479: Chapter 479: It is Valuable for a Person to Have Self-awareness 479: Chapter 479: It is Valuable for a Person to Have Self-awareness Liu Dingyang and his companion left, but the quiet they should have brought didn’t last long before it was shattered by another voice.
A man around twenty-five or twenty-six approached, with a flattering smile on his face, he said, “You are Xiaodong, haha, women really do go through an ‘Eight Transformations’.
It has been more than a decade, and you’ve grown so much, so beautiful.
If it weren’t for seeing Xiaoxi sitting here, I would hardly dare to recognize you.
I heard you’ve been abroad all this time and have finally come back home.
How have you been abroad all these years?”
Zhang Xiaodong knitted her brows slightly, looking bewildered at the man beaming with joy and enthusiasm before her, clearly having no recollection of him.
Even someone she used to know would undoubtedly have been forgotten after more than ten years.
The changes of ten years could turn seas into mulberry fields.
Zhang Xiaoxi also looked at the overly familiar boy with no recollection of knowing the person before her.
“Hehe, don’t tell me you guys don’t remember me?
Xiaoxi, you can’t have forgotten me too, right?
We met not long ago at Fairy Palace; we even had a good long chat then.
Xiaodong, we were classmates for a few years during our primary years at Donglin, and even shared a desk.
I’m Liu Xiaoliu—remember now?” the boy said.
Zhang Xiaodong truly couldn’t recall, the memories from primary school were far too distant, and moreover, when there were so many classmates, it was impossible to remember each and every one.
Moreover, Zhang Xiaodong had always been tormented by illness over the past decade and had long stopped dwelling on past events, having forgotten them completely, without any lingering impressions.
And most importantly, Zhang Xiaodong also didn’t feel she had ever been particularly close to this Liu Xiaoliu from before, as she rarely played with boys in her youth.
Zhang Xiaodong looked at Zhang Xiaoxi, and seeing that Zhang Xiaoxi still did not remember this Liu Xiaoliu, conveyed an unknowing glance.
Since it was an old classmate who had come seeking her out, and as the other party was so enthusiastic, Zhang Xiaodong, though she had been unaffected by worldly affairs these years, still possessed the cultivated manners of a proper young lady, and felt it wouldn’t be polite to directly admit her lack of recollection.
She could only offer a shallow smile, saying, “Oh, it’s you.
Sorry, I haven’t been out and about for over a decade, everything seems to have changed too much, I indeed didn’t recognize you.
I don’t remember much about the past, either.”
“Hehe, no problem, no problem, as long as you still know who I am, that’s good enough.
It’s normal to not remember after so many years,” Liu Xiaoliu said, not taking offense at all, and without waiting for Tangyu and the others to speak, he promptly sat down, the smile on his face growing even broader as he continued, “Hehe, back in elementary school I thought you were the prettiest in class, and I even had a secret crush on you.
I even wrote you a love letter once, hehe, Xiaodong do you remember?”
Seeing this overly familiar, self-satisfied guy who carried on smoothly, even Tangyu felt uncomfortable—a truly thick-skinned individual.
Could he not see that there was not the slightest welcome in the faces of Zhang Xiaodong and Zhang Xiaoxi?
Zhang Xiaodong sat there calmly, while Zhang Xiaoxi pouted slightly, clearly not fond of this uninvited guest.
The pleasant atmosphere had been ruined by his arrival.
When a boy offers unwarranted kindness, it’s either out of ulterior motive or thievery, so seeing Liu Xiaoliu’s slick demeanor made Zhang Xiaoxi uneasy; she did not like such a person harboring intentions towards her sister.
The years of quietude had softened Zhang Xiaodong’s personality significantly, and she also felt uncomfortable, yet found it difficult to express.
Any ordinary person would have found it embarrassing to continue sitting there, but Liu Xiaoliu’s face showed no trace of feeling out of place, acting as if he had rendezvoused with a long-lost friend.
“Hehe, Xiaodong, you and your sister Xiaoxi really do look alike, just like twins.
You looked very similar even as kids, though back then the age difference was evident.
I remember when we were attending Donglin Primary, we would often go home together after school, playing games.
These distant memories, whenever I think of them, have a very special charm.
Time really does fly by quickly; it feels like in the blink of an eye we’ve all grown up.
By the way, Xiaodong, have you really not come home in all these years abroad, not a single piece of news from you?” Liu Xiaoliu asked again.
“No,” Zhang Xiaodong replied casually.
“My parents always said they’d send me abroad to further my studies, but I always disagreed, probably because it’s just not my style.
I actually think our country is pretty good now.
Haha, it’s been ten years; Donglin City must have changed a lot, don’t you think?
How do you think it compares to abroad?” Liu Xiaoliu was quite adept at finding topics of conversation.
“It’s okay,” Zhang Xiaodong said, not really wanting to answer the question, not knowing how to respond, could only say those two words offhand.
Liu Xiaoliu’s enthusiasm was exceptionally high, his skills at striking up a conversation were not ordinary.
Zhang Xiaoxi really couldn’t take it anymore and stood up, saying, “Sis, don’t we still have to go there?
It’s about time; let’s go.”
“Yes, it’s about time to leave,” Zhang Xiaodong also stood up and nodded.
“Hehe, where are you guys going?
I happen to be free this afternoon; let me join you.
It’s been over a decade since we last met, today’s a rare chance, let’s hang out together,” Liu Xiaoliu also quickly stood up and said.
Tangyu pursed his lips…was this guy’s IQ really that low?
Couldn’t he understand the meaning behind their words?
“No need to trouble yourself, we can manage on our own,” Zhang Xiaodong said.
“No trouble at all, not at all, we’re classmates, why speak so formally?
