“N-No, it wasn’t me!” The guy jumped to his feet the moment Xie Qingwang looked at him, frightened out of his wits. “It—it was something someone said in the group chat!”
“Explain it clearly!” Xie Qingwang’s expression turned icy.
The guy hurriedly pulled out his phone, scrolled back to the messages, and started reading. “It was posted by one of Ji Nian’s classmates. He said he personally heard Ji Nian say she’s not chasing you anymore… because you—you… can’t… perform…”
After finishing, he sneaked a glance at Xie Qingwang.
No man would be happy hearing something like that—especially not someone like Xie Qingwang, a proud “prince” among his peers. If this got out, what would happen to his reputation?
“This Ji Nian—just because Brother Wang won’t give her attention, she’s slandering him like this. That’s way too much.”
Fang Ruiming stepped forward. “Brother Wang, how about we go teach her a lesson?”
At those words, the temperature around Xie Qingwang seemed to drop instantly.
He didn’t speak, but He Weichen glanced at Fang Ruiming with a faint smile. “And how exactly do you plan to ‘teach her a lesson’?”
“She’s spreading rumors about Brother Wang—of course we fight back,” Fang Ruiming said, already immersed in his plan. “The way she shamelessly chased after him, who knows how many men she’s been with—”
Before he could finish, a glass smashed against his head, and blood immediately started flowing.
Fang Ruiming’s face twisted in pain, but he didn’t dare retaliate. Suppressing his anger, he looked at the person who hit him. “Brother Wang… why?”
“I said—there wouldn’t be a second time.”
Xie Qingwang shot him a cold glance, then grabbed his coat and walked out.
No one else dared to breathe too loudly.
He Weichen let out a short laugh and looked at Fang Ruiming. “Self-righteous.”
“Nian Nian, I guarantee this newly opened hot pot place will last more than a year.”
On the way back to school, Ji Nian and Ruan Yu strolled after their meal.
Most shops near campus couldn’t even survive a year unless they were really good. But this new hot pot place? Absolutely top-tier.
Fresh, fragrant, spicy—Ruan Yu was extremely satisfied.
“It really is good. We should come again,” Ji Nian said, still savoring the taste. “I suddenly want some ice cream. A-Yu, do you want one?”
“Yes!”
The two of them walked into a convenience store and each bought an ice cream.
“Want to go shopping tomorrow?” Ruan Yu had always loved shopping. She thought college would give her plenty of chances to go with Ji Nian—who knew Ji Nian would get completely distracted by a man.
Ji Nian nodded. “Sure. The weather forecast says it might snow soon—I need to buy a couple of winter coats.”
“Same here.”
As they approached the dorm building, Ji Nian spotted someone leaning against the old century tree at a glance.
Xie Qingwang, dressed all in black, was casually flipping a lighter in his hand—click, click.
“So handsome! Even playing with a lighter looks amazing.”
“Look at those hands—damn, so strong!”
Several girls nearby were secretly taking photos and whispering, but Xie Qingwang acted as if he didn’t notice.
Ji Nian hid behind Ruan Yu and pouted. Always attracting attention like that.
He was like this in college—and even after working, getting married, and having kids, he was still the same. Every time you saw him, he was like a peacock showing off.
And yet… she fell for it every time.
Nearly 190 cm tall, eight-pack abs, broad shoulders, long legs, a perfectly toned waist.
Put him in a black suit, and he was downright irresistible. There was even a time Ji Nian stared at him so long she triggered her period early.
“Let’s walk faster,” she said.
Ruan Yu didn’t understand. “What’s wrong? Afraid of running into Xie Qingwang?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to see him.”
What if she got tempted again and fell back into the “evil supporting female” storyline?
Ji Nian definitely didn’t want that. Hiding behind Ruan Yu, she tried to slip past the crowd toward the dorm.
“Ji Nian, stop right there!”
Still got caught.
The moment Xie Qingwang looked up, he saw her—sneaking around like she was trying to escape.
With long strides, he walked up to her and looked down at her. “Ji Nian, can’t you see me?”
“Seriously? Who do you think you are—why do I have to see you?” Ruan Yu snapped, stepping in front of Ji Nian.
“Move,” Xie Qingwang said in a low voice.
The tone alone told Ji Nian he was angry. Not wanting Ruan Yu to get dragged into this, she pulled her behind her. “Xie Qingwang, what do you want?”
Seeing her so calm after putting such a huge accusation on him, Xie Qingwang’s expression darkened.
He reached out and grabbed her arm. “Not here. Come with me.”
“Why should I go with you?”
What kind of attitude was that?
Did he think she was still the old Ji Nian who would come running whenever he called?
“Xie Qingwang, either let go, or say it here!”
He stared at her face, then suddenly curled his lips into a smile. “You sure you want to talk about it here?”
“Yes. Right here.”
“Fine.”
Not only did he not let go, he pulled her into his arms. His warm breath brushed against her cheek.
From a distance, it looked like he was whispering into her ear—almost like he was kissing it.
“Why did you say I can’t perform?”
Ji Nian had been about to dodge, but hearing that, she instinctively retorted, “How could you not be capable?”
He was very capable!
There was something she had been wrong about—Xie Qingwang did show enthusiasm toward her sometimes.
Just… only in bed.
Maybe “enthusiasm” wasn’t even the right word—it was more like obsession.
She remembered once when he came back after a two-month business trip. For that entire week, she barely left the house—barely even got out of bed.
Back then, Ji Nian would secretly feel happy, thinking he must have feelings for her.
Now that she thought about it… maybe he just treated her like a tool.
“Mm, thank you for the vote of confidence,” Xie Qingwang raised a brow, looking rather flirtatious.
Ji Nian’s ears turned red, but she still spoke stubbornly. “Heh, well, who knows? Sometimes things… branch off when they grow too big.”
“Ji Nian!” Xie Qingwang felt like maybe he’d been too lenient these past few months—she now thought she could say anything.
At that moment, He Weichen stepped forward. “Classmate Ji Nian, when we were out eating earlier, someone spread a rumor saying you claimed A’Wang couldn’t perform. That’s why he came to ask you directly.”
Ji Nian looked at him. Among that group, if the others were just fair-weather friends, He Weichen—who was studying medicine—was one of Xie Qingwang’s true close brothers.
Though she didn’t interact with them much, those two had never been rude to her.
“Who’s spreading that? I never said anything like that!” Ji Nian frowned. Even if she had decided to stop liking Xie Qingwang, she wouldn’t go around saying things like that.
Xie Qingwang’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it. “Someone from your class named Jin Li—do you know him?”
“Jin Li?”
Ji Nian had no impression. She turned to Ruan Yu. “Do you remember?”
Ruan Yu thought for a moment. “I think he was sitting behind us in class this afternoon.”
“Why would he make up something like that?” Ji Nian didn’t understand—she had never offended him.
Xie Qingwang put his phone away and looked her up and down. “Could it be that you were saying behind my back that I’m very capable—and he misheard?”
The air froze for three seconds.
Ji Nian felt like she had been too tolerant of him. Mimicking his earlier gaze, she slowly looked him up and down several times—her eyes finally settling on his midsection.
With a hint of mockery, she said, “You know what? Every time I see your head, I start to feel dizzy.”
“Why?” Xie Qingwang didn’t speak, but He Weichen curiously asked.
“Because I’m… afraid of needles.”