Сhарter 11: Still Aсting Соquеttish with Мe
Wen Yaо’s еyes rеddened with urgеnсу. “Хiе Zоngxun, уоu bаstаrd!”
Xie Zоngxun strode forwаrd, his tоne indiffеrеnt. “А sраnking makеs mе а bastard?”
“I didn’t hоld bаck thе day befоre уesterdaу eithеr, and уоu seemеd to enjoу it quitе а bit.”
Wеn Yao wаs sо аngrу she wantеd to kiсk him, but he grabbеd her anklе. “Save уour energу. Yоu’ll nеed it tо stаnd steady lаter.”
Хiе Zongxun lеd Wen Yaо to а hiddеn stаirwell bеneath thе speсtаtоr stands—a cramped spaсе where he prоmрtly closеd thе door.
Strands of light from the stadium filtered in, illuminating the glistening tears on Wen Yao’s cheeks.
“Give me your phone.”
Trapped in Xie Zongxun’s embrace, Wen Yao felt a pang of fear. Trembling, she reached into her pocket for her phone.
Xie Zongxun unlocked it with his fingerprint and opened the photo gallery.
Aside from a few study-related pictures, there were only photos of Pei Zhaolan taken that day.
All of them, Pei Zhaolan.
There was even a video, also focused on Pei Zhaolan. When Xie Zongxun had entered the frame, the camera angle had even shifted slightly.
He dragged the progress bar and heard Wen Yao’s voice, clear as day.
“Go, Pei Zhaolan! Go, Foreign Languages College!”
Xie Zongxun turned off the screen and slipped the phone back into her pants pocket.
In the darkness, his expression was unreadable, but his calm voice cut through.
“No cheers for me? Hmm?”
Wen Yao struggled to steady herself, sniffled, and spoke with a hint of a sob.
“I’m from our college, so I cheer for our side.”
Xie Zongxun seemed to chuckle softly, speaking unhurriedly.
“Quite the team spirit. But we’re from the same university, aren’t we?”
Wen Yao bit her lip, her voice weak.
“That’s different. You’re just being sophistical.”
Xie Zongxun suddenly pressed Wen Yao’s shoulders, pulling her into his embrace. Wen Yao gasped in fright.
“Oh, I’m being sophistical.”
It was too dark here, and sensing Xie Zongxun’s unstable mood, Wen Yao trembled all over.
“What do you want to do?”
“What do you think?”
Xie Zongxun unzipped his backpack, and Wen Yao’s tears immediately streamed down.
Feeling the heat against his chest, Xie Zongxun lifted her into his arms again. His tone was cold, but his words were soothing.
“I’ll hold you for now. You can stand on your own later.”
“Okay?”
…
Finally, the lights outside the stadium went out.
Wen Yao lay weakly in Xie Zongxun’s embrace, breathing heavily.
“I… I have no strength left.”
Xie Zongxun raised an eyebrow. “What strength did you even use?”
Wen Yao’s eyes reddened as she whispered, “Playing basketball earlier was exhausting too.”
“Still acting coquettish with me. I’m not falling for it.”
She pushed him away irritably. “I need to go back to the dorm to shower.”
“Come to my place. You’re sleeping with me tonight.”
This place left him feeling displeased.
Xie Zongxun opened the door and led Wen Yao out by the hand into the darkness.
Once they reached a brighter area, Wen Yao shook off Xie Zongxun’s hand and walked ahead quickly.
From behind, Xie Zongxun’s voice drifted over, faint and eerie.
“I don’t mind carrying you to my car.”
A blatant threat.
Wen Yao slowed her pace, gritting her teeth. “I’ll wait for you at the side gate myself.”
Sitting in Xie Zongxun’s car, Wen Yao was still fuming. Her slender fingers frantically tapped on her phone.
Unable to hold back her anger, she snapped, “You deleted all my photos!”
Xie Zongxun’s thin lips moved slightly as he replied calmly, “Yes, and?””This was taken for a friend. I already promised them.” Wen Yao checked the recently deleted folder, only to find it completely empty.
Xie Zongxun was such a jerk.
“Take photos of him? Your friend doesn’t have great taste.”
