Chapter 21.2 - (Part 2) (2/2)

The same went for the other boys from A High’s representative team.

“What are you guys looking at?” Kong Jiaze said with a slight tone of dissatisfaction before she tugged on her windbreaker and walked toward them.

“She’s so pretty—” Ye Bai turned to look at Shen Liyao in shock. “God Yao, have you known this since the beginning?”

Shen Liyao merely furrowed his brows. There was no shock in his face. It was clear that he knew from the start.

Ye Bai regretted calling Zhao Mingxi a little follower back then. If he knew that she was this pretty, he would have pursued her. After all, she had a pretty good personality too.

“What pretty?” Kong Jiaze thought that he was talking about her. So, she subconsciously lowered her head, pulled on her dress and smiled.

However, it was only then that Ye Bai noticed her. He raised his head and saw how she was in her ballet outfit. “What? Were you having class nearby?”

But before Kong Jiaze could reply, Ye Bai focused his attention on his phone again.

Kong Jiaze: “…”

What in the world are these people looking at?!

Kong Jiaze took out her phone and opened the page they were looking at – A High’s forum. In the end, she saw how Zhao Mingxi whom both she and E Xiaoxia had voted to second place was now already in first place with more than 3,500 votes.

“…”

Kong Jiaze was confused as she looked at the girl in the new picture. It was obviously taken this morning.

If someone were to say that this was a fan taken picture of a celebrity, she would have believed them.

Kong Jiaze was quick on her feet. She instantly understood the situation— No wonder Zhao Mingxi had the courage to go after Shen Liyao. It was because she was this pretty.

Looks like she just shot herself in the foot.

Kong Jiaze pulled a long face. She stared at this group of boys for a while. She tried her best to speak in a soft, casual and teasing tone, “I have some information about the incoming Hundred School Tournament, are you guys interested? If you only care about pretty girls, I’ll be leaving then.”

Only then did she manage to attract the attention of the guys. Some of them raised their heads and asked, “What information?”

“Inside information. I’ll tell you guys for the sake of God Yao.” Kong Jiaze purposely kept them guessing. She took a glimpse at Shen Liyao, but Shen Liyao still wasn’t looking at her.

“Just tell us.” Ye Bai also looked up from his phone. “What insider information? It can’t be that the Tournament has been cancelled, right?”

Everyone knew that Kong Jiaze had a relative working in the Department of Education. Thus, there was a high chance that her insider information was true.

Kong Jiaze stared at Shen Liyao. Still he hadn’t made any response. She could only bite her bottom lip and say, “It is something related to your school. I heard that Professor Gao from your school— aka the ex-homeroom teacher of the Gold Medal Class went to register another student for the Tournament. Could it be that he had his eyes on someone from your school and decided to give them another chance? By the way, remember that this is insider information. It’s not very reliable so don’t tell anyone else.”

“How is that possible?” Ye Bai exclaimed. “How can it be that we have not heard even a peep of such a huge matter?”

One guy said, “What exactly is the background of this Professor Gao? I only know that he is really good at teaching and setting questions, and that his name always appears in the National Journal. Aside from the fact that our dean and headmaster would always bow to him in respect, why do various competition organizers recognize him as well?”

Kong Jiaze rolled her eyes at that guy as she despised that guy’s ignorance. She said, “The famous national trainer of the country retires after decades of service. What do you think?”

As Ye Bai was quite familiar with Professor Gao, he added, “But that is impossible. Professor Gao never accepts gifts nor does he have any relatives in our school. So what’s the point in him registering for another student from our school?”

“Beats me.” Kong Jiaze pulled a chair over to her and sat down beside Shen Liyao. She said, “Just remember not to tell anyone about this.”

After Kong Jiaze shared this information, a bunch of guys from the school representative team shifted their attention to her.

A guy who had a crush on her saw how she kept on glancing at Shen Liyao. Seeing as how Shen Liyao was still looking at the picture on his phone, her mood turned sour and it was reflected in her expression. That guy could easily read her thoughts.

