"Did it work?" Seeing Lin Qiaoxi return, the roommates, including Ouyang Yixue, anxiously gathered around.
"Mm, it worked!" Lin Qiaoxi said with a giggle, "He agreed!"
"That's wonderful!" The women were so excited they almost shouted.
"I told him that we sisters might be out very late and invited him to protect us, then I pestered him for a while. He agreed because he was worried about our safety!" Lin Qiaoxi chuckled.
"You're so resourceful. Several times before, I invited him out to dinner, and he always refused!" Ouyang Yixue said with a hint of resentment.
"He might be worried about appearances," Lin Qiaoxi laughed. "After all, his status is a bit different from ours!"
"Even if our statuses are different, he's younger than us," Ouyang Yixue said grumpily.
She felt Yang Feilong was targeting her. Why did he refuse her invitations but accept Lin Qiaoxi's? Was she not pretty enough, not charming enough? Well, in terms of cuteness, she admittedly couldn't compete with Lin Qiaoxi.
Lin Qiaoxi was obedient, good at acting cute, and could feign weakness, things Ouyang Yixue found difficult to do.
After all, her personality was more strong-willed and independent. She considered those girlishly delicate behaviors to be too embarrassing.
"Hurry up and get dressed. You must look your best!" Lin Qiaoxi said with a smile.
"Dress up now? We still have classes this afternoon," Ouyang Yixue said speechlessly. "Let's change clothes after class when we get back to the dorm!"
"This, alright then!"
...
Friday evening, at the school gate.
"Teacher Yang, over here!" Lin Qiaoxi waved with a smile at Yang Feilong as he walked out of the school.
Yang Feilong walked over slowly, looking at the four women who were clearly dressed up. He smiled. Since he was here, he couldn't dampen their spirits.
"You four look very beautiful today!" Yang Feilong complimented.
"Weren't we beautiful before?" Lin Qiaoxi giggled.
"You were beautiful before, but today you're even more beautiful," Yang Feilong shrugged and said.
"Thank you!" The women echoed with smiles.
However, Ouyang Yixue didn't seem as happy. Her gaze towards Yang Feilong held a hint of resentment.
Yang Feilong naturally noticed Ouyang Yixue's expression. He felt a bit awkward, as Ouyang Yixue had invited him out to dinner several times, only for him to refuse each time.
Although her stated reason was gratitude, Yang Feilong's reason for refusal was clear: he had received a million yuan from her before, and that settled things; there was no need for further gestures.
By the roadside, Yang Feilong hailed a taxi and said, "Which of you will go first?"
"Yixue and you three go ahead to the restaurant. Teacher Yang and I will go together," Lin Qiaoxi said.
"Qiaoxi, you three go ahead. I have something I want to discuss with Teacher Yang privately. Please, thank you!" Ouyang Yixue said apologetically.
"This... alright then!" Lin Qiaoxi hesitated. She also wanted to ride with Teacher Yang, but Ouyang Yixue usually didn't trouble her without a good reason, and she knew Ouyang Yixue had been rejected when asking Yang Feilong out for dinner.
It was difficult for her to refuse Ouyang Yixue's request.
"Thank you," Ouyang Yixue said gratefully.
"It's fine! We'll wait for you when we get there," Lin Qiaoxi smiled.
So, Lin Qiaoxi and the other two women took a car and left first, while Ouyang Yixue looked at Yang Feilong.
"Ahem, you said you had something to discuss with me? It's not another invitation to dinner, is it?" Yang Feilong avoided Ouyang Yixue's eyes a little. She was staring at him intently, and he felt quite pressured.
"Why do you refuse when I invite you to dinner, but accept when Qiaoxi invites you? Does my status in your heart fall far short of Qiaoxi's?" Ouyang Yixue stared into Yang Feilong's eyes.
"This, it's because I was worried about your safety. Even if I didn't come, you still had to celebrate her birthday!" Yang Feilong said with a wry smile, speaking sincerely.
"And you weren't worried that if you refused me, I would be very sad and do something foolish?" Ouyang Yixue looked at Yang Feilong with a blank expression, speaking seriously.
"This..." Hearing this, Yang Feilong was completely bewildered. What he had said and what Ouyang Yixue was saying were two different things!
"Alright, I know Teacher Yang is worried that I've taken a liking to you!" Ouyang Yixue sighed.
Upon hearing this, Yang Feilong's face showed a hint of embarrassment. Well, that was indeed what he had thought.
Especially after Han Yun's reminder last time, he had become even more concerned. He wasn't afraid for himself, but he feared that Ouyang Yixue and other female classmates who were close to him might face gossip or rumors.
That wouldn't be good for them.
"It's not that I'm worried about that, it's just..." Yang Feilong tried to explain, unable to reveal his true thoughts.
"But I really have taken a liking to you!" Ouyang Yixue looked at Yang Feilong with a serious expression.
"..." Yang Feilong was stunned on the spot.
Did she have to be so direct!
Why did his heart feel a little flustered?
If this were to get out, would it...?
As he was lost in thought, Ouyang Yixue suddenly chuckled, "Teacher Yang, you don't think I'm serious, do you? I'm just joking!"
"You scared me!" Yang Feilong patted his chest and said with a wry smile, "You should joke less like that in the future. My heart isn't very good, and hearing such jokes can easily raise my blood pressure!"
"But what if I were serious? Does Teacher Yang not know the saying that many true words are spoken in jest?" Ouyang Yixue looked at Yang Feilong again, her expression lingering.
"This..." Yang Feilong was dazed.
"Silly you," Ouyang Yixue said to Yang Feilong with a smile. "Looking at your呆呆 (dāi dāi - dazed/silly) look, you don't seem like a teacher at all!"
"That's going too far. How can you talk to your teacher like that?" Yang Feilong said irritably.
And this statement sounded rather strange.
Although he had read quite a few novels about romance and now had a girlfriend, he was still somewhat inexperienced in matters of the heart.
Otherwise, he would have sensed that Ouyang Yixue's attitude towards him indeed went beyond a casual acquaintance.
"Alright, let's not talk about that. I asked you to stay behind because I really need your help with something!" Ouyang Yixue said.
"What is it?" Yang Feilong asked.
"My grandfather is in very poor health. I hope that in the next two days, when you have time, you can help examine my grandfather's health!" Ouyang Yixue said with a serious expression.