Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love

Not seeing the scene she had imagined, Si Wen’s interest waned. After handing him the test papers, she sat back down in her seat.

Sure enough, neither of the two brothers is normal. How could someone be so happy just from collecting test papers? No, that’s not right. He’s actually happy doing them.

In truth, Si Wen didn’t know that Xue Xing had seen how his older brother studied. If he wanted to keep up with his brother, he couldn’t relax for a moment. Furthermore, his senior year of high school was a pivotal year that would determine his future, leaving no room for complacency.

She sat there for a while longer, but Xue Xing remained engrossed in his work, showing no sign of wanting to talk. Feeling incredibly bored, Si Wen decided to go back to her room and leave him be. After she left, however, a sense of unease settled over her, and she decided to call Lin Xi.

Lin Xi had been swamped these past few days, busy trying on various gowns, attending skincare appointments, and practicing etiquette. She was so busy she felt like she was losing her mind.

When Si Wen dialed Lin Xi’s number, the line was busy. She didn’t even have to guess; Lin Xi was surely on another long call with Xue Yang.

Si Wen was right. Lin Xi was indeed on a call with Xue Yang, though it wasn’t the long, leisurely chat Si Wen imagined. He had just gotten home and called her right as Si Wen’s call was coming through.

"Why are you back so late again?"

Lin Xi’s voice was faint as she lay in bed, her long eyelashes fluttering. Her red lips were slightly parted, and her full chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Her long hair spread across the soft bed, creased by the rumpled sheets. She looked as if she were lost in a dream, like a beautiful sculpture.

A wave of tenderness washed over Xue Yang. He wished he could be there to hold her in his arms.

"I had to work overtime at the company, so I got back late. You should go to sleep."

"No, I want to talk to you... I haven’t even heard your voice all day..." she whined softly.

Xue Yang chuckled. "You’re already half-asleep. How are you going to talk to me?"

"I don’t care. I just want to look at you..." she cooed.

Xue Yang chuckled softly again and let her have her way.

"I’m going to make something to eat. If you get sleepy, just go to sleep. I’ll stay on the line."

"Okay..."

Holding his phone in one hand, Xue Yang opened the refrigerator with the other. He took out two eggs, two tomatoes, and some noodles, planning to make tomato and egg noodles.

Seeing Xue Yang get home so late with only this to eat, Lin Xi’s heart ached for him. She wished she could fly over and cook him a grand feast.

Lin Xi made her decision. I’ll have Auntie Shen bring him lunch tomorrow.

After she told Xue Yang her plan, he replied, "Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for Auntie Shen?"

"Not at all! I’m sure she’d be happy to. And in two days, we’ll be together again."

In two days, they would be engaged. The time they spent together always flew by, but whenever they were apart, each day felt like a century.

Their parents were arriving tomorrow afternoon, and Xue Yang was going to pick them up. He didn’t plan on having them stay at the villa, however. Instead, he had already booked rooms for them at a nearby hotel.

As he was thinking, he heard the sound of even breathing from the other end of the line. He glanced at the screen and saw that Lin Xi had fallen asleep. Her face was peaceful, her lips slightly parted. Just looking at her, Xue Yang could almost smell the faint, sweet fragrance that clung to her. Her eyelashes were long, soft, and slender, like a pair of butterfly wings resting gently over her eyes. It was as if dreams were still caressing her soul behind her closed lids. She was like an elegant water lily, resting quietly in a gentle glow. Her beauty was more than skin-deep; it was a charm that emanated from the depths of her heart.

Xue Yang gently caressed the screen, unable to bring himself to end the video call.

Poor girl, she must be exhausted from the last few days. And things are only going to get busier.

Xue Yang had just gotten off work and still had many things to do, which would surely disturb her. When he wasn’t by her side, Lin Xi was a very light sleeper; the slightest noise would wake her.

He never expected, however, that just as he ended the call and was about to eat his noodles, he would receive a call from home.

It was Zhong Hailan.

"Mom, what’s wrong? Did something happen?"

Normally, his mother wouldn’t call him this late.

"No... It’s just... your cousin’s baby... is gone."

Xue Yang froze. "What do you mean, gone?"

Zhong Hailan sighed. "Who else but your aunt could be responsible? I don’t know what’s gotten into her, yelling at that poor girl every day. When she heard you were getting engaged, she became unhappy again and found another excuse to curse her out. Ah Fang got so upset that she started bleeding, but your aunt accused her of faking it. By the time Xiao Zhi got off work and took her to the hospital, the baby was gone. If they had gone just a little sooner, they might have saved it. Now, her family has taken her back home, and they refuse to go through with the marriage under any circumstances. I suppose your aunt will finally run out of people to harass."

「Earlier that afternoon...」

Xue Yuanxia had come to their house to find Zhong Hailan and ask about the arrangements for the trip to Yancheng.

"Hailan, what’s the plan for tomorrow? You never said anything, so I came to ask."

"It’s enough for Xiao Zhi to go. You and Brother-in-law are so busy, there’s no need to make the trip. Besides, I know you look down on such a small engagement ceremony, Big Sister."

"That’s not—When did I ever say I looked down on Xue Yang’s engagement ceremony? Hailan, you can’t just accuse me like that..."

Xue Yuanxia tried to say more, but Zhong Hailan had already turned away to discuss the specific details with Xue Yuanqing. Not willing to let it go, she grabbed Zhong Hailan’s arm, demanding an explanation. "I’m Xue Yang’s only aunt! How could you not invite me to something as important as his engagement? What kind of logic is that?"

"Big Sister, I don’t want to fight with you."

Zhong Hailan could compromise on other matters, but when it came to the most important event of her son’s life, she wouldn’t allow for the slightest mistake. She wasn’t afraid of being accused of looking down on her relatives later on. Zhong Hailan knew her sister-in-law would have gone straight to Yancheng to make a scene if not for one thing: the cost. The round-trip airfare was expensive, especially during the peak season before school started. The price was no small sum, and Xue Yuanxia would never be willing to spend that much money.

Because of this, Zhong Hailan suddenly felt that holding the engagement ceremony elsewhere wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

"Zhong Hailan, you must have been bad-mouthing me to my brother and nephew! That’s why they’re treating me this way. What are you trying to pull?" As she spoke, Xue Yuanxia lunged at Zhong Hailan.

Fortunately, Yang Bing appeared just in time to stop her.

"Have you already forgotten the scene you made at their housewarming party? I think it’s perfectly normal for Xue Yang’s family not to invite you. Just stay home and relax."

Xue Yuanxia was stunned into silence, momentarily at a loss for words. Soon enough, however, her inner shrew took over.

"Are you even my husband anymore? How can you look down on me like this?"

Tired of arguing, Yang Bing grabbed her by the hand and dragged her home.