"This isn't a matter of how long I've known you or her," Xu Xiuwen really didn't want to discuss this with Jiang Ruoyu.
In his view, with the exam approaching, he had no energy to think about romance.
He didn't want to be the one to affect Jiang Ruoyu's grades.
Jiang Ruoyu was undeterred.
Seeing Xu Xiuwen remain silent, she continued, "Brother Xiuwen, I know why you're against it even if you don't say anything. It's because you don't want to break up with Sister Youran, right?"
"That's not it at all."
Ignoring his words, Jiang Ruoyu pressed on, "Don't worry, I won't ask you to break up with Sister Youran. I'm fine with being your girlfriend alongside her. She can be the main one, and I'll be the secondary one."
Xu Xiuwen was left speechless.
"Stop talking nonsense about main and secondary! If both of you are my girlfriends and Aunt Gu and Aunt Zhang find out, I'd be dead on the spot!"
"Then let's not tell them. We can be together secretly."
"No way! I seriously suspect you might have a screw loose!"
"Why not?"
"Because no means no, there's no why!"
"Are you worried about Sister Youran not agreeing, or are you worried about Cheng Lu not agreeing?"
"It has nothing to do with them; it's me who disagrees."
Jiang Ruoyu felt hurt at his words, her mood gradually darkening.
"Brother Xiuwen… do you really dislike me that much?"
Seeing the girl's hurt expression, Xu Xiuwen felt a pang of guilt.
"Xiao Yu, how could I dislike you?"
Jiang Ruoyu's eyes lit up at his words.
"So you like me too?"
"I didn't say that."
"You mean that's what you're implying."
Xu Xiuwen was confused by her words.
Could it be that his words did imply that?
At this moment, the gatekeeper at the entrance of the Second High School notified the students that it was time to enter, and they began checking admission tickets and IDs.
Students flocked to the gate.
Xu Xiuwen hurriedly said, "Xiao Yu, it's time, you should go in quickly."
Jiang Ruoyu stood still and didn't move.
Stubbornly, she said, "Brother Xiuwen, you haven't answered me yet."
"Answered you about what?"
"Agreeing to be my boyfriend, even if I'm the secondary one."
"Ugh, can we not talk about this now?"
"No. If you don't agree, I won't go in."
Jiang Ruoyu had always seemed obedient to Xu Xiuwen, a stark contrast to Xiao Youran, who was often willful.
However, Jiang Ruoyu was being quite stubborn at this moment.
She was even using the threat of not taking the exam to force Xu Xiuwen's agreement.
Xu Xiuwen certainly couldn't agree to that.
So, they remained in a standoff.
Minutes ticked by, and soon there were hardly any students left at the entrance.
Xu Xiuwen grew anxious.
"Xiao Yu, hurry up and go in. You need to prepare for the exam after you enter. Don't waste time."
"I don't want to go in."
"Listen, you can't joke about your future and prospects," Xu Xiuwen pleaded earnestly.
He regretted agreeing to accompany her for the exam last night and now found himself caught in her demands.
Seeing Jiang Ruoyu's unwavering stance, Xu Xiuwen was left in a dilemma.
He could only try to buy time.
"You take the exam first, and we'll discuss it after. How does that sound?"
"No, Brother Xiuwen, you need to agree now or I won't go in."
Xu Xiuwen, pushed to his limits, had no choice but to concede.
"Alright, alright, I agree."
"Really? Brother Xiuwen, you really agreed?"
"Yes."
On the surface, Xu Xiuwen agreed, but internally he thought: Get Jiang Ruoyu into the exam first, and after the exam, he would avoid her and refuse to acknowledge their agreement.
Perhaps his expression betrayed him.
Perhaps Jiang Ruoyu was too perceptive.
The girl hesitated and asked, "Brother Xiuwen, you're not planning to agree now and then refuse to acknowledge it after the exam, are you?"
Jiang Ruoyu had seen right through Xu Xiuwen's thoughts.
"How could I? Am I the kind of person who breaks promises?" Xu Xiuwen tried to argue.
Jiang Ruoyu suddenly smiled and said, "Brother Xiuwen, if you don't acknowledge it, I'll just tell Aunt Zhang about you being two-timing and manipulating Sister Youran."
This was a direct hit on Xu Xiuwen's weakness.
