"Enough, hurry up and go inside!" Glaring at him impatiently, Shen Jianxi released his hand and walked in first.
Fu Yi, who was scolded by her, didn't care. He chuckled twice, chased after her, and took her hand again. Even if she shook him off, he didn't mind, smiling and taking her hand once more.
Upon entering, everyone's seats were already arranged. No matter how unwilling Fu Yi was, he had to sit separately.
Shen Jianxi knew they would be seated separately, but she really hadn't expected to be seated next to Song Duanli.
Looking at the distinguished man on her left, her mouth twitched, and she quietly shifted her stool to the right.
Her subtle movement was noticed by Song Duanli. He stretched out his long arm and pulled her back. The distance between them became even smaller than before.
Shen Jianxi: ... It's just outrageous.
She wanted to struggle again, but Song Duanli pretended to pick something up, bent down, and whispered, "If you don't want me to hug you on my lap here, then just sit like this."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jianxi, who had no intention of moving too far, instantly moved to a much farther seat.
Good heavens, he's gotten addicted to threatening her?
Because her movement was a bit large, people around them looked over. Under everyone's gaze, Shen Jianxi nonchalantly took out her phone and sent a text message to Song Duanli.
Shen Jianxi: [Enough is enough. If you continue like this, I'll only hate you more.]
Song Duanli: [.]
Although he only replied with a period, he didn't make any further impulsive moves, as if he had heeded her warning.
The person next to her finally settled down, and the host on stage began to announce the award list: "Alright, next is the moment of revealing the rankings."
"The third place in the 24th Mathematics Competition is—"
"Classmate Wang Ming from Qing City International Middle School!"
"The second place is—"
"Classmate Xie Shu from Jiang City No. 1 Middle School!"
"This year's first place is different from previous years, with two students tied for first place. They are—"
"Classmate Fu Yi and Classmate Shen Jianxi from Jiang City No. 1 Middle School!"
"Let us welcome these four students to the stage to receive their awards with warm applause!"
As the words fell, applause erupted throughout the venue. Shen Jianxi no longer bothered with the battle of wits with Song Duanli, her heart finally at ease.
With a proper smile on her face, she walked onto the stage with Fu Yi.
Xie Shu tried to hook her finger, but she subtly pushed it away, giving him a warning look.
Most people didn't notice this action, but Song Duanli, who was walking onto the stage to present the award for first place, saw it. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't do anything.
When he came up, Fu Yi and Xie Shu both saw him. They couldn't help but become alert. They knew this man had a relationship with her, especially since they were now living together.
Fu Yi glanced at Shen Jianxi's reaction and, when facing Song Duanli, acted innocently, as if he knew nothing.
"I have to say, Fu Yi is really good at acting. He was the one who witnessed it firsthand and told Xie Shu, yet now he's acting like an outsider," Shen Jianxi thought to 77 in her mind as she observed his reaction.
Song Duanli's understanding of these two was limited to knowing that one was her ex-boyfriend and the other was someone he had seen her on a date with. He didn't realize that these two knew about the relationship between him and Shen Jianxi.
Xie Shu was suppressing his anger. No matter what, he knew that in such a situation, if he caused a scene, it would only be detrimental to Shen Jianxi.
The three of them, each with their own thoughts, had a strangely harmonious moment.
The top three posed for photos. Song Duanli, as an investor, naturally stood in the center. He deliberately stood between Shen Jianxi and Fu Yi, separating them. As the shutter clicked, he secretly held Shen Jianxi's finger.
After the award ceremony and photo session were completed, Song Duanli turned to Shen Jianxi and said, "I've already spoken with your team leader. I'll take you back directly."
Saying this, he reached out to pull her.
Before he could touch her, he was blocked by the two men who were watching him intently.
Xie Shu: "She's leaving with us."
Fu Yi: "I'll take good care of my girlfriend."
Song Duanli didn't pay any attention to these two. He glanced at them and said, "I'm her older brother. Is there a problem with me taking her back?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Shu's anger couldn't be contained. He blurted out, "What kind of brother are you? With her..."
Before he could finish, Fu Yi interrupted him. Xie Shu then realized what he had just said and looked at Shen Jianxi uneasily.
Song Duanli hadn't failed to hear what he said. He narrowed his eyes and finally looked at him properly, "With her what? Speak clearly."
Fu Yi smoothly interjected with a smile, "It's not you who goes to school with her."
He knew that if everything was revealed, she would most likely go back with the man in front of him. For the two of them, the man who spent his days with her would definitely have an advantage.
Fu Yi no longer tried to stop Song Duanli from taking her away. Instead, he said, "In that case, could you please give us a ride back as well?"
Song Duanli let out a scoff. Were these two treating him like a fool? And Xie Shu, he was clearly about to say something just now, and now he dared to ask him to drive them back?
"No..."
"Okay!"
Shen Jianxi stopped him from refusing. She didn't particularly want to spend several hours in a confined space with Song Duanli. In that case, it was better to have Fu Yi and Xie Shu along.
Upon hearing his agreement, the two of them ignored Song Duanli's suggestion and directly moved their pre-packed bags from the school bus to Song Duanli's car.
Watching these two make arrangements on their own, Song Duanli was almost amused to anger.
Especially when the two of them opened the rear doors on either side, waiting for Shen Jianxi to get in, he pulled her directly into the passenger seat and then gave the two behind him a cold look before getting into the driver's seat.
In this situation, Shen Jianxi chose neither of them. Xie Shu and Fu Yi stopped arguing and got into the car, one on each side. Although they sat far apart, there was no tense standoff. They both knew that their common enemy at the moment was Song Duanli, who was driving.
Glancing at the two silent figures in the back from the rearview mirror, Song Duanli leaned over to buckle Shen Jianxi's seatbelt. After settling in, he saw the two people whose bodies were clearly tense and whose expressions were displeased. He let out a light laugh and drove away.
Shen Jianxi: ...Help, it's even more suffocating. Can you let me out of the car?!
For the rest of the journey, the car was terrifyingly silent. Shen Jianxi, bored to death, had 77 play cartoons in her mind.
Until the car stopped at a highway service area.