The lunch period arrived, and the classroom buzzed with the usual chatter as students prepared their meals or wandered off to the cafeteria.
Xiao Yuxia sat at her desk, barely touching her lunch.
Her eyes darted toward Jiang Che and Zhang Wei, who were seated at the far end of the room, who were about to eat their lunch.
Her heart thudded in her chest.
( I need to apologize… )
"Where are you going?"
Zhixin asked confusedly as she unpacked her lunch.
"I have something to talk about with Jiang Che for a moment."
Xiao Yuxia replied.
Zhixin thought for a moment and thought that perhaps Xiao Yuxia wanted to preorder the Brown Sugar Bubble Tea.
"Okay! Come back quick."
Xiao Yuxia nodded and quickly went over to Jiang Che.
When she reached their desk, Zhang Wei was the first to notice her. He looked up, surprised.
"Oie, the goddess of your heart is coming this way!"
Zhang Wei whispered to Jiang Che.
Jiang Che glanced up briefly, his expression neutral.
( What does she wants? )
Xiao Yuxia hesitated for a moment, then mustered a small smile.
"Um... Jiang Che, can I talk to you for a moment?"
Zhang Wei was surprised by Xiao Yuxia who took the initiative to talk to Jiang Che.
In the past, it was always the other way around and he couldn't help but think that today really is a lucky day for Jiang Che.
Zhang Wei grinned knowingly and stood up.
"Alright, I'll leave you two alone. I'll go grab something from the cafeteria."
He left with a mischievous chuckle, leaving the two of them awkwardly facing each other.
Jiang Che leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed.
"What's up?"
He asked.
Xiao Yuxia took a deep breath.
"About this morning... I just wanted to apologize. I think I misunderstood something."
Jiang Che raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
He thought for a second and realized what she was talking about.
She clasped her hands together, her cheeks turning pink.
"I thought... I thought you were waiting for me, and I said some things that were probably unnecessary. I realize now you were probably busy with your milk tea business, and I—well—I misunderstood. I'm sorry!"
Jiang Che studied her for a moment, his expression softening.
He didn't think that Xiao Yuxia would sincerely apologize for something so trivial.
"It's fine!"
Jiang Che replied.
"You didn't say anything wrong either."
Xiao Yuxia blinked, slightly startled by his response.
"You're not mad?"
"Mad?"
Jiang Che chuckled softly.
"Why would I be mad? If anything, I should thank you for caring enough to say something."
Her embarrassment eased slightly, and she felt a tiny smile forming on her lips.
"Still, I was a bit... presumptuous," she admitted, glancing down at her hands.
Xiao Yuxia hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers before speaking again.
"To make up for my misunderstanding… I'm willing to do whatever you ask," she said, her tone firm yet tinged with nervousness.
Jiang Che raised an eyebrow, a playful glint flickering in his eyes as he leaned forward slightly.
"Whatever I ask?"
He repeated as he scanned Xiao Yuxia from top to bottom.
If those same words were said to his previous self, he felt like he would have died of happiness.
Xiao Yuxia instantly picked up on his tone and flushed when she saw Jiang Che checking her out.
She pointed a finger at him, her eyes wide with alarm.
"N-Nothing perverted!"
She blurted out, her face turning crimson.
Jiang Che laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Perverted? Who said anything about that? You've got quite the imagination."
Jiang Che said innocently.
"Well, the way you looked at me just now—"
She started but was interrupted by Jiang Che shaking his head.
"Relax," he said, his tone calm yet clearly teasing.
"Even if I were that kind of guy—which I'm not—why would I be interested in you? I mean, with your underdeveloped— Ahem, just know that I am not interested in you."
Jiang Che quickly changed his words, realizing the word he was about to say wasn't very appropriate.
"What?!"
Xiao Yuxia balled her fists and glared at him.
"Then why did you even confess to me before if you weren't interested?"
"I confess to many pretty girls to try my luck. Who knows? One of these confessions might actually work."
Jiang Che replied. Although that was entirely wrong, he felt he needed to say that in order for Xiao Yuxia to know that his confession was not true or serious enough.
Anyways, Jiang Che has no plan to pursue Xiao Yuxia in this life and hopes that she also understands that he wasn't really serious.
"You don't need to take it seriously."
Jiang Che said.
Her jaw dropped, and she stared at him in disbelief.
"So... you're just a shameless flirt?"
He shrugged, not the least bit offended. At least being a shameless flirt was better than becoming a licking dog.
"Call it what you want. Life's about taking chances, isn't it?"
Xiao Yuxia felt her frustration boil over. She pointed an accusing finger at him.
"You! How can you treat love so lightly?"
Xiao Yuxia said.
His confession had caused her to think deeply many times, and she had even felt guilty for rejecting him.
Yet here he was, casually telling her not to take it seriously and admitting that he had done the same with many other girls.
Then what was her previous guilt for?
She felt like beating up Jiang Che who was playing with her feelings.
She even forgot her initial reason for coming to see Jiang Che.
( How can you play with a maiden's heart? )