Chapter 025 Extra 3

Chapter 025 Extra 3

After that, Ye Sui changed. He started mimicking how refined people talked and dressed, began collecting lots of books to read, and worked hard every day to better himself. He wanted to meet her again and get a cheerful compliment.

She might be surprised, circle him, and gasp, "Wow, Ye Sui, long time no see, you've changed so much I almost didn't recognize you! Do you have an Ultraman Tiga transformation device?" Just thinking about this scene made the corners of Ye Sui's mouth lift involuntarily, his eyes crinkling with joy, full of anticipation, wishing this day would come soon.

He didn't need anyone to "save" him. He was young but not stupid. Just as he liked Pu Shu's smile—honestly, no one could dislike such a bright, cheerful face, and no one would like a gloomy monster—he liked her smile, so he'd crawl out on his own, step by step toward her, instead of pulling her into the abyss and ruining her smile.

Maybe this separation was a good thing. He could take time to change himself—or more precisely, to disguise himself—so Pu Shu wouldn't see his dark side.

Of course, Ye Sui still got single-digit scores on exams. Even though he could talk now, he rarely did; no need to waste words on them.

It wasn't until he finished elementary and started middle school that he'd grown a lot. He could now write down the answers that came to mind, but not many, barely enough to get into an average middle school.

Meanwhile, his parents had finished their immigration paperwork. Naturally, they wouldn't take him along; they meant to abandon him and escape mockery. But before leaving, they surprisingly said one sentence to him calmly.

"This house is left for you, and there's 100,000 yuan in the card. From now on, we'll never see each other again. Whether you live or die, don't contact us. Since you were born, you've brought us no honor, only shame. The bond between parent and child ends here." Ye Bin left the card and said these final words to Ye Sui, then left with Bai Yiqiu without looking back.

They just wanted to settle abroad quickly and have another child. Besides, foreign technology was better for screening genes, so they could pick a better one, give birth to a genius child—that was their obsession.

Ye Sui didn't try to stop them, nor did he feel sorrow. That was impossible. They loathed each other, wishing never to see each other again, no different from enemies.

One might say that some enemies, as shown in TV dramas, could even fall in love after hating each other. Though he didn't understand that bizarre plot twist, for Ye Sui, dealing with enemies meant being as cold as sweeping fallen leaves.

He started living alone, throwing away a lot of stuff and redecorating—out of sight, out of mind. Because of the kidnapping, Ye Sui always thought he was too weak, so he started planning to exercise and get stronger. He discovered something surprising: his brain and body coordination improved—they became in sync.

So he grew quickly, whether in height, build, or looks, standing out among his peers like a crane among chickens. But his cold attitude kept many girls who wanted to get close away.

Not long after, a neighbor surnamed Pei moved in across the hall with a daughter about the same age. Ye Sui was extremely annoyed, thinking that this person's eyes must be on her feet—worn out from too much walking, or she'd read too many popular novels that made her see everyone as a "target for salvation." And Ye Sui—good-looking, abandoned by his parents, living alone, and aloof—fit the image of a male lead in need of redemption, so she clung to him.

Ye Sui only had one sentence for her: "I suggest you shave your head and go live in a nunnery, carrying the mission from heaven to enlighten all suffering beings. You have the skill to compete with the abbess. From now on, remember to call yourself 'poor nun' to show the demeanor of a master."

He had studied those elegant people over the years and learned well, but he veered off course. He didn't pick up warmth and gentleness; instead, his mouth became venomous. When he cast a sideways glance, full of contempt, and calmly spoke with sarcasm, the effect was devastating.

Books said civilized people were practical, liking to combine words and actions. He always liked to practice through real results.

Pei Ying: "..." So infuriated, and she couldn't even out-argue him.

Why was this different from the novels? When a cute, lively, and cheerful girl approaches a cold boy with a wounded heart, shouldn't he be moved, open his heart, and see her as a goddess or his moonlight?

