Li Shao still had shock written across his face. The moment he looked up, he saw Shen Ci walking in his direction.
He immediately yanked his arm free from Lin Biqi’s cling. That subconscious move made Lin Biqi pout in displeasure, raising her eyes to glare at him.
Noticing his gaze light up as he looked forward, she followed it instinctively—and there stood the fair, radiant Shen Ci.
Lin Biqi’s pretty face twisted; alarms rang instantly in her heart.
At the same time, Shen Ci’s eyes fell on them.
The sight of Lin Biqi made an icy numbness shoot up from her soles, spreading like countless ants crawling across her skin, exploding in her skull like a static-filled television screen.
Her pupils trembled. The inside of her forearm began to heat, itch, and ache.
The lingering scar of a curling iron burn.
Lin Biqi… long time no see. You’ve finally appeared.
Just as the painful memories threatened to overwhelm her, Shen Ci brushed her right arm. The smooth skin grounded her back to reality. Her reason returned.
She walked straight toward the cafeteria doors, ignoring Li Shao’s eager gaze.
He froze, then quickly rushed after her.
“Brother Li Shao!”
Lin Biqi stomped angrily and hurried after them.
“Shen Ci! Shen Ci!”
Li Shao caught up, cutting Shen Ci off before she could leave.
“Shen Ci, I’m sorry. Yesterday I was too impulsive. I apologize.”
“Brother Li Shao, who is she?” Lin Biqi arrived, eyes sharp with suspicion.
Li Shao ignored her, his expression urgent and remorseful as he gazed at Shen Ci. “You wouldn’t speak to me, I got desperate, so I said those awful things. I’m truly sorry, Shen Ci. Please don’t be angry, alright?”
“I’m not angry,” Shen Ci said lightly.
Joy burst across his face, his fingers trembling. “Really? You’re not angry anymore?”
He reached forward, wanting to embrace her—only to freeze when she stepped back.
Arms half-lifted, he stared at her in confusion.
Shen Ci’s face was blank. “Because nothing you say matters to me. None of it affects me in the slightest.”
“You can’t talk to Brother Li Shao like that!” Lin Biqi shouted sharply. She didn’t know who Shen Ci was or what had happened, but she refused to let anyone speak to him so coldly.
“Qiqi, stay out of this!” Li Shao snapped, glaring at her. “This is between me and her!”
Lin Biqi flinched at his harsh tone. Tears welled instantly, lips trembling. Brother Li Shao has never yelled at me like this before!
Shen Ci bit down hard on her back teeth, suppressing the tide of hatred that surged inside. She sneered coldly, “You’ve scared your little rabbit. Go comfort her.”
With that, she turned to leave. Lin Biqi’s tears spilled.
But Li Shao grabbed Shen Ci’s wrist in panic. “Don’t misunderstand—she’s my younger sister.”
Misunderstand? Sister?
A sister who would sneak into her dorm to steal a thesis draft and destroy her hard drive?A sister who had two abortions and deliberately mailed her the proof?A sister who, out of jealousy, cornered her in a bathroom and burned her arm with a heated curling iron?
Every wound Lin Biqi had left her—was that what a “sister” would do?
Shen Ci’s expression darkened. She yanked her hand free. “No need to explain your relationship.”
“Shen Ci…”
He tried to speak again, but suddenly Qu Yang stepped forward, placing himself between them.
A tall shadow fell across her. Shen Ci looked up at Qu Yang’s broad back.
Though he and Li Shao were similar in height, Qu Yang—an athlete, vice president of the basketball club—was clearly more solid, stronger than the pampered rich boy.
“Don’t harass her,” Qu Yang said quietly, calm and even.
But Li Shao exploded. He had already been seething from seeing Shen Ci speak to Qu Yang. Now Qu Yang dared to interfere?
“Get lost! This has nothing to do with you!” he roared.
Shao Yu and the others rushed over, afraid the two would come to blows. Fighting on campus could mean expulsion.
“Hey, calm down! We’re all classmates—talk it out!”
Several boys dragged Qu Yang back. Though he wanted to resist, against three or four of them he couldn’t break free.
“I’m fine. Go,” Shen Ci said to him.
This wasn’t his problem. With him living in Li Shao’s dorm, standing up like this would only make Li Shao target him.
Hearing her words, Qu Yang stopped struggling and let Shao Yu lead him away.
Once farther, Shao Yu whispered urgently: “Are you crazy? Li Shao and Shen Ci aren’t even clear yet, why get involved?”
“Yeah. Even if you like Shen Ci, the timing’s wrong. Look—Li Shao obviously hasn’t let her go. If you two fought, his family’s loaded; he’d be fine. You’d get expelled.”
They kept scolding, but Qu Yang barely heard. He only glanced back repeatedly. When Shen Ci walked away without Li Shao following, he finally relaxed.
Li Shao stared after her until she disappeared. Though she hadn’t forgiven him, he had no intention of giving up.
Turning back, he found Lin Biqi beside him, makeup smeared from crying.
He sighed softly. “Qiqi, I wasn’t yelling at you just now. I lost control. Don’t cry.”
Sniffling, she looked at him, her voice shaky but stubborn. “Then tell me—who was that girl?”
“She’s my girlfriend. We had a fight. A misunderstanding,” he admitted.
Though she’d already guessed, hearing it aloud shattered her.
“You… you have a girlfriend?” Lin Biqi wailed, voice breaking. Her sobs turned into a hysterical cry. “Then what about me? I came to Ke Da for you—what am I supposed to be!”
End of Chapter 20