Su Ze caught sight of Liang Sheng’s sour expression and instantly felt on top of the world. He wanted to gloat a little more, to rile her up further, so he strode forward, aiming to sling an arm around Lu Ziqing’s shoulders. But Lu Ziqing spotted him coming and reflexively dodged backward. Su Ze’s hand closed on empty air.
The moment turned painfully awkward. Liang Sheng nearly burst out laughing but held it in, her face turning beet red, before storming off with a huff, pretending to be furious.
Lu Ziqing felt a touch of embarrassment herself, but Su Ze’s reaction went beyond that—he was angry too. Why had she dodged? She’d already agreed to be his girlfriend. What was the harm in letting him put an arm around her?
Our Miss Lu glimpsed Su Ze’s darkening scowl, and fury boiled up inside her, fit to burst. Oh, so I don’t let you touch me, and you throw me shade? Who gave you the nerve to give this young miss attitude? Do I look like someone you can just paw at?
“I’ll head out first. We’ll talk later,” Lu Ziqing said, pulling a stern face of her own before marching off in a temper.
Bored, Su Ze turned and retreated to his room.
A short while later, a knock sounded at Su Ze’s door. He called out and opened it to find Liang Sheng there, looking far from friendly.
“I have a few words for you. Mind if I come in to talk?” Liang Sheng asked.
Su Ze arched a brow but didn’t refuse, gesturing her inside with a flourish.
Liang Sheng slipped into Su Ze’s room and planted herself by the door, clearing her throat before speaking.
“Su Ze, by acting like this, aren’t you afraid you’ll never get to interact with other girls?” she asked, smiling sweetly.
Su Ze let out a cold laugh. “Heh, what are you on about, classmate Liang Sheng? I haven’t the foggiest.”
Oh? Playing dumb? Liang Sheng fought to keep her smile in place.
“What I mean is, once you become the young miss’s boyfriend, aren’t you afraid you won’t have chances to get close to other girls anymore?” Liang Sheng spelled it out again, more clearly.
“Ah?” Su Ze adopted an air of pure innocence. “What are you talking about, classmate Liang Sheng? I really don’t get it. I only like Miss Zi Qing—one person, from childhood right up to now. Never changed.”
“You!” Liang Sheng’s smile shattered.
“Pfft.” Su Ze shook with laughter. When he finally got it under control, he advanced on her, one deliberate step at a time.
Liang Sheng felt a flicker of panic. She was alone in a room with a full-grown man—and a dangerous one like Su Ze, at that.
“W-What are you doing?” She backed away until she bumped against the door, trapped.
Su Ze flashed a sinister smile and kept closing in.
By the time he loomed right up to her, Liang Sheng was sweating with fear. “Y-Young… Young…” She nearly blurted out “Young Miss.”
“What’s got you so scared, classmate Liang Sheng? Just make way. I only want to open the door,” Su Ze scoffed.
Liang Sheng awkwardly tried to shift aside, but…
“W-Why? What do you suddenly need the door open for?” She didn’t budge, clutching the handle in a tense grip.
Su Ze narrowed his eyes, seized her wrist, and flung the delicate Liang Sheng out of the way. Then he yanked open the door. The hallway beyond stood empty. He even poked his head out to scan the corridor—no one in sight.
“Heh.” Su Ze leaned against the doorframe. “Liang Sheng, I figured you’d have Miss Zi Qing lurking out there to eavesdrop. Since that’s not the case, why’d you freak out so much when I went for the door?”
Liang Sheng peered out in surprise, then copied him by stepping into the hall for a quick look around. She clenched her fists, bit her lip, and retreated back into Su Ze’s room.
So Liang Sheng had summoned Lu Ziqing to listen in, but Lu Ziqing hadn’t taken the bait and stayed away? Su Ze watched her every move with keen attention.
Then he saw her sigh and slowly unclench her fists.
“Alright, Su Ze. Now you’ve got no holds barred, right? Go ahead and speak freely,” Liang Sheng said, steadying her nerves as she looked up at him.
“No, no, no.” Su Ze closed the distance again.
Trapped inside the room with no escape outside, Liang Sheng braced herself and shot him a fierce glare. She refused to believe he’d try anything in broad daylight.
Su Ze stepped right up and grabbed her wrist. Liang Sheng jumped in fright and tried to yank free, but his grip was ironclad—no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t shake him loose.
“Miss Liang Sheng,” Su Ze drawled, fishing something from the sleeve of her sweater. “And what’s this? A phone? Oh-ho, and it’s still recording.”
Liang Sheng’s face twisted in dismay as she lunged to snatch it back. But Su Ze exploited his height, hoisting the phone high over his head before retreating a few steps and pocketing it.
Out of moves, Liang Sheng swallowed her rage, her expression thunderous. “Fine. Now spit it out.”
Su Ze bent down to meet her eyes, then reached again, tugging a digital recorder from her pants pocket. With a mocking sneer, he said, “Well, well, Miss Liang Sheng. Out and about with one of these on you? Banking on me falling right into your trap, were you?”
