The hint was so obvious, yet Chen Jiaojiao responded with this.
Xiang Yang smiled at her, deciding to stop beating around the bush.
"If I can't find a place to rent, and you happen to have a spare room, could you temporarily be my landlady?"
"Don't worry. I'm not lazy, nor am I messy. I won't mess up your place. I can even cook for you, and I'll leave as soon as school starts."
"I can pay you double the market rate, as long as I have a place to stay temporarily. Is that okay?"
He spoke so sincerely, and her place was indeed vacant. It seemed rather unkind not to let him stay.
Chen Jiaojiao, seeing such a clean-cut young man, couldn't refuse him outright.
"Alright. But I'll have to sign a lease agreement with you. If you don't meet my requirements, I'll scold you."
Xiang Yang was delighted. "No problem, I promise to do it all!"
It was getting late. Chen Jiaojiao poured him some water, and they fell silent, lacking further conversation.
Xiang Yang reluctantly got up. "I'll be going then."
Chen Jiaojiao walked him to the door.
Upon reaching the entrance, they saw that it had started raining at some point.
Xiang Yang didn't have an umbrella and still needed to find a taxi. He had work the next day, which would be inconvenient.
Chen Jiaojiao made up her mind. "Why don't you just stay for now? This way, I, as your landlady, can test if you're a suitable tenant beforehand."
Xiang Yang got his wish and stayed. He took the master bedroom, and she took the guest room.
They didn't say much more and spent the night quietly.
The next day, Xiang Yang went out for work, and Chen Jiaojiao went to her job, giving him a ride.
On the way, Xiang Yang received a phone call.
It was from a boy in his dormitory, inviting him to a gathering before the holiday. Xiang Yang agreed without hesitation.
However, the location they suggested for the gathering was a bit far.
"Could I trouble you to drop me off? I'll pay for the ride. My schedule is tight today, and it's hard to get a taxi after filming."
Knowing he was being rather thick-skinned, he felt his request to Chen Jiaojiao was a bit unreasonable.
But for some reason, he just wanted to find excuses to see her.
It was just a car ride, so Chen Jiaojiao didn't think much of it. "No problem. You don't need to be so polite with me."
Soon, it was afternoon. Xiang Yang sent the address, and Chen Jiaojiao went to pick him up.
They chatted about the day's filming as they headed towards the gathering venue.
The journey was stop-and-go due to traffic, and it took a long time to arrive.
Outside the restaurant, his classmates had been waiting for a while.
Xiang Yang got out of the car and introduced Chen Jiaojiao to them, saying, "This is my friend."
They were all young men around 20, bright and cheerful. Seeing how beautiful Chen Jiaojiao was, they greeted her warmly and invited her to stay for dinner.
Although Chen Jiaojiao would have been bored at home, she had a strong sense of propriety.
She didn't have much in common with them, nor was she familiar enough with Xiang Yang to exchange friends. So, after politely declining a few times, she prepared to leave.
Just then, another classmate who had gone to buy cigarettes returned and bumped into Chen Jiaojiao.
They were old acquaintances and recognized her at a glance.
"Chen Jiaojiao? What are you doing here?"
The person speaking was Li Pengcheng. When they were still in high school in Jincheng, they had been classmates for two years.
His family had some influence in Jincheng, and he had pursued Chen Jiaojiao before.
However, Chen Jiaojiao found his behavior arrogant and overbearing and didn't pay him much attention, leading to some friction between them.
"Li Pengcheng? Long time no see. You're in Nancheng too?"
"Yes, I've been here for two years, studying at Nanda. I'm here for dinner with my classmates."
Speaking of his university, Li Pengcheng was quite proud and gestured to his classmates behind him.
"Are you done eating, or where are you going?"
Chen Jiaojiao looked back and saw everyone waving at her, realizing they were with Xiang Yang's group.
He was also classmates with Xiang Yang.
So, everyone knew each other.
Seeing Chen Jiaojiao talking with Li Pengcheng, the other classmates gathered around again, inviting Chen Jiaojiao to stay.
"Since we're all friends, let's have dinner together. Miss Chen, do us a favor."
With everyone being so enthusiastic towards Chen Jiaojiao, Xiang Yang, as a man, understood their intentions and felt a bit displeased.
Although he had told them he and Chen Jiaojiao were just ordinary friends, she was brought by him. With such obvious intentions, what did they take him for?
"I really have something to get back to, my apologies everyone. Let's arrange another time. Thank you for your kindness, I'll treat you next time."
The evening breeze gently ruffled Chen Jiaojiao's hair. She elegantly smoothed it back, smiled, and turned to leave. Suddenly, Li Pengcheng reached out and grabbed her.
"Aren't you studying anymore? You're dressed so maturely. Are you working or married?"
"You seem to be doing quite well. Is that car yours? I didn't expect you to be doing so well after your father's downfall. What does your boyfriend do?"
Chen Jiaojiao turned back, a smile on her face, but she felt a deep sense of disgust.
What business is it of yours? Just because we knew each other before, do I have to tell you everything?
"Speak with your mouth, why are you touching me? Let go of me first."
Li Pengcheng didn't let go.
Seeing that Chen Jiaojiao wasn't being polite with him and refused to stay, his expression soured.
"What are you pretending for? You were always so wild and unrestrained, always trying to act like this in front of me. Is it fun, Chen Jiaojiao?"
"Back in school, you relied on your family's money and the attention you got. Fine, I ignored you, but now that your father is like that, you're still putting on airs with me?"
Chen Jiaojiao's smile vanished. She yanked her wrist forcefully, but it didn't budge.
She was getting annoyed.
"What is it? By the looks of it, if I don't say something you want to hear, you're not planning to let me go?"
"That's right, that's exactly what I mean," Li Pengcheng said with a scoundrel's grin.
"We're all adults, what's the big deal? I'm not like those old guys. If others can play, why can't I?"
"I'm young, I have good stamina, I guarantee I'm better than those old men..."
"Shameless!" Chen Jiaojiao glared at him coldly. "I'm warning you, if you don't let go, I'll call for help!"
"Go ahead and call. You're dressed like a streetwalker, clearly not a decent person. Call out, see if anyone is willing to pay attention to you."
Seeing their conversation devolve like this, the other two classmates were awkward. They looked at each other, then at Xiang Yang.
Xiang Yang could no longer tolerate it. He stepped forward and grabbed Li Pengcheng's hand.
"Li Pengcheng, let's talk properly. She hasn't offended you, what are you doing?"
Xiang Yang used considerable force, causing Li Pengcheng's hand to hurt. His tone became agitated.
"I'm talking to her, not you. What's it to you? Trying to play the hero? What, you think she's pretty and you want a piece of her too?"
What a scoundrel!
He never realized Li Pengcheng was such an uncivilized person.