Chapter 103: Brainstorming

“Number Three, do you need your brothers to escort you out?” Zhu Niao whispered close to Ye Qingchang’s ear.

“You’ve already been locked in hatred by the monster, how can you escort me out?” Ye Qingchang rolled her eyes at Zhu Niao in secret.

Then, as if performing the face-changing technique from Sichuan opera, the lifeless state she had just been in vanished completely. Bathed in sunlight, she stretched out her hand and smiled warmly to greet Xiao Yi’an.

The sunlight was bright, but Ye Qingchang’s smile made her look even more radiant.

Beside her, Zhu Niao looked as if she’d seen a ghost.

Her shock now was no less than the day she saw Ye Qingchang give her first kiss.

Ye Qingchang always wore a drooping expression in her normal state. Even when she smiled, it was always a mischievous grin that suggested she had done something bad.

But no matter what kind of smile it was, it never looked like this—so youthful, so gentle and intimate.

It was as absurd as seeing the emperor and his ministers street dancing together, absurd to the point of being terrifying.

Judging by Yang Shuli’s usual expression—almost corpse-like—the current bright and lively mood was like night and day.

Had she really seen a ghost?

Yet Xiao Yi’an, who was making this expression with Ye Qingchang, didn’t feel anything wrong. Perhaps this was the side of Ye Qingchang he had always been in contact with.

But he didn’t give any obvious response either, not even looking at Ye Qingchang. He just turned and tried to pull his aunt away.

Xiao Yi’an’s aunt was right by his side. At first glance, Ye Qingchang immediately recognized her identity. She also seemed to notice her own actions, lifting her head to look over at the group.

Maybe it was because Ye Qingchang’s group was just too eye-catching.

Or perhaps it was because Xu Nian, who was with Yang Shuli, looked like he was cosplaying as a giant zombie.

“Xiao An, did you run into someone you know?” the middle-aged woman asked Xiao Yi’an.

“Just a classmate,” Xiao Yi’an said coldly, averting his gaze.

“Then aren’t you going to say a few words?” His aunt’s gaze locked onto Ye Qingchang, who was still smiling but had slowly lowered her greeting hand.

“No need. They probably have their own arrangements. Better not to disturb them.”

Xiao Yi’an pulled his aunt away, and the two disappeared from Zhu Niao’s group’s sight.

“No matter who you are, get off my brother!” Zhu Niao shouted, muttering some hurried incantations under her breath.

Ye Qingchang raised her hand and gave Zhu Niao a chop.

Once Xiao Yi’an left, Ye Qingchang’s expression turned cold and frosty again.

With the heavy black-rimmed glasses, she even looked a little indifferent.

She furrowed her brow.

Xiao Yi’an seemed too cold toward her.

It shouldn’t be like this—not like this.

Ye Qingchang felt as if a piece of her was suddenly missing, like a chess player who couldn’t see the board clearly.

But with Xiao Yi’an’s aunt following behind, Xiao Yi’an probably didn’t dare come up and talk to her.

Logically, since she was the one rejected after confessing, she should be heartbroken. Even if Xiao Yi’an wasn’t interested in her, there was no need to pretend to be strangers now.

But Xiao Yi’an didn’t want his aunt to know he existed, which was understandable.

Another thing: maybe Xiao Yi’an’s attitude toward her before was ambiguous, but not anymore.

Because she was the president of the Literature Club, tasked with guiding Xiao Yi’an on how to pursue his white moonlight, his online love mentor, it was reasonable for him to get closer to her, even follow her methods to win himself over.

But now, after she confessed, it was equivalent to revealing her feelings to Xiao Yi’an.

If he got close to her now, it would be both a betrayal to that white moonlight online and a mockery of the Literature Club president’s feelings.

No doubt, Xiao Yi’an would continue to distance himself from her.

Ye Qingchang couldn’t let that happen.

So the identity that needed to be active next was no longer Literature Club President Ye Qingchang, but the elusive white moonlight online.

She would use her online persona to force Xiao Yi’an to approach her in reality, executing the second step.

Meanwhile, as Literature Club President Ye Qingchang, all she needed to do was maintain the pitiful state of the rejected but hopeful literary girl.

But why did she always feel Xiao Yi’an’s decisiveness was unexpected?

His eyes seemed to see through her as if she no longer existed.

Too cold, as if her confession yesterday was just a dream.

Was this kid really so rude?

Ye Qingchang frowned.

Her long black hair flowed loose, and she grabbed it with some force, finally glancing coldly in the direction Xiao Yi’an had gone.

So strange, like using chess pieces for Gomoku—it just didn’t fit.

Love was like war. She had thought that phrase was an exaggeration before, but now it seemed that it wasn’t, maybe even more so.

But it didn’t matter—she would win.

Ye Qingchang followed behind Yang Shuli and Xu Nian, who looked like a giant zombie cosplay, slowly leaving the hotel entrance.

Only Zhu Niao and Gou Yu remained, dumbfounded on the spot.

“To be honest, I don’t even understand what those two are doing in their relationship,” Zhu Niao held her head, feeling a little itchy—as if her brain was about to grow.

“No, no, it can’t be now. It’s not yet finals. If my brain grows now, it’ll just shrink again in a while,” she muttered.

“To be honest, I feel like they’re not even dating anymore—it’s more like a palace intrigue,” Gou Yu scratched his head. “It’s still more comfortable being with you. If your roommate was like that, I think I’d have my underwear tricked off me.”

Zhu Niao twisted Gou Yu’s arm, watching him jump in pain.

“What are you thinking? Wanting your underwear tricked off too?” Zhu Niao crossed her arms, wearing a sinister smile. “Forget your underwear, even your hemorrhoids belong to me. If someone else tricks you into handing them over, you’re not allowed to give them away.”

“You’re kind of disgusting,” Gou Yu scorned, momentarily forgetting the pain in his arm. “Then it seems I was right to wipe boogers on your clothes yesterday.”

“Which clothes did you wipe them on?” Zhu Niao raised her hand to strike Gou Yu’s side, but he dodged quickly.

“Actually, I wiped them on…” Gou Yu paused and suddenly flipped her the middle finger. “Not telling you.”

“?”

“Damn you!”

The two laughed and played as they caught up to the rest of the group.

Liu Xie and Ye Qingchang watched dispassionately as Gou Yu and Zhu Niao rushed across the zebra crossing one after the other.

Then there was Yang Shuli, riding on Xu Nian while guiding him forward.

Unconsciously, they had become the tail end of the group.

“Speaking of which,” Ye Qingchang looked at Yang Shuli, who was riding on Xu Nian but still holding tightly to his arm, “it seems the dorm leader always grabs someone when crossing the street.”

“That’s true. When I went out alone with her before, she grabbed onto me and didn’t let go crossing the street,” Liu Xie winced at a headache and thought for a moment. “Maybe she’s afraid someone beside her will eat the food first?”

Ye Qingchang suddenly understood.

That made sense.