Ahhhhh, Jiang Xiao, this bookworm! Why does he always use what she’s said and done against her?!
Song Qiuyu pressed her lips tightly, rubbing the cheek that had just been pinched—she only felt it burning hot to the touch.
For a moment, the corridor, filled with winter’s chill, actually felt several times hotter and more unbearable than the height of summer.
She exhaled a hot breath, biting her pearly teeth together, and glared toward the entrance of the Reading Room—only to see the other party, smiling, walk straight in.
How could Song Qiuyu not know there were still two roommates sitting inside the Reading Room?
Flirting was fun for a moment, but once the bookworm picked up her tricks, was she doomed to be miserable forever…?
She no longer remembered how many times she wanted to interrogate her younger self.
She truly couldn’t understand—why would a slacker like her ever try to tease a clever top student?!
Fortunately, Jiang Xiao didn’t know she was Shen Xi right now, otherwise, who knows what tricks Jiang Xiao would play on her.
The door closed, and Jiang Xiao walked over to his seat.
“Where’s Qiuyu? Didn’t he say he was going to find you?”
Seeing Jiang Xiao come back alone, Lin An couldn’t help but ask in confusion.
“She should be here soon.”
Jiang Xiao sat down in his seat.
Just then, the Reading Room door opened again. Song Qiuyu, her cheeks faintly flushed, stared directly in Jiang Xiao’s direction.
Then her small nose twitched, and she let out a soft little hum, walking quickly back to her seat.
Pulling out her chair, she sat down, only to meet the surprised and puzzled gazes of her two roommates across the table.
“Song, why is your face red after just stepping out for a moment?”
Xie Zhuran secretly clutched his chest. He must be imagining things.
How come Song Qiuyu right now looks exactly like a shy girl?
Hiss, she’s just too cute.
“Was it hot outside?”
Lin An asked in confusion.
“Uh…”
Song Qiuyu bit her lip.
She was still thinking about how to explain when a warm breath suddenly blew into her left ear, making her whole ear itch.
“Song Qiuyu, can you lend me your phone for a bit?”
Jiang Xiao leaned in, his lips almost brushing her pale earlobe, whispering so only the two of them could hear, “I need it for something urgent.”
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu felt both flustered and annoyed.
Just finished teasing her, and now he was thinking about Xi’er?
Jiang Xiao, you scumbag! Not just a scumbag, but a petty, childish one at that!!
“It’s nothing, I was just walking around looking for Jiang Xiao and got a bit warm.”
While making up an excuse, Song Qiuyu took out Jiang Xiao’s phone.
Her mind was a mess, but she struggled to keep her face composed.
Still, the warmth creeping up her neck, ears, and cheeks was something she couldn’t control.
If the two roommates found out she was holding Jiang Xiao’s phone, things would get troublesome, so she quietly lowered the phone and used it to nudge the person beside her.
“Thanks.”
Jiang Xiao’s breath once again drifted into her ear.
In that instant, Song Qiuyu wished she could secretly kick Jiang Xiao under the table, but afraid he might actually enjoy it, she restrained herself.
“How odd, did they turn the heating on in this Reading Room?”
Seeing Song Qiuyu’s flushed face, Xie Zhuran involuntarily blushed as well, balling his fists and coughing twice.
It really was getting a bit warm.
“Maybe? This School is great—they even give us heating.”
Lin An, sitting directly across from Song Qiuyu, was also starting to lose his composure. Wasn’t something different about Qiuyu today?
Jiang Xiao took back his phone.
Seeing this, Song Qiuyu finally let out a sigh of relief.
She rubbed her burning cheek with her cool sleeve, taking several deep breaths.
She tried her best to calm down, picked up her pen, and returned to her questions.
The restlessness in her heart gradually settled as she worked, and that burning heat quickly faded.
She grew more and more focused on her studies.
At 2:46:58 PM, with a crisp beep, Jiang Xiao sent out a message right on time.
He then handed the phone—still open to the chat screen—directly back to the unsuspecting Song Qiuyu beside him.
Song Qiuyu caught the phone, and with just a glance, she saw the message he’d just sent out.
[Jiang Xiao]: Xi’er, Song Qiuyu is just so cute!
Song Qiuyu was startled, slamming her eyes shut. Jiang Xiao, this guy is seriously—!!
She really wanted to pry open his head to see what was inside—sending a message like this to a deceased ex-girlfriend, was that really okay?
Taking several deep breaths, she channeled her shame and anger into motivation for her studies.
After all, she’d already done so much to let him down in the past.
As long as he didn’t go overboard, she would just endure. For now, studying and the Stage Play were the most important things!
Once this busy month passed, she’d figure out what to do about it. What a headache.
Watching Song Qiuyu focus even more intently on her work, Jiang Xiao pondered for a moment, then stopped teasing her.
He just leaned in, returned her phone, and glanced over at the problems she was solving.
Diligence can make up for lack of talent; all the questions she’d done so far were correct.
If she kept going step by step, maybe she really could score very high, and, as she wished, win plenty of Scholarship awards.
“Mm…”
Feeling the masculine presence of Jiang Xiao beside her, Song Qiuyu frowned, her heart racing.
She seriously suspected he was doing it on purpose to distract her.
If not for her concern about Shen Xi, she’d have blown up at him by now!
So she could only concentrate harder, simply imagining the person next to her was a giant, puffy toy.
It worked wonders.
Only, whenever she hit a tough problem and turned her head for help, as soon as she saw Jiang Xiao’s face, her fantasy would collapse, leaving her biting her lip in frustration.
Was Jiang Xiao planning to keep up this routine for the whole month?
This jerk, this scumbag!
Just like that, the study session continued until evening, when everyone began packing up, preparing to leave the Library.
The Drama Club president finally arrived, late, with the Stage Play Script in hand.
At the same time, he brought unexpected news: the originally scheduled male lead, Han Ye, suddenly became unavailable due to a schedule conflict.
He’d been called away by a Director he knew to star as the male lead in a movie!
“Here’s the situation. We’ll look for someone else to play the male lead. Here’s the Script—you all take a look, rehearsal starts tomorrow afternoon.”
The Drama Club president handed four printed copies of the Script to Song Qiuyu and the others.
“President.”
Jiang Xiao suddenly spoke up.
“Hmm?”
The president looked up in surprise.
“President, I’d like to be the male lead in the Stage Play.” Jiang Xiao’s gaze was firm.
The president stared at Jiang Xiao in shock—but it wasn’t his words that surprised him most, but the sheer difference in his presence.
Compared to the start of the semester, the change was enormous.
Of course, that change could already be seen in the Short Videos they’d filmed.
Actually, Jiang Xiao was the first candidate he’d considered for the male lead, not Han Ye.
The reason? Jiang Xiao and Song Qiuyu truly had such great chemistry.
Having the two of them star together—if nothing else—would be a treat for the audience’s eyes.
Very easy on the eyes.
[But, considering Jiang Xiao’s personality back then, the president had hesitated and ultimately chosen Han Ye.]
Song Qiuyu silently flipped through the Stage Play Script beside him, a cold bead of sweat trickling down her cheek.
“President, please give me a chance—just one chance to try!”
Gone was the former gloom and self-doubt on Jiang Xiao’s face.
His eyes shone with determination and just the right amount of confidence.
He radiated an irresistible, dazzling presence that made people want to choose him without hesitation.
Everyone found themselves drawn to his current demeanor—including Song Qiuyu.