Chapter 13 The Noble Academy Substitute (13) After all, she was so popular...

Chapter Thirteen

Xia Zhi looked at Xie Yi, then at Xu Yu, and felt that the atmosphere was really strange. These two...aren't they on good terms?

Xu Yu looked at Xie Yi as if watching a show, "Then let me see how you teach."

Xie Yi walked over to Xia Zhi and whispered, "Try it, I'll support you from behind."

Because many people were watching, Xia Zhi could only imitate Xie Yi's shooting posture and start shooting. However, because she was really bad at shooting, the basketball didn't go in.

Xu Yu smirked, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. "This is the church you're talking about?"

Xie Yi ignored him and subconsciously walked to Xia Zhi's side, patiently bent down to pick up the basketball, and began to teach her carefully.

Xu Yu's face turned a little pale. He now understood what Xie Yi meant when he said that he didn't want to teach Xia Zhi how to play basketball at all; he just wanted to take the opportunity to get closer to Xia Zhi.

Xu Yu felt a surge of jealousy rising within him. He stepped forward and lowered his voice, "Xie Yi, you're really good at pretending."

Xie Yi heard it clearly, but just smiled slightly and looked at Xia Zhi, "Zhi Zhi, there's no need to be so nervous. Everyone has different strengths, and it's normal that you can't learn it."

Xia Zhi nodded upon hearing this, "Okay, okay."

Xu Yu stood there, staring at Xia Zhi's profile. She was dressed casually, probably because she was going to gym class, but he couldn't forget the dress she wore that day.

At that moment, when he looked down, he could even see Xia Zhi's fair and slender knees, which were a little pink.

Xu Yu's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as he looked at Xia Zhi's lips opening and closing, feeling as if he were under a spell.

Even though the other person clearly dislikes him, he desperately tries to get close to them.

Xu Yu thought to himself, no matter what the method, she never liked him anyway...

It's just a thank you, a token of my gratitude.

Xu Yu narrowed his eyes slightly. He and Meng Ziyue both liked to pretend to be good people, but he was determined not to let them have their way.

Xu Yu quickly thought of their secret hideout, where drawers and walls were covered with pictures of Xia Zhi…

Photos taken from various angles, candid shots, group photos...

The three of them could never really be brothers, but because they all liked Xia Zhi, they simply maintained a superficial relationship.

The three of them are the same kind of people; they are all madly infatuated with Xia Zhi to the point of addiction.

Xu Yu looked at Xia Zhi, who was still sulking with him. He needed to think of a way to make her see through Xie Yi and Meng Ziyue's true nature.

Even if he can't have it, they can't have it either!

Xia Zhi was chatting with Xie Yi when she suddenly felt a burning gaze fall on her. Xia Zhi looked over uncomfortably and happened to meet Xu Yu's deep, dark eyes.

He seemed to be plotting something. Xia Zhi felt a little uneasy and couldn't help but recall the time Xu Yu secretly locked her in the villa.

She can't afford to be careless now!

She was pondering how to find an excuse to avoid Xu Yu when she suddenly received a phone call.

Xia Zhi found it a little strange; who would be looking for her at this time?

She saw the note; it was Lin Yue.

It's the female lead!

She answered the phone quickly, and the voice on the other end sounded excited, "Senior! Those people who bullied me are in jail! I still have to thank you! Senior, when can I treat you to a meal?"

Hearing the other person's voice, Xia Zhi subconsciously smiled and said, "Yueyue is going to treat me to dinner? Sure, anytime is fine."

Xu Yu, standing beside him, blinked, his eyes seeming thoughtful.

Yes, and Lin Yue is there too; he can completely take advantage of her.

"Okay! Senior! I'll think it over before I invite you!"

Xia Zhi hung up the phone, thinking that although things didn't go according to the original plan, at least Lin Yue was alright.

Xia Zhi was a little tired because she had just learned to play basketball with Xie Yi. So she looked at Xie Yi and said, "Xie Yi, I want to go and rest for a bit."

Xie Yi hummed in agreement and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Go and rest."

Xia Zhi nodded, without even glancing at Xu Yu, and walked to the side.

