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nThe two boys on the School Representative Team were taken aback. They didn’t think that they would be caught by the person itself since they were gossiping after school.

nThey immediately understood the situation, grabbed the team uniform that they had tossed aside, turned off the faucet, and slipped away.

n“Stop if you dare!” Fu Yangxi’s expression was gloomy and terrifying. He rushed out to grab someone, but was stopped by Ke Chengwen again.

n“Forget it, forget it, Xi ge. Think about how many times you’ve been scolded by the dean this month. You even went to the police station! Calm down! Calm down!”

nThe two boys dared not turn their heads for fear that Fu Yangxi would see their faces clearly.

nThey hurriedly fled down the academic building.

nFu Yangxi couldn’t calm down at all. His mind was filled with the conversation between the two boys just now.

n“What do they mean by chasing after the guy with the surname Shen? What do they mean by ‘can they reconcile’?”

n“Was the ‘Fu family’s young master’ referring to me? They said Little Mask used me to make the guy with the surname Shen jealous?”

nAs if what Fu Yangxi heard was nonsense, he turned to look at Ke Chengwen. “These people have too much time in their hands to come up with things like this!”

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nHowever, Ke Chengwen who was at the side walked over to turn off the faucet, his lips squirming as he stole glances at him. He appeared as if he was hiding something.

nThe air fell silent for a while.

nFu Yangxi paused. “What’s up with you?”

nHe suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

nHe glared at Ke Chengwen. “What are you hiding from me? I’ll give you one last chance.”

n“It’s— That’s—” Ke Chengwen didn’t know how to tell him.

nFu Yangxi urged, “Tell me!”

n“When Zhao Mingxi first changed classes, didn’t you ask me to find out about her family, preferences, former friends, etc.?”

nKe Chengwen was frazzled. He kept on speaking without a filter, “She used to pursue Shen Liyao! The Shen Liyao from our neighbouring class! The other family’s child*! Shen Liyao, who has won gold medals for years, thinks that he is better than everyone and is arrogant as hell!”

n*Translator’s note: Some Chinese parents have a tendency to compare their children with another family’s child, usually saying to their own child (as a form of lecturing) that the other family’s child is better than them. In this context, Ke Chengwen is trying to draw a comparison between Shen Liyao and Fu Yangxi, effectively highlighting the better qualities of Shen Liyao as the trophy child.

n“Shen Liyao is very famous. It’s just that Xi ge, since you sleep in class every day, you don’t even remember the name of our homeroom teacher, moreover heard of that guy! It’s the handsome guy who you saw in the library last time—”

n“But she said he was just a friend.”

nKe Chengwen murmured, “Girls are shy. It’s impossible for her to tell us that she used to pursue Shen Liyao. Besides, at that time, Xi ge, you chased her away every day. She didn’t have a good impression of us, so why would she tell us about this?”

nFu Yangxi couldn’t understand the situation before him.

nAn anxious fire filled his heart.

nHe didn’t understand whether it was jealousy or something else.

nShen Liyao, very handsome; has won gold medals for years; another family’s child.

nThen what about me?

n“I don’t believe it.” Fu Yangxi took a deep breath, looking calmer. “There must be some misunderstanding.”

nJust because Shen Liyao was excellent, he knew Little Mask, and Little Mask used to give him desserts.

nDid this group of people make up the fact that Little Mask used to pursue Shen Liyao?

nThen he’s at least 100 streets ahead of Shen Liyao. He can use money to bury Shen Liyao alive, is that not good enough?

nLittle Mask even gave him desserts for almost a month.

n——Why don’t these people make something up about him and Little Mask?

nFu Yangxi suddenly realized that he was being jealous of mere rumors.

nSince Zhao Mingxi said that he was just a friend, he believed that he was just a friend.

nHe doesn’t care about the bull** these people have to say.

nWhen Ke Chengwen saw him like this, he knew he couldn’t convince him otherwise. “Then let’s go back first? Xi ge, are you going back to the villa or the apartment today?”

n—No, how could he not care?

