27

Li Muqing has been unusually diligent in not skipping classes lately.

He arrived at the classroom on time every day and left on time after class. Although he always sat in the back and didn't pay much attention in class, his performance still really surprised Wang Youai.

On the contrary, Xiao Jian began to skip classes from time to time.

Sometimes Wang Youai would answer, and sometimes he would simply skip class. Li Muqing was very curious about what was wrong with Xiao Jian lately. He wanted to know if something had happened to Xiao Jian, but he didn't want to ask him what had happened, so he could only ask Wang Youai.

“Xiao Jian?” Wang Youai thought for a moment. “He’s been acting strangely lately. I don’t know what he’s doing. He’s stopped setting up his stall and selling pancakes. I think something’s probably going on with him.”

It would have been better if Wang Youai hadn't said anything. After she did, Li Muqing became even more worried. Could it be that something bad had happened to this silly girl at home again?

Before Li Muqing could even look for Xiao Jian, he had already delivered himself to her doorstep.

"What do you want from me?" Li Muqing looked at the tall and strong Xiao Heizi at the door and felt a lot more at ease, but she still refused to admit defeat.

“I…I’m here to apologize to you, I…” Xiao Jian began to recall the lines Qiu Jie had taught him. He had memorized them perfectly, but when he faced Li Muqing, he forgot all the lines in his mind.

"Apologize? I don't need it. You haven't done anything to wrong me, why should I apologize?" Li Muqing rolled her eyes at Xiao Jian.

"I...I did it!" Xiao Jian was most afraid of Li Muqing's endless chatter, so he raised his voice a little. "I shouldn't have run away that day. I...I don't know what was wrong with me. I'm stupid. I don't know anything about love or anything like that. I was really scared. I didn't expect you...I, I didn't want to run away. It's really not that. My mind was just too confused. You...you have to give me some time, right? You know I've always liked girls..." Following Qiu Jie's method, Xiao Jian acted pitiful. He thought he looked no different from a stray dog ​​on the street.

"So? You've figured it out now?" Li Muqing said coldly.

"I understand." Xiao Jian nodded, then quickly shook his head. "No, no, I still don't quite understand what the feelings between men are all about... But, but I only know that I want to see you every day, I feel uneasy if I don't see you, and I like to see you smile, and I like to be scolded by you..." As he spoke, Xiao Jian lowered his head shyly.

“Okay,” Li Muqing said.

"What?! Really?!" Xiao Jian was so excited he was incoherent.

"Aren't you super happy?" Li Muqing asked, looking at Xiao Jian.

"Of course! I, you..."

"Don't be so happy yet, I haven't finished speaking. What I mean is, okay, since you've apologized, I'll forgive you. However, I didn't agree to be with you."

"Huh??" A basin of icy water was poured over Xiao Jian's head.

"You're allowed to reject others, but others aren't allowed to reject you? You're dreaming! Let me tell you, I'm not interested in you anymore. Go away and cool off somewhere else! That's it then. I'm going to sleep. See you tomorrow." With that, Li Muqing closed the door.

Xiao Jian was utterly speechless! He never imagined he would be rejected. He thought that Li Muqing liked him, and he liked Li Muqing. He believed that as long as he spoke up, Li Muqing would definitely agree. He had been practicing how to confess his feelings repeatedly these past few days, and he would ask Qiu Jie for guidance whenever he had free time. He even tried the tricks Qiu Jie had told him, like playing the victim and gaining sympathy, but none of them worked. Li Muqing still saw him coldly and didn't react happily at all. Could it be... could it be that Li Muqing really didn't like him anymore?

The moment Li Muqing closed the door, she couldn't help but laugh: "Little brat, what are you trying to play the big shot with me for? Your little tricks are all things I've already learned. Playing the victim, acting innocent? You might fool some naive young girls, but don't even think about it coming near me!"

Li Muqing happily started dancing a solo dance in the living room, turning the music up really loud, twirling around and looking beautiful. Yes, how could he not look beautiful? He'd finally earned back all the humiliation he'd suffered before. What was the taste of rejection? Xiao Jian, you'll have to savor it! That was what Li Muqing thought before collapsing onto the sofa and falling asleep.

The next morning, as soon as Li Muqing stepped out, she saw Xiao Jian grinning foolishly.

"Good morning, Li Muqing!" Xiao Jian said, walking over to her.

"Good morning, is there something you need?" Li Muqing replied indifferently.

Xiao Jian presented a hot jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe) to Li Muqing, saying, "Didn't we agree that I'd take care of your breakfast from now on? This was just made; I brought it over to you as soon as I closed up shop." After returning home last night, Xiao Jian told Qiu Jie everything, so today Qiu Jie asked Xiao Jian to change the policy.

"I'm not hungry," Li Muqing said, glancing at the pancake in Xiao Jian's hand.

"Just eat a few bites. You can't go hungry in the morning. That's what my mom said," Xiao Jian earnestly advised.

Seeing that Xiao Jian wouldn't give up, Li Muqing had no choice but to take the pancake. Just then, Wang Youai walked over: "Boss! Xiao Heizi! What a coincidence, are you going to class?"

"Wang Youai, have you had breakfast?" Li Muqing suddenly asked.

"No, I just overslept and didn't have time!" Wang Youai's eyes were already fixed on the pancake in Li Muqing's hand.

"Here, take this. Xiao Jian made it himself, it's still warm!" Li Muqing said with a smile as she handed the pancake to Wang Youai.

Wang Youai looked at his boss with tears in his eyes. Suddenly, he felt that Li Muqing was a great man. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he quickly finished a large pancake. After finishing, he clapped his hands, patted Xiao Jian on the back, and said indistinctly, "Dude, that was delicious!"

Xiao Jian watched with tears streaming down his face as Wang Youai devoured his pancake, as if watching him eat his own heart. That was a luxurious pancake he had specially prepared for Li Muqing! It contained three eggs! And Wang Youai had just ruined it... How could the word "miserable" even begin to describe it?

After finishing her pancake, Wang Youai went to class with Li Muqing and Xiao Jian. On the way, Wang Youai and Li Muqing chatted happily, completely ignoring Xiao Jian. Xiao Jian looked at Li Muqing's smiling face towards Wang Youai like an unwanted child, and he was on the verge of a breakdown and didn't know what to do.

When Qiu Jie heard about this, he frowned: "It seems Li Muqing is not an easy person to deal with... Xiao Jian, we've run into big trouble this time. Are you sure you want to continue?"

"Yes!" Although Xiao Jian was heartbroken, his answer was unusually firm.

"Alright, it seems... I'll have to resort to the ultimate, foolproof killer move!" Qiu Jie said with a sinister smile.

"What is it?" Xiao Jian felt a chill run down his spine when he heard Qiu Jie's laughter...