Many people broke out in a cold sweat for Su Li, while Xia Zhilan now ran far away from Su Li, arms crossed, her face full of schadenfreude.
Su Li acted as though she couldn't understand the other's expression and stared directly into An Jiuge's eyes, saying, "Sorry, I don't like you."
"There are many girls present who like you; you should choose someone else to confess to."
An Jiuge laughed angrily, "Haha..." His hand tightened around the flowers, crushing the delicate petals, with red juice staining his palm.
"We, we need to go to class..."
"Yes, yes... we need to go to class..."
The students who had been gathered around just moments ago dispersed. Was Young Master An's embarrassment that amusing?
Seeing him smile dangerously, Su Li stood rigidly in front, with no intention of stepping aside.
Disgusted, she pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the faint blood streaks that Xia Zhilan had pinched onto her arm clean, then suddenly pulled someone in front of her.
Xia Zhilan was still immersed in Su Li's bold actions and was brought forward a few steps before she could react.
The two girls, one charming and cute, the other beautiful and aloof, stood several steps away from An Jiuge.
Su Li: "Since she likes you, why don't you confess to her? Classmate Xia Zhilan would surely be glad to accept."
Xia Zhilan was initially overjoyed, but upon meeting the malevolent eyes of the beautifully cruel boy opposite her, her boiling emotions instantly froze.
She stared with wide eyes, waving her hands frantically, anxiously stammering, "No, no need..."
Su Li frowned, not understanding, and asked, "Are you saying, you don't like him either?"
"Since that's the case, I wouldn't want to force you."
Xia Zhilan's eyes immediately widened even more, tears nearly spilling.
"No, that's not what I mean..."
"Young Master An, I don't dislike you..."
Su Li tilted her head and said, "Liking him is good enough..."
An Jiuge loudly exclaimed, "Enough, are you playing monkey tricks?"
He had seen through her; everyone thought the nerdy top student was easy to bully, but she was hiding her true capabilities, and this was all intentional.
An Jiuge also shed his disguise, throwing the flowers away in disgust, his hands plunged into his pockets, returning to his usual unruly demeanor.
"Now that I'm interested in you, I want you to be my girlfriend for a while, tell me what to do."
Was this a forced sale?
Su Li snorted, not even wanting to talk further.
These privileged young men always think the world revolves around them.
"There's a banquet tomorrow; I will have someone send the dress over, get ready and accompany me."
An Jiuge, naturally not a patient man, seeing soft tactics ineffective, made a stern decision.
He didn't care about Su Li's attitude at all.
It was like how humans don't consider what an ant in front of them thinks.
After An Jiuge left, Xia Zhilan was so jealous she nearly went mad, that burning and suffocating feeling made her want to rip off Su Li's calm face.
The youngest son of the An family, just to be with him was an enormous honor, not to mention that Su Li could now soar into the skies, having become Young Master An's girlfriend.
Though it was fleeting, how could a commoner like Su Li deserve such favor?
Xia Zhilan stirred her fingers, forcing a smile amidst her fierce expression, insincerely saying, "Congratulations..."
Su Li didn't feel honored, only troubled.
The words spoken by Young Master An of the An Family were absolute.
By evening, an exquisite outfit was specially delivered to Su Li.
Su Li didn't even glance at it, yet her hands kept moving.
She had nothing of value, except for a few simple clothes and a bank card for her scholarship, that was all.
At night, without alerting anyone, Su Li left Shenghua University with a small bag on her back.
----------------
In the exclusive lounge of Shenghua University, reserved for the An, Xu, Jiang, and Du families, An Jiuge was trying on various outfits.
Today was the engagement party for the eldest young master of the Xu Family, and Xu Zhiheng hadn't joined his brothers but had gone straight back to the old mansion to help out.
Apart from An Jiuge, the remaining two, Du Ruoshen and Jiang Baisha, had changed into their clothes early and were casually tasting wine while waiting for An Jiuge to finish up.
Sister Wan He was also a protagonist of the engagement party...
An Jiuge naturally wanted to present himself in the best appearance at the banquet.
Du Ruoshen said, "Jiuge, calm down a bit... the engagement party isn't about you, do you still plan to steal the show?"
Jiang Baisha's fingers stroked an Ancient Book, his eyes not lifting as he said, "Ruoshen, just leave him be... he's upset now."
"So what if he tries to steal the show, would the Xu Family really get angry with the An Family over an impaired elder young master?"
"At most they'd take it up high and let it down gently... It won't turn into a big mess."
Du Ruoshen thought about it and agreed. Although the Xu Family primarily took the military path and were on par with the political An Family, the two were not on the same level: one was a disposable piece, and the other a beloved youngest son.
If not for the pressure from the An Family and the old Xu Family head speaking up, An Jiuge might have already messed up the engagement soiree.
Yet, Du Ruoshen still worried a bit, "But Zhiheng might be displeased..."
The four were close as brothers, but in terms of family background, the Xu and An families were at the very top.
While the Du Family was wealthy and the Jiang Family distinguished, they were still a notch below, which made Du Ruoshen more cautious than An Jiuge.
There always needed to be some persuasion...
Hearing this, Jiang Baisha paused slightly, also hesitant.
"I'm not going to make trouble, I support all of Sister Wan He's decisions... she even said before that she hoped to see me find a beautiful girlfriend, so today I thought I'd show her one..."
At that moment, An Jiuge's emotions were very unstable, and he ripped off the silver-gray suit he had just put on in irritation and threw it dissatisfaction on the floor.
Du Ruoshen and Jiang Baisha exchanged glances.
Though Young Master An spoke nonchalantly, anyone with eyes could see he cared a lot...
"Girlfriend?"
Du Ruoshen laughed heartily, "You're not referring to that little school prodigy, are you?"
"I've heard, yesterday the little school prodigy made you lose face. You still kept her around and didn't retaliate? It seems you were preparing for today."
An Jiuge's lips curled into a cold smile at the mention of yesterday's humiliation, saying, "She's still useful…"
Du Ruoshen chuckled, "Interesting, very interesting..."
"Young Master An, she… she's gone…"
The normally off-limits lounge was abruptly interrupted by Xia Zhilan's anxious entrance.
An Jiuge and the others were disturbed mid-conversation, and even the usually composed Jiang Baisha looked displeased at the intruder.
An Jiuge immediately threw the object in his hand out, and the heavy lighter struck Xia Zhilan on the forehead.