nHe cared a lot.

n“We won’t be going back. Let’s clarify some things first.”

nFu Yangxi suddenly moved his legs and walked out.

nKe Chengwen thought he was going to find those two gossiping people to settle their business, so he quickly followed.

nHowever, he saw him running upstairs to the Information Department.

nFu Yangxi rushed into the Information Department. The teacher here hadn’t got off work yet, so when he saw him coming in, he stood up subconsciously.

nFu Yangxi rushed into the digital archives room without saying a word.

nKe Chengwen followed, rushed in and closed the door.

nBy the time Ke Chengwen walked over, Fu Yangxi had already typed on the keyboard and logged in to the school’s internal official website.

nThe internal official website holds a lot of photos of previous activities according to the timeline. Photos of weekly basketball games or flag raising ceremonies will also be displayed here.

nFu Yangxi instantly retrieved all the school photos from last year.

nAll the photos were displayed on the computer, and many details became clear at a glance.

nIn every basketball game where Shen Liyao appeared, Zhao Mingxi was there, and Zhao Mingxi held the water for him.

nDuring the school celebration last year, Zhao Mingxi and Shen Liyao appeared in the pictures of each other’s class.

nWhen recruiting new recruits last year, Zhao Mingxi also went to help Shen Liyao. She was still wearing a mask at that time.

nTurns out the Little Mask that Fu Yangxi knew was also known to Shen Liyao, in fact, he knew her even earlier and longer than him.

n…

nIt could be said that there were quite a lot of photos with the two of them in the same frame.

nIf you download all of these pictures, there will probably be a few gigabytes.

nThere are also check-in records in the library and check-in records in the broadcasting room. The signatures of the two often appeared next to each other.

nBit by bit, like a long and grand process of a crush.

nPresented itself explicitly before Fu Yangxi and Ke Chengwen.

n…

nKe Chengwen practically lost the courage to look any further.

nFu Yangxi pulled a long face. His fingers gripped the mouse tightly, but he still scrolled down, looking through the photos one by one.

nThe computer’s LED screen was reflected on his face. Ke Chengwen didn’t know how he felt as he looked at these things.

nFu Yangxi had never been on the forum before. Those boring scandals in school were a waste of time for him.

nThe last time he asked a group of followers to vote for Zhao Mingxi was the only time he ever went to the forum. Even then, he merely clicked directly into the voting channel and did not pay attention to the gossip.

nHowever this time, he couldn’t help but take out his phone and open the forum to take a look.

nIn the original post about Little Mask, there were far more mentions of Little Mask and Shen Liyao than Little Mask and him.

nSomeone posted a question: “Is there anyone with any news about the new School Beauty and Shen Liyao from the School Representative Team? It feels like they have a long history between them.

nSomeone asked: “Zhao Mingxi is now the School Beauty, so everything about how she used to chase after Shen Liyao has been dug up. At that time, I wondered why she had so much courage. Turns out that it was because she was so beautiful~”

n“What role does that F (not mentioning the name) play in this? Obviously Shen Liyao is her official pair. Is she using him to make Shen Liyao jealous?”

nThe more Fu Yangxi read, the more he could feel the nerves in his forehead throbbing.

nLittle Mask used to pursue others. Why does the whole world know this except for me?!

nJealousy, like an unknown insect, gnawed at his heart, torturing him.

n“Don’t look anymore, Xi ge.” Ke Chengwen couldn’t help but say.

nThe reason why he was afraid that Fu Yangxi would find out about this was precisely because he was afraid of this scene.

nAlthough based on Xi ge’s character he wouldn’t care about such gossip, but if he sees others saying that Zhao Mingxi may have approached him because she was trying to make Shen Liyao jealous, wouldn’t he explode immediately?

nHe might even blow up the school.

nKe Chengwen tried his best to stop this from happening, but what has to come will eventually occur.

nAfter a long time, Fu Yangxi finally turned off the computer, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.

