This voice... so familiar.
Wen Tingxue turned slowly.
Indeed, she saw Qiao Xixi standing before Mu Chen with an adoring expression.
Still with those distinctive dreadlocks, her rolled-up sleeves revealing a tattooed arm.
Quite slim.
But she looked like she wasn't to be trifled with, yet her voice, when she spoke, was sweet as honey.
Mu Chen furrowed his brows, silently observing the girl with sparkling eyes.
He was born to nobility, exuding an air of aloofness.
In his silence, even Qiao Xixi found it a bit overwhelming, her gaze darting around as if guessing.
"Should... I not?"
She saw couples everywhere, and he was the only one.
The way he threw a basketball was so incredibly cool, and his physique was to die for.
His face was impeccable, endlessly pleasing to the eye.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have risked her reputation as a gang leader to pursue him!
Mu Chen remained silent, his expression unfathomably calm.
An ordinary girl would have already fled by now.
But Qiao Xixi, besides being easily distracted from studying, didn't give up on much else easily.
Especially not a top-tier handsome guy like this.
Her peripheral vision caught Wen Tingxue. She looked familiar, and after a few seconds of staring, she remembered.
"Aren't you that..."
Qiao Xixi walked up to Wen Tingxue, racking her brain before finally blurting out, "Little cutie who bumped into my chest?"
Wen Tingxue: "..."
It wasn't necessary to be so specific.
"Sorry..."
A habitual apology, unfinished before Qiao Xixi excitedly interrupted, "It's okay, it's okay.
"Sister just has one question for you, does he have a girlfriend?"
She pointed at Mu Chen, her round eyes full of anticipation.
Wen Tingxue's mouth parted slightly, her expression troubled.
"Does he?"
Qiao Xixi pressed impatiently, and Mu Chen, unable to bear it, spoke: "No."
His deep, somewhat cold voice was tinged with helplessness, a little muffled.
But it sounded incredibly sexy.
"Wow! Your voice is so nice too!"
Qiao Xixi's eyes lit up as she stared at Mu Chen, a complete fangirl.
Mu Chen: "..."
"Then can I be your girlfriend?"
Qiao Xixi hopped in front of him, her hands behind her back, her waist leaning forward.
A slightly coquettish posture.
She asked very directly, her head tilted slightly, cute yet not lacking in boldness.
Mu Chen: "..."
"Can I?"
Qiao Xixi persistently questioned.
She was beautiful and had a unique aura.
The boys who pursued her, even if they didn't form a queue, at least reached the school gate.
Sometimes, she didn't even need to beckon them; a single glance could win over a crowd of admirers.
She had the capital for her pride and confidence.
Yet, Mu Chen wasn't swayed by this. His expression remained indifferent, a gentle rejection.
"You're not my type."
One sentence, direct and to the point, severed all possibilities.
This was crueler than a simple refusal.
Qiao Xixi's face paled slightly, then quickly brightened into a smile as she asked:
"Then what type do you like? I can be sweet or savory, dominant or cute, there's always a type you'll like."
Facing such a lively and adorable girl,
Mu Chen only felt annoyed.
His brow furrowed, he said without mercy, "I don't like you."
"..."
Qiao Xixi was speechless now, her bright eyes suddenly dimming considerably.
"Qiao Qiao."
"Sister Qiao."
"Xixi."
The boys and girls waiting by the roadside, seeing the situation was not right, quickly ran over.
They glared at Mu Chen, their anger suppressed.
Mu Chen lowered his gaze impassively and played on his phone.
Qiao Xixi forced a smile and led her group away, but as she turned, she looked back with unwillingness.
"Then... do you like boys?"
She asked, her voice very soft.
Mu Chen looked up, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
Like what kind of boys?
A few seconds later, he understood and replied coldly, "No."
Qiao Xixi nodded and was surrounded as she left.
Even so, her retreating figure still exuded a sense of loneliness and desolation.
Wen Tingxue bit her lip in sympathy. The next second, her head was turned, her gaze meeting a pair of dark, deep eyes.
Tinged with a hint of anger.
It's over.
Wen Tingxue's heart sank.
She hadn't even appeased the jealous one yet.
"Um..."
Wen Tingxue had already forgotten why he was jealous and felt too embarrassed to ask.
She could only tug at his clothes and act cute, "Brother Yu, let's go watch the show! It should be good now."
Yu Wenli curved his lips and said with a faint smile, "I think you can just watch Mu Chen. He's quite good-looking anyway."
"…………"
She remembered.
It was because of that phrase, "so handsome."
The jealous one.
"How is he as handsome as you? Brother Yu is the most handsome, the number one handsome in Jiangcheng!"
Wen Tingxue quickly placated him, fearing he would cause more trouble if she didn't.