He couldn't let Aunt Zhang or Xiao Youran's father find out about his double-dealing and manipulating Xiao Youran.
If they knew, it would be the end for him.
"Xiao Yu! You can't do that."
Jiang Ruoyu said softly, "I don't want to either, but what else can I do when Brother Xiuwen is trying to deceive me?"
"Sigh, I meant well. Why can't you understand that?"
Jiang Ruoyu's voice dropped to a sad and disappointed murmur. She lowered her gaze and said, "Then why can't Brother Xiuwen understand my true feelings? I really like you."
Her words struck Xu Xiuwen's heart immediately.
He opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.
After a long silence, he finally sighed.
"I can agree to it, but there's something I need to make clear first."
"Go ahead, Brother Xiuwen."
"It's not enough that I agree alone. If you can persuade Xiao Youran to agree, then I'll have nothing more to say."
With Xiao Youran's possessive nature, she could step back in front of Cheng Lu.
But asking her to step back again?
Xiao Youran would never agree to him having three girlfriends at the same time.
Xu Xiuwen said this to make Jiang Ruoyu give up.
However, Jiang Ruoyu seemed very pleased by his words.
She excitedly said, "Then it's settled. Brother Xiuwen, you must not go back on your word."
"Don't worry, I won't."
Jiang Ruoyu couldn't help but let out a melodious, joyful laugh.
Her happiness momentarily melted the gloom in Xu Xiuwen's heart.
"Is that all it takes to make you so happy?"
Jiang Ruoyu nodded and said, "Of course I'm happy. I've liked Brother Xiuwen for so long, and now I can finally be his girlfriend. How could I not be happy?"
Her simple words and the girl's sincere feelings were truly moving.
Xu Xiuwen couldn't help but be affected.
He decided to change the topic. "Alright, stop being so happy for now and go take the exam. Let me make it clear: if you don't do well, my words don't count. I don't want a girlfriend with poor grades."
Jiang Ruoyu had completely relaxed.
She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Brother Xiuwen. I'll definitely do well on the exam."
"Don't talk big before the results are out."
"Hehe, Brother Xiuwen, I'll go in now."
Jiang Ruoyu waved her hand, then turned and walked towards the gate.
Before entering, she turned back one last time and said with a smile, "Brother Xiuwen, you must wait here for me after the exam, okay?"
Xu Xiuwen nodded.
Only then did Jiang Ruoyu turn around and enter the campus.
Xu Xiuwen stood in place, watching Jiang Ruoyu walk through the school gate.
Once she was out of sight, he slowly withdrew his gaze.
Thinking about the conversation he just had with the girl, Xu Xiuwen couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
Sometimes, romance just comes about in such an inexplicable way.
The exam was scheduled from 9 AM to 11 AM.
Xu Xiuwen had promised Jiang Ruoyu that he would pick her up later, so he naturally wouldn't go back on his word.
He originally planned to wait in the car, but suddenly received a call from Aunt Gu.
Aunt Gu said she was at the vegetable market and asked if he could come over.
Aunt Gu was vague on the phone, and Xu Xiuwen didn't quite understand what was going on, but he agreed readily.
When he drove to the vegetable market where Aunt Gu was, he saw her standing by the roadside near the market entrance.
Next to her was an electric scooter, which Xu Xiuwen recognized as Aunt Gu's.
Besides Aunt Gu and her scooter, there was also a pedal motorcycle parked nearby.
The motorcycle belonged to a middle-aged couple, roughly in their forties.
At that moment, the woman was talking non-stop to Aunt Gu.
Even from a distance, Xu Xiuwen could see the woman's agitation from the flying spittle.
The woman's husband stood behind her.
The woman was pulling and tugging at Aunt Gu while she argued, and Aunt Gu, unable to win the argument or leave, wore a distressed expression.
Just from a glance, Xu Xiuwen could guess what was happening.
Having grown up under Aunt Gu's care, Xu Xiuwen had always respected her.
He certainly couldn't stand by and watch her be bullied.
Xu Xiuwen slowly drove his car closer.
As he approached, he saw the woman's actions growing more intense.
He honked the horn loudly.
The sound of the horn instantly interrupted the woman's movements.