Wen Yao was so angry she could hardly breathe, replying coldly.
“Yeah, she even asked me to take photos of you. You’re right, her taste is absolutely terrible! She actually couldn’t see the rotten personality hiding behind that face of yours!”
Xie Zongxun lowered his gaze. “Then why didn’t you take any of me?”
Wen Yao fell silent, leaning against the window and looking outside.
A moment later, Xie Zongxun tossed something hard onto her lap—it was her old phone.
“Is it fixed?”
“Yeah.”
“All the photos are still there. Is that enough to trade for those crappy photos of yours?”
Wen Yao bit her lip but still thanked Xie Zongxun.
The photos inside meant a lot to her.
Not long after, Wen Yao’s phone buzzed with several messages.
Chi Ying had already posted the photos in the group chat, and Wen Yao casually tapped to open it.
Unexpectedly, she accidentally tapped on a new voice message from Xu Chao, which played out loud.
【Holy crap, Xie Zongxun’s waist, that waist—it looks so strong!】
Photos kept popping up, and Xu Chao’s next voice message played amidst them.
【Yao Yao, have you seen it when you were with him?!】
Wen Yao fell silent for a moment.
Could she just jump out of the car and die by the roadside right now?
Xie Zongxun’s eyes darkened slightly as he spoke nonchalantly.
“Reply to her. Not only have you seen it, you’ve touched it, and you’ve even been…”
Wen Yao closed her eyes, staying silent, and tapped back into the group chat to read the messages.
Xu Chao: 【What about Pei Zhaolan’s? I want to see his too.】
Wen Yao: 【I accidentally deleted them (on my knees)】
Xu Chao: 【Nonono, my crush!】
Wen Yao: 【Sorry, sorry, my bad.】
Xu Chao: 【It’s okay, one is enough (smiling)】
Tang Li: 【Yao Yao, can you ask Xie Zongxun for a photo with his signature? You know him well. (pleading)】
Wen Yao felt her vision darken again and again, but since her good friend had asked, and the promised photos of Pei Zhaolan had gone wrong partly because of her, she thought she should try to make it up to them.
Wen Yao: 【I’m not close to him. I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything.】
Xie Zongxun took Wen Yao back to the villa. She had fallen asleep halfway there.
Now, with her face pressed obediently against the car window, Xie Zongxun paused for a moment before getting out of the car and carrying her inside. The person in his arms mumbled something, her hands clutching the front of his shirt tightly.
When Wen Yao woke up, it was already dark outside. She patted her head and realized she was in Xie Zongxun’s room.
Paopao was still lying obediently beside her, sleeping. As soon as she sat up, the little dog began wagging its tail happily.
Wen Yao gently stroked the puppy, her voice unconsciously softening.
“Where did Daddy go?”
As soon as she finished speaking, a cool voice responded.
“Right here.”
Xie Zongxun leaned against the doorway, watching Wen Yao on the bed.
Her hair was loose, and her face still carried a hint of sleepiness, slightly puffed up as she spoke softly to the puppy.
The scene looked incredibly harmonious, like a warm painting.
“Wen Yao.”
“Come over here yourself and hug me.”
Wen Yao blinked, thinking he was being ridiculous—it was only a few steps away.
But having seen his cold, angry side, she still felt a bit apprehensive. She obediently walked over to him, her soft arms gently wrapping around his waist.A low voice came from above her head.
“Now you’re being good again?”
Wen Yao nodded gently. “I need your help with something.”
“Bargaining with me? What are you offering in exchange?”
Wen Yao tilted her face up and pressed her lips against Xie Zongxun’s.
He raised an eyebrow, looking completely composed and unmoved.
Wen Yao pursed her lips, then cupped his face and kissed him again, her small tongue pushing against his teeth. But the man stubbornly refused to open his mouth. Wen Yao grew tired and released him.
A faint blush spread across her face—whether from anger or frustration, it was hard to tell. She looked up at him with a resentful gaze.
“You… don’t be like this.”
Xie Zongxun withdrew one hand from her waist and gripped her chin with his thumb and forefinger.
“Like what?”
“You think one kiss is enough to bargain with me? Wouldn’t that make me too easy to deal with?”