Chapter 320 The Background Fiancée in Campus Novel (23)

Chapter 320: The Background Fiancée in a Campus Novel (23)

"Welcome in!" Raising her eyes to see the person before her, Xin Ke did a double take!

How is anyone this gorgeous?!

During her time living on campus at St. John's University, sharing a dorm with three incredibly handsome guys had already raised Xin Ke’s beauty standards. Yet...

But today... she was blown away!

"Um, miss... did you make a reservation?" she asked cautiously, unable to resist stealing another glance.

The part-time job was at an Instagram-famous café, where many beautiful girls had come to take photos.

But the woman before her was hard to put into words—her features were exquisite, and what stood out most was her aura.

With just one look, Xin Ke could tell she was a real-deal rich girl—classy but not stuck-up, effortlessly poised.

"No."

"You guys take reservations?"

Xin Ke explained, flustered, "Because... recently, we’ve had many customers coming just to take photos..."

Most were groups of girls who spent at least half an hour snapping pictures, hogging up all the seats.

Tang Qing said nothing.

She hadn’t expected this—coming early to scout for a chance encounter with Shen Shu, only to face a bust before even seeing him...

Noticing the girl’s frown, Xin Ke, for some reason, hated to see her disappointed...

"Miss, actually, there’s one spot open."

Pointing to the window-side table at the far end, Xin Ke added, "But... this seat is reserved for someone else..."

"Well, they’re running late, so... maybe you could sit there first?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the system immediately chimed in, grinning! "That’s the seat!"

"Hehehe, that seat was reserved by Shen Shu’s sister! The brainiac will be here soon!"

With this unexpected turn of events, Tang Qing naturally wouldn’t let the opportunity slip. She replied coolly, "Sure, thank you."

Just the simplest polite phrase.

Yet, for some reason, Xin Ke’s ears went hot for no reason!

What the heck?!

Still flustered, she turned away awkwardly—only to plow right into someone!

"Watch where you’re going!"

A sharp voice rang out, making Xin Ke jump!

"Sorry! So sorry!" she hurriedly apologized. Xin Ke’s heart raced as she bowed apologetically.

"Sorry doesn't cut it!"

Shang Ya was livid with the server in front of her! She had just found the perfect selfie angle when this person suddenly bumped into her, nearly whacking her in the face with the selfie stick!

That was five painstaking hours of makeup!

Almost ruined!

"Exactly!"

"What's your name? I'm going to speak to your manager!"

Shang Ya's posse, who she'd briefly met at St. John's, weren't being any nicer.

They had seen this Instagrammable café on Weibo and made a special trip to post about it. For the final group photo, they had been shuffling around and striking poses, finally finding a great angle.

But then...

Xin Ke’s bump blurred everyone's faces in the photo!

Hearing they wanted the manager, Xin Ke panicked and apologized more frantically, "I’m really sorry..."

"It was an accident..."

"Ma'am, I..."

Before she could continue, Tang Qing suddenly spoke up!

"You don’t need to apologize."

"It’s not your fault."

"Some people's egos are so big that even standing at the center of the universe, they probably still wouldn’t look good in photos."

Who dares insult me?!

Shang Ya's head snapped up and she froze completely when she saw Tang Qing’s face...

What's she doing here?!

After a brief pause, Shang Ya quickly regained her composure and pasted on a smile. "Tang Qing! It’s you!"

"Long time no see."

"Hold up, Tang Qing, you’re back in the country?" Another sister recognized her and asked.

Tang Qing: "Says who?"

"Shang Ya's been saying! She even said you’d contact her soon..."

"What a coincidence—who'd have thought we’d run into you here."

The sister kept talking, completely oblivious to how Shang Ya's face fell with every word!

Shit!

Of all places to run into Tang Qing!

Thinking of all the lies she had casually spread at St. John's, Shang Ya’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. Cutting Tang Qing off, Shang Ya hurriedly said, "Tang Qing! Hey!"

"We haven't seen each other in so long, I've missed you."

That was pretty audacious.

After mocking that embarrassing incident last time, Shang Ya had stormed off in a huff and never reached out to Tang Qing again.

If she hadn’t even bothered to contact her, what kind of "missing" was this?

Sitting lazily at the table, Tang Qing remarked indifferently, "Shang Ya, I wasn’t aware… that we were ever that close?"

"Oh, you *miss* me?"

Shang Ya grew even more awkward. "Tang Qing…"

"We’ve known each other for years. We’re *sisters*, so of course I… miss you."

It was clear—the reluctance in Shang Ya’s last few words was unmistakable.

The Shangs weren’t real elites—just small-time business owners.

In their social circle, Shang Ya had repeatedly insisted she and Tang Qing were real BFFs to gain the others’ respect.

Now… that charade was crumbling.

With a faint, mocking smile, Tang Qing detonated a bombshell!

She said, "So, as *sisters*… you still plan to steal my fiancé?"

The second she said it, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

Shang Ya wanted to steal Tang Qing’s fiancé?

Shang Ya liked Cen Yinghuai?

It finally clicked—Shang Ya volunteering to approach Cen Yinghuai at St. John’s last time.

She’d had ulterior motives all along!

"Shang Ya."

"If you like Cen Yinghuai so much, go get him yourself. Using *me* to get to him? Pathetic."

How the hell did she know?!

That day, Shang Ya hadn’t even gotten the chance to confess.

Could it be… Cen Yinghuai told her himself?

Shang Ya’s smile faltered. "Tang Qing, you—you’ve got it all wrong..."

"Tang Qing, you know… I’ve *always*… supported you two—"

Tang Qing: "Gee, thanks for the heartfelt support."

"Next time you spout nonsense, don’t drag me into it."

"We’re not friends."

With the real heiress putting her foot down, the room went dead silent. Everyone side-eyed Shang Ya.

If Tang Qing's to be believed... she and Shang Ya were anything but friends! More like enemies!

Without any courtesy, Tang Qing kicked her out: "You still here?"

"You!" Shang Ya wanted to say something more, but she locked eyes with Tang Qing's icy stare...

Too scared to talk back, Shang Ya hurriedly left the scene with her sisters.

It was at this moment that Shen Shu walked in.

The young man was naturally aloof, and seeing a crowd around his seat, he instinctively frowned.

Standing to the side and listening for a while, he unexpectedly found himself encountering that idiot's so-called fiancée.

Originally not paying much attention, Shen Shu was about to sort out this seat situation with this fiancée.

But after getting a clear look at Tang Qing's face... Shen Shu's cool demeanor faltered for a split second!

How could...

She looked so similar?

Finally meeting the person she had been waiting for, Tang Qing let a slow smile spread across her face.

That very smile, in Shen Shu's eyes...

It looked even more familiar!

The young man breathed out, stunned, "You... just said you're Cen Yinghuai's fiancée?"

Tang Qing chuckled, "Hardly."

"After all, your precious young master claims he's a widower."

While Tang Qing spoke, Shen Shu had been observing her every move. After a long pause, the young man finally spoke up, "Have we... met somewhere before?"

Hearing this, Tang Qing couldn't help but laugh, "What is this, the stone age? Still using such lame pickup lines..."