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Le Ya didn’t think she had done anything particularly wrong to him.

She hadn’t been able to push him, either…

Chen Yang pointed to the drink in her hand. “I want to drink your bubble tea.”

Startled, Le Ya quickly hid the drink behind her back. She had already drunk from it—how could she let him drink from it now?

Chen Yang chuckled. “Treasure it so much?”

Le Ya said, “You can buy another one.”

She absolutely refused to share with anyone.

Her straightforward reply made Chen Yang laugh despite himself. He lowered his voice, careful not to scare the girl, and stopped.

Le Ya didn’t want to go back with him. She suddenly remembered the nutritional supplements she had given him before and wasn’t sure if he had eaten them yet.

Cautiously, she asked, “Did you eat those things?”

Chen Yang paused, trying to recall what she was referring to. After a while, he finally remembered the several boxes of milk powder, oatmeal, and breakfast milk.

The variety was quite extensive.

Instead of directly answering her question, he asked, “Why did you send those? Hmm?”

Le Ya stuttered, “I… I…”

After stuttering for a long time without giving a proper answer, she realized she really didn’t have a reason other than that strange excuse about having a crush.

Chen Yang pressed further, “Really secretly—”

“No!” Le Ya interrupted him and softly added, “I wrote the wrong name—it wasn’t meant for you.”

Chen Yang’s tongue flicked against his teeth. “Wrong name?”

Le Ya increasingly felt this excuse was perfect. “Yes, I wrote the wrong name. But since it’s in your hands now, consider it a gift.”

Chen Yang was momentarily speechless before saying, “You’re quite generous.”

Rich girls were different.

Le Ya didn’t sense any mockery in his words and earnestly replied, “Yes, I have money. Don’t worry about eating them—I won’t make you pay me back.”

Chen Yang had only casually mentioned it, but he hadn’t expected her to take it so literally, even looking proud.

She took a big sip of her bubble tea, her cheeks puffing out.

She looked so cute that he wanted to reach out and pinch her face.

To avoid being seen as a pervert, Chen Yang suppressed the urge, though he still sighed regretfully.

Le Ya reminded him, “Sighing all the time will make you age faster.”

Chen Yang glanced at her. “Where did you hear such nonsense?”

Le Ya replied, “From my dad.”

At the mention of those three words, Chen Yang’s expression cooled slightly, instantly calming down. The night breeze blew, making everything feel cooler.

She loved her father dearly, speaking of him so sweetly.

Chen Yang lowered his gaze. After a moment, he looked up again, realizing she hadn’t noticed the shift in his emotions.

It was getting late. Le Ya said, “I need to go back. If you want bubble tea, go buy another cup. I’ll transfer you the money—it’s on me.”

Chen Yang said, “Not a bad plan.”

Le Ya patted his shoulder. “Choose wisely.”

As if thinking of something delightful, her eyes curved into crescents, just like her name.

Chen Yang was about to tease her again when his gaze inadvertently caught a reflection on the supermarket door. His expression froze briefly.

His tone turned colder. “You go back first.”

Le Ya, puzzled, simply said, “Oh.”

She was eager to leave anyway, so upon hearing his words, she quickly ran off with her candies and reunited with Xie Qingyu inside the school.

Chen Yang stood where he was and turned to look at another spot.

After some thought, he called Liang Qian, who had already returned.

Liang Qian was playing poker with Zhao Mingri and answered between rounds. “What’s up? Brother Yang, aren’t you coming back yet?”

Chen Yang asked, “Is Wu Yami in the classroom?”

Liang Qian glanced over. “No, she hasn’t returned yet. Why are you asking? Did something happen?”

Chen Yang hung up and stared at the spot from earlier, his expression cold.

Wu Yami was working on a test paper when Liang Qian suddenly sat down at her desk. She was surprised, and then Zhao Mingri pushed open the window, smiling at her.

Frowning, Wu Yami asked, “What do you two want?”

Liang Qian picked up a book from her desk and flipped through it. “Miss Wu, is there something you need to explain? Or should we escort you somewhere?”

Wu Yami’s heart skipped a beat. “Explain what?”

Zhao Mingri said, “That’s something you’d know better than us.”

Wu Yami gripped her pen tightly, stubbornly replying, “I haven’t done anything. There’s nothing to explain. Don’t disturb my studies.”

Her face had turned pale.

Liang Qian didn’t know what had happened, but he knew it must be serious—Chen Yang rarely concerned himself with girls.