I’ll take you guys,” Liu Xiaoliu said.
“No need, we have our own car, thank you,” Zhang Xiaoxi said, her displeasure evident, biting down hard on the word ‘thanks’.
But Liu Xiaoliu seemed completely immune to her words, or was pretending to be oblivious, his face still wearing a smile as he said, “Then I can accompany you, two beautiful women walking on the street are easy targets for lechers, haha.
We can stroll around in the afternoon and I’ll treat you to dinner in the evening.”
Zhang Xiaoxi was feeling rather defeated by Liu Xiaoliu by then; how could there be people with such thick skin nowadays?
And an upper-class young master, to boot?
He didn’t seem to fit the bill at all.
Liu Xiaoliu’s pestering behavior alerted Tangyu; this guy was so intent, shamelessly eager to get close to Zhang Xiaodong, but what exactly was his purpose?
Was he simply pursuing Zhang Xiaodong, or was there some other ulterior motive, a hidden agenda?
Tangyu couldn’t help but be wary; there must be someone keeping an eye on Zhang Xiaodong.
“I really don’t need it, Tangyu is with us.
I have something to do, I really don’t have any time,” Zhang Xiaodong still declined politely.
“I see, well, okay then, you guys go ahead,” Liu Xiaoliu didn’t persist any further.
Zhang Xiaodong secretly took a breath of relief, but before she could fully relax, Liu Xiaoliu added, “Then leave me your phone number.
If you’re not free today, you must have some time tomorrow, right?
After many years, let’s have a reunion dinner together.
Actually, I can contact a few old classmates, and we can all get together for a meal as a small reunion.
Haha, there are a lot of guys in our class who still remember you fondly.
Whenever we meet up for food, you always come up in conversation.
You are the goddess of our hearts.”
“…”
Zhang Xiaodong was at a loss for words.
“Can you not be so annoying?
My sister is busy tomorrow and she’ll be busy the day after too; in fact, she’ll be busy forever.
Can you please step aside now?” Zhang Xiaoxi’s temperament was not as patient as Zhang Xiaodong’s, and she couldn’t help but lose her temper.
Zhang Xiaodong pulled at Zhang Xiaoxi, saying, “Xiaoxi, that’s rude.
I’m sorry, she’s still young and doesn’t know any better.”
“Haha, no worries, no worries.
Xiaoxi has always been like this, I won’t take it to heart.
What’s your number?
I’ll jot it down,” Liu Xiaoliu’s thick-skinned self seemed to have an extraordinary level of immunity to rejection, so much so that even Tangyu was somewhat impressed by it.
Zhang Xiaoxi felt like cursing.
She had seen people with thick skin, but never to this extent!
The audacity of such an approach was truly beyond words.
If this guy were to go into sales, he would surely have boundless prospects.
“I don’t have a phone,” Zhang Xiaodong said, and she spoke the truth; she didn’t have a phone.
“Haha, you just got back into the country and haven’t bought a local SIM card yet, right?
No problem.
Then you must have a landline at home.
I’ll call your home phone,” Liu Xiaoliu suggested.
“…”
Tangyu could no longer stand idly by.
He stepped forward rapidly and faced Liu Xiaoliu, saying, “Can you really not understand when someone is hinting at something?”
Seeing Tangyu finally stepping up to intervene, Zhang Xiaoxi sent him an appreciative look.
She wholeheartedly approved of Tangyu’s actions.
If it were Xiaoxi, Zhang Xiaodong would surely have scolded her; after all, they were educated ladies of high society and couldn’t be too impolite.
However, since the words came from Tangyu’s mouth, Zhang Xiaodong naturally wouldn’t say anything.
Besides, she was relieved, as she didn’t want to have any more dealings with Liu Xiaoliu.
There was no way Zhang Xiaodong believed that Liu Xiaoliu’s enthusiastic efforts to connect had no ulterior motive.
She really had no feelings for him whatsoever, so his deliberate attempt to approach and befriend her also caused her some annoyance.
With this annoyance, she naturally wanted to keep an even greater distance from him and not get entangled in any relationship.
Liu Xiaoliu’s resilience was indeed extraordinary.
With a smile almost unchanged on his face, he looked at Tangyu and said, “Buddy, I’m not quite sure I get what you’re trying to say.”
“Don’t you understand the value of self-awareness?
Or is that concept beyond you?” Tangyu said.
“I understand, but what does that have to do with me?
You are Tangyu, right?
I’ve heard about you.
Recently, you’ve been quite famous.
However, this matter doesn’t really concern you, does it?
So, I really don’t get your point,” Liu Xiaoliu said.
“You don’t understand?
Okay, let me be more direct.
Whatever your intentions in trying to get close to Xiaodong, I ask you to abandon that idea.
The saying ‘he who has nothing to do and offers undue attentiveness either has evil intentions or is a thief’—you’ve heard that one, haven’t you?
So, please, do not bother Xiaodong anymore.
Do you understand now?” Tangyu said.
“Haha, dude, are you misunderstanding something?
Why the nervousness?” Liu Xiaoliu laughed openly: “You are mistaken, buddy.
Xiaodong and I are really just classmates.
I haven’t seen my old classmate for over a decade, so I’m just excited and happy.
Wanting an old classmate’s number, talking to them, and inviting them out for a meal isn’t too much to ask, is it?
But still, Xiaodong hasn’t said anything.
I don’t understand why you’re so agitated.”
“Xiaodong hasn’t said anything because she’s being polite and giving you face.
If she won’t say it, I will say it for her.
Now, is that clear enough?” Tangyu said.
Only then did Liu Xiaoliu’s expression slightly change, as he asked, “What right do you have?”