Ye Sui couldn't be bothered to waste words on her. He turned and left with his book. With this time, he'd rather read more books and learn how to be a civilized person. He only wanted to make money from books and head to Jiangdong. He had checked: Jiangdong was a prosperous place, and without money, he couldn't move an inch.

But no matter how anxious he was, he would patiently change himself well. If he met Pu Shu again while still being nothing, he wouldn't even have the chance to approach her.

As for heading to Jiangdong and whether he could see her as he wished, Ye Sui never considered that question. He wouldn't think about it, because in his eyes, there was only one possibility: if he couldn't see her, he would spend his whole life searching.

Well, before that, after disguising himself as a civilized person for several years, he couldn't help but explode temporarily this time—after all, Pu Shu wouldn't know. No harm.

The trigger was that the clueless Pei Ying wouldn't give up. She clearly followed the redemption novel formula, but it never worked, which stirred her competitiveness. She didn't believe it—since childhood, everyone around her had been drawn to her lively, cheerful personality, both boys and girls, and she couldn't conquer a cold boy.

Naturally, this came with her "helpful behavior" and Ye Sui being labeled as an ingrate, ungrateful, and too cold. This displeased a group of Pei Ying's good brothers, who thought Ye Sui was too pretentious. So one day, Jiang Zaisong led a few friends to corner Ye Sui, threatening to teach him a lesson.

Ye Sui beat them up. By then, he already had the ability to fight back. He never expected that later this would be described as him being "besieged" to gain sympathy.

After Jiang Zaisong complained to Pei Ying, Pei Ying came to "lecture" him again. Ye Sui, having had enough, took a kitchen knife and cornered them on the first floor of the building, holding it to their necks. They were scared out of their wits. That night, when both families' parents knocked on his door to confront him, Ye Sui said expressionlessly, "Since you all want to die, I can grant your wish. Do you want your throat slit at midnight or be poisoned in the water?"

They were terrified, and the other residents in the neighborhood, fearing involvement, shifted their criticism from Ye Sui to the two families. People were like that: they didn't care when it didn't affect them, but when it concerned themselves, they felt the pain.

Seeing them speechless, Ye Sui slammed the door shut. He had "retired" for years, learning to be a civilized person. Whoever forced him to dirty his hands again, he would torment them. In the end, the Pei and Jiang families moved away in disgrace. Calling the police was useless—he was just a middle school student who hadn't done anything outrageous; everything he did was provoked. Aside from verbal education about harmony, what could they do?

Moreover, because Ye Sui had mimicked so well over the years—smiling politely—even the police didn't believe he was a psychopath or pervert. They suspected the adults were ganging up to bully a lonely kid and take his house, something they often saw.

Thus, Ye Sui just smiled faintly as the two families were lectured in return, unable to explain. See, he said he was a civilized man with clean hands now.

And so, Ye Sui peacefully passed his middle school and high school years, holding his dream in his heart. He controlled his scores again and successfully registered for Jiangdong University.

Stepping onto the road to Jiangdong, the air was sweet. In the blue sky and white clouds, the smiling face of a little girl appeared, waving at him, saying, "Ye Sui, long time no see." Ye Sui stared absently at the clouds outside the window and murmured softly, "Pu Shu, long time no see."

Now he was a "civilized man," both literate and martial, able to present himself well before her. No longer the weakling from childhood who could only lie on the ground, suffer first, then think of ways to settle scores later.

.

Jiangdong, Zhao family.

In recent days, Zhao Jin was responsible for looking after the young lady who had come from Jiangbei. She had secretly registered for Jiangdong University, traveled around during summer vacation, and as school approached, came straight to Jiangdong, saying she wanted to familiarize herself with the environment.

This impulsive young lady, bored with staying in Jiangbei, hid the registration from her family. By the time they knew, it was a done deal. Since there were Zhao family members in Jiangdong, coming here was fine.

Zhao Pu Shu had arrived a few days ago. Since school started today, she was staying at the Zhao residence, with Zhao Jin accompanying and caring for her. The family repeatedly urged him to take good care of her; if anything went wrong, it would cost him his life.

