Chapter 4

Three or four male students followed behind Ji Xian. One of them spotted Qiao Zhen and looked at her with undisguised disdain. "Yo, Qiao Zhen, why don't you come over and have lunch with Young Master Ji?" The mocking words struck her like a blow. Qiao Zhen's hand abruptly stopped, and her face paled slightly. She recognized this rich second-generation heir—Yuwen Jian. He was an incompetent, ill-mannered wastrel who had gotten into Peking University because his family had donated several buildings. Back in their first year of high school, Yuwen Jian had inexplicably showered her with luxury goods. After Qiao Zhen politely refused them, Yuwen Jian immediately lost his temper. He began badmouthing and belittling her in front of Ji Xian, mocking her for not knowing any luxury brands and sneering at her poor family background, saying she wasn't worthy of eating with them. In her previous life, Yuwen Jian had always worn that same arrogant, superior expression. Qiao Zhen's breathing briefly stopped, and her ears began to ring. Back then, she had always followed behind Ji Xian and his friends during lunch, eating with them and helping fetch spoons and chopsticks for him and his friends. All because she wanted to be a little closer to Ji Xian. Eating together had always been something Ji Xian tacitly allowed. The same went for their other activities. Only after Ji Xian nodded in agreement would she follow them with delight. She had never shamelessly clung to him. There were countless girls at school who pursued Ji Xian. They all wanted to eat lunch with him or go to the convenience store together. Ji Xian had decisively rejected every one of them. Yet he had never rejected Qiao Zhen. It was precisely this special treatment that made her feel that perhaps there was something different between them. She had actually believed that her efforts and devotion could eventually melt his heart. How ridiculous. She had willingly set herself ablaze for Ji Xian, hoping to warm him. But he had never felt it. No. With a fire burning so brightly right beside him, how could anyone possibly feel no warmth at all? Qiao Zhen's eyes became wet despite herself, and her vision gradually blurred. It was simply because Ji Xian believed she would never leave and that her flame would never go out, so he never cared about her feelings… At the same time, another boy behind Ji Xian noticed her. In a lazy tone, he called out, "Come over already. There's no one to get our chopsticks for us when you're not around~" From beginning to end, Ji Xian hadn't said a single word. He simply assumed that she would come over. Ji Xian had never defended her either, allowing the people around him to belittle and ridicule her as they pleased. It had been this way now. And it had been this way in her previous life too… Beside her, Qin Yichi's entire body was tense. His eyes were filled with wariness and displeasure, and his heart felt as though an enormous hand had seized it in a crushing grip, making it difficult to breathe. Under the table, his hand was clenched tightly into a fist, his fingertips gradually turning white as he restrained himself. The two groups of boys had never gotten along particularly well. Now, the atmosphere had begun to change, becoming increasingly tense and hostile. Qiao Zhen looked dazed. Her fingers curled slightly as she forcibly suppressed the bitterness churning inside her. She took a deep breath and looked at Ji Xian, her voice calm and serious. "I'm not eating with you anymore." Never again. Fortunately, those fragments from her previous life had appeared in her dream, allowing her to avoid taking the long way around and see the truth sooner. Now that she had finally awakened, she intended to stay far away from these people. Qiao Zhen's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for everyone at both tables to hear her clearly. One by one, they looked at her in shock and disbelief. Almost everyone at Peking University knew that the School of Arts had a beautiful junior named Qiao Zhen who chased after Ji Xian every single day. She had pursued him from high school all the way into university and was famously devoted to him. How could she suddenly change? Yuwen Jian's lips twitched slightly. His face was filled with disbelief as he raised his voice. "What did you say?!" Qiao Zhen lowered her eyes and repeated herself. "I'm not eating with you anymore." But the moment her words fell, an icy frost instantly settled over Ji Xian's eyes. His cold gaze revealed no emotion whatsoever. His expression darkened, and his voice was cool and commanding, leaving no room for refusal. He ordered her word by word. "Qiao Zhen, come here." Qiao Zhen's eyelashes trembled lightly, but she remained seated in her original spot without the slightest intention of moving. She