Jiang Jing Tian followed Lin Qing He to the rooftop of the teaching building.
Seeing no one around, Jiang Jing Tian thought Lin Qing He felt embarrassed from earlier and had intentionally brought him here to be alone with him.
Jiang Jing Tian was no longer the demure person he was in front of others. He pushed Lin Qing He against the railing, encircling her with his arms, and deliberately lowered his voice. "Qing He, I've apologized, will you forgive me? I've been abroad for so long, I've missed you terribly. Come... let me kiss you first..."
Jiang Jing Tian lowered his head, intending to kiss Lin Qing He's alluring red lips.
Lin Qing He's eyes turned cold. With a swift, precise move, she raised her knee and struck him in his most vulnerable spot.
Jiang Jing Tian let out a muffled groan of pain, his face turning ashen. Clutching his groin, he knelt directly on the ground.
"Qing He, you... you..."
Jiang Jing Tian pointed at Lin Qing He with a trembling finger, so overcome with pain that he couldn't even form a complete sentence.
Lin Qing He snorted and slapped the top of Jiang Jing Tian's head. "What 'you'?! Can't you understand words? I told you I don't want any further interaction with you! Didn't you hear me? I'll let this slide today, but if you dare to come find me again, I'll directly..." Lin Qing He shot a warning glance at Jiang Jing Tian's lower region, "...cripple you!"
Whether it was from the pain or the shock of a Lin Qing He so different from his memory, Jiang Jing Tian knelt and retreated backward, looking at Lin Qing He with utter terror.
He stammered, "I, I... I understand. I won't bother you again!"
Lin Qing He: "Hmph! That's more like it! Remember what you said!"
Lin Qing He withdrew her warning gaze and turned to leave without looking back, completely oblivious to Jiang Jing Tian watching her retreat with a look of pure horror, as if he had seen a ghost.
Lin Qing He descended from the rooftop and walked directly towards You Rong's classroom.
She muttered to herself, "Really, it would have been so much better if he had just listened to me from the start... he had to make me do this... but seeing how scared he was, he probably won't dare to bother me again. That saves me trouble in the future..."
Upon reaching You Rong's classroom, Lin Qing He peered inside and frowned when she saw You Rong's seat empty. She then noticed that the seat next to You Rong was also vacant.
Xiao Zi Yi was also not there.
Had You Rong and Xiao Zi Yi gone out together?
Soon, the confusion in Lin Qing He's mind was answered. Xiao Zi Yi patted her shoulder from behind, a cheerful smile on his face. "Qing He, why are you here? Looking for You Rong? Didn't you say you wouldn't come over these few days and asked me to buy lunch for You Rong at noon?"
Lin Qing He turned to look at him, her brow furrowing even tighter. "You Rong isn't with you?"
"No! I just stepped out for a moment. He was in the classroom... " Xiao Zi Yi glanced at You Rong's empty seat and only then realized he wasn't there, finding it strange. "He was here just now, where did he go? Maybe he went to the restroom. Why don't you wait for him? He should be back soon."
Lin Qing He nodded and waited in the classroom for You Rong.
Suddenly, her eyes flickered, and she gave Xiao Zi Yi a meaningful look, asking, "Did you... mention me to You Rong today?"
Xiao Zi Yi found it rather odd. "I did mention you to You Rong, just a casual chat, why?"
Lin Qing He didn't answer, continuing her line of questioning. "What did you say about me?"
"Nothing much, just that you seem like a nice person. That's all."
"Did you really only say that one sentence?"
"Really! Didn't you tell me not to tell You Rong about your part-time job at the KTV? How could I dare to say more about you in front of him, for fear of accidentally slipping up..."
Lin Qing He lowered her gaze slightly, her delicate face etched with thought.
If that were the case, the sudden increase in the progress bar wasn't due to Xiao Zi Yi speaking well of her to You Rong. Then it must be... You Rong genuinely missed her after not seeing her for a few days?!
Lin Qing He mused, "Perhaps this strategy of keeping him guessing is quite effective on You Rong too!"
Xiao Zi Yi was bewildered by Lin Qing He's shifting expressions – one moment frowning, the next deep in thought, and then beaming with happiness. He couldn't make heads or tails of it.
What was she thinking about?
Naturally, Xiao Zi Yi was curious, but when he asked, Lin Qing He paid him no mind, not even deigning to give him a look.
Lin Qing He waited in the classroom for nearly an hour, but You Rong still hadn't returned.
Xiao Zi Yi said, "That's strange, where could You Rong have gone? Class starts in five minutes. Could he have had an emergency and gone home? I messaged him... but he hasn't replied. I wonder what he's doing?"
Lin Qing He, buoyed by the increase in the progress bar, didn't overthink it, assuming You Rong had indeed taken leave for an emergency.
She didn't wait any longer and returned to her own classroom, deciding to visit You Rong again the next day at noon.
The following day at noon.
Lin Qing He bought lunch herself and went to You Rong's classroom, only to find him absent again.
Xiao Zi Yi, seeing through her thoughts, said, "You Rong didn't come to class today. I don't know why. I messaged him, but he didn't reply. Wait... I'll call Uncle Wang to ask what's going on..."
Xiao Zi Yi made the call. Lin Qing He couldn't hear the other side, only Xiao Zi Yi's responses: "Oh, so that's how it is... Grandpa You is back, he returned yesterday? Mmhmm... I understand, goodbye."
After hanging up, Lin Qing He eagerly asked, "You Rong didn't come to class because his grandfather is back?"
Xiao Zi Yi replied with a smile, "That's right. Grandpa You returned yesterday afternoon. No wonder he left without even attending class... Ever since Uncle You passed away, Grandpa You has been managing the entire You Corporation, flying all over the country. He's so busy year-round that he rarely comes back. That's why You Rong took leave and isn't in school, probably to spend time with his grandfather at home."
Xiao Zi Yi added, "Grandpa You specifically came back to celebrate You Rong's birthday. I estimate You Rong won't be coming to school for the next couple of days."
Lin Qing He lowered her gaze. "I see."
Xiao Zi Yi chuckled with a hint of mischief. "Oh, by the way, the birthday party won't not invite you, right? If you want to give You Rong a gift, do you want... me to take you?"
Lin Qing He gave Xiao Zi Yi a cold glance and left him with a single sentence, "No need." Then she turned and walked away.
Xiao Zi Yi watched Lin Qing He's retreating back and called out, not giving up, "Really don't want to? If no one takes you to You Rong's birthday party, you definitely won't be able to get in and see You Rong!"
Lin Qing He paid him no mind. She already had a plan.
After her shift tonight, the money she earned would be enough to buy the pair of sneakers she had her eye on as a birthday gift for You Rong.
She would give it to him a day in advance.
She believed that with the birthday gift she worked so hard to buy, You Rong would be moved and would invite her to his birthday banquet.
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