Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 50

In Jiangnan, the late-summer heat of September didn’t fade easily.

Yet after the rain, the night carried a refreshing chill.

Ji Qingqian was tall and slender, and Lu Yibei’s plaid shirt was still two sizes too large on her.

The long sleeves dragged down, exposing only the tips of her pale, delicate fingers.

She glanced sideways at the boy holding the umbrella beside her.

Since arriving in Hangzhou, this was her first rain.

Her first time at Haidilao.

Her first time sharing an umbrella with a boy her age.

Fortunately, all these firsts were with him.

Though ordinary in themselves, she knew these moments would carry a unique flavor when recalled later.

The Didi taxi they called arrived quickly.

After checking the license plate, they climbed into the back seat together.

Lu Yibei confirmed the phone number with the driver, who started the car.

Ji Qingqian rarely went out, but she wasn’t cut off from the world. She had taken taxis before.

In the past, she would put on her Bluetooth headset immediately—an excellent strategy to avoid conversation with strangers.

Taxi drivers were usually talkative, and Ji Qingqian wasn’t good at handling that.

Today, though, she listened intently to the driver chatting with Lu Yibei.

The driver was a middle-aged man, around forty.

Because their destination was the north gate of Jiangnan University, he asked:

“Are you two students at Jiangnan University?”

“Yes,” Lu Yibei smiled in reply.

The driver’s tone carried envy:

“That’s wonderful. Jiangnan University is one of the best in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. If only my son could get in there…”

“How old is your son?” Lu Yibei asked.

Unlike Ji Qingqian, Lu Yibei could converse with anyone.

“Just started high school!” The driver complained like most parents: “But he only plays games and doesn’t take homework seriously. If only he could be as diligent as you…”

Lu Yibei and Ji Qingqian exchanged a glance.

In high school, they had truly been gaming immortals.

Heaven knows the driver’s praise was wasted.

“He’s still young; maybe in a couple of months he’ll find motivation,” Lu Yibei said.

He suddenly thought—the motivation to make Ji Qingqian work hard should be him…

At that thought, the hair tie on his right wrist seemed to tighten slightly, as if his heart had contracted along with it.

Not easy for you, huh, heroine…

The driver didn’t want to complain too much in front of the young couple.

He smiled, teasing:

“I’ll tell him tonight that if he wants to get into Jiangnan University and find a beautiful girlfriend like you, maybe he’ll actually try!”

“No,” Ji Qingqian suddenly said, breaking the flow.

Lu Yibei froze.

She was right—it wasn’t true. Even if she hadn’t said it, he would have explained.

Yet the fact that she spoke first made him… uneasy.

Especially with such certainty.

She continued:

“Not very beautiful.”

Lu Yibei let out a quiet sigh of relief and cursed himself silently.

Ridiculous… Why was I so nervous?

Noticing Lu Yibei looking at her, Ji Qingqian turned her face aside.

Her eyes sparkled quietly.

“Hahaha, little girl, you’re far too modest,” the driver laughed. “Ask your boyfriend—he must think you’re the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.”

Ji Qingqian had no intention of asking.

But Lu Yibei answered, smiling:

“Yes, she is the most beautiful.”

Ji Qingqian clenched her hands in her lap, murmuring softly:

“…Nonsense.”

Fortunately, the dim interior of the taxi hid the flush creeping across her cheeks.

She had let her hair down, and Lu Yibei wouldn’t notice.

This sudden compliment was hard to handle.

So unfair.

So cruel.

Damn him, Lu Yibei.

Even as she muttered in her heart, a smile still broke across her lips.

…

The north gate was the closest to the dormitories.

First, they passed the boys’ dorm.

Ji Qingqian reached for the umbrella handle, thinking to let Lu Yibei return first.

But he refused to budge.

“I’ll walk you back.”

“It’s not far.”

“I’ll walk you back.”

“I’m not an idiot; I won’t get lost.”

“I want to stay with you a little longer.”

Lu Yibei said, “If we go somewhere to sit, it’ll take too long and affect your rest. Walking from the north gate to the girls’ dorm is just the right amount of time.”

Ji Qingqian bit her lip lightly, lowering her gaze as she let her hands fall.

Raindrops pattered into the puddles on the ground.

Her recently cooling ears felt warm again.

“It’s not like we won’t see each other again…” she murmured.

He still cared about a few minutes.

“The future is for the future,” Lu Yibei said matter-of-factly. “Today is today. Not a single moment should be wasted. I’m a man who calculates carefully.”

“You’re just nitpicking,” Ji Qingqian said.

A few minutes—only a few minutes.

But Lu Yibei’s words made her cherish these minutes walking side by side.

Even as the rain drizzled, she wished the road from the boys’ dorm to the girls’ dorm could be slightly longer.

Just a little longer.

More time under the same umbrella.

The rain was light, and it was getting late.

Almost no students were passing the dorm entrance. Only the sound of raindrops on leaves filled the air.

“I’ll go back now,” Ji Qingqian said, standing at the dorm entrance.

Under the warm hallway lights, she noticed Lu Yibei’s left shoulder was wet.

She had stood on his right; her own shoulder remained nearly dry.

“Mm, go get some rest,” she said.

Lu Yibei smiled. “Jiangnan’s weather changes quickly—sunny, rainy, windy… Maybe tomorrow will be clear again. And training continues.”

Ji Qingqian nodded.

She couldn’t ignore the water stains on his shoulder.

“Bye then.”

Lu Yibei was about to turn.

“Ab Bei.” Ji Qingqian called softly.

“Hm?” he asked.

She smiled—a gentle, sincere curve of her lips, shallow but heartfelt.

“I’m really happy today,” she said. “Hope you are too.”

Lu Yibei froze, looking at her heartfelt confession.

Her words were so honest, so unguarded… something he hadn’t expected.

Even more unexpectedly, he glanced to her side.

Ji Qingqian: ?

She followed his gaze.

The dorm supervisor was standing nearby.

The aunt quickly covered her smile and spoke formally:

“The weather’s nice today… Windy and rainy… Huh? When did you get back? Ah, I didn’t hear anything, didn’t hear anything… Just pretend I don’t exist.”

Ji Qingqian bowed her head, ignoring Lu Yibei’s goodbye, and scurried into the stairwell like a little hamster.

Lu Yibei chuckled.

“Well then, goodbye, Auntie.”