A jealous man is completely irrational.
Especially him; he was an expert at tormenting people.
"Is that so?"
Yu Wenli leaned against the railing, arms crossed, the lamplight falling on his face.
Adding to his elegance, his expression seemed distant, clearly showing he didn't believe her.
"Then why didn't you praise me before?"
"Didn't I praise you?" Wen Tingxue asked in surprise. "Then maybe I praised you in my heart.
"Besides, you're handsome, isn't that universally acknowledged? Whether I say it or not, does it make a difference?"
She found a way to save face.
Unexpectedly, he stared directly at her, his tone earnest:
"It does make a difference."
Wen Tingxue's heart skipped a beat, her earlobes turning red. "Wha-what difference?"
"What do you think?" His gaze, charged with intimacy, fell upon her. "My little darling."
"Ah~"
Wen Tingxue couldn't stand it and covered her face with her hands.
Her mouth almost stretched to her temples.
Yu Wenli smirked sinisterly and moved closer, saying:
"Don't just praise me in your heart next time. Brother wants to hear it from your mouth, understand?"
He roughly pulled her hands away, his gaze intensely fixed on her face.
The young girl's breathing tightened, and she nodded with watery eyes, as obedient as could be.
"Good boy~"
The young man patted her head with satisfaction.
Wen Tingxue blinked belatedly, glaring at him. "You're so childish~"
To be jealous for so long over a single sentence.
"Yes," he admitted readily, then shifted the blame, "Isn't it all your fault?"
"???"
"My fault for what? I didn't do anything." The young girl cried injustice.
Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow leisurely. "Isn't it your fault? Before you appeared, Brother wasn't like this."
"..."
Wen Tingxue blinked thoughtfully.
It seemed... that was the case.
But...
Before the young girl could figure it out, Yu Wenli directly pulled her away.
"Come on, Brother will take you to watch the show."
"Oh."
Instantly forgetting what had just happened.
-
Jiangcheng No. 12 Middle School truly lived up to its reputation as a prestigious high school; the scent of money permeated everywhere.
The auditorium was built grandly, and importantly, the stage design was stunning, like watching a New Year's Eve gala on television.
Before they knew it, the event had concluded, the leaders had given their speeches again, and the group hurried out.
Hao Luoer, linking arms with Wen Tingxue, was walking out when her hand brushed against the bracelet on Wen Tingxue's wrist.
"Huh? What's this?"
She looked up and her eyes widened in surprise. "He gave this to you, right?"
Almost with certainty.
Wen Tingxue nodded shyly, her expression blushing.
Hao Luoer stroked the white rose with envy. After a moment, she asked:
"Do you know the meaning of white roses?"
"Meaning?" Wen Tingxue was surprised.
"Yes," Hao Luoer looked ahead at Chi Zerui, who was chatting and laughing with Mu Chen.
Her voice, slightly husky, said: "White roses symbolize pure love, willing to give everything for you."
"Compared to the passionate and unrestrained red roses," Hao Luoer withdrew her gaze and smiled gracefully, "white roses are indeed more suitable for you."
"Mhm."
Wen Tingxue's heart felt sweet as she touched the bracelet on her wrist, nodding in agreement.
Then she teased, "Red roses suit you and Chi Zerui."
Hao Luoer paused for a second, then smiled and shook her head. "He doesn't like red roses. No, he doesn't like roses at all."
"Ah?" Wen Tingxue was surprised. "Why?"
He looked like a playboy who would have a red rose in his mouth.
He actually disliked roses?!
"I don't know," Hao Luoer said with a hint of disappointment. "Actually, I don't know him very well, I just know he doesn't like roses.
"If a girl gives him roses, he breaks up with them immediately."
-
After sending Wen Tingxue home, the three of Yu Wenli did not part ways.
Instead, they went directly to the detention center.
There had been recent progress in the kidnapping case.
Wen Bin confessed without reservation and stopped in time. His crime was not severe, but he would still be incarcerated for a period.
As for the other main culprit...
Yu Wenli was surprised when he obtained his file.
"What are your thoughts?" Mu Chen asked with interest.
Chi Zerui drank a cola and suggested.
"Brother Yu, since Jiang Tu is ruthless, why don't you be equally pragmatic and take the person in. They might be useful."
Yu Wenli's lips curved with an unreadable expression. "Let's meet him first."
Saying this, a prison guard came out from inside and looked at the three of them, asking, "Who's going in?"
-
The man sat inside the glass enclosure, Yu Wenli sat outside.
The two stared at each other in silence.
After a long while, the man was the first to break eye contact and picked up the microphone beside him.
He asked in a faint tone, "What is it you want to see me about?"
"Do you know Cheng Xi?"