He smiled. “Don’t make me drag you there. I can’t guarantee I won’t hurt you. You know how rough we can be.”

Wu Yami glanced back; Chen Yang wasn’t at his seat.

Liang Qian extended his hand. “Please, come with us.”

Their demeanor clearly indicated no good intentions. Wu Yami’s guilty conscience weighed heavily on her, and she grew increasingly nervous.

Her hand reached for the phone hidden in her desk, trembling with anxiety.

Thankfully, after sending the message earlier, she had deleted it from her side. Even if someone checked, they wouldn’t find evidence it came from her.

Thinking this, Wu Yami felt somewhat relieved.

She exhaled deeply and followed Liang Qian and Zhao Mingri out of the classroom, unsure of where they were headed.

Wu Yami had never personally witnessed Chen Yang hit anyone.

Her infatuation with him stemmed entirely from his looks, his unshakable position as the top student in the grade, and those ambiguous rumors.

It was as if fictional plotlines had come to life.

At this moment, no matter how hard she tried, guilt gnawed at her. She feared what Chen Yang might do if he found out she was responsible.

She recalled news stories she had seen online.

Wu Yami kept recalling her phone, wondering if she had erased everything cleanly. Just as they descended the stairs, she suddenly remembered—the recently deleted folder on her phone. Only by deleting from there would it be permanently erased.

Wu Yami’s face blanched.

She had deleted everything last time, but tonight’s photo—she had only deleted the original image, not the copy in the recently deleted folder…

In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Wu Yami’s mind.

Ultimately, Lin Xinqiao’s name surfaced.

Lin Xinqiao had helped her so many times—surely she wouldn’t mind helping her one more time.

________________________________________

The art class was also full of students playing around after class.

Lin Xinqiao’s desk mate rushed in, panting. “Guess what I just saw?”

Lin Xinqiao, eating snacks and watching a drama, asked lazily, “What?”

Her desk mate whispered, “I saw Chen Yang, Liang Qian, and them call Wu Yami over. Curious, I went to eavesdrop, and apparently, Wu Yami claimed you were the one who told her to do it.”

Lin Xinqiao frowned. “What did I supposedly do?”

Her desk mate shrugged. “I didn’t catch it all. I’ve always said Wu Yami isn’t a good person. Look at how she keeps taking advantage of you. How much stuff have you bought for her already?”

It wasn’t normal to be taken advantage of like this.

Wu Yami acted as if other people’s money wasn’t real money, exploiting Lin Xinqiao’s current obsession with Chen Yang and her inability to think straight.

Lin Xinqiao said, “I never told her to do anything.”

Her desk mate said, “Then you’d better go and clarify things before she drags you into trouble.”

All Lin Xinqiao ever asked Wu Yami to do was report on which girls Chen Yang was close to—like Le Ya last time.

But she didn’t intend to confront anyone. She simply couldn’t accept it emotionally. Recently, she had grown disillusioned and hadn’t sought out Chen Yang much.

Judging from her desk mate’s tone, this didn’t sound like good news.

Lin Xinqiao thought for a moment, unable to sit still. She put down her snacks and walked directly toward the building where Class Seventeen was located.

Class would start in three minutes.

When Lin Xinqiao arrived, Zhao Mingri had just returned. She grabbed him. “Where’s Chen Yang? I need to talk to him.”

Zhao Mingri said, “He’s not here. Just tell me what you want.”

Lin Xinqiao stood by the back window of Class Seventeen, her expression somewhat anxious. “That thing Wu Yami mentioned—she’s framing me. I don’t even know anything about it.”

Zhao Mingri asked, “What thing?”

Lin Xinqiao paused. “I don’t know either.”

Zhao Mingri chuckled at her bewildered expression. “If you don’t know, why are you here to explain? Just go back if you’re clueless.”

He used to think Lin Xinqiao was quite smart.

“She framed me, so of course I have to come and clarify.” Lin Xinqiao rolled her eyes. “Anyway, remember to tell Chen Yang.”

She then recounted her earlier agreement with Wu Yami.

Zhao Mingri listened in astonishment. Was she really that desperate to spend money?

After finishing, Lin Xinqiao asked, “What exactly did she say?”

Zhao Mingri thought for a moment. Believing this matter had nothing to do with her, he revealed a bit. “She secretly took some photos. When we questioned her, she claimed you told her to take them.”

Hearing this, Lin Xinqiao’s expression darkened.

