Just five minutes before the afternoon classes ended, Xiao Xiao sent a WeChat message to Gu Yicing, eagerly calling out, "Hey, Ning Ning! Are you there?"
Gu Yicing's phone buzzed twice in her drawer. As the teacher's lecture wound down, she quickly pulled out her phone to check the message. The cheerful tone of Xiao Xiao's text instantly brought a smile to her face.
"What's up, Xiao Xiao?" she replied, feeling a warmth in her heart.
"Let's celebrate our first day of meeting by having dinner together tonight! How about we also go shopping afterward?" Xiao Xiao suggested enthusiastically.
"Sounds great!" Gu Yicing readily agreed, her heart fluttering at the prospect. Xiao Xiao didn't seem to mind Gu Yicing's insecurities about her appearance; in fact, her warmth and persistence made Gu Yicing feel a genuine affection for her.
Having lived twenty years with a face she deemed ugly, Gu Yicing had few friends willing to stand by her. Even those who might have wanted to befriend her often found themselves driven away by Gu Wenxuan's deliberate actions. Consequently, Gu Yicing found solace in online friendships, while in school, she often preferred to remain solitary.
"Awesome! Just wait for me at the school gate. I'll rush over as soon as my class is done. My building is a bit farther away," Xiao Xiao texted back.
After responding, the school bell rang, signaling the end of class. Gu Yicing hurriedly packed her textbooks, placing them back into her newly repaired locker, and prepared to leave.
"Yicing, why have you been avoiding me lately?" Mu Zuocheng asked, approaching her quickly.
Gu Yicing halted, turning slightly to give him a faint smile. "I just think I don't really fit walking beside someone as dazzling as you. Can't you see all those eyes looking at me like they want to kill me? I'd like to stick around a little longer, you know."
Mu Zuocheng glanced around and noticed several girls lingering outside the classroom, eagerly waiting for him. They often gathered after class, hoping to strike up a conversation or form a friendship with him. Yet, he had never shown them any real interest.
"Zuo Cheng…" A familiar voice chimed, and Gu Yicing looked up to see Zhao Yanran, the school beauty, approaching with a bright smile, waving her books.
"Looks like the school flower is calling you. I'll take my leave," Gu Yicing said, casting a brief glance at Zhao Yanran before quickly walking away.
As Gu Yicing left, Mu Zuocheng stared at her retreating figure, puzzled. Was she... jealous?
"Zuo Cheng, I need to practice the hosting script for the upcoming sports event with you. Do you have time now? I've been looking for you," Zhao Yanran chimed in, stepping closer and handing him a script.
Mu Zuocheng took the script and glanced at it. This was a task assigned by the principal, and he knew he had to perform well, so he didn't decline. He followed Zhao Yanran back to the classroom for practice.
At the school gate, Gu Yicing stood among a throng of students, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the chaotic energy surrounding her. After about ten minutes of waiting, she realized that Xiao Xiao still hadn't arrived, prompting her to consider giving her a quick call.
As she reached for her phone, a hand suddenly patted her shoulder from behind.
Thinking it was Xiao Xiao, Gu Yicing dropped her phone and turned to greet her. But before she could say anything, a sharp pain shot through her neck, and darkness enveloped her without giving her a chance to react.
Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao rushed towards the school gate, finally spotting Gu Yicing. But just a few meters away, her heart dropped as she saw Gu Yicing collapse into the arms of a tall man dressed in black.
The man cradled Gu Yicing and started to carry her away.
Her phone slipped from her grasp, clattering to the ground.
Xiao Xiao instinctively rushed over to grab Gu Yicing's phone, but she hesitated. Who was this man taking her friend?
Frantically, she picked up the phone and glanced toward the direction the man had gone. He placed Gu Yicing into a vehicle, which sped away into the distance.
Suddenly, Gu Yicing's phone buzzed again, and Xiao Xiao glanced at the screen to see an incoming call from Fu Hanyan.