Thus, he tried to ingratiate himself with her, “I think outer appearances are less important than wits. No matter how beautiful she is, she will never be able to qualify for the Hundred School Tournament.”

Kong Jiaze felt better upon hearing this. She gave that guy a smile.

It was rather surprising to her that her appearance was truly inferior to that of Zhao Mingxi’s.

But what was the point in just being pretty? In terms of results, intelligence and being an all-rounder, it was obvious that she was the better option.

For example, she was able to participate in this year’s Tournament, yet Zhao Mingxi would not be able to do so no matter how hard she tries.

“Are you guys done with your drinks? If you’re done, then stop talking and head back to school.”

Shen Liyao tucked his phone away before standing up with a stony expression.

He walked to the counter and raised his head to look at the menu. Then, he ordered a cup of Supreme Strawberry Cheese.

“I almost forgot to order something.” Kong Jiaze looked around. When she saw how everyone save for herself had ordered a drink, she thought that he was ordering the drink for her. She walked over and said in surprise, “Thanks.”

Shen Liyao gave her a glance. “It’s not for you. Order your own drink.”

Kong Jiaze: “…”

Kong Jiaze looked back awkwardly. Thank goodness, the guys were all discussing the information she had shared just now and paid no attention to her.

On the other hand, Ye Bai was able to guess the reason behind Shen Liyao’s actions. He stood beside Shen Liyao and whispered, “Has it been almost half a month since Zhao Mingxi last came to find us?”

Not only did she stop meeting them, she didn’t even text or call them.

Ye Bai didn’t know if Shen Liyao had initiated a call with Zhao Mingxi before, but seeing as how Shen Liyao had no choice but to go to the library in order to look for Zhao Mingxi that day, he knew that he had probably called her. However, Zhao Mingxi had changed her number— and she didn’t even tell him.

Someone who used to appear in his life frequently had suddenly disappeared.

Setting aside how Shen Liyao felt about this, even Ye Bai himself was unused to it.

Furthermore, was A High that big? They were in the same school, studying in the same building, eating in the same cafeteria, and their classes were right next to each other, yet they had not seen her at all.

They didn’t know if Zhao Mingxi was purposely ignoring Shen Liyao or… Then again, how could there be so many coincidences? Back then, it was always Zhao Mingxi who treated Shen Liyao well.

Shen Liyao had a cold expression on his face. He remained silent.

Ye Bai watched as the server handed him the Supreme Strawberry Cheese drink. He spoke to him softly with the intention of consoling him, “God Yao, don’t overthink it. I think she’s just playing hard to get. She might be trying to get your attention this way.”

“See, hasn’t she attracted your attention already? I remember that the drink, Supreme Strawberry Cheese, was Zhao Mingxi’s favorite. If you buy this for her, then it means you’re admitting defeat first.”

Shen Liyao glared at him. Then, he turned to stare at the drink in his hands.

He hesitated for five seconds before tossing it in the trash.

He never lost.

And this time was no exception.

*

Meanwhile, Zhao Zhanhuai was developing a headache as the date for the birthday banquet was approaching. If he is still unable to coax Mingxi home before their mother’s birthday, the truth will out.

Zhao Yuning had failed to meet Zhao Mingxi in school for two consecutive days already. Thus, he could only get two of his friends to help him send the gift that he had specially brought to the ground floor of Zhao Mingxi’s dorm.

Before he sent the gift, Zhao Yuning initially planned to write an apology note. But with his terrible vocabulary skills, he was definitely unable to write something good, and if he asked his friends to write it for him, it would be too corny. He had never apologized like this before. Therefore, Zhao Yuning scrunched up the paper and threw it away in annoyance.

He felt as if he had lost two kilos ever since Zhao Mingxi left home.

Although Zhao Yuning felt unsettled, as if he was about to lose something, he was still certain that Zhao Mingxi would return before the birthday banquet— This year was their mother’s 50th birthday, it was impossible for her to not return, right?

However on the next day, when he went to wait for Zhao Mingxi at the ground floor of her dorm again, he realized that the gift that he had given the lady in charge of the dorms was in the trash that was filled with dirt, its packaging unopened.