Fingers gripping the hem of her clothes turned white. The girl lowered her head, revealing a fair and vulnerable nape, as if she were extremely frightened.
"Acting scared now? Weren't you quite brave yesterday?"
Jiang Wei stood up, his expression unreadable. Conscious of Bai Qingzhen's presence, he didn't reveal his emotions too overtly. His profile was somewhat fierce, and his voice was cold, "Let's talk outside."
His posture was clearly threatening. Shen Yue was unwilling to follow him, her intuition screaming that something very bad would happen if she did.
If Jiang Wei truly wanted to drag her out, there would be no need for such a menacing suggestion.
The fact that he asked meant he was still considering Bai Qingzhen.
With Bai Qingzhen present, there was room for negotiation.
Before Jiang Wei could grow impatient, Shen Yue's tears began to fall. She seemed startled, or perhaps simply afraid.
The girl's eyelashes were long and dark, her eyes reddened at the corners. Her skin was softer and more luminous than gentle warm jade. A beauty mark on her nose was captivating. As her lashes fluttered, pearls of tears rolled down.
"..."
Jiang Wei was perplexed. His deep-set eyes fixed on her, and his slowly furrowing brow darkened his gaze with a dangerous intensity.
He didn't believe he had said anything excessive.
Yet the girl was crying as if he had bullied her.
The girl took a step towards Bai Qingzhen, her voice soft and sweet, "Qingzhen... class is about to start."
The hidden meaning in this statement was clear to everyone.
It made it seem as though Jiang Wei was forcing her to go out, which was indeed the reality.
But in truth, Jiang Wei had not intended to bully her. He generally didn't lay hands on girls; it was considered poor form.
His earlier actions, grabbing Shen Yue and forcefully kissing He Ji, were merely to disgust He Ji. As for Shen Yue's feelings, since she was already someone of loose morals, involved with so many people, what was one more?
But now...
Jiang Wei's gaze settled on the girl's lips. They were very red, vibrantly so, not the kind that belonged to a pure person.
"Too promiscuous."
So red, she must have been doted on by many men.
He looked at the girl, a wild, beast-like fierceness flashing in his eyes. He let out a cold, disdainful laugh.
The words were directed at Shen Yue.
"Classmate Shen, I just wanted to say a few words to you. Why are you crying?"
Jiang Wei's tone was laced with mockery,
as if he were ridiculing Shen Yue's pretense.
Shen Yue met Jiang Wei's gaze. Her lashes trembled, her lips quivered slightly. She still seemed fearful, lowering her head to avoid his gaze.
She merely looked at Bai Qingzhen with her reddened eyes.
Bai Qingzhen also found Jiang Wei's behavior today somewhat strange. After all, Jiang Wei and Shen Yue hadn't known each other before, nor had they exchanged a single word.
Furthermore, the girl's apparent fear of Jiang Wei made Bai Qingzhen suspicious.
"Did you bully Shen Yue behind my back?" Bai Qingzhen asked directly.
Jiang Wei, dressed in his school uniform, his white sneakers gleaming, was tall and long-legged, exuding an overwhelming sense of youth. Without looking at Shen Yue, he drawled lazily, "How could I possibly bully her?"
Shen Yue lowered her head, her face devoid of expression, listening quietly to the man's sophistry.
Just a few days ago, he had been fierce with her, telling her to kiss a strange boy.
Wasn't that bullying?
She supposed it didn't count in Jiang Wei's eyes.
Jiang Wei didn't really mean anything by it; he just wanted to warn Shen Yue not to harbor inappropriate thoughts. When he came to school, he had seen Shen Yue getting out of Bai Yanzhe's car.
He knew that Bai Yanzhe and Bai Qingzhen were not biological siblings.
Bai Qingzhen liked Bai Yanzhe.
Shen Yue couldn't compare to Bai Qingzhen.
Shen Yue was not worthy of Bai Yanzhe.
---
Class began.
Shen Yue's grades were excellent, ranking in the top three in her class and the top ten in the entire school. Her performance was consistently stable, never slipping.
She listened attentively in class, behaving so well that she pleased the teachers.
Bai Qingzhen detested listening to lectures. She hid under her desk, playing on her phone. When the teacher discovered her, she was expelled from the classroom and left to stand in the corridor, soaking up the sun.
Midway through the lesson, the teacher needed to distribute test papers and called Shen Yue to the office to collect them.
The sun outside was intense. The mid-July summer was stifling and sweltering.
Bai Qingzhen stood until she was almost collapsing. She crouched down and, seeing Shen Yue emerge, whispered, "I want to drink bubble tea."
Shen Yue understood her meaning. "Okay, I'll go buy it for you."
Bai Qingzhen took a crisp hundred-yuan bill from her pocket and gave it to Shen Yue.
The bubble tea shop was not far from the main teaching building. Shen Yue ran there and bought a cup of lemon water.
She was running, but at a corner on the stairs, she collided with someone.
It was a clean, gentle embrace, radiating a fresh aura.
The figure was exceptionally graceful and upright, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even a simple school uniform was stretched to form exceptionally handsome lines. The fragmented sunlight that fell upon him seemed exceptionally gentle, casting beautiful light and shadow upon his raven-black hair.
In this school, there was probably no one who didn't recognize him.
The campus heartthrob, Song Yan.
As the girl looked up, her heart fluttered. It was undeniable that Shen Yue's fascination with Song Yan was understandable. After all, those who have been in darkness for a long time always yearn for the light.
"Classmate, are you alright?"
His tone was somewhat deep, like water-soaked clouds, heavy yet gentle.
Shen Yue trembled, jolted back to reality. Embarrassed, she lowered her head, nervously clutching the lemon water in her hand, her voice very low and soft, "I'm fine... I'm sorry..."
Song Yan's profile was handsome, and he smiled faintly.
"I should be the one apologizing. If you're alright, I'll be going now."
He was polite and distant.
The girl looked up again, stealing a glance at Song Yan, her gaze wandering. Her pale ears turned red. She moved aside, and Song Yan passed by her.
She caught the faint scent of wood and grass emanating from Song Yan, like spring.
Shen Yue first gave the lemon water to Bai Qingzhen, then went to get the test papers.
Bai Qingzhen was extremely thirsty. By the time Shen Yue walked past her with the test papers, Bai Qingzhen had already finished the cup of lemon water.
---
With Shen Yue following behind Bai Qingzhen, no one dared to bully her. On the surface, at least, no one dared to say anything.
Therefore, being Bai Qingzhen's lackey was, in comparison, not too bad.
However, there were always times when she was alone.
Today, it was her turn to clean the classroom. Bai Qingzhen had already left.
The classroom was left with only her.
As Shen Yue finished cleaning, she heard footsteps behind her.
Turning around, she saw Jiang Wei.
Shen Yue looked at him calmly. Her dark eyes, bottomless and profound, were like a tranquil lake in the moonlight, her beauty mark alluring.
Only Jiang Wei was there.
His figure was tall, exuding an aura of cold indifference.