But it was exhausting... Zhao Jin ran back and forth behind his cousin, either carrying her bag or acting as her driver. Worse, if his cousin was displeased, he had to be her punching bag!

What happened today? School was starting, and Pu Shu decided to go to school herself and live in the dormitory.

The Zhao family had already arranged for her to come home after handling the registration. Even though Jiangdong University had a good environment and abundant funds, the dormitory was a four-person room. They worried Pu Shu wouldn't be used to it and thought it better for her to come home.

But Pu Shu didn't want that. She wanted a free life! Staying in the dorm was fine. If she didn't get along with her roommates, she could come back.

"Please, my little ancestor, if you go alone and something happens, Big Brother will slap me to death! Do me a favor, let me take you to school, make your bed, and then I'll leave, I beg you."

Zhao Jin was about to kneel and hug her leg, crying. He feared the wrath of his eldest brother, Zhao Xi—one look could take his life.

"Second Brother, you're exaggerating. Jiangdong University isn't far. I can go by myself. I'm not a three-year-old kid or a giant baby; I don't need you following me around."

Pu Shu folded her arms. Even with stunning beauty, her eye-roll was still pretty. She snorted, "You're not worried about me; you want to follow me, take pictures for Big Brother, and get the latest sports car. Don't think I don't know your little scheme."

Exposed, Zhao Jin rubbed his nose, unashamed, and said with a cheeky smile, "Shu Shu, I already bragged to my friends. Think about it: if I lose face, isn't that losing face for you, Zhao Pu Shu? People would say, 'The young master of the Jiangdong Zhao family can't even get a sports car.' Where would your precious face go?"

Zhao Jin had two hobbies: sports cars and beautiful women. He could do without the latter for now, but the former was essential—it was the symbol of being the top young master of Jiangdong! He had his eye on one, but his dad wouldn't give him money, and his own funds were insufficient. He had to beg his eldest brother, Zhao Xi. Moreover, the car wasn't just about money; he needed someone high up to help import it from overseas. The elders wouldn't bother with his fun, so he had to ask Big Brother for help.

"I'll let you drive mine for now. I'll be at school and won't have much time to drive anyway." Pu Shu had already grown tired of it. She wasn't very interested in sports cars anyway—it was a gift from one of her brother's friends. "But on one condition: you don't snitch to Big Brother too much."

"Deal." Zhao Jin had long had his eye on Pu Shu's unique sports car, and now he could drive it to satisfy his craving. "But I have to say, I can't stay completely silent. If Big Brother personally comes to Jiangdong, we'll both be dead."

"Deal!"

Pu Shu shook off Zhao Jin, the tagalong. Dragging her own suitcase, she entered the campus like many freshmen from all over, only to be surrounded—by club recruiters and photography society members who wanted photos with her, her beauty stunning.

Up close, they even noticed she wasn't wearing makeup, and not a single strand of her hair was imperfect. Sob... how could someone be this beautiful? This year's freshmen were amazing!

Pu Shu flicked her hair—of course, she kept a beautiful smile—and didn't refuse the admirers who bowed before her beauty. After photos, she had a handful of flyers. A female student from the sports department helped carry her suitcase, her eyes beaming, acting as a self-appointed guardian. The male students could only watch tearfully, with no chance to offer help!

The dormitory elevator was crowded, but the strong sports student, with her muscular arms, easily hoisted the suitcase up the stairs. The junior walked beside her, and the faint fragrance invigorated her. She still took time to remind, "Junior Pu Shu, watch your step on the stairs. Let me take it up first; you can take the elevator later." How could she let the beautiful junior climb stairs!

"No need, senior. I'll walk with you; we can chat. It's not tiring. Senior, you're so kind. You've worked hard. Let me wipe your sweat. Can I add you on social media? After I settle my bed, I'll treat you to dinner tonight." Pu Shu blinked, and the senior was almost swooning, only able to repeat, "Okay, okay, not tired at all."

Ahhh! She loved Junior Pu Shu! Indeed, it's better to be a girl—you can approach Junior Pu Shu without restraint and have fun together.

