Chapter 339 The Background Fiancée in Campus Novel (42)

Chapter 339: The Background Fiancée Character in the Campus Story (42)

Since the incident on the beach, Tang Qing hadn’t shown up.

The bed in Room 1403 that belonged to Tang Qing was left untouched. Cen Yinghuai’s gaze would often linger unconsciously on the spot that had once been hers…

On his phone screen, after hesitating for a long time, Cen Yinghuai still couldn’t bring himself to hit send.

*"How have you been lately?"*

*Way too obvious he cared.*

*"I'm sorry."*

*Apologizing now would feel random.*

*"What are your plans next?"*

*Probably none of his business anyway…*

After drafting and deleting repeatedly, Tang Qing’s chat bubble still said *"typing…"*

Just then, a sudden call came in, and Cen Yinghuai’s pulse spiked!

But when he saw it was his old man (his dad), his hopeful look dropped. "What do you want?"

"No ‘Hi, Dad’? Rude." Cen Mingguang on the other end raised his voice. "You’re coming home Friday night."

Cen Yinghuai: "Busy."

"School."

A blatant excuse. His father cursed through the phone, "Bullshit! The semester’s almost over. St. John's University should have all the assessment results out by now. What else could you possibly have to do?"

"Song Yijin from the Song family is back. The Songs threw a dinner on Friday…"

He’d been tuning his dad out, even considering hanging up on him—

But the moment he heard that familiar name, Cen Yinghuai immediately pressed, "Wait—Did you just say Song Yijin?"

"Yeah, you know him?"

Cen Mingguang then remembered, "Right, I heard the Song kid also hid at St. John's University. What, have you two met there?"

Oh, they’d *met* alright…

Suddenly, Cen Yinghuai recalled—that night—Tang Qing had said outright she was now Song Yijin’s girlfriend…

So… would she also be at the Song family’s dinner?

Just the thought of that possibility made Cen Yinghuai, who had been completely uninterested moments ago, abruptly do a 180. "What time?"

The shift in attitude was too sudden. Cen Mingguang was baffled. "Wait—*now* you’re in?"

"School magically cleared up?"

Cen Yinghuai: "Friday. *Time.*"

Well, someone’s in a hurry.

It was just past six-thirty, and Cen Yinghuai was among the first guests to arrive.

Rarely dressed in a suit, the eldest Cen young master was downright fidgety. Several times, he thought about yanking his collar open but held back—for once.

Before coming, he had checked and rechecked.

Even his father agreed—this was his sharpest look in years.

If Tang Qing actually saw him like this...

At least he wouldn’t look like a slob.

As his gaze swept across the room, Cen Yinghuai suddenly locked onto a familiar face!

Cao Zhong was here too?

Under the young master’s scrutiny, Cao Zhong was fussing over his hair in front of a glass pane.

Watching Cao Zhong preen like a peacock, Cen Yinghuai pursed his lips, thinking, *Where have I seen that move before?*

Cen Yinghuai fake-coughed. “Are you close with Song Yijin?”

Jumping at the voice behind him, Cao Zhong nearly poked himself in the eye with his own hair!

He side-eyed Cen Yinghuai. “You’re here too?”

“I… my old man forced me to come.”

That excuse was paper-thin. Cao Zhong rolled his eyes. “Since when are you so obedient?”

Everyone in their circle knew the Cen eldest young master wasn’t scared of shit—his presence here likely mirrored Cao Zhong’s own motive: Tang Qing.

Just as Cao Zhong was about to mock him further, a stir broke out from the second floor!

Looking up, Cao Zhong immediately spotted Tang Qing!

His pupils blew wide at the sight of her.

She was breathtaking!

Cao Zhong had always known Tang Qing was striking, but tonight, dressed to kill, she was utterly mesmerizing...

Tang Qing wore a gilded gown, its bodice embellished with shimmering diamonds and pearls, exuding sheer opulence...

The skirt’s cascading folds caught the light with every movement, shimmering like liquid gold.

Simply standing there, she was a walking spotlight, destined to captivate.

As Cao Zhong stared, Tang Qing’s clear eyes met his. Recognizing a familiar face, she gave a tiny smirk—just the slightest upturn of her lips—yet it hit him like a sucker punch!

“Who is that?”

“Song Yijin’s companion? How’s she flown under the radar?”

“Holy hell, is she even real?”

Whispers spread instantly—Tang Qing’s arrival had the whole room in a chokehold.

A uniquely stunning and noble beauty—someone like this had been his classmate all this time, yet he had never noticed...

Cao Zhong was secretly sneering at himself when his gaze shifted back and caught sight of Cen Yinghuai frozen like a statue.

Unable to resist, Cao Zhong edged closer to Cen Yinghuai and asked maliciously, "I heard Tang Qing was supposed to be your fiancée?"

"Well, now that the engagement’s off, you regretting it yet?"

Needling him on purpose, Cao Zhong was rewarded with the sight of the eldest young master’s face turning stormy!

He had regretted it long ago.

Cen Yinghuai couldn’t control his gaze at all. Seeing Tang Qing naturally loop her arm through Song Yijin’s, their intimacy made his chest burn with jealousy.

That position should have been mine...

Suddenly, every shared memory of his time with Tang Qing came rushing back. Only now did Cen Yinghuai realize how vividly he remembered every moment, every word...

"What does she look like? Can’t remember."

"I’d have to be blind to be with her!"

"I’m free now..."

Every single one of those harsh words he’d spoken to her face now pierced his heart.

"Cen Yinghuai..."

"You really deserve this..." The one he loved was right in front of him, and not only had he failed to notice, he’d even trashed her with his words!

Goddamn it!

Shen Shu was right—he truly was the world’s biggest fool!

Wallowing in self-pity, Cen Yinghuai wished he could slap himself silly.

His feet mindlessly trailed after Tang Qing until, finally, he managed to find a relatively quiet moment to speak.

At the corner of the banquet hallway, the Cen eldest young master mustered all his courage and called out to Tang Qing’s back as she walked away, "Long time no see."