After Shu Er gave Huo Chao a good dose of heartfelt encouragement, she rubbed her eyes, feeling a bit sleepy. Yawning, her eyes glistened, making her appear unusually innocent.
After chatting with Huo Chao about a few more things, she returned home with a sleepy expression.
The next day was Monday, marking the first monthly exam for the entire sophomore grade. Once the exams are over, they will have a long National Day holiday.
Shu Er felt she had reviewed enough, but she planned to have Jiang Xici help her outline the key points to boost her preparation. In her mind, she intended to partner with Jiang Xici to secure the first and second places in their grade. It didn’t matter who got first or second; they would just perform to the best of their abilities.
Since Jiang Xici was academically strong, having him outline the key points would greatly increase her chances of placing in the top two.
After lunch, Shu Er and Ning Meng walked along the road, heading back to the classroom to continue their hard work. As they walked through the school, Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng happened to come towards them.
As soon as Zhao Zhifeng spotted Shu Er, he warmly greeted her, “Hey, little Shu Er, good afternoon! Have you eaten yet?”
Shu Er blinked, “I have.”
Her eyes darted around, and she unexpectedly didn’t see Huo Chao among the three, so she asked, “Where’s my brother?”
Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng exchanged glances, slightly taken aback, before laughing it off together. “What? You mean Ah Chao? Oh, he’s got something going on.”
Shu Er had asked casually and wasn’t particularly eager to know where Huo Chao was.
Huo Chao is a living person. Although she often clung to him and caused trouble, he’s not her exclusive property, and she wouldn’t demand that he be by her side all the time.
However, Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng’s reactions seemed off, as if they were deliberately hiding something from her.
Initially, Shu Er had just planned to exchange pleasantries and head back to her studies, but now she changed her mind.
She smiled sweetly, with a harmless smile on her delicate and beautiful face, “What’s he doing?”
Xu Chen scratched his head, looking awkward. He was honest and not used to lying, but it was difficult to tell the truth in this situation, so he could only laugh awkwardly, hoping to evade the question.
Shu Er wouldn’t let him off easily. “What exactly is my brother doing? He’s not up to no good, is he?”
Shu Er had initially thought that Huo Chao might have gotten beaten up by his father and had injuries that prevented him from showing up at school. But now, seeing Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng’s reactions, she felt she had definitely guessed wrong.
Could it be that Huo Chao really was up to no good?
Zhao Zhifeng quickly waved his hands, “No way! Huo Chao is not that kind of person!”
Shu Er wasn’t convinced and persisted, her demeanor demanding answers, “Then what is he doing? Why can’t you tell me?” In Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng’s eyes, her persona was that of a spoiled princess with a bad temper, so they thought it was perfectly normal for her to throw a tantrum and insist on getting to the bottom of things.
Eventually, Xu Chen couldn’t hold back any longer and admitted what Huo Chao was up to.
“Well… today a girl came to the classroom looking for Huo Chao. It seems they have something to discuss. But don’t think too much about it, Shu Er. This is the first time he’s meeting that girl.”
A girl?
Coming to find him? Meeting for the first time?
Shu Er’s mind immediately conjured up a name: Shu Er.
According to the plot of the novel, this was around the time the female protagonist was likely to appear.
In truth, Shu Er didn’t feel particularly affected. She had never intended to obstruct the meeting between the male and female protagonists.
It was destined for them to meet, but even if they met now, it probably wouldn’t be a big deal. In the story, the heroine would initially probe and wouldn’t just introduce herself outright.
However, seeing the expressions on Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng’s faces made her uneasy.
They looked at her with an air of guilt, as if she had a vast prairie growing on her head. What did that mean?
Shu Er had initially felt calm, but seeing their expressions, she grew angry.
She was not someone to be made a fool of!
Shu Er pressed her lips together and angrily demanded, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Zhao Zhifeng chuckled awkwardly, “Well, we’re just worried you might get upset.”
Shu Er replied with an icy tone, “I have nothing to do with my brother, so why would I get upset?”
To Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng, this sounded like outright defiance.
Zhao Zhifeng, thinking he understood the mindset of young girls, assumed that Shu Er was speaking sarcastically.
Xu Chen scratched his head and, in his honest manner, said, “Don’t worry, Shu Er! We’ve got your back!”
‘Back me up? Back me up my foot!’
Shu Er silently cursed as the petulance on her face grew even more pronounced. “Where are they now?”
Zhao Zhifeng thought that since they had already said quite a bit, it wouldn’t hurt to answer this question. So without hesitation, he revealed the location. “They should be at that milk tea shop by the school gate.”
Shu Er scoffed.
A milk tea shop!
There would be plenty of people who could see them!
What if other classmates thought like Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng, believing she was a cuckold and that Huo Chao was the one doing the deceiving?
That wouldn’t do!
Shu Er felt no desire to return to the classroom. Of course, she wasn’t planning to go to the milk tea shop alone.
If she went by herself, others might think she had been abandoned by Huo Chao and looked pitiful.