Finally at the dorm, the kind senior enthusiastically helped make the bed. But she had other things to do, so they agreed to have dinner together that evening, during which she would show the junior around campus. Then she reluctantly left. So reluctant! She, a steel-like strong girl, now understood what it meant to be a hero falling for beauty.

"Senior, here's my little fan. I know you're busy, but the sun is strong now. Please protect yourself from heatstroke. What if you get heatstroke?" Pu Shu handed the neck fan to the kind senior, her smile bright like spring water, her voice sweet. "If you get heatstroke, I'll be very sad. Make sure to protect yourself from the sun!"

The kind-hearted senior was already feeling dizzy and lightheaded, like she was stepping on clouds. The fan's breeze felt like a gentle spring wind in March. She grinned and nodded dazedly, "Alright, alright, Pu Shu, rest assured, I'll take care of the sun and myself. You must be tired. Take a shower and get some good sleep. If you have any questions, just ask me. I'm always here for you."

"I understand, senior sister." Pu Shu stood at the dormitory door to see her off.

After the kind-hearted senior kept looking back reluctantly and disappeared around the corner of the corridor, Pu Shu pursed her red lips, hummed a tune, and turned back into the dormitory.

It was too hot. Li Pushu was wearing a camisole underneath. She took off her jacket, making her already stunning figure even more prominent. When a few roommates came in, they all blushed and couldn't help sneaking peeks. Their roommate was gorgeous—her skin, her slim waist, these long legs, these features... well, there wasn't a single part that wasn't beautiful. Oh my god, the goddess Nuwa was way too biased! But they were so lucky to be in the same dorm as this beauty. They could see her every day—their eyes lit up.

Pu Shu turned back with a smile and greeted them openly, "Hello, everyone. I'm Zhao Pushu. From now on, we're all roommates. Let's help each other and get along well."

The three of them blushed. They finally got what the saying "a beauty's smile can bring down cities and kingdoms" really meant. No, no, that description didn't even do it justice. The dorm suddenly lit up like a resplendent palace. Some people just seemed noble at first sight.

"I'm Wei Jiaya."

"I'm Wang Yuqing."

"I'm Ding Ling."

They introduced themselves, and at first they were strangers, but gradually they started chatting and laughing, becoming like close sisters.

Especially since Pu Shu was not standoffish, adorably self-absorbed, and could take a joke, the atmosphere became even more harmonious.

.

Ye Sui also showed up at the dorm. He wasn't much of a talker, while the other three were gabby and quickly became like brothers.

He was pretty happy with the vibe and would chime in now and then. But he was preoccupied with how to find Pu Shu. He wondered how she'd been all these years, if she still remembered him, or if she'd already forgotten.

"Holy crap, there's a freshman girl in our year who's insanely pretty—even prettier than the anime girls in online game ads on the computer. She's become the new campus queen. Her name is Zhao Pushu, majoring in English translation..."

Ye Sui was snapped out of his thoughts by his roommate's yell while scrolling on his phone. The name "Zhao Pushu" was especially electrifying. That name was all he could think about, and then his eyes lit up in excitement—she was at this school too!

"Where did you see that?" Ye Sui set down his pillow, turned to his roommate, and pulled out his phone.

The roommate said, "It's on the school's official account, website, confession wall, and group chats. It's being shared like crazy right now. Let me see... the confession wall is full of chaotic confessions from both guys and girls."

He wasn't trying to imply anything—just appreciating a rare, stunning face you don't see every day. Natural beauty has always been a rare commodity, and appreciating beauty is practically an art form!

Ye Sui went to look. He ignored comments like "Hey junior, look at me" and "Come to senior sister's arms," long-pressed the photo to save it and stared at it in silence for a long time.

She didn't look that different from when she was little. He could still see traces of the kid she used to be. Now she had just matured, and her smile was just as radiant as ever, captivating. He couldn't help but fix his gaze on her, unable to look away. She was always shining.