nHe stood up and clenched his hands into fists. “What does it matter if she used to like that guy with the surname Shen? I’m not a traditional character from the Qing dynasty, why should I be bothered about this?”

n“Indeed, she used to like him— but she definitely doesn’t like him now.”

nNow, Zhao Mingxi likes me. Yes, that’s right.

nThe person she likes now is me.

nBut even after repeating this in his head over and over again, Fu Yangxi became more and more uncertain, and the question mark in his heart grew bigger and bigger.

n…

nHe felt as if he had misunderstood something.

nIt was he himself who had been weaving a dream of self-deception for himself by mistake.

nAnd now that there is an accidental tear in this dream, that opening has revealed the truth that made him feel like he was in an ice cellar.

n—The opening will only get bigger and bigger.

nFu Yangxi didn’t know whether he should investigate this matter to the end.

nIf the answer is a blow to the head, what should he do?

nFu Yangxi suddenly remembered the pile of photos the old man asked Lawyer Zhang to give him.

nThe old man said he was going through unrequited love—

nWas there something in the photos?

nFu Yangxi’s heartbeat sped up abruptly.

nHe immediately typed out a text message and sent it to Lawyer Zhang, asking him to send the things to the KTV room near the school.

nThen, Fu Yangxi walked out of the Information Department. His limbs were stiff, his head buzzing. He didn’t know how he left the school.

nHalf an hour later, at the KTV room outside the school.

nThere was no singing, only dead silence in the room.

nFu Yangxi sat silently, his expression dull and solemn. He looked closely at the photos the old man had given him one by one.

nKe Chengwen dared not say a word as he stood beside him.

n…

nThe first photo was the day when Little Mask came up to help him take out the trash. The two of them were talking in the alley. The alley was facing the academic building. The one surnamed Shen was standing on the fifth floor, looking at them from a distance.

nSo at that time, did Zhao Mingxi really rush up to help him take out the trash, or did she come because Shen Liyao was watching?

nIn the second photo, before the monthly exam, Little Mask suddenly hurriedly held his hand. A corner of the photo from the class’ surveillance camera was printed, and Shen Liyao could be seen passing by—

nSo did she really want to hold his hand, or did she hold his hand abruptly after seeing Shen Liyao?

nThe third, fourth and fifth pictures were a series of screenshots from the library’s surveillance cameras. Before he arrived at the library that day, Little Mask clearly had a quarrel with Shen Liyao, and they looked quite familiar with each other. But she told him that he was just an ordinary friend.

nIn addition to these photos, there was also a record of Little Mask’s application to transfer classes last year.

nTurns out, Little Mask didn’t want to transfer to the International Class at the beginning, and she definitely did not transfer to the International Class because she fell in love with him at first sight.

nThe first time she applied last year was for the Gold Medal Class which Shen Liyao was in, but she did not meet the grades required at that time and was rejected, so she applied for the International Class this year.

n…

nFu Yangxi clutched these items so hard to the point that his knuckles were pale. Bit by bit, the blood rushed from his limbs to the top of his head, and his whole body became cold.

nThe old man was very resourceful. Fu Yangxi didn’t even know where he got all this information from.

nHe only knew that a lot of things had already been clues. It was just that he chose to humiliate and deceive himself.

n…

nWhen she rushed to run 800 meters for him, everyone in the next class knew that Shen Liyao’s was not pleased about this.

nAt that time, what role did I play? Was I just a tool?

nShe suddenly wanted to apply medicine on his wound this morning, and Shen Liyao just happened to pass by.

nTurns out Shen Liyao was the one who gave her the key points for the Hundred School Tournament. She had been flipping through it so much that it was practically crumpled.

nAlso, when she refused Li Jingyu, she said that she wanted to focus on her studies, not that she already had someone she liked— She knew that he was listening by the window.

nHe did find it strange that time.

nSo that’s what it was.

n…

nFu Yangxi didn’t know how to describe his mood at the moment… Angry? Upset? He didn’t even have the strength to display these emotions. Once there are these emotions, feelings of hatred will follow, yet he couldn’t bring himself to hate.

