Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 37

There was no Chen Dan, but there was Zhou Zhou.

Lu Yibei didn’t find it strange. Zhou Zhou had appeared in last year’s votes as well. Not quite on the level of Lezi Jie, who could dominate the entire school, but among their grade, Zhou Zhou’s votes were still top-tier—at least the equivalent of a local lord.

Lu Yibei didn’t mention it, and neither did anyone else.

“Even if Chen Dan entered, she’d just get trounced,” Liu Jie muttered.

He hadn’t seen his girlfriend, but he had spotted a familiar face.

“Brother Li Zi!” Liu Jie exclaimed.

Among all the pale, fair-skinned girls, the little tanned girl with the radiant smile stood out.

Xia Li’s photo had been taken by someone else, barely edited, no filters—purely natural.

And she probably hadn’t signed herself up.

“You know, Li Zi-ge really does look handsome among all these girls,” Liu Jie said.

Lu Yibei stroked his chin, then pointed decisively:

“Vote for her!”

The seniors had voted for Jiang Zile, the second-years decided this precious vote went to Xia Li.

Zhao Sun clicked the mouse—vote successful.

“Quick, look at the freshmen!”

Liu Jie couldn’t wait: “I have a feeling we’re going to spot the girl who made Yibei help carry luggage on welcome day!”

Ever since seeing her, he had been obsessing over the “Ji Qingqian heroine.”

Lu Yibei hadn’t seized the chance to get her WeChat. In Liu Jie’s eyes, this was an unforgivable crime.

“Lu Bei is seriously useless.”

Liu Jie complained again: “If it were me, not only would I have her WeChat, I’d have invited her out to eat too!”

When it came to bragging, Jie Ge had no equal.

“Ever thought maybe… if it were you, she wouldn’t even let you help?” Zhao Sun said with disdain.

Hao Pangzi couldn’t stand it: “You already have Chen Dan, how can you still think about a junior? I don’t remember teaching you to be a scumbag.”

Liu Jie let Zhao Sun’s comment slide, but not Hao Zhangwen’s. He immediately shouted back:

“How do I already have Chen Dan? Who said Chen Dan was mine? Which episode said Chen Dan is mine? How is Chen Dan mine?!”

The whole dorm could tell Liu Jie liked Chen Dan, but the unlucky boy stubbornly pretended otherwise, thinking he was being discreet.

Pangzi hesitated, then tentatively asked:

“So… I can go after Chen Dan now?”

“Go to hell!”

Liu Jie kicked him without hesitation.

They tussled, but Pangzi’s weight gave him an absolute advantage. With a vice-like grip, he pinned Liu Jie’s lanky frame and eventually clamped his neck under his armpit:

“Zhao Sun, quickly check the freshmen. I want to see what kind of magic this junior has, that Jie Ge keeps talking about her all this time.”

Zhao Sun switched the page to the first-years.

Lu Yibei focused intently as well.

With Ji Qingqian’s personality, she wouldn’t care about these contests—but as noted before, sign-ups didn’t require her consent.

Someone must have been captivated by the heroine’s beauty and registered her.

Liu Jie, pinned and in pain, still shouted:

“It’s her!”

No need to search carefully. As soon as the page loaded, their eyes were drawn to the ponytailed girl in uniform, calm-faced, exuding a cool and elegant aura.

The photo seemed taken during military training, slightly blurry, but that brief glimpse was enough to capture everyone’s attention. The slight focus blur even added a hint of ethereal beauty.

“…Ji… Ji Qingqian…”

Zhao Sun read her name and studied the sweat-dappled, delicate face: “Her name and appearance really… match perfectly.”

Lu Yibei gave a soft hum.

Good heavens, Ji Qingqian heroine’s votes rivaled Jiang Zile—already over eighty-five percent…

Though voting had just begun, she was effectively the school beauty.

Truly popular.

Lu Yibei couldn’t help but smile. While surprised at her popularity, he felt a subtle pang of disappointment—like a favorite, obscure song suddenly being sung on every street corner.

“This girl is terrifying—her popularity isn’t even less than Lezi Jie’s,” Pangzi marveled.

And deservedly so. This junior’s looks weren’t superior to Jiang Zile’s, but equally remarkable. Her calm, cool aura was uniquely hers.

Hao Zhangwen, looking at the screen, finally released Liu Jie.

Liu Jie stretched his neck, smug:

“Told you she’s gorgeous. Believe me now?”

“Can’t deny it, this time you didn’t exaggerate,” Hao Zhangwen said.

Zhao Sun didn’t wait for Lu Yibei’s order and cast a vote for Ji Qingqian.

Lu Yibei pulled out his phone, opened the official voting page, took a screenshot, and sent it to the Ji Qingqian heroine.

【YibeiNorth: screenshot.jpg】
【YibeiNorth: You’re the school beauty now, heroine】

It was evening, after dinner. Freshmen were likely resting in their dorms.

Sure enough, Ji Qingqian replied instantly:

【Ji Qingqian: Bored】
【Ji Qingqian: I didn’t sign up】

The girls’ dorm was buzzing with gossip.

Ji Qingqian didn’t care, but both Chu Ru and Ma Jiao Jiao were helpless against such gossip. Besides, Chu Ru was one of the “contestants.”

Of course, Ji Qingqian hadn’t signed herself up.

As she put it: “If I signed myself up, I’d lose before it even started.”

Chu Ru’s votes were low.

To be precise, in the entire first year, aside from their dorm’s Northeast superhero, everyone else had low votes.

Chu Ru was still relatively lucky among the short-statured.

Looking at Ji Qingqian, her eyes held a hint of grievance and frustration.

Chu Ru cared about appearances.

Even though she had mentally prepared, expecting she wouldn’t beat this icy goddess, she didn’t expect the gap to be so huge.

Even if Chu Ru’s votes were doubled twenty times, she still couldn’t surpass Ji Qingqian…

Ma Jiao Jiao comforted her, patting her shoulder:

“Losing to Ji Qingqian isn’t shameful.”

Chu Ru glanced at Ji Qingqian, who was completely absorbed in her phone, utterly ignoring the discussion.

A perfect illustration of: “I’m not interested, and you lack talent.”

Even with Ji Qingqian expressionless, not even glancing at her, Chu Ru still felt mocked. Her girlish heart shattered bit by bit…

“Wang Jue.”

Ma Jiao Jiao asked: “Want me to sign you up too?”

“N-No need!” Wang Jue quickly refused. “Everyone’s so pretty, I’d be embarrassed…”

【YibeiNorth: You’re famous now, I’m afraid you’ll become distant.】
【YibeiNorth: But I understand, the bright moon should shine on even the gutter.】
【YibeiNorth: And who can own Mount Fuji with love?】

Reading these three messages, Ji Qingqian’s cold expression softened slightly. Her brow furrowed.

He really…

【Ji Qingqian: So cheesy】
【Ji Qingqian: And you idiot, Mount Fuji is private property!】