"Good." Ye Sui smiled. Knowing she was still doing this well put his mind at ease. Nothing in the world was more important than her being well. Even if she had possibly forgotten him, Ye Sui still made a silent wish.

Jiangdong University was massive. Even being on the same campus, it wasn't easy to bump into each other unless you made an effort.

Ye Sui got hold of Pu Shu's schedule and found a time slot they had in common—a mandatory public course on Mao Zedong Thought held in the auditorium.

He didn't even need to look for her. Wherever Pu Shu showed up, it was always lively, with many people turning to stare. She didn't avoid it either, smiling confidently and responding to anyone who greeted her.

Ye Sui was also among the crowd silently watching her, his gaze a little dazed. When she looked over and her gaze swept past his side, even if she wasn't specifically looking at him, his heartbeat still sped up, his cheeks flushed, and he felt both joy and shyness.

Before, he didn't understand what it meant to like someone. He only knew he wanted to chase after someone like a celestial being, so he worked hard to come to Jiangdong. Now that he was older, he learned a word called "admiration," and it suddenly dawned on him that his fixation was an admiration that had taken root and sprouted without him realizing it.

The auditorium was huge, and who knows how many seats and people were between them. But just the thought that they were in the same space made Ye Sui inexplicably nervous. He unconsciously straightened his back, fixed his clothes and hair, wanting to look his best, hoping she would see him. This little secret thought made him fidget, and his gaze involuntarily searched for her figure.

Until class ended, they didn't run into each other. Ye Sui felt a bit lost and dazed, unsure how to make them talk.

Soon, the opportunity came. But if he had a choice, Ye Sui wouldn't have wanted it.

That afternoon, they had no classes. His roommate called him to play badminton, so Ye Sui went. Meanwhile, Pu Shu had PE class. She had chosen tennis and was at the tennis court. When Ye Sui passed by, he saw her, and his steps unconsciously slowed, his gaze fixed on her for a long while.

Then he saw a yellow tennis ball roll into the playing area. The student retrieving balls didn't notice. Worried that Pu Shu might step on it, Ye Sui walked over to warn the student, but in that moment, Pu Shu stepped on the ball and twisted her ankle.

"Hiss—" It hurt a bit. Pu Shu crouched down, holding her ankle. Other students immediately gathered around, asking with concern.

"Pu Shu!" Ye Sui had already rushed in. He pushed aside the students blocking his way, crouched in front of Pu Shu, and seeing her ankle slightly swollen and red, he picked her up with concern and headed to the infirmary. "Bear with it a little longer. We'll get some medicine applied."

He was physically strong, carrying an adult while moving swiftly, almost jogging, yet still holding her steadily.

Suddenly, someone barged in, and in the blink of an eye, Pu Shu was carried away. Everyone was stunned, exchanging glances. Pu Shu's roommates quickly followed.

"..." Even Pu Shu was silent for a few seconds. What was going on? Oh my god, were suitors these days so bold as to carry her in public!

Pu Shu was about to curse when she looked up and saw Ye Sui's profile—his jawline, lips, nose, eyes... He was quite handsome. More importantly, he gave her a very familiar feeling, as if she had seen him before.

"Doctor! Doctor! Come quickly, her foot is injured!"

Ye Sui rushed into the infirmary. The school doctor thought something major like a broken leg had happened and got nervous. After a hurried examination, the doctor was inwardly helpless. "This classmate, your girlfriend just has a minor ankle sprain. It's not serious. Just apply medicine for two days and don't put weight on it."

Seeing Ye Sui's face suddenly turn red, the doctor assumed he was embarrassed by the comment and said considerately, "It's fine. You're just worried about your girlfriend. That's a good man's behavior. I'll prescribe some medicine. You can help her apply it and massage it a bit for better absorption."

With that, the doctor stood up and left the small partitioned room. The school was well-funded and generous. It was said that the school was planning to build another gymnasium and had recently received a sponsorship of hundreds of millions from the Zhao family, so money wasn't an issue.

