After returning from the University of Tokyo, Yu Qingxue’s gaze gained a subtle, indescribable quality. Her large, crystalline black eyes roamed over Gao Sijin’s face, a little dazed and a little distant, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
“Qingxue, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
Yu Qingxue walked alongside Gao Sijin in her high heels, then gave him a general introduction to Sanshiro Pond at the university. She also took him to Law and Letters Building No. 1 and No. 2, the Akamon General Research Building, the General Library, and other places. Those buildings were basically where Gao Sijin would be going for his future studies.
He still had to choose a professor after this. Gao Sijin was a little worried whether the University of Tokyo professors would choose him. Coming to Todai had left him feeling somewhat giddy, but that was swiftly followed by anxiety. Along the way, they ran into a few compatriots, mostly from 985 and 211 universities. When asked, Gao Sijin revealed his alma mater was a little-known Tier-2 university, their words remained friendly, but their eyes inadvertently betrayed a hint of scorn, sharp as a blade, piercing into him.
Could he truly become a remarkable person?
To be honest, Gao Sijin had zero confidence in himself.
“Let’s go, Sijin, let’s head home. I’m a bit hungry. Let’s make something delicious back at the house.”
“You’re right.”
After the tour ended, Yu Qingxue grabbed Gao Sijin’s arm and they retraced their steps.
Quite a few people came up to try their luck with Yu Qingxue along the way. However, she cleverly disguised herself as Gao Sijin’s girlfriend, easily deflecting their advances. Meanwhile, Gao Sijin followed beside her with a vacant stare, his mind occupied entirely by Tsukiyuki Rio.
Sitting in the BMW, Yu Qingxue floored the accelerator and whisked Gao Sijin back to the apartment.
It was only about a kilometer from the apartment to the University of Tokyo, a distance easily walked each day. It was extremely convenient. As a graduate student, Gao Sijin would be at the Hongo Campus. Yu Qingxue, currently a second-year undergraduate, was at the Komaba Campus, thirteen kilometers away. But with a daily drive, it wasn’t particularly time-consuming—basically twenty-odd minutes to arrive.
Once they got home, Yu Qingxue seemed utterly drained. The moment she stepped inside, she sprinted to the sofa and collapsed onto it, limp and strengthless, curling up into a ball without moving a muscle.
“Home at last. I’m beat.”
“It can’t be that bad, Qingxue? Wasn’t it just the entrance ceremony and a tour around Todai? Is it really so exhausting?”
“If it were just that, I wouldn’t be so tired. But the problem is I’ve just been heartbroken. Sijin, come here and let me have my way with you. Since I can’t get your heart, I’ll just have to take the rest of you.”
Her long legs, sheathed in black stockings, kicked wildly and petulantly, as if she were throwing a tantrum.
If one were to compare only physiques with Tsukiyuki Rio, Yu Qingxue seemed to hold a slight edge. Her chest, in particular, was a devastating weapon of rare caliber in this world. Her front-to-back S-curve silhouette didn’t resemble that of a young woman just past twenty who had recently matured; it was more akin to a queen well-versed in high society.
When a woman like her acted spoiled, it was lethally effective.
“Stop messing around, Qingxue.”
“Sigh, I’m so unwilling. Sijin’s already off the market, while I haven’t even been in a relationship. I haven’t even had my first kiss. I feel like I’ve lost so miserably, worse than you even.”
“If you want to be in a relationship, isn’t it as simple as picking whoever you want?”
Recalling the entrance ceremony today, handsome guys trying to chat up Yu Qingxue were as numerous as cattle hairs. Among those introducing themselves, there was no shortage of scions from wealthy conglomerates and powerful houses. Yet, to all those suitors, Yu Qingxue simply waved her hand as though swatting flies. Those “flies” would have been hot commodities anywhere else, but they alone couldn’t catch the discerning eye of Yu Qingxue.
“Every single one of those guys who hit on you today is on a level I could never hope to reach…”
“But I just like you. I might look glamorous, but strip away the surface beauty, and I’m essentially a useless bum just like you. Do you really think I necessarily like those so-called elites? What a joke. I think that having someone to spend the rest of my life with, playing games together, chasing anime series, roasting each other over meals, having endless topics of conversation… that’s what happiness is to me.”
Yu Qingxue sat up and rested her chin on her hands, staring at Gao Sijin’s face. Her deep eyes were brimming with undisguised affection, showing not a trace of dishonesty.
“If you just want someone to hang out with, your choices are even more absurdly plentiful. Why does it have to be me?”
“The level of your uselessness is just right, and your perfection is just right too. You’re a little slovenly on a daily basis, but when you clean up, you’re quite charming. What’s more, you’re an herbivore guy, a masochist, and an overly nice pushover—you make people just want to bully you senseless. If you were with me, whenever I’m bored, depressed, or sad, I could just pick on you. It would definitely lift my spirits.”
“Wow, well in that case, I’m even less inclined to accept your feelings. Rio is much better; she would absolutely never bully me. Besides, you say bullying me would make you happy? Ha, I just scoff. If it came down to it, who’s bullying who isn’t certain. You, a little girl, think you can bully me?”
“Oh, so the rain’s stopped and the sun’s out, and you’re feeling all high and mighty again, huh Sijin? A man like you, once tricked into bed, would definitely end up crying and begging for mercy.”
“How would you know?”
“You’ve just got one of those faces that looks like it was made to be bullied.”
Yu Qingxue peeled off her stockings and hurled them hard at Gao Sijin’s face.
“What are you doing?!”
“The more I look at your face, the more it annoys me. I really want to use these stockings to gag your mouth and kidnap you off to Northern Myanmar.”
“Hmph, you’re delusional.”
“Forget it. I’m going to cook. What do you want to eat?”
“Just make something simple. How about curry?”
“Fine, curry it is. Sijin, you go rest, or write your novel or whatever. We’ll eat soon.”
With Tsukiyuki Rio’s appearance, Yu Qingxue knew her own time in the spotlight would diminish.
Every time, she had to play the villain. It was fine at first; she treated it as a mission to execute. Once the task was over, she could withdraw without a trace of emotion. But why couldn’t she shake off this damned man? Why was her heart forcing thoughts of defiance against Eldest Miss Tsukiyuki Rio?
Yu Qingxue chopped the vegetables viciously with her kitchen knife, as if taking her feelings out on them.
When Gao Sijin asked if she needed help, Yu Qingxue refused him as usual, claiming that Gao Sijin entering the kitchen would only cause extra chaos.
“Young Miss…” Yu Qingxue’s knife sliced through the carrots and potatoes. Deep within her eyes flickered complex emotions. “How much longer can my loyalty to you remain steadfast?”
She tried to keep herself calm, but her gaze couldn’t help but drift unconsciously towards Gao Sijin on the sofa in the living room.
The person who had spent the longest time with him was herself.
So didn’t that mean he should rightfully belong to her?
She wanted to run away.
Take him and flee to the ends of the earth, lock him in a basement only she knew about, and from then on, spend their useless, happy days together. To hell with the Yu Family.
If Young Lady Tsukiyuki makes her play the villain one more time, I’ll rebel the very next day, damn it all.
