The boy’s expression was too indifferent, leaving Song Qingying uncertain whether he had heard the girl’s earlier slander.
Though Song Qingying had never been to Red Pavilion, she’d heard classmates say it wasn’t a proper place. How could someone as steady and clean-cut as Lu Xun be associated with such a venue?
She couldn’t help stealing glances at the boy’s profile, only to suddenly meet a pair of dark, tranquil eyes. Her heart skipped a beat.
The weather was hot. Jiang Qiao had taken off her school uniform jacket and draped it over her arm. While turning a corner, her gaze inadvertently drifted backward and caught the boy and girl standing at the entrance.
With her sharp eyesight, Jiang Qiao could see the girl looking up shyly while he slightly lowered his head, revealing his tall nose bridge and naturally curved thin lips.
Tch…
Jiang Qiao felt somewhat irritated. Was this the protagonist halo at work? Their relationship was progressing quite fast.
She withdrew her gaze and walked out of the school gate.
At the classroom entrance, Lu Xun lowered his eyes, seemingly oblivious to the girl’s anticipation. His tone was polite yet distant: “Sorry, I have other matters to attend to.”
“Alright…” Even though Song Qingying had anticipated this outcome, she still felt disappointed. She forced a bright smile: “See you tomorrow, Lu.”
Lu Xun paused briefly: “See you tomorrow.”
Only after he had walked away did Song Qingying snap out of her daze, touching her burning, flushed cheeks.
In a classically decorated Chinese restaurant, Jiang Qiao’s phone rang midway through her meal. The contact showed Peng Yang.
[Who’s this?] she asked 166.
166: [The original host’s friend. Answer quickly. The first plot point is approaching.]
As soon as Jiang Qiao answered, deafening music blasted through the phone. The boy on the other end shouted loudly, afraid she wouldn’t hear him:
“Xiao Qiao, come hang out! We finally have a day off. Hurry up, everyone’s here!”
Jiang Qiao: “……”
She held the phone away from her ear: “Fine, send me the location.”
“Great! We’ll be waiting. Don’t stand us up!”Just how willful had the original host been for him to emphasize not standing them up?” Jiang Qiao agreed: “Okay.”
After hanging up, Ye Qingqing across from her blinked: “That was Peng Yang, right?”
Jiang Qiao raised an eyebrow: “How did you know?”
“Pfft, who else could it be? Always asking you out. His intentions are hardly pure…”
Oh, so it was an admiter. Jiang Qiao understood: “Then you’re coming with me.”
She didn’t want to deal with high school students alone.
Ye Qingqing seized the opportunity: “I want Western food tomorrow.”
“……” Jiang Qiao was speechless for a moment: “No problem.”
The taxi dropped the two girls off at their destination. Getting out and looking at the opulent establishment before them, Jiang Qiao narrowed her eyes slightly.
Ye Qingqing exclaimed in surprise: “How dare Peng Yang come to Red Pavilion?”
“Isn’t he afraid of getting beaten by his father?”
This kind of bar with complex and dangerous elements had always been where spoiled youths sought amusement. Those from respectable families would disdain coming here – it was beneath them.
That he had invited the original host to such a place spoke volumes about his intentions.
“Let’s go back.” Jiang Qiao had no intention of entering.
She had barely taken a step when 166 started going crazy: [Requesting host to complete plot point, requesting host to complete plot point…]
Ye Qingqing saw the girl stop in her tracks, take a deep breath, and make a face as if she’d eaten something disgusting.
“Um,” she tentatively said, “if you don’t want to go in, we can leave.”
“First time at Red Pavilion.” Jiang Qiao smiled without warmth. “Shouldn’t we go in and have some fun?”
Ye Qingqing nodded in confusion.
The two still didn’t make it inside, stopped right at the entrance.
“ID,” said Lu Xun.
Tall and long-legged, Lu Xun wore a work uniform that muted some of his youthful edge. He remained unfazed even if spotted working here by classmates.
“Oh… right,” Ye Qingqing flushed with embarrassment, fumbling for her ID from her pocket. “Here… here you go.”
“Um, we’re here to meet a friend,” Ye Qingqing couldn’t help explaining.
“Mm.” Lu Xun handed back her ID indifferently. “Under eighteen. Not allowed in.”
“Ah…” Ye Qingqing mumbled, “Oh…”
Lu Xun didn’t look at her, his gaze shifting to Jiang Qiao lounging lazily on a bench behind her.
Jiang Qiao grinned, waving a hand. “I didn’t bring mine.”
“…………No ID, no entry.”
Just then, Peng Yang called again. Jiang Qiao’s lips curved as she answered, putting it on speakerphone.
“Hey, the staff says I’m under eighteen and can’t come in. Sorry about that.”
“Damn! Who dares act tough in front of me? Wait there, I’m coming out to get you!”
The man’s voice was full of irritation, making Lu Xun’s brow furrow slightly.
Jiang Qiao had already hung up, watching him with amused interest.
At this close distance, Lu Xun seemed even taller. She had to tilt her head back to see his face clearly.
Beyond his height, Lu Xun was also better-looking than most their age. While many boys still carried childish awkwardness during this transitional phase, appearing neither here nor there, Lu Xun had matured into clean-cut handsomeness – defined features, sharp contours, with deep, steady eyes that seemed like the type to make hearts flutter.
It wasn’t yet peak nightlife hours, so the crowd was thin. He stood behind the front desk, his solid back straight, fingers lightly pressing down on something.
Jiang Qiao followed the lines of his firm arm and noticed the book beneath his hand.
Reading at a bar, earning while studying – truly the academic ace, a master of time management.
While she was observing intently, Peng Yang came out grumbling curses.
“I’ve been here countless times and never heard of ID checks. Let me see who’s got the guts…”
Peng Yang wasn’t bad-looking himself, dressed in the latest brand-name clothes with considerable style, though he paled next to Lu Xun.
Jiang Qiao’s beautiful peach-blossom eyes showed impatience, making her appear even more vivid and attractive. Peng Yang’s attention immediately shifted. “Xiao Qiao, how long has it been? You never come out when I ask.”
“Well, I’m here now.”
“Hahaha, true,” Peng Yang lifted his arm to drape it around her. “Let’s head to the private room… Damn, what’s your problem?”
Lu Xun had somehow emerged from behind the front desk, blocking the way. “You can’t go in.”
His voice was calm and steady, almost toneless, his gaze fixed directly on Jiang Qiao whom Peng Yang was trying to pull along. Peng Yang might as well have been invisible to him.
Peng Yang was furious, his temper flaring instantly. “You damn wage-slave dare interfere with my business?”
He swung at Lu Xun. Lu Xun’s arm twitched upward but quickly dropped back down, taking the hit squarely. A dark bruise quickly spread across the corner of his mouth.
The manager hurried over and saw this scene. Noticing Lu Xun wasn’t resisting, the manager breathed a sigh of relief and bowed obsequiously with an apologetic smile: “Young Master Peng, when did you arrive? You should’ve notified us. What’s happened to make you so angry?”
Peng Yang’s face was full of provocation and disdain: “Your standards for hiring servers are really getting lower. He even dared to stop my friend.”
“Ah, is that so?” The manager immediately understood: “Xiao Lu is new here, there are some things he doesn’t understand yet. Please don’t take it to heart, Young Master Peng.”