Сhаpter 8: Shе Наs а Вoyfriend
“Usе this.”
Хie Zongхun opеnеd thе bох аnd handеd thе nеw рhone tо Wen Yao.
Wen Yао bit her liр, hоlding bасk tеars.
Хiе Zоngxun felt а hеadаche cоming on. “Still сrying?”
Wen Yaо mumbled, “Тhis onе is brоken.”
Xiе Zongxun felt likе hе hаd brоught a walking disаstеr hоmе, his tone turning shаrp. “Yоu were fоolish enоugh to get сaught in the rain. Whо еlsе is therе tо blame?”
“Thеre wеrе a lot оf photоs inside.”
Wеn Yао was аlreadу on the vеrgе оf breaking down, and after being scоldеd by Xie Zongхun, hеr tears finallу оverflowed.
Inside were some photos of her parents, as well as a family portrait of them all.
Whenever she felt she couldn’t go on, she would look at those photos. Now they were all gone.
“No backup?”
Wen Yao shook her head as tears fell. She didn’t really understand.
“I’ll find someone to fix it for you. Stop crying.”
Xie Zongxun took the phone from Wen Yao’s hand and stood up irritably.
“Can it really be fixed?”
Wen Yao asked weakly, as if clutching at a lifeline.
“Yes. Get dressed and come downstairs for dinner.”
Xie Zongxun turned and left.
The golden retriever sat in front of Wen Yao, wagging its tail, then nuzzled against her tear-streaked face.
The ticklish sensation made Wen Yao laugh through her tears.
When she went downstairs, Xie Zongxun was already waiting at the dining table. Wen Yao hurried over—the injury on her foot was no longer much of a hindrance.
“This dog, what’s its name?”
“Paopao.”
Wen Yao took a sip of porridge, her eyes curving softly as she called out sweetly, “Paopao~”
Her tone was gentle and sweet. Xie Zongxun raised an eyebrow, glanced at Wen Yao, then lowered his gaze and continued eating.
After the meal, Wen Yao was eager to return to school—she had a professional class in the afternoon.
In the car, Xie Zongxun spoke up.
“This phone number is linked to a bank card. The password is six zeros, and there’s a million yuan in it.”
“Use it for now. I’ll transfer money regularly each month. If it’s not enough, let me know. Understand?”
Wen Yao frowned, her tone resolute. “I don’t want your money.”
“Why?”
She clenched her hands, her voice strained, unable to utter the words. “I’m not… not…”
Xie Zongxun remained calm, speaking casually. “Not what?”
“I’m not for sale!”
After being yelled at by Wen Yao, Xie Zongxun turned to look at her. His expression was hard to describe—if she had a knife right then, she might have stabbed him.
Xie Zongxun wasn’t angry. His voice even carried a hint of coaxing. “Not for sale. I just want to take care of you. Okay?”
Wen Yao wiped her tears, her voice carrying a sense of desolation. “Xie Zongxun, why me?”
Xie Zongxun thought for two seconds before answering. “I don’t know. But for now, it can only be you.”
Wen Yao leaned against the window, staring blankly outside, her lips parting softly. “If I had another chance, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to save you.”
Xie Zongxun didn’t say anything more, driving straight to the entrance of Wen Yao’s dormitory.
Wen Yao had been asking him to stop since they entered the school gate, but he wouldn’t listen.
“What are you doing?”
Xie Zongxun’s eyes were cold, his tone dismissive. “Get out.”
It was the time when students were heading to class, and people were coming and going near the dormitory. Passersby kept glancing into the car.
Wen Yao clenched her fists, took a deep breath, opened the car door, and stepped out. Unable to hold back her temper, she slammed the door shut with force.
Xie Zongxun’s eyes darkened, equally furious as he drove away.Spoiled her, very well, giving him attitude.
Wen Yao returned to the dormitory, still thinking about how to explain to the others, and wondering if they would worry about her.