But how could she be pitiful? What she wanted now was an imposing presence! So ultimately, the four of them headed to the milk tea shop at the school gate in a grand manner. To be honest, anyone who saw their demeanor at first glance might think they were going to pick a fight.
The milk tea shop that Zhao Zhifeng mentioned has always been bustling with business. High school students, after all, loved sweet treats like this. The shop’s affordable prices, great taste, and wide variety meant it was packed during lunch and after school.
Shu Er initially wasn’t truly angry. She had approached the male protagonist with the intent of avenging the original female supporting character and causing him some trouble. However, as they got closer to the milk tea shop, her anger began to boil. With so many people around, if they all thought she was being made a fool of, she would be furious!
Once they reached the vicinity of the milk tea shop, Shu Er’s eyes, like a radar, scanned the area rapidly.
Ning Meng also helped look for Huo Chao among the crowd.
Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng, feeling awkward, didn’t join in.
Shu Er hadn’t asked them to help; she was already satisfied that they had told her where to find him.
Before long, her gaze landed on a tall, striking figure.
Who else could it be but Huo Chao?
Ah, that man.
Shu Er quickened her pace and ran over to Huo Chao, glancing around as if she’s a jealous wife trying to catch him in the act.
Huo Chao looked surprised to see them. “What are you guys doing here?”
Shu Er let out a huff. “Just came to see this little sister of yours.”
Huo Chao exchanged quick glances with Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng.
Xu Chen pointed at Shu Er, wearing a helpless expression.
Zhao Zhifeng mouthed, “Brother, don’t blame us; we couldn’t do anything.”
Huo Chao was taken aback by Shu Er’s sudden arrival, especially since he hadn’t expected Shu Er would show up like this.
Shu Er had sent him three messages, and he hadn’t replied to any of them. He had originally planned to return to County B in person to handle whatever it was, intending to talk after he got back. Little did he know, Shu Er, feeling ignored, would come looking for him.
Huo Chao wanted to hear what she had to say, so he intentionally chose a public place to meet her.
He hadn’t thought much about choosing the milk tea shop; he just wanted to appear open. With so many people around, it would be clear to anyone watching that they were just having a normal conversation and nothing more.
But what Huo Chao saw as openness appeared quite different in Shu Er’s eyes.
Shu Er huffed again, crossing her arms. “Brother, I’m angry!”
“Hmm?”
Ning Meng, ever perceptive, pulled Xu Chen and Zhao Zhifeng away first, leaving the two of them alone at the scene.
As soon as the three of them left, Shu Er found a quiet, secluded spot and wore an angry expression.
“What’s wrong?” Huo Chao asked, genuinely curious.
Shu Er rolled her eyes. “Do you know there are wild horses galloping in the air today?”
Wild horses galloping?
Where?
Huo Chao had no clue.
He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “Where? I haven’t heard a thing about it.”
Shu Er pointed to the top of her head. “They’re frolicking above me!”
Above her head?
At first, Huo Chao didn’t grasp the meaning, but after three seconds, it clicked.
Shu Er was saying there’s a green grassland in her head, and the wild horses are galloping there?
Huo Chao couldn’t help but chuckle. “What on earth is your little brain thinking about all day?”
Shu Er crossed her arms and huffed. “It’s not just me! Others think I’m some sort of cuckold queen!”
Cuckold queen?
What was that supposed to mean?
How could such a term apply to Shu Er?
Huo Chao frowned, lowering his voice. “Who said that about you?”
Shu Er shot him an exasperated glare. “They didn’t say it outright, but they must be thinking it.”
Huo Chao felt a headache coming on. He knew how gossipy their classmates could be. But he doubted anyone would be brave enough to spread such rumors.
Besides, he had acted with complete openness. He and Shu Er had maintained a safe distance during their conversation, all under the watchful eyes of many people. If anyone still twisted the narrative, he would truly be baffled.
Shu Er didn’t care whether Huo Chao had spoken to the heroine; she only cared about how others perceived her, fearing they thought she was being played for a fool!
“Brother, I’m really angry!”
Huo Chao knew Shu Er wasn’t in the mood to listen to reason.
After spending some time together, he had figured out her patterns. When she acted out, she meant it. But if he played along with her, she would calm down on her own after a while.
If he said something against her, though, she could sulk for days.
Understanding this, Huo Chao readily replied, “So?”
Shu Er smiled slyly. “So, you need to promise me one thing.”
Huo Chao thought he had already faced it all.
He had dealt with things like knitted bags and luxurious cruises; what else could possibly faze him?
He had even picked up a needle and thread meant for women!
Was there anything in this world that could challenge him?
Absolutely not.
Huo Chao confidently said, “Okay.”
Seeing him agree so easily, Shu Er’s eyes sparkled with delight. She said sweetly, “Don’t worry, brother. I won’t make it too hard for you. All you have to do is close your eyes and trust me with your hands later.”
Just like that?
So simple?
Huo Chao agreed without a second thought.
Shu Er couldn’t help but snicker internally.
Huo Chao was still so composed now; she wondered how calm he would remain when the moment came.
The light green nail polish?
The male protagonist truly deserved it.