The school bell rang, signaling the end of class. Xia Zhi glanced outside; the rain was still pouring down. She was worried about lunch. She usually ate with Xie Yi and the others, but now, because of a fight with Xu Yu, she didn't want to eat at the villa.

Meng Ziyue seemed to have read her mind. He propped himself up with one hand and slowly stood up. "Zhizhi, don't you want to eat with Xu Yu? Or I'll go out to eat with you?"

Xia Zhi looked at Meng Ziyue with a bit of guilt upon hearing this, "Is it alright? Isn't that too much trouble for you?"

Meng Ziyue smiled and said, "What trouble could there be? Aren't we friends?"

Xia Zhi could only nod, "Okay..."

Meng Ziyue glanced at Xie Yi indifferently, "Where's Xie Yi? Should we invite him along?"

Xia Zhi hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "Is it okay if it's just the two of us?"

Meng Ziyue's heart began to race; Xia Zhi's words inexplicably stirred something within him. Just the two of them, having a meal together alone?

In the past, the four of them would eat together, and he never thought he would have the opportunity to eat alone with Xia Zhi.

He adjusted his glasses and smiled, "Of course, Zhizhi."

For some reason, Xia Zhi always felt that what he said was somewhat meaningful.

Although Meng Ziyue couldn't be trusted either, at least he was better than those two, Xia Zhi tried to comfort herself.

Meng Ziyue took out her phone. "What do you want to eat?"

Xia Zhi glanced at the relentless rain outside. "How about we go to the nearest cafeteria? The rain is too heavy; I don't want to walk."

Meng Ziyue paused slightly. The cafeteria? He was a bit of a germaphobe and a picky eater, so he usually didn't eat in the cafeteria. But he was willing to be with Xia Zhi.

So he slowly said, "Okay."

Xia Zhi glanced at Meng Ziyue with some surprise. Having known him for so long, she was well aware of how picky he was about food. He had once said that he would rather die than eat in the cafeteria.

She stared at Meng Ziyue as if trying to see right through him.

Meng Ziyue could sense Xia Zhi's odd behavior, so he joked, "Why are you looking at me like that? I did this for my friend, so don't you owe me a favor?"

Xia Zhi choked; she felt something was off. She could have eaten alone, and it wouldn't have been a problem.

So she said, "If you don't want to, I can go by myself."

Upon hearing this, Meng Ziyue casually replied, "You're going by yourself? With so many people around, what if someone cuts in line? Can you handle that?"

Xia Zhi said with a hint of helplessness, "I'm not a child anymore."

Meng Ziyue shook her head. "I'll go with you."

Xia Zhi nodded. In fact, she hadn't eaten in the cafeteria for a long time. Now that she thought about it, she seemed to have gotten used to living a life of privilege with them.

That won't do; it'll ruin the plant.

Xia Zhi secretly told herself that she had to start getting used to life without special treatment.

Just as the two were about to head to the cafeteria, they suddenly heard Xie Yi's voice from behind, "Where are you going?"

The two turned around at the same time, and Xia Zhi felt a little guilty.

Although she didn't argue with Xie Yi, she still harbored some resentment about the interview Xie Yi had conducted with her.

This isn't her fault; the blame lies with Xie Yi for having too strong a desire to control.

Meng Ziyue calmly met Xie Yi's gaze and asked, "Let's go eat. What's wrong?"

Xie Yi subconsciously gripped the gold necklace on her other wrist with one hand, "You...the two of you?"

Meng Ziyue hummed in agreement, offering no further explanation.

Xia Zhi looked ahead, "Oh no! There are too many people, let's go!!"

In her haste, Xia Zhi instinctively grabbed Meng Ziyue's sleeve, and the two quickly headed towards the cafeteria.

Xie Yi stared at the two figures as they walked away and let out a cold laugh.

Xu Yu walked over and said calmly, "Aren't you going to give this necklace to Zhizhi? If you don't, it might be too late."

Xie Yi understood his implied meaning and then said calmly, "Of course I'll give it to you."

The gold bracelet on his wrist had thorns, and it actually hurt a little to wear it. But he thought, if it didn't hurt, how could he keep Xia Zhi under his control?

After all, she's so popular.

A note from the author:

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I'm here!! [Heart] See you tomorrow~