However, everyone greeted Wen Yao as usual.
Wen Yao tidied up her textbooks, and the group prepared to head to class together, with Xu Chao and Tang Li laughing and joking ahead.
Wen Yao walked alongside Chi Ying.
“I told them the rain was too heavy last night, and your family made you stay over.”
Wen Yao looked up and said thank you.
“Yaoyao, stay safe, protect yourself, okay?”
Wen Yao’s eyes grew warm, and she nodded firmly.
“I will.”
The afternoon was packed with classes, and the second class was in another building. While moving between buildings, they ran into Xie Zongxun and his friends.
Wen Yao wasn’t paying attention and happened to meet his gaze. His eyes were so beautiful, yet the ice in them could pierce right through you.
Wen Yao looked away, walking on her own, not sparing him another glance as they passed by.
Coincidentally, they used the same body wash, carrying the same scent. Just then, a gust of wind blew, and the identical fragrance recklessly intertwined.
Intense and ambiguous.
“Damn, what scent is that? It smells so good.”
Xu Chao turned around and sniffed Wen Yao, then looked at her curiously. “When Xie Zongxun passed by just now, he had the same smell.”
Wen Yao’s heart skipped a beat.
“You’re mistaken.”
Xu Chao wasn’t entirely sure either: “Really?”
Chi Ying spoke up seriously: “Yes, it’s Yaoyao’s scent. The wind just carried it over.”
Xu Chao smiled playfully, still teasing Wen Yao: “My baby smells amazing. Sleep with me tonight, hehe~”
After dinner, Wen Yao and Chi Ying were about to head back when they were stopped.
A boy was pushed forward by the group behind him, speaking nervously: “Wen Yao, junior, I… I like you. Can I have your contact info?”
Wen Yao felt nervous now—there were so many people around.
She’d been confessed to plenty of times before, but back in high school, everyone was more reserved. Most wrote love letters, and on the rare occasions she was surrounded, she’d awkwardly turn them down.
Deep down, she was afraid of this kind of scene and wanted to retreat.
“Sorry, she has a boyfriend.”
Sensing Wen Yao’s discomfort, Chi Ying took her hand and flatly refused on her behalf.
Wen Yao looked up in a fluster, just in time to meet Xie Zongxun passing by.
Why was he here too?
Xie Zongxun and Gu Yanche had clearly overheard everything.
Gu Yanche, ever the extrovert, raised an eyebrow at Chi Ying, his striking looks unable to hide his inherent mischief.
“Got a boyfriend, huh? What a shame. How about you? Got one?”
Chi Ying ignored him and led Wen Yao away.
Gu Yanche nudged Xie Zongxun, grinning carelessly: “What’s on your mind?”
Xie Zongxun snorted coldly, recalling that nervous, shy face from earlier.
Really, she could make that expression for anyone.
Before going to bed, Wen Yao’s phone buzzed with a message. She instinctively checked the time.
11:30 PM—curfew was in effect, so she couldn’t leave. Feeling reassured, she unlocked her phone and opened Xie Zongxun’s chat.
X: [Got a boyfriend?]
Wen Yao tensed up immediately, remembering their last conversation. She knew perfectly well that whatever they had wasn’t a relationship.
Wen Liuliu: [Not you.]
X: [Then who?]Wen Liuliu: [No one. My friend saw the marks on me earlier and thought they were left by my boyfriend.]
X: [On your chest?]
Wen Yao practically wanted to block and delete him. What nonsense was he spouting?
Wen Liuliu: [On my neck. I’m going to sleep now, I have class tomorrow.]
X: [Mm, sit next to me tomorrow.]
Wen Yao glanced at her schedule.
Damn, an 8 a.m. political theory class.
She closed her eyes and lay there like a corpse.
She hated Xie Zongxun to death.
Author’s Note:
Neither of them has changed the other’s contact name. Looking forward to who will do it first~ Hehe~