Friday morning.
Golden threads of sunlight wove together like a shimring waterfall, cascading onto the tiled hallways and reflecting brightly off the surface.
It was approaching early sumr.
The locust trees along the road showed signs of wilting, and the bamboo shoots were beginning to shed their initial green as they matured.
A gentle breeze swept through, carrying a sense of quiet ease. As Ruan Qingqing stepped out of the teacher’s office after submitting her docunts, she slowed her pace, savoring the rare mont of peace.
Bathed in warm sunlight, her porcelain-white skin glowed like polished jade.
Her skin had a delicate, dewy quality to it, as if a re touch could leave a distinct red mark.
Though she wore the sa standard school uniform as everyone else, it couldn’t hide her graceful curves. Her half-lidded eyes carried a quiet allure, while the morning light wrapped around her like a sheer veil, casting an ethereal glow over her entire figure.
Just standing by the hallway window, she resembled a celestial maiden who had fallen to earth—out of place, yet evoking an irresistible longing to keep her from leaving.
From his spot at the corner, Fu Rongjing felt like a re mortal who had accidentally wandered into a hidden paradise and caught sight of a fairy. For a mont, he was entirely captivated. All that remained in his mind was awe.
"Qingqing."
But he was no stranger to beauty. With practiced ease, he quickly regained his composure, a refined smile settling on his lips. "Long ti no see."
Ruan Qingqing lifted her gaze and responded politely, "Senior Fu."
Her voice carried a soft, lilting quality, like a violin string being gently bowed—enchanting, alluring, and dangerously easy to get lost in.
It had only been a few weeks, but why did she seem even more alluring?
Fu Rongjing's gaze darkened.
He had to admit that she was indeed a rare beauty. Even though he had seen her countless tis, his heart couldn't help but race.
"The joint exam for the six schools is coming up soon. Do you feel prepared, Qingqing?"
He replied casually, starting a conversation to cover up the mont he had lost himself staring.
"I've heard that other schools have brought in so impressive students just for this test."
Ruan Qingqing subtly pulled back, putting more distance between them. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Mm."
Her disinterest was obvious.
Fu Rongjing pretended not to notice, maintaining his gentle and refined deanor.
"Whether you're confident or not, make sure you get plenty of rest. Even if you don't do well, it's okay. Just give it your all."
He smiled warmly. "After all, in my eyes, you're the best girl."
Excuse ?
He was already assuming that I wouldn't do well before I'd even taken the exam?
"Senior Fu, don't you think you're overstepping a bit?" Ruan Qingqing lowered her eyelashes and gave a faint, emotionless smile. "We're not that close."
Fu Rongjing's gentle smile froze on his face.
He hadn’t expected such distant, cutting words to co from her so directly. She still looked as delicate and obedient as before, but sothing was off.
It was like… watching a creature slowly shed its old skin. Seemingly harmless, yet harboring sothing terrifyingly dark, quietly lurking, waiting for the right mont to be fully unleashed.
A sudden sixth sense pricked at Fu Rongjing's subconscious.
An illusion?
Shaking off the odd feeling, he adjusted his expression and prepared to find another topic—
But before he could speak, a hand casually patted his shoulder.
"What are you two talking about?" The clear, pure voice of a young man slipped through the air, carrying a distinct air of laziness. "Senior Fu."
That nightmarish voice nearly made Fu Rongjing shudder. Turning his head, he realized that Ji Mu had sohow arrived without him noticing.
"Ji—"
"Mu Mu!"
Ruan Qingqing’s voice, filled with joy, completely drowned out Fu Rongjing’s.
Just monts ago, she had been distant and indifferent. Now, her eyes glead with excitent, and her face blossod with a bright and captivating smile.
Watching this unfold, Fu Rongjing’s emotions twisted into sothing tangled and bitter.
Not once, not even in the past, had she ever shown this kind of unrestrained joy in front of him.
Why?
What did this four-eyed nerd have besides good grades?
Setting aside personality, family, and connections, just in terms of looks alone, I could outshine Ji Mu by a mile.
I was the one who truly cared for you first...
Fu Rongjing clenched his fists, intense jealousy and resentnt surging in his chest.
As he silently wrestled with his own thoughts, his gaze suddenly locked onto a pair of round glasses reflecting white light.
For a brief mont, it was as if every layer of his carefully constructed façade had been stripped away. All the twisted, possessive desires lurking in his heart lay completely exposed.
His chest tightened. A sudden wave of unease crept up his spine.
"Ji, Ji Mu—"
"Senior Fu," Ji Mu t his gaze with a calm, unreadable expression. "Staring at soone so openly is quite rude. If you have nothing else to say, you should leave."
The way he could switch expressions so effortlessly, truly a man of many faces.
"...Ji Mu, you're joking," Fu Rongjing forced out a dry chuckle, trying to play it off.
"I was still talking to Qingqing—"
Before he could finish his clumsy excuse, Ji Mu turned to Qingqing and casually asked, "Do you want to talk to him?"
Ruan Qingqing blinked and replied softly, "I don't want to."
Ji Mu turned back to Fu Rongjing, voice lazy and teasing. "See? She doesn’t want to talk to you."
Fu Rongjing: "..."
So this guy really doesn’t play by the rules, huh?
"Ji Mu, even if we have so minor disagreents, do we really need to be so hostile every ti we et?"
Seeing that Fu Rongjing was trying to take the high road, Ji Mu simply watched in silence, waiting to see what nonsense he’d co up with next.
"Peace is precious," Fu Rongjing added solemnly.
Sure enough, the next second, Fu Rongjing said in a dignified tone, "You shouldn’t be so hot-tempered. As a top student, surely you can afford to be a little more tolerant?"
"...?"
That was the best he could co up with? Passive-aggressive nonsense? Weak.
Ji Mu shrugged indifferently. "I could be more patient, sure. But why would I waste it on you?"
Fu Rongjing was speechless.
He opened his mouth but couldn't find the words to reply.
"Alright, if you have nothing to say, just leave." Ji Mu waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away a mosquito. "You just standing here is an eyesore."
His repeated, casual disregard finally chipped away at Fu Rongjing’s usually well-maintained composure. "Ji Mu, this is a public space. Am I not allowed to be here?" There was a hint of anger in his voice. "No matter what, you should be reasonable!"
Ji Mu remained indifferent, his attitude still extrely nonchalant.
Ji Mu remained unbothered, his tone as lazy as ever. "My breath is for counting money, not for arguing with you."
"You—"
"I'll ask again."
Ji Mu’s patience was wearing thin.
His fingers flexed slightly, joints cracking audibly.
"Are you leaving or not?"
Fu Rongjing imdiately shut his mouth.
Ji Mu's terrifying fighting skills were no joke.
If he said he wasn't afraid, he would be lying.
And considering the wild rumors circulating ever since the Situ family’s downfall, with everyone speculating that Ji Mu might be a mysterious figure with a powerful background, the weight of his presence only beca more unsettling.
After a few seconds of internal struggle, Fu Rongjing finally decided to swallow his pride for now and retreat.
Better to avoid the sharp edge for now; as long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood.
But before he could even begin to comfort himself with that thought, Ji Mu’s voice cut through his internal monologue.
"Senior Fu," Ji Mu’s spoke slowly and deliberately. "As an adult, you should have so sense of boundaries."
His words weren't a reminder.
They were a warning.
"From now on, stay away from Ruan Qingqing."
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