Yi’s tone sounded sincere and friendly, his eyes showed provocation. It was clear that Tong Yi was trying to provoke him.
But Jiang Li was clueless and genuinely surprised to see Tong Yi had forgotten the male lead in just three years. Clearing her throat, she re-introduced the two, “Of course he looks familiar. He is Qin Zheng, our former classmate from junior high.”
Tong Yi paused, then looked at Qin Zheng, “Is he? So sorry. The lighting in the room is too dim, so I didn’t recognize you earlier.”
Qin Zheng thought that Tong Yi’s expression couldn’t have been more insincere. But he felt no waves of emotion—because he had already figured out that Tong Yi liked Jiang Li.
Tong Yi had deliberately barged into the room today, clearly with Jiang Li in mind. His snarky comments were probably due to the recent CP war on Weibo. Still, how about Jiang Li? Does she have the same feelings?
Qin Zheng remembered clearly that they were deskmates in junior high and had a good relationship. Even though Tong Yi went abroad right after graduation, the two probably stayed in touch.
When the CP war on Weibo was raging, someone posted photos of Jiang Li and Tong Yi together at the IMO finals. He initially found it strange that someone would keep those photos for so long, but now he understood: it seemed very likely that Tong Yi had posted those photos himself.
But why did Tong Yi say those things to Tong Xu just now?
Turning his eyes, Qin Zheng noticed Tong Xu’s frequent glances in their direction, looking like he wanted to explain something to Jiang Li but was unsure of where to begin.
“…” Qin Zheng silently moved back about fifty centimeters, deciding not to get involved in their conflict. In that instant, everything was clear: Tong Xu also had feelings for Jiang Li!
Wang Simin’s eyes lit up the moment Tong Yi appeared in the private room. Seeing Qin Zheng move over silently, she couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Is he the other top scorer in our province, Tong Yi?”
Qin Zheng nodded, then asked in confusion, “Didn’t you all talk about him in the group before? You didn’t recognize him?”
Wang Simin looked at Tong Yi seriously and nodded, “Uh-huh. Now I recognize him… I think he is handsomer than you.”
Qin Zheng replied with a blank expression, “Can’t you see that Tong Yi likes Jiang Li?”
“Of course I can. I think this Tong Yi has a roguish charm that girls find attractive. But Jiang Li’s obviously not interested in romance now, so it might be tough for him to win her over,” Wang Simin analyzed seriously.
By this point, the group that had been playing games in the room had stopped and was silently observing the boy next to Jiang Li. Finally coming back to his senses after being ignored by everyone, Tong Xu looked at Shen Mian and frowned, “Can you let go now?”
Shen Mian, who had been too shocked to let go, gave an awkward smile and explained, “We were playing Truth or Dare. I lost and had to do a punishment, so I involved you. Sorry about that.”
Tong Xu looked impatient, “I can see that.”
Shen Mian glanced at him and said cautiously, “Isn’t your girlfriend chasing you with a knife? Maybe it’s better if you hide in the bathroom?” Although her desire for drama was eager to see the scene of a playboy getting his comeuppance, she had just rushed over this guy and hugged him. It would be terrible if the crazed girlfriend misunderstood and went after her instead!
Tong Xu glanced at Shen Mian expressionlessly, then immediately distanced himself from her. He didn’t want to talk to someone who wasn’t thinking straight, or else he might be infected and start acting the same way!
Seeing Tong Yi make himself at home in the room, chatting leisurely next to Jiang Li, Tong Xu’s eyes darkened. Recalling the photos he saw on Weibo, Tong Xu suddenly realized he didn’t stand a chance against Tong Yi, and yet he wasn’t ready to give up.
After a moment of hesitation, Tong Xu walked over to Jiang Li and said softly, “Good evening, Miss Jiang. I accidentally walked into the wrong room and was surprised to see you here.”
Jiang Li was puzzled, “Weren’t you hiding from your girlfriend, who was chasing you with a knife?”
Tong Xu immediately explained, “Of course not, it was Tong Yi who—”
However, before he could finish, a girl in a red dress burst into the room. The moment she saw Tong Xu, she began to tearfully accuse him of cheating.
“…!!!” Tong Xu was livid. How could Tong Yi be so shameless?! Making things up was one thing, but to actually get someone to act it out!
Tong Xu knew that if he didn’t clear things up now, he wouldn’t have another chance to explain to Jiang Li. If she thought he was a scumbag and cheater, she would definitely avoid him at all costs.
With this in mind, Tong Xu paid no attention to the woman’s exaggerating play, choosing instead to nervously explain himself to Jiang Li, “I really don’t know this woman, and I don’t know why she’s accusing me. Miss Jiang, you’re so smart, you surely won’t believe her.”
At that moment, the room fell silent as everyone’s attention turned to Tong Xu. Likely due to the good soundproofing, only faint noises from the adjacent room could be heard.
Jiang Li cast a quick glance at the woman who abruptly walked in, then shifted her gaze to Tong Yi. It was evident to her that Big Nephew seemed uncomfortable, a clear sign of guilty conscience.
With a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, Jiang Li turned to Tong Xu and smiled, “You don’t need to explain to me. I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything today and won’t tell anyone.”
Tong Xu: “…”
But he didn’t care about others knowing; all that mattered to him was Jiang Li’s opinion of him!
The girl in the red dress rolled her eyes, then turned to Jiang Li and said, “When an old rich guy like Tong Xu lies, he does it convincingly. My experience is a warning for you—try not to believe him.”
Tong Xu: “…”
He wasn’t even twenty-five yet; how was he suddenly an “old rich guy”?!
The girl then turned back to Tong Xu, wiped away nonexistent crocodile tears, and said with a resentful look, “Fine! I’ll just consider myself blind in the past, feeding my sincere heart to a dog! We have nothing to do with each other anymore, and I won’t bother you again.”
With that, she ran out as quickly as she had come, just like a sudden gust of wind.
Shen Mian, who was hiding behind Tong Xu, was puzzled. Wasn’t she supposed to have a knife? Where’s the knife?
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What an elaborate setup. Poor Tong Xu, don’t even know what hit him. 😂