Chapter 74: Encounter

They finally chose a clean street-side restaurant. The lighting inside was bright, the atmosphere pleasant, and there were a few tables of Linying students who had also come out to grab a bite.

Each of them ordered their own meal. The kitchen was busy, so they had to wait a while. Bored, Zhao Yuanqiu took the lead in starting a conversation to lighten the mood: “Did you guys know anything about our school before coming? And about our freshman class?”

The other three looked at each other. Di Yu and Su Ziyuan shook their heads, while Wang Xiao had done a bit of homework, but not much.

“I heard there’s an especially pretty girl in our year, definitely the school beauty,” Zhao Yuanqiu said as he scrolled through his phone. “Wait, let me find a photo for you guys.”

A few seconds later, Zhao Yuanqiu held up his phone to show the trio. On the screen was a girl’s back view: tall and slender, hair reaching her shoulders, legs long and straight.

“Why’s it just a back view? How can you tell if she’s pretty from that?” Su Ziyuan pouted.

“That girl is too low-key. She doesn’t like talking to people. A senior I know saw her when he was helping freshmen move their stuff. He described her as incredibly beautiful, but she wouldn’t let anyone take a picture with her, so he could only secretly snap a shot of her back.”

Di Yu’s noodles came up first. He wasn’t interested in the so-called school beauty Zhao Yuanqiu was talking about. He grabbed his chopsticks and started eating his noodles heartily.

He had already met a few picturesque girls, but in the end, even getting close to them, he had to stop. Hope must be grounded in reality. He had lost all interest in such things.

The only thing that caught Di Yu’s attention was the back in the photo: long hair, slender waist, height no less than a boy’s—so similar to her, as if it were the same person, capable of making his unrequited love, which had ended without resolution, ache all over again.

She wouldn’t be here anyway. But girls with good figures often have similar backs, and besides, she wouldn’t be here.

Wang Xiao and Su Ziyuan were still excitedly discussing with Zhao Yuanqiu, both very interested in that legendary beautiful girl, chattering nonstop.

“Too bad she’s too cold. She was dragging such heavy luggage all by herself and wouldn’t let the senior help,” Zhao Yuanqiu said, stroking his chin. “But I do have other pretty girls as friends. Next time we’re free, I’ll invite them out to hang out. You guys seize the opportunity.”

He glanced at Di Yu, who was burying his head in his meal, and pushed his shoulder. “Di Yu, why are you just eating? No interest at all?”

“No way, Di Yu, are you wasting your handsome face like this? Or is it that girl you were on the phone with just now…”

“No, no, she really is just my good friend. She was talking nonsense just now. She likes to mess around. Don’t mind her,” Di Yu waved his hand in denial.

Wang Xiao didn’t quite believe him. He studied Di Yu’s expression and said, “Hey, what’s there to deny? From the sound of that girl’s voice, she must be pretty in person. You really don’t have any feelings in that direction?”

“She… is very pretty, but I really don’t have those feelings for her. She’s outstanding, her family background is excellent. I’m not good enough for her.”

“I don’t buy it. Pretty and outstanding—how could you not have feelings? If you really don’t like her…” Zhao Yuanqiu looked around, his gaze lingering on a girl at the table behind to the right for two seconds. “Then go ask for that girl’s number behind us. Let’s see the charm of that face of yours. Don’t waste it.”

Di Yu looked over. The girl with her back to them sat alone in the corner, her long hair tied up in a bun, the back of her neck fair. The black gauze dress felt very familiar to him.

“Isn’t this too much for me? I already said I don’t want to date anyone.” Di Yu thought for a moment. Hoping to avoid any future trouble from this, he agreed. “Fine, I’ll go. But you guys can’t keep making wild guesses about me and He Hao from now on.”

“Fine, fine. Go ahead, go ahead.”

His steps felt somewhat anxious for some reason. The closer he got, the stronger the sense of familiarity. The girl was eating with her head down, the tips of her hair covering half her face, making it hard to see clearly. He couldn’t confirm his guess.

“Hello, um, can I get your contact info? I just noticed you… you… are quite special. You look a lot like a friend of mine.” Di Yu was obviously nervous, stumbling over his words.

After all, this was something he had never done. Approaching a strange girl was something he rather resisted, and he wasn’t good at it.

“Oh? Like which ‘friend’ of yours?” The girl crossed her legs and looked up at Di Yu beside her, a teasing smile on her face.

“Qian… Sister Qianxin?”

“Only a few hours apart and you’ve already learned bad habits. Xiao Yu, you really make your big sister worry.” Yun Ganxin took out her phone, opened the QR code, and placed it on the table. “Here, if Xiao Yu wants to add me, go ahead. Oh, you already have me as a friend. Then do you want me to recommend some other girls’ accounts?”

“No, no. Sister Ganxin, don’t tease me. Um… I’ll head back now.”

“No, stop. You haven’t explained to your sister why you learned to be bad so quickly, Xiao Yu.” Yun Ganxin squinted slightly, her deep eyes showing a hint of allure, as if she could see straight into Di Yu’s heart.

“I, I, I… I lost a game with my roommates. I didn’t want to.”

“Really?” Yun Ganxin turned her head and glanced at the three boys watching them from behind. “Then big sister will trust you this once. Next time you’re caught casually hitting on a strange girl, you’ll move out and live with me.”

“This time was an exception. I understand.” Di Yu lowered his head, as if admitting fault.

“It’s allowed to date in university, but Xiao Yu needs to find the right, familiar girl. Let big sister vet her. You’re so gullible, easily tricked. Sister is doing this for your own good.”

Yun Ganxin let Di Yu go, then stood up and left. As she passed their table, she cast a glance at the boys. The cold, chilling disgust in her eyes was completely undisguised, making them unnerved.

Zhao Yuanqiu couldn’t help but shiver. He leaned close to Di Yu and started asking, “What’s going on? I saw her take out her phone, but you didn’t scan it. You just stood there being scolded like a kid.”

“She’s my sister. She doesn’t work around here. Not biological, should count as a foster sister?”

“She seems really fierce. Gave me chills. No wonder you’re afraid of her.”

“Actually, Sister Ganxin is very gentle. She’s just strict with me about romantic matters.”

“Romantic matters… Di Yu, have you ever thought she might like you?”

“She’s also told me directly, but it was a joke. I’m younger than her, so I’m only fit to be her little brother. I only see her as my sister.”

The table once again descended into casual banter, the boys chatting about everything under the sun. Outside, the night grew thick. The big city, which countless people flocked to, glittered with decadence, revealing its true face of red lights and green wine.