"I've got something to discuss with Rongrong and can't keep you company," Xiang Yu chuckled and then turned to leave.
"Think you can leave just like that? Coming here and trying to act all tough, you need a lesson to know whose turf this is," Ding Xinglong glanced at his buddies and said, "Guys, beat him up."
By then, four people had surrounded Ding Xinglong. Hearing his command, they all shouted in unison, ready to make a move.
"Hold on!" Xiang Yu called out.
"What's the matter, kiddo? You scared?" Ding Xinglong asked with a mocking laugh, looking at Xiang Yu askance.
"No, I've just got no time right now, let's talk some other time," Xiang Yu said, and before the others could react, he bolted.
"Stop, don't run." The group behind him was slow to react, and by the time Xiang Yu was almost out of the classroom, they remembered to chase after him. But they couldn't catch up to Xiang Yu; when they got out of the classroom, he had already vanished without a trace.
Xiang Yu followed Fang Rong from afar, watching as she and another girl left the school gate laughing and talking. Since Fang Rong didn't want to go home, she rented a house with a few classmates outside. Xiang Yu then rented the house right across from theirs.
Seeing them enter the room, Xiang Yu walked up and knocked on the door. It was opened by Fang Rong's classmate, who seemed surprised to see Xiang Yu, then smiled and said, "Are you the new student who arrived today?"
"Yes, yes, pretty younger sister, you have a really good memory," Xiang Yu said with an is disarmingly naïve expression. As he spoke, he silently praised himself for his advanced ability to endure.
Perhaps flattered by Xiang Yu's compliment, the "pretty" younger sister happily let Xiang Yu into the room.
"Are you here for Rongrong?" she asked. Usually, the students who came here were looking for Fang Rong, which she was used to, and since she had seen Xiang Yu sitting with Fang Rong earlier that day, she assumed Xiang Yu was there to see her.
"Who's looking for me?" Fang Rong came out upon hearing the voices. "Why is it you? What are you doing here?" she asked, her face full of anger.
"Oh, what a coincidence. I've just moved in across the street. I thought I'd come over and get to know the neighbors," Xiang Yu replied.
"Oh, that's great! The guy who lived across before was a real creep. Now that you're here, we'll feel much safer. My name is Wang Lili," Wang Lili said, her mood seeming to lighten considerably when she realized Xiang Yu wasn't there specifically to see Fang Rong.
"My name is Xiang Yu, Lili. Nice to meet you," Xiang Yu replied.
"Lili, don't listen to his nonsense. He's the real creep," Fang Rong said contemptuously.
"Did you guys know each other before? You seem so familiar," Wang Lili said, her eyes twinkling with curiosity as she looked at Xiang Yu, making him feel rather uncomfortable.
"We... we don't know each other. Just by looking at him, I can tell he's a creep," Fang Rong retorted.
"Rongrong, don't be biased against a handsome guy. I think Xiang Yu seems pretty nice," Wang Lili commented.
Feeling uncomfortable under Wang Lili's gaze, Xiang Yu quickly stood up to take his leave. "If you need anything, just call me. I'm right across the street," he said and hurried back to his room.
"This Xiang Yu is so handsome. I wonder if he has a girlfriend," Wang Lili mused dreamily.
Fang Rong "..."
In the afternoon, Xiang Yu was idly watching TV in his room when someone suddenly knocked on the door. He sprang up, alert, and cautiously approached the door to peek. There, outside, stood a face he remembered well, beaming with a brilliant smile.
"Who is it?" Xiang Yu drawled lazily.
"Xiang Yu, open the door, it's Wang Lili." Wang Lili said excitedly.
"Oh, Lili, what's up?" Xiang Yu opened the door with a smile on his face.
"We bought lots of delicious food, do you want to come over?" Wang Lili looked at Xiang Yu expectantly.
"Sure!" Xiang Yu looked very happy, but inside he deeply regretted it.
Fang Rong, wearing pajamas, was lying on the sofa watching TV. She had seen Wang Lili go out but didn't ask what for. Now seeing Wang Lili return with Xiang Yu, she couldn't help but exclaim.
"Why did you bring him here?" Fang Rong said unhappily.
"We're all neighbors, let's enjoy the good food together," Wang Lili said cheerfully.
"Yeah, yeah, neighbors." Xiang Yu said, looking at Fang Rong with a smile, not hiding his gaze at all.
Fang Rong glared at him fiercely. "You two eat here," she said, then walked back to her own bedroom alone.
Wang Lili didn't stop Fang Rong and instead happily peeled an orange for Xiang Yu and handed it to him. Xiang Yu couldn't refuse and quickly accepted it. Wang Lili then looked at Xiang Yu with a smile and asked, "Xiang Yu, do you have a girlfriend yet?"
"Not yet." Xiang Yu replied, already regretting his response.
Wang Lili's smile grew even brighter as she leaned closer to Xiang Yu, deliberately bumping him with her arm.
Xiang Yu tensed up as if he had been electrocuted. Although he was usually slick with words, he really didn't know how to handle Wang Lili. She was alright in figure, but her face was rather plain. Now he was being blatantly flirted with by this "dinosaur," and didn't know how to respond.
Hidden in her room, Fang Rong didn't want to see Xiang Yu, but she was also curious about what the two were discussing. She stealthily cracked the door open, just in time to see Xiang Yu sitting straight as an arrow, with beads of sweat visible on his forehead.
Seeing Xiang Yu in such a state, she nearly laughed out loud. She couldn't help but think to herself, "Despite his appearance as a playboy, this guy isn't bad at all, and actually quite cute."
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Xiang Yu, as if granted a reprieve, hurriedly stood up to open it. As the door swung open, there stood a tall, ordinary-looking female student with a look of surprise on her face.
"Who are you looking for, beautiful?" Xiang Yu greeted her with a radiant smile.
"Who are you?" the beauty asked.
"Feiyan, come on in, let me introduce you," Wang Lili said happily.
By now, Fang Rong couldn't stay put in her room any longer. She changed into a different outfit and walked out, smiling mischievously at Xiang Yu. When Xiang Yu saw her smile, he couldn't help but shudder; why did it feel so creepy?
Wang Lili quickly briefed Feiyan on Xiang Yu's situation. Zhu Feiyan sized him up, and both she and Wang Lili exchanged looks, their eyes filled with little stars.
Although Zhu Feiyan wasn't as beautiful as Fang Rong, she was much better than Wang Lili.
"So this beauty lives here too." Xiang Yu wanted to flirt but, because Wang Lili was there, feared he'd be the one flirted with, so he smiled courteously instead.
"So the handsome guy is a neighbor too, have a seat. I wonder if you're taken?"
Xiang Yu: "..."