He raised his eyes.
There was no warmth in that gaze, no scrutiny, not even a hint of displeasure at being disturbed. There was only absolute, complete indifference.
It was as if Ning Xiuyan was not a living person, but a ball of air not worth wasting any attention on, or an eyesore placed in the wrong place.
Time seemed to be frozen by this cold gaze. Ning Xiuyan's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face began to show tiny cracks like a poorly made mask.
Just as Ning Xiuyan's smile was about to collapse completely, his fingers curled up slightly due to embarrassment and an inexplicable chill, and he was considering whether to withdraw them awkwardly, Chao Youye finally made a move.
He didn't shake the hand, nor did he even show any intention of responding to the "nice to meet you".
He simply tilted his body slightly, almost imperceptibly, his movements precise and graceful, with a sense of alienation ingrained in his bones.
Just like avoiding a tiny speck of dust on the road, he passed directly by the "gap" deliberately left on the side of Ning Xiuyan.
His eyes never really fell on Ning Xiuyan from beginning to end, as if he, as well as the hand he extended, had never existed in this space.
Absolute neglect!
An indifference more complete and embarrassing than rejection!
The smile on Ning Xiuyan's face completely froze, and his outstretched hand hung there awkwardly, his fingertips cold.
A familiar burning sensation of humiliation suddenly rushed to my cheeks.
He could even imagine the vague gazes from those around him (although there weren't many people at the door at the moment) piercing his back like red-hot needles!
This feeling… was even more suffocating than being kicked into a dirty pool by Zhang Xuanhua! Because the other party didn't even have the interest to tease him! In Chao Youye's eyes, he wasn't even qualified to be considered an opponent or a plaything!
Just as Ning Xiuyan was shaken by this sudden, cold, divinely punished indifference, and shame and anger surged through his veins like magma—
"Chaoyouye!"
A clear, sunny voice with undisguised joy, like a warm stream tearing through the thick ice, came from the ginkgo forest path not far away.
This voice seemed to have magical power, instantly attracting Ning Xiuyan's almost frozen attention.
Subconsciously, he looked in the direction of the sound with a twisted jealousy.
I saw a boy wearing a loose beige thick sweater running towards Chao Youye with light steps.
His hair was soft and fluffy, swaying gently in the autumn breeze. His eyes were as clear and bright as a mountain spring, and his smile was so bright that it seemed to dispel all the haze in the world - it was Mu Xinrong.
Mu Xinrong's goal was extremely clear. In those sparkling eyes, there was only the cold figure who had just ignored Ning Xiuyan.
He ran a few steps to Chao Youye, his movements extremely natural, without any hesitation or sense of distance.
He stretched out his hand, but not to shake hands. Instead, he reached out with great familiarity and complete intimacy to pull Chao Youye's hand, which had just been holding the document and was now hanging naturally.
"Have you been waiting long? Our club activities are over!" Mu Xinrong's voice was soft and sticky, with a hint of coquettishness at the end. She looked up at Chao Youye, her eyes full of complete dependence and pure joy.
"Hurry up, hurry up! The cafeteria's new sweet and sour spare ribs will be gone if you're late! I've asked around, and they're limited today!"
Ning Xiuyan's pupils suddenly contracted! He recognized Mu Xinrong! Wasn't this the physics student who followed Chao Youye around all day like a carefree little tail?
However, the following scene completely overwhelmed Ning Xiuyan's shame and anger at being ignored, which was instantly replaced by another stronger, tsunami-like sense of shock and absurdity!
Chao Youye, who exuded an air of keeping strangers away, as if even the air could freeze, saw Mu Xinrong's hand grasp his fingertips the moment he did.
That layer of indestructible, ten-thousand-year-old black ice-like aura was melting silently at a speed visible to the naked eye and almost miraculous, just like the first snow under the warm spring sun!
He lowered his head slightly and his eyes fell on Mu Xinrong who was holding his hand.
He even naturally held Mu Xinrong's hand with his backhand, and his slender and powerful fingers completely wrapped the other's hand in his palm. His fingertips also gently stroked the back of his hand. His movements were so familiar as if he had done it thousands of times.
"It didn't take long." Chao Youye's voice sounded. It was no longer the cold and inorganic voice she had when facing Ning Xiuyan. Instead, it was low and gentle, with a unique magnetism, like the softest string of a cello. Every word was like a feather gently brushing against the tip of the heart.
"Why are you running so fast? What if you fall?" He even raised his other free hand and naturally and lovingly tidied up Mu Xinrong's hair, which was a little messy due to running. His movements were as gentle as if he was treating a rare treasure.
Such an extremely gentle tone! Such an intimate gesture! Such a completely different attitude!
Like the loudest slap in the face, with the force of thunder, it hit Ning Xiuyan's face hard!
He had just been treated like air by Chao Youye, who didn't even bother to give him a glance. Yet, this insignificant Mu Xinrong in his eyes could so easily touch that layer of ice, even...melt it, revealing such incredible tenderness?!
The huge disparity and sense of absurdity hit Ning Xiuyan's heart like a hammer! Why?! Why did he deserve the favor of a god like Chao Youye?!
And he, the second young master of the Ning family, a child of destiny, wasn't even worthy of the other party's even a glance?!
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