Some onlookers, mostly housewives, quickly stepped back when they heard the horn, creating a clear path.
Aunt Gu turned her head and saw a BMW parked behind her.
She quickly recognized the car and breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Xiuwen parked the car, got out, and walked over to Aunt Gu.
"Aunt Gu, are you okay?"
Aunt Gu shook her head and managed a forced smile. "I'm fine, Xiao Xu."
"That's good to hear." Xu Xiuwen nodded. "What happened?"
Seeing the BMW pull up and a young man get out, the woman's previously arrogant attitude diminished significantly.
Although she didn't know this young man, the BMW made it clear he was wealthy, which made her less confrontational.
Aunt Gu, puzzled by the sudden silence, didn't think much of it and replied, "Xiao Xu, these people crashed into my car, and they refuse to admit fault, asking me to pay for damages. Can you believe that?"
The woman couldn't hold back anymore and shouted, "You're talking nonsense. It was clearly you who hit us."
Even though Aunt Gu hadn't said much, Xu Xiuwen understood the situation.
From what he knew of Aunt Gu, she wasn't the type to cause trouble or make false accusations.
So it was clear the woman was being unreasonable.
Xu Xiuwen looked around and quickly spotted a security camera across the street from the market.
He smiled and said to the woman, "Since you're saying Aunt Gu hit you, I'll call the police right now. By the way, there's a camera over there that likely recorded what just happened."
After Xu Xiuwen finished speaking, he took out his phone and made a show of preparing to call the police.
The middle-aged woman, hearing Xu Xiuwen's words, immediately became anxious. Still unwilling to give in, she glanced around and quickly noticed the camera on the opposite pole.
Her face turned pale instantly.
But she still refused to back down. "What's the use of calling the police? They won't handle this kind of thing, and they can't arrest me."
Xu Xiuwen smirked, "I forgot to mention, my dad is the squadron leader. It's no problem for him to have you detained for 48 hours."
The woman panicked at his words.
Seeing that Xu Xiuwen was driving a BMW at such a young age, it was clear his family was wealthy. So when he said his father was the squadron leader, it was likely true.
Although a squadron leader wasn't extremely powerful, they were definitely not someone the couple could afford to mess with.
The middle-aged woman began to regret her actions.
Her husband reacted quickly, coming over to grab Xu Xiuwen's hand to stop him from calling the police, and forced a smile as he said, "Young man, it's just a misunderstanding. There's no need to call the police. Let's talk this out."
"So now you want to talk it out? What about earlier?" Xu Xiuwen retorted.
The man, now groveling, said, "It was our mistake. My wife's not thinking straight. Please don't hold it against her. I apologize to you."
Seeing the other side backing down, Xu Xiuwen couldn't help but smile inwardly.
"Hmph, apologize? You didn't hit me, so why should I accept an apology from you?"
"Sorry, I made a mistake." The man quickly turned to Aunt Gu with an extremely friendly attitude. "Sorry, it's our fault. We'll cover all the repair costs for your car."
Aunt Gu had been silently observing the situation.
After arguing with the couple for a long time with no resolution, and feeling increasingly frustrated by their rudeness and aggressiveness, she had called Xu Xiuwen for help.
She didn't expect that Xu Xiuwen's mere presence and a few words would make the couple back down so quickly.
This surprised her greatly.
Aunt Gu, showing her grace, responded to the man's apology with composure.
She shook her head gently and said, "It's fine. You don't need to fix it."
The man quickly expressed his thanks and prepared to leave with the woman.
Xu Xiuwen suddenly called out to them.
"Wait a minute!"
The man turned around and asked with a smile, "Is there anything else?"
Xu Xiuwen glanced at the woman, who was now looking very subdued and hiding behind the man, and said, "You apologized, but someone else hasn't apologized yet! Don't think everyone's forgotten how she was touching and speaking rudely to Aunt Gu."
The man's smile gradually faded, but he dared not refuse.
He subtly nudged the middle-aged woman with his hand.
Both Xu Xiuwen and Aunt Gu noticed his subtle gesture but chose not to call him out.
Prompted by her husband, although the middle-aged woman was unwilling, she had no choice but to soften her stance and mutter a few words of apology.
Aunt Gu, hearing this, said, "Forget it."
So the couple quickly mounted their motorcycle and left hastily.