The next morning, Shen Jianxi discovered her phone was dead and powered off. Touching it, she felt the back casing was hot, knowing Xie Shu must have been on the call all night.
She sighed helplessly, plugged her phone in to charge, and straightened her school uniform, preparing to go down for breakfast.
Only after going downstairs did she realize Song Duanli was already seated at the dining table, back to his usual aloof self. Last night seemed like a hallucination. Hearing her approach, he turned his head.
The moment she saw his face, Shen Jianxi was greatly disappointed. His handsome face was clear and smooth, not a trace of dark purple or blue, not even a single mark.
After sitting down, she secretly raised her eyes to check, trying to find a wound, but found nothing except a tiny cut on his lips.
"Does it look good?"
Suddenly speaking, Shen Jianxi was startled and quickly lowered her head.
Seeing the girl opposite him looking guilty, Song Duanli chuckled lightly and continued, "My eyes hurt a bit when I woke up this morning. Do you know why?"
"Your eyes? How would I know?" She was defiant, absolutely unwilling to admit anything.
"Is that so? Then my lips seem a bit chapped too. Did you sneakily... last night when I wasn't paying attention?"
"You kissed me forcefully!"
Seeing the man's half-smile expression, Shen Jianxi realized what she had said.
She clenched her fists, restraining the urge to lash out, and gritted her teeth inwardly.
"I'm done eating, I'm leaving. Enjoy your meal!"
Gently touching his lips, Song Duanli watched the retreating figure storming out. He wanted to laugh but found the figure returning.
Shen Jianxi remembered she had something more to say. She walked back with a stern face and said stiffly, "Oh, right. We're playing games together tonight. Remember to download it, don't make me wait for you."
After saying that, she left without looking back.
*
School.
Xu Nuo lay on her desk, bored, looking at the empty seat beside her and sighing. She wondered if she would see her deskmate today.
"Why are you sighing? What's bothering you?"
A familiar sweet voice reached her. Xu Nuo sat up in surprise and looked at the newcomer. "Xixi, you're finally here!"
"I've missed you so much these past few days when I haven't seen you."
As soon as she sat down, she received a bear hug from the person beside her.
Patting her back reassuringly, Shen Jianxi said gently, "There were some things at home these past few days, so I couldn't come. I missed you too."
Hugging the petite girl, Xu Nuo was happy, but suddenly felt a murderous aura from the doorway. She looked up and was startled by Xie Shu standing there.
Xu Nuo was bewildered, not knowing what she had done to offend him.
She spoke to Shen Jianxi's ear with a trembling voice, "Xi, Xixi, why is Xie Shu staring at me like that? How did I offend him?"
By the end, her voice almost cracked with tears.
Shen Jianxi let go of Xu Nuo and looked back. Xie Shu was looking at them with a displeased expression, his eyes fixed on Xu Nuo's hand resting on her shoulder.
"Xie Shu, Xie Shu!"
Xie Shu walked towards them. Xu Nuo's body trembled, and she moved closer to Shen Jianxi. As expected, Xie Shu's expression turned even darker.
"It's okay, Nuo Nuo, don't be afraid." Shen Jianxi reassuringly patted the hand clinging to her.
Seeing Xie Shu getting closer and closer, Shen Jianxi said helplessly, "Can you cheer up a bit? Look how scared you're making her."
As soon as she spoke, Xie Shu's expression instantly turned wronged. "I wanted to be the first to hug you today!"
Xu Nuo: ???
She looked back and forth between the two of them, utterly confused. "You, you two?"
"She's my girlfriend." Xie Shu spoke so fast that Shen Jianxi didn't have time to stop him.
Looking at her deskmate's mouth agape in shock, she helplessly pressed her forehead.
She hadn't intended to go public so soon!
Xie Shu's voice was loud, and many people in the class besides Xu Nuo heard it. After a moment of默契 silence, the classmates started whispering.
Shen Jianxi could already imagine how quickly this news would spread.
But Xie Shu didn't seem worried at all. He even happily kissed Shen Jianxi on the cheek, making his claim of ownership very clear. Those in the class who had designs on her abandoned their thoughts.
It was a joke; they couldn't beat Xie Shu, so it was better not to court death.
Disgusted, she pushed away the man smiling foolishly in front of her. "Hurry back to your seat, I need to study."
Xie Shu, who had just stolen a kiss, was in a great mood. He did whatever she said and obediently sat back in his seat, gazing at her back.
Sensing his intense gaze on her back, Shen Jianxi covered her face. She really wished she could pretend not to know him!