Why would she need secret photos? She wasn’t some paparazzi.

Lin Xinqiao patted Zhao Mingri on the shoulder, earnestly reminding him, “Don’t forget, okay? If things work out, I’ll treat you to a meal. I’m innocent.”

She turned and left the corridor of Class Seventeen.

Zhao Mingri touched his chest, thinking how much she looked like a goddess but packed quite a punch—a real powerhouse girl.

There were so many frustrating issues. Wu Yami really dared to do such things.

He had just heard the entire story. If what Lin Xinqiao said was true, then everything Wu Yami swore by was a lie.

Though he hadn’t fully believed her at first, there was a moment when he doubted Lin Xinqiao since everyone knew she was chasing Chen Yang.

Zhao Mingri found their classmates terrifying.

________________________________________

By the time school ended at night, it was already past ten o’clock.

Le Ya and Xie Qingyu walked home together. On their way out of the school gate, they encountered Chen Yang standing there, seemingly waiting for someone.

After bidding farewell to Xie Qingyu, Le Ya noticed he was still standing there.

Le Ya hesitated for a moment before walking over and softly calling out, “Chen Yang.”

Hearing her kitten-like voice, Chen Yang turned his head. He was a bit surprised to see her being so proactive—it wasn’t like her usual character.

He tilted his chin slightly. “What is it?”

Le Ya glanced around him, not seeing Liang Qian or the others. She guessed they might not have come out yet and asked, “Are you waiting for someone?”

Chen Yang tilted his head lazily. “Yes.”

The shop lights above illuminated his eyes, resembling shattered starlight embedded within, like a galaxy reflecting in his gaze.

Le Ya was momentarily mesmerized. Snapping out of it, she shook her bag to change the subject. “Did you buy bubble tea?”

Chen Yang replied, “No.”

So he hadn’t bought any—no wonder he didn’t mention the cost. Le Ya had assumed he simply hadn’t told her.

To avoid him thinking too much, she pulled out a few candies from the plastic bag. “I’ll treat you to some candy.”

After rummaging for a while, she held out a small handful.

These candies were purchased loose, available in various shapes and colors, resting in her palm where the lines of her palm could still be seen.

Chen Yang’s gaze lingered on her palm.

Her hands were so small.

Feeling uneasy, Le Ya wanted to retract her hand but resisted, pushing it forward slightly instead. “Do you want them or not?”

It was clear she’d take them back if he refused.

Chen Yang licked his upper lip and chuckled softly. “They don’t taste good.”

How could they not taste good? Le Ya covered her hand again. These were candies she often ate—they were sweet without being cloying, which was why she frequently repurchased them.

She thought for a moment, brought the bag back in front of her, picked out a few of the same kind, and extended them again.

“Try these.”

Chen Yang looked up to find the little girl staring at him expectantly.

Seeing he hadn’t moved, Le Ya felt a bit troubled and quickly came up with another reason. “Try these candies—they taste just like bubble tea.”

Chen Yang: “… “

Even linking them to bubble tea couldn’t make him interested.

He paused for a moment, scooped the candies from her palm, his fingertips accidentally brushing against her palm, making Le Ya instinctively pull her hand back due to the ticklish sensation.

Just barely avoiding enveloping her hand entirely.

Le Ya let out a soft sigh.

Chen Yang casually pinched a candy between two fingers, slowly unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.

A wave of sweetness spread out.

He never ate candy.

Le Ya watched him with full anticipation. “How is it?”

Chen Yang nodded. “Pretty tasty.”

He played with the candy wrapper in his hand, crumpling it to produce crisp sounds that were almost pleasant to hear.

Le Ya felt a bit happy. “Do you like them?”

Chen Yang casually replied, “Not bad.”

Though it was just three words, to Le Ya’s ears, it sounded like rare praise—perhaps he was too embarrassed to admit they were merely okay.

She thought for a moment. “How about I treat you to a jin (500g) of candy?”

Chen Yang: “?”

He didn’t understand what she meant.

Le Ya thought he found it insufficient and asked seriously, “Not enough?”

Her sincere tone made it clear she genuinely intended to buy him candy. Chen Yang looked up and down at himself—did he look like someone who liked candy?

Before he could respond, she continued, “If it’s not enough, I can buy you a whole box. Consider it a thank-you gift for today.”

Le Ya added, “If you still think it’s not enough, just tell me how much to buy.”

After all, she had money!

Chen Yang: “… “

For a moment, he couldn’t find the words to refuse.