shook her head, silently refusing. The rich heirs around Ji Xian were completely stunned. They exchanged bewildered looks, each seeing the same confusion in the other's eyes. No one had expected Qiao Zhen to actually refuse. Had she gone crazy? Had she taken the wrong medicine today? Or was this some kind of tactic to make him chase after her? Ji Xian's expression turned cold and stern. His eyes narrowed as he stared fixedly at Qiao Zhen. After a moment, he left without expression, not sparing Qiao Zhen another glance, as though nothing had happened. Only after they had completely disappeared did Qiao Zhen finally breathe again. But after Ji Xian and his friends had ruined her mood, even lunch had become tasteless. It was hard to imagine how she had managed to follow Ji Xian around for seven years in her previous life. How had she even managed to date him? Seven years of ridicule and belittlement. Seven years of emotional coldness… Seven whole years. The pain and bitterness from her previous life surged through her entire body at this moment, spreading into every limb and bone. Even breathing became difficult. Qiao Zhen lowered her head without saying a word. She slumped over as she repeatedly poked at her bowl with her chopsticks. Perhaps noticing the unpleasant atmosphere, one of the boys eating beside her tried to lighten the mood. "Chi-ge, you know this pretty girl?" "More than just know her." Qin Yichi seemed to smile as he answered seriously, "Let me formally introduce her. This is Qiao Zhen. Qiao as in qiaomu, and Zhen as in pearl." "She's my—" He deliberately dragged out the last syllable. Qiao Zhen's eyelid twitched, and her heart suddenly clenched for some inexplicable reason. Everyone present silently perked up their ears, their eyes revealing traces of anticipation and curiosity. Qin Yichi paused before finishing. "My childhood sweetheart." His little childhood sweetheart who had grown up with him. The boys immediately wore exaggerated expressions of "Ooh~ ooh~ ooh~," practically dying of envy inside. Damn it, why didn't they have such a cute and beautiful childhood sweetheart of their own?! Qin Yichi ignored their teasing and simply curved his lips into a faint smile. His roommate, Niu Yifeng, patted his chest enthusiastically. "Qiao-mei, since you're Chi-ge's childhood sweetheart, by extension, that makes you our childhood sweetheart sister too!" His enthusiasm was so sudden that it caught her completely off guard. Qiao Zhen's brain momentarily short-circuited. Her soft, fair face was practically covered in question marks. "Ah…?" Could you really make that kind of connection? The boys immediately began chatting with her. "Qiaomu, that's such a nice name! Hahaha!" Qin Yichi lightly tapped his fingers against the table and corrected him word by word. "Not Qiaomu. Qiao Zhen. Zhen as in pearl." The other boy promptly shoveled another mouthful of rice into his mouth. Finally realizing his mistake, he mumbled indistinctly. "Oh, oh, sorry, Qiao Zhu!" "…" Qiao Zhen choked slightly and hurriedly waved her hand. "N-No, it's fine." By the end of the meal, Qiao Zhen couldn't help laughing. She couldn't help but marvel at how pleasant the atmosphere was whenever she ate with Qin Yichi and his friends. It was as though a comfortable, natural spring breeze surrounded her, leaving her in a good mood and allowing her to freely be herself. His friends were genuinely sincere and warm. Unlike Ji Xian's friends, who had always treated her with an air of superiority, constantly bossing her around and picking faults with everything she did. And all she could do was carefully watch their expressions, pretending she didn't understand their sarcastic and cutting remarks. Qiao Zhen lowered her head, suddenly feeling a sting in her nose as her eyes gradually grew hot. Only after having something to compare it with did she realize— Back then, she had really been so, so tired… Outside, the wind blew fiercely, sending golden ginkgo leaves rustling through the air. The sky gradually darkened as thick clouds gathered overhead. Ji Xian's mood seemed to have sunk to rock bottom. Throughout the entire meal, no one had even dared to speak at the table, afraid of provoking him. Ji Xian walked at the very front of the group, his expression calm and distant. Behind him, Yuwen Jian was so furious that the veins on his forehead bulged. "Fine! That Qiao Zhen is so fickle. Now she's actually latched onto Qin Yichi?!" The moment those words fell, Ji Xian's footsteps abruptly stopped. A storm seemed to erupt in the depths of his eyes, several sharp flashes flickering within them. His expression became extremely grim. The next second, a deafening "BOOM!" thundered across the sky, and a bolt of lightning tore through the air like a sharp sword. A torrential downpour began!