Chapter 159: Passionate Pursuit

Chapter 159: Passionate Pursuit

Xu Jianwen wanted to find something to help dry her off, but he was also soaked.

"Hmm... maybe I should check a nearby villager's house for some clean clothes."

As he spoke, he was about to stand up, but Hao Yanyan reached out and pulled him back. "It's still pouring outside, no need to dash around. Let's wait for the rain to let up, then we can go out together. We're already soaked, it won't hurt to wait a bit longer."

Hao Yanyan's hand grasped Xu Jianwen's arm, and the contact felt intensely warm.

Hao Yanyan suddenly felt shy and quickly pulled her hand away.

Xu Jianwen stayed put, not moving an inch.

The rain let up after about ten minutes, and the two of them went to a nearby villager's house to rest and tidy up.

Xu Jianwen bought two sets of clean clothes; otherwise, they couldn't very well go back like that.

After this, Xu Jianwen didn't get any closer to Hao Yanyan, but he didn't seem as distant as before.

...

In the capital, it had been a month since the birthday party, and Deng Xuefeng, who boasted about pursuing someone, finally managed to get some info on Ye Xiaoxiao.

Deng Xuefeng initially planned to get info from Xu Jianli about Ye Xiaoxiao's school, but Xu Jianli was on guard and never gave him anything useful.

Then there was Shao Zeyu, who was tighter-lipped than anyone else, and he wouldn't spill a thing.

Deng Xuefeng had to reach out to some folks who knew the Hao family to ask Mrs. Hao.

At last, he discovered that Ye Xiaoxiao was at Jinghua University.

With the school known, things got easier, and Deng Xuefeng leveraged some connections to track down Ye Xiaoxiao's class and dorm.

By the dorm, Deng Xuefeng, decked out in a leather jacket and shades, casually leaned against a tree, his eyes glued to the dorm door.

He'd been waiting for three hours already.

He'd never been this patient chasing girls; this level of persistence was new to him.

Deng Xuefeng pictured Ye Xiaoxiao's stunning face.

Totally worth the wait!

Ye Xiaoxiao emerged from the dorm building without a sideways glance.

Deng Xuefeng's eyes lit up, and he straightened up.

"Xiao Xiao!"

He called out, waving enthusiastically.

Ye Xiaoxiao didn't recognize who it was at first, but as he got closer, she saw it was Deng Xuefeng.

"Deng Xuefeng? What are you doing here?"

Deng Xuefeng took off his sunglasses. "I came here specifically to see you."

Ye Xiaoxiao curled her lips. "You came to see me? We're not familiar with each other, what do you want with me?"

Deng Xuefeng stepped in front of Ye Xiaoxiao, "Don't say that. After our last meeting, I feel we’ve grown closer. Can we call ourselves friends?"

Ye Xiaoxiao looked at Deng Xuefeng's carefree attitude and her smile faded.

"You're not trying to hit on me, are you?"

Deng Xuefeng's eyes lit up even more; he liked straightforward girls.

"Yes, I want to hit on you. Xiao Xiao, be my girlfriend. I’ll treat you right."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Deng Xuefeng, see this ring on my finger?"

Ye Xiaoxiao showed her ring.

Deng Xuefeng: "You're married? No way."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I’m in a relationship, so quit pestering me. You could’ve moved on by now."

Deng Xuefeng frowned, "So that means you're not married yet. Dump him and be with me. I can give you everything he can."

Ye Xiaoxiao walked around him, "I’ve got class, no time for this."

Deng Xuefeng shouted from behind, "I’m not giving up, just wait and see."

His voice attracted the attention of students passing by on campus, all looking over.

Ye Xiaoxiao didn't care about the onlookers and strode forward.

She thought she’d made herself clear, so Deng Xuefeng would surely give up.

But the next day, she saw Deng Xuefeng again at the dorm building.

Deng Xuefeng was holding a bouquet of fresh roses.

Flowers this time of year were hard to find and probably pricey.

Ye Xiaoxiao was going downstairs with her roommates today and tried to steer clear of him.

Xia Li whispered, "Who’s this guy? He’s not bad-looking."

Then they saw Deng Xuefeng walking towards them with the flowers.

"Xiao Xiao, these are yours."

Ye Xiaoxiao hid her face behind her bag and spoke only when she couldn't avoid it, "Deng Xuefeng, didn’t you hear me yesterday? I have a boyfriend."

Deng Xuefeng frowned, "Then tell me who your boyfriend is. I’ll have a word with him."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "..."

You’re really pushing it.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes!"

Deng Xuefeng had to see what was so great about that man, richer than me? Or better-looking?

"Alright then, he’s from the same compound."

Deng Xuefeng nodded. That’s good—it’ll be easier to find him.

Ye Xiaoxiao noticed his eager yet skeptical look and said directly, "His name is Lu Hanchuan."

Deng Xuefeng’s smile vanished.

"Lu Hanchuan?"

"Xiao Xiao, are you messing with me, or is this just a way to turn me down?"

"Lu Hanchuan doesn’t usually hang around with us. I’ve only seen him a few times—how do you know him?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "You can check with Lu Hanchuan, but you’d better not bring up the dumb stuff you pulled. Otherwise, you can guess the consequences."

With that, Ye Xiaoxiao walked away.

Deng Xuefeng didn’t chase after her; he was left uneasy and unsure.

If Ye Xiaoxiao's boyfriend really was Lu Hanchuan, then Lu could handle him with no trouble at all.

Still clinging to a faint hope, Deng Xuefeng decided to inquire further.

He tossed the flowers aside and turned to leave.

Ye Xiaoxiao’s roommates eyed her with curiosity.

Xia Li: "Who’s this guy chasing you? He doesn’t seem like a student from our school."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I don’t know him well, but I got rid of him."

Wang Jiao glanced back. "What a waste—those flowers were gorgeous and probably pricey."

Tang Xiuxiu: "They weren’t meant for the right person, so no loss."

Wang Jiao stared at Ye Xiaoxiao again. "Someone like Xiao Xiao must’ve had suitors lining up since she was a kid, being pretty definitely has its perks."

Ye Xiaoxiao, with her striking features—bright eyes, flawless skin, a slim figure, and long, flowing black hair—was the picture-perfect image of an Eastern beauty.

It was natural beauty, something to envy but impossible to replicate.

Wang Jiao was green with envy.

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t sure about her past self, but she herself had indeed been pursued by many since childhood.

But her family didn’t let her date until she was older.

Ye Xiaoxiao was too busy learning and growing and didn’t have time to develop romantic relationships with anyone.

Lu Hanchuan really lucked out.

"Class is about to start—enough with the gossip."

Ye Xiaoxiao quickened her pace, as the earlier delay had made the time for class very close.

Wang Jiao: "Don’t dodge the question—just answer me."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Whatever, you’re not really interested in the answer anyway."

No matter what, Wang Jiao might not be satisfied.

So Ye Xiaoxiao chose not to answer.

Wang Jiao pouted and stomped off in silence.