Chen Pingjiang complacently and calmly accepted the adoring and shocked gazes cast his way, but then noticed that the expressions of these people were becoming increasingly exaggerated, their eyes practically popping out, with envy and admiration clearly written all over their faces.
"Hmm?"
When he acutely noticed that their gazes were no longer focused on him, Chen Pingjiang turned his head and saw a small face, smiling like a flower, appear before him, a half-smile playing on her lips, her eyes filled with joy, annoyance, and pride, particularly complex.
"Damn, you startled me. How can you walk without making a sound?"
Chen Pingjiang only now regained his composure, realizing that the beauty who had caused the commotion earlier was Zhang Xinyue.
"You were too engrossed in your lecture."
After several days of military training, Zhang Xinyue hadn't gotten even a tiny bit tanned by the harsh sun; her skin remained as white as snow, stunningly beautiful.
She had finished breakfast and was about to leave the cafeteria when she heard Chen Pingjiang eloquently holding forth, and she just stood there listening for a long time.
Envious, jealous, and amazed glances came from all around; if they were knives, Chen Pingjiang would probably have been sliced into a thousand pieces by now.
Chen Pingjiang nodded, took a sip of soy milk, and suspiciously pointed at Zhang Xinyue's clothes,
"What's up? Are you skipping training?"
Zhang Xinyue's cheeks flushed red,
"My stomach hurts."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt that this scene was quite familiar; Chen Pingjiang had asked her the same thing before.
Today she was wearing a simple white T-shirt paired with washed jeans.
Her slender waist and peachy hips outlined beautiful curves, her skin like ice and bones like jade, stunningly beautiful.
Her thick hair was all swept to one side, adding a touch of charm and elegance.
"Xinyue, who is he?"
A moderately attractive girl in military training uniform next to Zhang Xinyue asked curiously, looking at Chen Pingjiang.
Zhang Xinyue's face flushed again,
"My high school classmate."
Instantly, several girls behind Zhang Xinyue started chattering:
"He's quite handsome!"
"Never heard of him before."
...
Chen Pingjiang waved generously and greeted,
"Hello everyone, my name is Chen Pingjiang."
"Hello, handsome! We've been listening here for a while and found what you said to be very reasonable, truly an emotional expert!"
The first girl to speak was very bold and started chatting with Chen Pingjiang.
"You're talking about the 'Love Manual'? It applies to both men and women. If you want to repost it, remember to pay me copyright fees,"
Chen Pingjiang chuckled, teasing her.
Zhang Xinyue gave the unreliable Chen Pingjiang a disdainful look, her two cute, sharp canine teeth faintly visible:
"Ma Lingli, don't listen to him. He probably read it from some random post. He and I are high school classmates; don't you think I'd know if he has any experience?"
Chen Pingjiang raised an eyebrow,
"You talk as if you know me very well."
"You..."
Zhang Xinyue's slightly diminished stomachache flared up again, angered by this guy.
Seeing Zhang Xinyue's brows knitted together and a pained expression on her face, Chen Pingjiang finally said gently,
"Since you've taken leave, go back and rest well. If possible, boil some brown sugar water and buy a hot water bottle from the supermarket to warm your stomach."
After saying it, Chen Pingjiang was already mentally scolding himself.
Why did you have to be such a bigmouth, pretending to be a warm guy!
That simple sentence immediately showed its impact on Zhang Xinyue.
Soon, the girl's eyes were slightly red because Chen Pingjiang had taken care of her like this before.
Though her eyes still held a hint of pride, there was also a greater touch of joy.
"Wow, Chen handsome guy, you're really good!"
Ma Lingli clicked her tongue twice, suspiciously scrutinized Chen Pingjiang, then glanced at Zhang Xinyue, and suddenly smelled a sour odor coming from somewhere unknown.
Chen Pingjiang looked at his phone, then looked up at Zhang Xinyue and said,
"It's getting late. We're going to military training now. Little sister, bye-bye."
Zhang Xinyue's slightly joyful eyes instantly widened:
"You annoying devil!"
After Chen Pingjiang's figure left the second cafeteria, Zhang Xinyue's heart was a mix of emotions.
Remembering how Chen Pingjiang used to run to the teachers' office to fill a hot water bottle for her stomach, and how he wouldn't do it anymore, made her feel sad.
Then thinking that he at least showed some concern for her today, she felt a strange little happiness; and hearing that annoying devil call her "little sister," a term she hated most, made her teeth itch with anger.
This jerk, every time he appears, he makes her both happy and angry!
It's hard to imagine so many expressions on one face, yet each one was so beautiful: heartbreaking when she felt wronged, joyful when she was happy, and making people want to shoot the jerk who made her angry.
Whether it was the boys or the girls around, they all gazed at that face with covetous admiration.
Ma Lingli leaned over and whispered in Zhang Xinyue's ear,
"Is he the one who was willing to let you defy your family's wishes, even if it meant falling out with them, just to come to Dongcai?"
Zhang Xinyue didn't speak, just nodded.
Ma Lingli was one of the few girls in the class Zhang Xinyue could get along with.
Although she could also interact with her roommates in Dorm 403, they weren't in the same major or class, and she was intentionally or unintentionally ostracized by Cong Nini.
Coincidentally, Zhang Xinyue had the first student ID number in their class, perfectly filling the last bunk in Dorm 403, Class 4 of Business Administration.
So, only Ma Lingli knew Zhang Xinyue's secret.
"This Chen Pingjiang accumulated blessings for eight lifetimes and still doesn't know how to cherish them. What's he being so arrogant about?"
Ma Lingli gently patted Zhang Xinyue's back and prompted,
"Are you two having a conflict?"
Zhang Xinyue only told Ma Lingli who she came for, but didn't mention their current relationship.
After a long silence, Zhang Xinyue finally said in a dejected tone,
"I lost him..."
Ma Lingli was a true "face-dog" (someone who prioritizes looks), and her ability to get along with Zhang Xinyue was precisely because this attribute was maxed out.
Seeing Zhang Xinyue's pitiful appearance, she quickly comforted her,
"Then go get him back, make him love you to death, and then you can endlessly annoy him to death."
Ma Lingli clenched her small hands into fists and fiercely raised them, making Zhang Xinyue burst into a giggle.
That bright smile made Ma Lingli stare blankly, wishing she could hug Zhang Xinyue's small face and take a couple of bites.
She patted her flat chest and swore confidently,
"After listening to the 'Love Manual' just now, I've grasped seven-tenths of its essence. Little Chen Pingjiang will immediately come crawling on his knees if you, Yue'er, just give him a little beckoning with your hand."
Zhang Xinyue's large eyes under her thick lashes blinked twice, and she asked blankly,
"Why do you believe his bragging too?"
"No, I think it's quite reasonable. Besides, what he said at the end: 'playing hard to get, being hot and cold, neither hot nor cold, tossing and turning, fully stirring up the other person's negative emotions, making them unable to obtain love, which makes them want it even more'—isn't that exactly what he's doing to you?"
Zhang Xinyue paused,
"It seems to make some sense, huh?!"
Ma Lingli: "But this scoundrel is quite advanced in his ways. I'll write a detailed action guide when I get back to the dorm tonight."
Chen Pingjiang didn't hear these words.
If he had, he would definitely have cursed loudly:
"There are always treacherous subjects who want to harm me!"
(End of chapter)
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