nHis mind was overwhelmed with feelings of distraught.

nIt was as if he had personally pierced a dream that he had woven, ushered in reality, and found out that he was nothing but a joke.

nRegardless of whether she used him or not, he did not care anymore.

nThere was a voice in his head maliciously repeating over and over again—

nLittle Mask doesn’t like me.

nLittle Mask never liked me.

nAfter she held his hand in the library, he never imagined such a possibility. The voice knocked him off the cliff and caused him to tremble unconsciously.

n…

nBut does she remember my birthday?

nThis was the main thought in Fu Yangxi’s mind.

nAs if he was holding on to a lifeline, he thought desperately, what if all this is just a misunderstanding? Such a coincidence can happen in this world! Just when she was being kind to me, Shen Liyao appeared! If I misunderstood her because of this and went to make trouble unreasonably, then I would be considered insane!

nShe did like Shen Liyao, but what does that matter? She has no contact with Shen Liyao at all now, so I definitely won’t mind this!

nAs long as she likes me now, I’ll pretend that nothing happened today!

n“I don’t believe anyone else. I only want to hear this from her.” Fu Yangxi wiped his face. He suddenly stood up and asked Ke Chengwen to take out his phone. “Call her.”

nFu Yangxi’s sanity was stretched to the brim.

nAlthough his face was already very pale and his lips looked bloodless, he maintained the last bit of decency by trying hard to maintain his expression and not let himself show any signs of embarrassment.

nHe settled down and said to Ke Chengwen slowly, “Help me ask her.”

n…

nKe Chengwen looked at him hesitantly for a while. In the end, he had no choice but to call her.

n…

nAt this moment, only their breathing could be heard in the room.

n…

nAfter a while, the call got through.

nKe Chengwen didn’t know how to ask her. He glanced at Fu Yangxi’s expression and asked, “Mingxi, where are you?”

n“You’re having dinner with the Dong family? I see. Well, um, it’s just that—” Ke Chengwen paused. “Do you remember when Xi ge’s birthday is? Do we want to surprise him?”

nThere was a static sound before Mingxi who was at the other end of the line replied, “Yes, of course we should give him a surprise.”

nKe Chengwen put her on speaker.

nThen Fu Yangxi heard Mingxi ask, “But when is his birthday?”

nFu Yangxi: “…”

n…

nThe air was dead silent.

nKe Chengwen dared not look at Fu Yangxi’s face, so he asked, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, we’ll discuss what to give him in school then. We have to discuss this privately and keep it a secret from Xi ge. What are you planning to give?”

nShe said, “I haven’t thought about it yet. Give me some time to figure something out.”

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nKe Chengwen’s heart was pounding with nervousness. He tried to coax the truth out of her, “Don’t go too far with your gift, or else everyone in class will know that you like Xi ge.”

nAfter he finished speaking, he shouted and prayed in his heart, Zhao Mingxi, hurry up and say that I’m being stupid! Say that you do like Xi ge! Otherwise Xi ge will really blow up the school tomorrow! Other people will suffer too!

nMingxi on the other side was taken aback.

nShe suddenly realized that some of her actions since she changed classes could be easily misunderstood. Based on Ke Chengwen’s tone, he seemed to think she was pursuing Fu Yangxi.

nThank goodness Fu Yangxi doesn’t think so.

nFortunately, Fu Yangxi’s single-cell brain has yet to realize this, and he just treats me as a same-sex follower. If he mistakes me for liking him, we won’t even be able to stay as friends anymore. Just like the girl who gave him a thousand paper cranes that day, Ihe would think that I was looking for a beating.

nMingxi didn’t want to lose Fu Yangxi, so she hurriedly took the phone and ran to the toilet before explaining, “No, no, that’s absolute nonsense. I treat Xi ge like my boss, I won’t—”

nMingxi wanted to say that she would not overstep her boundaries, but for some reason Ke Chengwen was suddenly disconnected on the other side of the call, effectively cutting her off.

nThen, there was a busy tone.

nOut of battery…?

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