15 – This Sāo is Not That Shāo
Lu Wenjie casually glanced around and spotted a beautiful senior girl walking towards them. Instantly, his eyes widened in awe.
Tan Song and Du Xiaofeng were still exchanging risqué jokes, completely unaware of Jiang Xizi’s approach.
Shen Xiuyu was leaning sideways against the white wall, facing away from Jiang Xizi, so he didn’t notice her either.
Jiang Xizi walked with long, confident strides, her head held high and her chest out, radiating an air of absolute certainty as if she were born with an aura of self-assurance.
Her gaze swept over the boys in the corner before finally settling on Shen Xiuyu. Looking at the boy who stood about a head taller than her, she smiled faintly.
“Shen Xiuyu, Aunt Shi told me we’re having a gathering at your place this weekend. Don’t forget.”
As soon as she said this, Tan Song, Du Xiaofeng, and Lu Wenjie all turned to look at Shen Xiuyu, their faces filled with confusion.
Who was this senior girl who had suddenly appeared, and how was she connected to Shen Xiuyu?
Shen Xiuyu flicked the ash off his cigarette, lowered his gaze, and looked at Jiang Xizi.
He stared at her for a while, as if trying hard to recall, but he had no memory of ever knowing someone like her.
Finally, he asked in a tone that was both coolly dismissive yet polite, “Sorry, but who are you?”
Jiang Xizi’s smile faltered for a moment before she laughed heartily.
“Maybe Aunt Shi hasn’t had the chance to tell you yet. I’m—”
Just then, Ruan Tiantian walked out of the restroom.
As soon as she stepped out, she looked up and saw a group of boys gathered at the corner, each holding a cigarette, along with a beautiful girl who seemed to be hesitating to speak.
The moment she appeared, Shen Xiuyu, who had been listening to Jiang Xizi, quickly shifted his attention to Ruan Tiantian.
Seeing that Shen Xiuyu was no longer paying attention to her, Jiang Xizi also turned her gaze toward Ruan Tiantian, who had just emerged from the restroom.
Ruan Tiantian had just stepped out when she suddenly found herself being stared at by so many people. For a moment, her mind went blank, and she froze in place.
There she stood, a girl in a white short skirt, graceful and poised, her expression slightly dazed. Her large, round eyes were clear and bright, sharply contrasting between black and white. Her skin was fair, as if naturally filtered.
Jiang Xizi narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sharp as she looked at her.
She didn’t dislike pretty girls, but she disliked pretty girls who could capture Shen Xiuyu’s attention.
Ruan Tiantian snapped out of her daze after just a few seconds, lowered her head slightly, and quickly walked past the crowd.
Shen Xiuyu quickly followed, stepping directly in front of Ruan Tiantian and blocking her path.
Ruan Tiantian kept her head down, and in her line of sight, a pair of AJ sneakers appeared. She knew it was Shen Xiuyu, so she tried to step aside to avoid him.
But as soon as she moved, Shen Xiuyu moved too, persistently blocking her way without showing any sign of annoyance.
If she went left, he went left. If she went right, he went right.
Ruan Tiantian looked up and glared at him, saying in a defiant tone, “Shen Xiuyu, you’re blocking my way!”
As soon as she said this, Lu Wenjie gasped sharply. As Shen Xiuyu’s childhood friend, he knew this guy’s temper was far from pleasant.
And yet, this fairy-like girl dared to speak to Shen Xiuyu like that!
He had never seen anyone dare to challenge Shen Xiuyu before. Usually, those who did never ended up well.
Shen Xiuyu curled his lips in a half-smile, looking like a rogue with a carefree, sloppy demeanor.
“Ruan Tiantian, you’re not afraid of me anymore, daring to talk to me like this now.”
Her gaze fell on the tattoo on his forearm. After seeing it so often, she had become completely immune to it.
Since she couldn’t avoid him, she decided to let it go. After all, they were classmates—they’d see each other whether they looked up or down.
“Classmate Shen, I need to return to the classroom. Please step aside.”
Shen Xiuyu lowered his head, looking at the girl’s face. The top of her head barely reached his shoulder—she was so small, utterly adorable in every way.
And yet she was puffed up with anger, her round eyes glaring at him, melting his heart with cuteness.
Shen Xiuyu felt his mischievous side stirred by her, itching to tease her a little.
He smiled, tilting his head and leaning down slightly to meet her eyes, his words carrying a hint of arrogance.
“I won’t move. What are you going to do about it?”
Ruan Tiantian listened to his words, finding them more and more irritating.
This Shen Xiuyu was as arrogant as ever, and just as infuriating.
She smiled at Shen Xiuyu, sweetly, with faint dimples visible on her cheeks, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
Shen Xiuyu stared at her smile, momentarily stunned, gazing blankly at the girl’s expression, frozen in place.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his foot, the sensation shooting from his toes straight to his brain. He winced, his handsome brows furrowing in agony.
The girl’s black Mary Jane shoes had stomped right onto Shen Xiuyu’s sneakers.
And to add insult to injury, she even twisted her foot!
Before Shen Xiuyu could react, Ruan Tiantian immediately ran off.
Shen Xiuyu leaned against the corridor wall, hunched over, his foot still throbbing with pain.
He looked up at the girl’s retreating figure, his lips curving into a fond, indulgent smile.
Just then, Du Xiaofeng, Tan Song, Lu Wenjie, and Jiang Xizi gathered around him.
When Lu Wenjie saw Shen Xiuyu’s smile, his eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock.
He had actually seen Shen Xiuyu—the “Shen Daddy”—smiling.
Was this still the same cold, arrogant young master he knew?!
He reached out and placed a hand on Shen Xiuyu’s forehead. “Shen Daddy, you’re not running a fever, are you? Why are you acting so strange today?”
Shen Xiuyu’s expression immediately shifted, returning to his usual cold, aloof demeanor.
He disdainfully swatted away Lu Wenjie’s hand from his forehead.
“Get your hand off me.”
Only then did Lu Wenjie feel reassured. “That’s more like you! You scared me!”
Du Xiaofeng saw right through it, smiling suggestively. “It’s not a fever—it’s something else entirely.”
Tan Song…
Lu Wenjie…
Shen Xiuyu…
Shen Xiuyu stuffed his hands into his pockets and strode toward the classroom, showing no sign of the pain in his foot just moments before.
He had returned to his usual arrogant, breathtakingly handsome self.
His three close friends immediately followed.
Jiang Xizi remained where she was, unable to get a word in, completely and utterly ignored by them.
She stamped her foot, staring at Shen Xiuyu’s retreating figure. The boy’s shoulders were straight and broad, and the same white T-shirt he wore seemed to carry an extra touch of sophistication compared to others.
The morning sunlight fell on his black tousled hair, casting a faint golden glow. From time to time, the sound of Shen Xiuyu joking around with the other boys could be heard.
As he walked down the corridor, girls couldn’t help but be drawn to him, the air filled with their dreamy, pink bubbles.
Jiang Xizi gritted her teeth in frustration.
“Who exactly is that girl!”
To think she had been completely ignored by Shen Xiuyu.