Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 62

“Put me down!”

Zhao Sun roared.

Lu Yibei held his head while Hao Zhangwen held his legs, hoisting him up with ease.

“You’ve got two choices,” Hao Fatty said. “First, leave with us dignified…”

Lu Yibei chimed in: “Or second, we can help you leave with dignity.”

Zhao Sun wasn’t tall and was even lighter in weight.

He knew just one of them could easily carry him to the playground.

“Pick one, pick one!” Zhao Sun yelled.

Damn it, he didn’t care about dignity!

“Smart choice,” Hao Fatty said.

Together, they set him down.

It didn’t hurt, but the humiliation was real.

Zhao Sun knew he couldn’t outmuscle these two strong men, but he refused to lose face verbally. He raised a middle finger at each of them.

“I’ll beat your dad up!”

Then, for theatrics, he slapped himself.

Lu Yibei quickly stopped him:

“Teacher Zhao, don’t—don’t do that.”

“All right, come downstairs, I’ll treat you to bubble tea, happy now?” Hao Fatty said, feeling generous with his earnings from performing.

Zhao Sun was somewhat appeased but puzzled.

Usually, only Jie Ge got worked up about these antics. Why were Lu Yibei and Fatty causing trouble today too?

“Look at Ji Qingqian,” Lu Yibei said simply.

Liu Jie: “…damn.”

Whatever Lu Yibei said, he refused to believe.

Hao Fatty added: “Accompanying Lu Yibei to see Qingqian.”

Lu Yibei glanced at Hao Zhangwen in surprise. The latter adjusted his glasses.

A spark of understanding lit up Hao Fatty’s eyes.

Lu Yibei nodded. Yep, Fatty was way sharper than that damn Jie Ge.

They headed downstairs.

As they walked toward the juice shop, Hao Zhangwen analyzed the situation.

“Don’t say it, but the more I see, the more I think Lu Yibei actually has a shot with Qingqian…”

He wasn’t speaking to Lu Yibei but to Liu Jie.

“Don’t underestimate it, Ah Jie.”

“Not a chance,” Liu Jie scoffed. “She practically ignored him before. He didn’t even get her contact info. If I were Ji Qingqian, even if I had a little interest, I’d be disappointed by now.”

“Wanna bet?” Hao Zhangwen asked.

“Bet on what?” Liu Jie countered.

“If Lu Yibei manages to get Qingqian’s WeChat, you go confess to Chen Dan,” Hao Zhangwen said.

It was a two-birds-one-stone scheme.

If, as expected, Lu Yibei and Qingqian connected, Liu Jie could be pushed into a romantic opportunity.

Even if it was wishful thinking, forcing Liu Jie into a confession would still require Lu Yibei to take the initiative. Stories only happen when someone acts first.

Hao Fatty adjusted his glasses again.

This masterstroke could earn him the title “Mr. Zhu” or, more affectionately, “Ge Liang.”

The only variable…

Liu Jie’s face turned red, and he said nothing.

Yes, he didn’t dare.

“Not fair! Why should I confess just because Lu Yibei gets her WeChat?”

Liu Jie modified slightly: “Fine. If Lu Yibei gets Qingqian’s WeChat, I’ll… I’ll ask Chen Dan out!”

“Damn, that’s all the courage you’ve got…” Zhao Sun sneered.

“What, you got a problem with that?” Liu Jie provoked.

Zhao Sun nodded: “Me confessing to Chen Dan? Not impossible.”

“Go to hell!”

Liu Jie lunged to kick Zhao Sun’s ass, but Zhao Sun was quicker.

He missed.

“All right, but you’ve gotta take a photo together,” Hao Zhangwen added.

Liu Jie agreed, but the final decision rested with Lu Yibei.

“Lu Yibei, your thoughts?” Liu Jie asked.

By now, he already felt a little trapped… unsure how, but he knew he was caught in a scheme.

He prayed.

Please don’t agree, Lu Yibei.

But prayers rarely worked.

“Fine,” Lu Yibei answered smoothly.

Crap.

Liu Jie groaned. He reminded: “You can’t just get the WeChat; she has to want to give it to you too.”

Thinking of Qingqian’s cold attitude, he assumed it wouldn’t be easy…

But people didn’t seem to act that way toward Lu Yibei.

“Okay then,” Lu Yibei said casually, still texting while talking to Liu Jie.

If Liu Jie saw the chat, he’d be sweating bullets.

[Lu Yibei]: Want something to drink?
[Qingqian]: image.jpg
[Qingqian]: I already bought bubble tea
[Lu Yibei]: Heroine, you really don’t keep your promises
[Qingqian]: ?
[Lu Yibei]: You said you’d only drink what I bought. Only a few days, and you’ve already broken your vow?
[Qingqian]: …
[Qingqian]: My roommate bought it
[Qingqian]: Because I carried her to the infirmary yesterday
[Qingqian]: I couldn’t refuse

Lu Yibei was just teasing, so he didn’t mind. But Qingqian explained seriously… like a well-behaved child.

[Lu Yibei]: That’s it?
[Qingqian]: Can I drink what you buy tomorrow?
[Lu Yibei]: All this time, the villain didn’t notice the heroine was thirsty, letting her roommate take advantage, and you didn’t scold me for it?
[Qingqian]: …
[Lu Yibei]: Scold me, or I’ll feel awful

After buying bubble tea, Qingqian and her roommates headed back to the training field.

Tonight’s evening training was light; the instructor allowed snacks and drinks.

She nibbled the straw gently, relaxed her brows while glancing at the screen, and sent two words.

[Qingqian]: Pervert.

Her daily mischief done, Lu Yibei was pleased.

He accepted the bubble tea from Hao Fatty and the message from Qingqian.

[Qingqian]: Evening training
[Qingqian]: Can’t walk with you tonight

She assumed Lu Yibei asking if she was thirsty was a ploy to invite her for a walk.

He often asked “want ice cream?” or “want to drink together?”

But for Qingqian, tonight’s training wasn’t different from usual, so she didn’t ask if he’d come.

Lu Yibei considered telling her he would, then changed his mind.

By the time the 404 Boy Squad reached the playground, many people were already there.

Besides freshmen training, many upperclassmen strolled leisurely.

It was just past six. After the summer solstice, it got dark early.

The sun had set, leaving only red-stained clouds on the western hills.

The recent rain hadn’t lessened daytime heat but had lowered the temperature difference between day and night.

Without the sun, the wind carried a touch of autumn chill.

This time, Lu Yibei’s group stayed a bit apart, observing from afar.

Though on the playground, students from several classes had gathered in small groups, deviating slightly from the original training area.

Lu Yibei, familiar with Sun Bing, initially considered using him as a landmark.

But after scanning, he first locked onto Qingqian.

She was looking at her phone. Moments later, Lu Yibei received her message:

[Qingqian]: The playground is crowded
[Lu Yibei]: Any handsome guys?
[Qingqian]: …You’re so boring

She didn’t care about handsome guys… silly Lu Yibei.

[Lu Yibei]: Look at your five o’clock, there’s a surprise

Qingqian: ?

She followed his hint.

Among the crowd were several strolling upperclassmen.

[Qingqian]: But nothing… she typed.

[Lu Yibei]: Wrong way
[Lu Yibei]: You were looking at seven o’clock, silly

She wondered how he knew she looked the wrong way.

Following his guidance, she looked at the correct spot.

Many people were there.

Yet her gaze immediately found the smiling boy, eyes curved with warmth.

She glanced at him once in the crowd.

Then… once more.