Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 42

What…?

The iceberg melted?

The freshmen looked at Ji Qingqian again. She was still wearing that indifferent expression.

But just now, she clearly said…

“Okay, thank you, senior.”

Only five words. But the meaning was crystal clear: “agree”, “accept”!

Completely different from rejection!

This was the first time in days that the icy campus goddess had accepted a boy’s goodwill.

The freshmen couldn’t help but glance at their senior, Lu Yibei, then over at Chen Wei, who looked even more dejected after hearing the words.

The contrast… was painfully stark.

Not just the freshmen—the very sons of Lu Yibei himself were stunned, whispering in disbelief.

Liu Jie: “Is that… Laobei?”

Zhao Sun: “Wow, feels easier than expected, right?”

Hao Zhangwen: “Laobei’s just going to secretly put in effort and blow us all away, huh?”

Brother Jie had a point.

The campus beauty treated Laobei differently from everyone else.

Lu Yibei smiled at Ji Qingqian.

She wanted to smile back, but under all the attention, she didn’t know what expression would be appropriate. In the end, she only pursed her lips.

Yet Lu Yibei could still see the faint smile lingering in her eyes.

“Monkey Bro, do you think this senior beat you too?”

The question came from Chen Wei’s roommate. “So who do you think is stronger—our little Wei or the senior?”

Trying to save face for Chen Wei.

Before Sun Bing could answer, someone jumped in:

“The senior won fairly against the instructor, right? Chen Wei is strong, but with the senior’s help, the instructor barely edged him out… Isn’t it obvious who’s stronger?”

Sun Bing hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer.

He looked at Lu Yibei with his eyes.

Was this part of your plan?

Plan? Lu Yibei thought. This was beyond expectation…

He only sang to boost Monkey Bro’s reputation. He never imagined it would boost his own.

Sun Bing was straightforward. While favoring Lu Yibei, he wouldn’t belittle Chen Wei’s strength.

“I can’t say. They’d have to compete directly for that,” Lu Yibei said.

Chen Wei perked up.

“Senior…”

“I’m no match for you,” Lu Yibei replied.

For one, he didn’t see the point in competing with this guy…

The junior probably just wanted to surpass him to gain Ji Qingqian’s favor.

But Lu Yibei didn’t need such flashy tactics. Besides, Ji Qingqian wouldn’t raise anyone’s favor based on this.

And…

“Time’s almost up,” Lu Yibei said. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late for class.”

Hao Zhangwen glanced at his sports watch. “Ah, really… Monkey Bro, we better go.”

Sun Bing was merciless: “Get lost. I thought you’d never leave!”

“Catch you later,” Zhao Sun said.

“Don’t come back, you lot. Whenever you show up, trouble follows,” Sun Bing retorted.

“Goodbye, Monkey Bro!” Liu Jie waved.

Sun Bing ignored him completely. Liu Jie’s heart sank.

Before leaving, Lu Yibei picked up the forgotten cup of milk tea.

He waved it at Ji Qingqian:

“I’m going to drink this.”

Ji Qingqian said nothing—her silence was tacit consent.

Amid the juniors’ reluctant farewells, Lu Yibei pierced the seal with the straw and took a sip, tilting his head to savor it.

“Laobei, why haven’t you asked the campus beauty for her WeChat yet?”

From a distance, Liu Jie continued to hype: “If you don’t go now, I won’t let you! Once I get her WeChat, don’t come begging me!”

Zhao Sun: “Pfft.”

Liu Jie: “What’re you laughing at?”

Zhao Sun: “Thinking of something funny.”

Fatty Hao: “Jie Ge, your legs were shaking when you saw her earlier. If you went for her WeChat now, you’d probably faint before even opening your mouth.”

Liu Jie: “Nonsense! I’d never chicken out—”

“Don’t blabber if you don’t know the situation,” Zhao Sun cut in.

“We can all see that the campus beauty treats Laobei differently. Laobei should notice too, but he’s patiently holding back, not overstepping… do you know what this is?”

“What?” Liu Jie asked.

“Foolishness… this is called playing hard to get! Whoever speaks first loses. He’s waiting for the campus beauty to make the first move! Laobei’s grown up, finally using tactics…” Zhao Sun said.

“Whoa, strategic genius! Laobei, you’re amazing! Should be promoted to general,” Liu Jie exclaimed, glancing at Lu Yibei. “Right, Laobei?”

Lu Yibei: “Huh?”

He hadn’t even been paying attention to the conversation among the three guys. He was sipping his milk tea while typing a message to Ji Qingqian.

[YibeiNorth: Horrible taste.]

[Ji Qingqian: What did you say?]

Ji Qingqian had been allowed to rest, though still on the training ground, and could sit while playing on her phone.

[YibeiNorth: That cup of milk tea I gave you]
[YibeiNorth: Tastes awful]

Chu Ru found a shady spot under a tree and pulled Ji Qingqian to sit.

She glanced at Lu Yibei’s message, lips pursed.

[Ji Qingqian: You saw it?]

Referring to the milk tea delivery.

[YibeiNorth: Yeah, saw it all.]

[Ji Qingqian: Annoying.]

[YibeiNorth: Understandable, it’s hard to enjoy such a terrible milk tea.]

Ji Qingqian frowned slightly, realizing Lu Yibei knew she found it awful.

But the next message made her relax again.

[YibeiNorth: A bunch of idiots, can’t even get the milk tea flavor right.]

[YibeiNorth: Got time later? I’ll take you to one that actually tastes good.]

Ji Qingqian smiled faintly.

[Ji Qingqian: Right, you’re smart.]
[Ji Qingqian: Milk tea is all your responsibility now.]
[Ji Qingqian: From now on, only drink the ones you buy.]

Lu Yibei stared at the words on the screen while chewing on the chewy pearls in his mouth.

How had ordering milk tea made him feel like he was signing a lifelong contract?

“Laobei, what’re you looking at with that creepy grin?” Liu Jie leaned over.

The 404 Boys’ Group was already in class, two minutes before start, the room bustling.

“Get lost.” Lu Yibei pushed him away.

Liu Jie and Hao Zhangwen continued chatting, still about the freshman.

“Girls like Ji Qingqian are rare,” Liu Jie said sincerely.

Hao Zhangwen agreed. “Even prettier than in photos. The title ‘campus beauty’ is well-deserved.”

Liu Jie: “But the fashion sense… not so much.”

Hao Zhangwen: “Weren’t they all wearing camo uniforms? How can you even judge?”

Liu Jie smirked: “You just don’t notice details, bro. Her shoes’ color combo is awful—doesn’t match her at all. Right, Laobei?”

Lu Yibei: …