Ye Sui wanted to deny the misunderstanding, but the doctor had already left. He didn't intend to take advantage of the situation. He could only look at Pu Shu, scratched his hair, and said awkwardly, "Sorry, I was just worried about you, so I rushed you to the infirmary. That was really inappropriate and disrespectful."

Ye Sui was frantically explaining, but seeing that Pu Shu wasn't angry and instead was looking him up and down with her hand on her chin, he became very nervous. He couldn't help but lower his head to straighten his clothes and touch his face, worried there was something embarrassing about him. "Zhao... Zhao classmate, is there something wrong with me?"

"You, come here." Pu Shu hummed and crooked her finger, like a lofty queen.

Although Ye Sui didn't know what she wanted to do, he obediently walked over, bent down, and leaned close to Pu Shu, waiting for her next instruction.

"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before." They were very close. Pu Shu looked into his deep eyes and saw the sudden spark of anticipation in them, like a wagging tail. It matched the face of the young child she once knew.

Over the years, people had definitely grown and changed in every way. But this look in his eyes when he saw her had never changed—bright as a lightbulb. It was too easy to recognize, a unique trademark.

Pu Shu felt like teasing him. She pushed his shoulder to move him away and shook her head. "I must have been mistaken. Thanks for bringing me to the infirmary."

Ye Sui's eyes dimmed instantly. "You're welcome. We're classmates; helping each other is only right. Then... I'll go get the medicine." He left somewhat flustered, but didn't see Pu Shu's sly smile.

When Ye Sui came back with the medicine, Pu Shu restrained her expression, smiled politely, and extended her fair hand. "Thanks a lot. Give me the medicine. I'll apply it myself."

Ye Sui pursed his lips and handed her the medicine. But seeing that bending down was a bit troublesome for Pu Shu, he crouched in front of her again, looked up at her, and said cautiously, "Let me apply it. I can also massage, which will help the medicine absorb better and help you recover faster."

Pu Shu looked down at him. After a few seconds, she handed the medicine back to Ye Sui. "Alright, then I'll trouble you, classmate."

"No trouble at all." Ye Sui was very proper, not touching unnecessarily. He applied the medicine carefully, though his hands trembled slightly. When his fingertips touched her skin, it might have tickled a bit—her toes curled up adorably—and his heart quivered, pounding faster. So... so shy!

Pu Shu saw his face turn red, even his ears were crimson, as if about to bleed. Was he that fun to tease? She almost laughed out loud. The grown-up him was different from when he was a child.

The small room was filled with the smell of medicine. The ointment was red, and when smeared on her ankle, it looked a bit glaring.

Ye Sui applied it to all the swollen areas, then closed the medicine and gave careful instructions. "It's done. Don't walk on this leg for a few days, or it will worsen the sprain and recovery will be slow."

"I looked again just now, and I really find you very familiar, like someone I've met before." Pu Shu brought it up again. Ye Sui looked up at her once more. Even though he had been disappointed before, he couldn't help but hope again.

Seeing her familiar smile and the cunning in her eyes, Ye Sui had a guess. His breathing became heavier.

"Are you by any chance called Ye Sui?" She was sitting, and he was crouching. She leaned down, bringing them very close. "You've really improved your skills since you grew up. Your telepathy has evolved. Your voice sounds nice."

She remembered! She still remembered him! And she even complimented him!

Oh my god, I'm so happy I could die! Ye Sui was about to pass out from joy, his eyes shining and a huge smile spreading across his face.

Then a wave of feeling wronged washed over him—he didn’t understand why he felt wronged, yet under her smile, his soul wept, not from sorrow but from joy, as if, adrift in an endless ocean, he had finally found a piece of driftwood to cling to for survival.

“Cough, cough—go on, go on, haha.”

Wei Jiaya and the others rushed in and saw the awkward angle made it look like the two were “kissing,” with Pu Shu in the dominant position; the three of them flushed and quickly backed out.

The handsome guy and the beautiful girl were huddled together, the atmosphere thick with tension. Oh my, it really was like watching a romantic idol drama!