Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Ji Xueyao flicked her hair back, revealing her perfect profile. Holding a cup, she gazed into the water and murmured, "Back when we were in school, I actually followed you here once… I just didn't let you know."

Zhao Dong looked at her and asked in a low voice, "Class President Ji, why did you follow me?"

Ji Xueyao took a sip of water, bit her lip, and said with a half-smile, "What if I said I just wanted to see where you lived and get to know you better? Would you believe me?"

Zhao Dong fell silent. He didn't quite understand. Why would she want to know where I live? And why would she want to get to know me?

Back in school, Ji Xueyao and Ding Lan were widely recognized as campus goddesses. On top of that, everyone knew Ji Xueyao's family was affluent. In the minds of the boys at school, she was like the heroine of a TV drama—beautiful, gentle, and from a fabulously wealthy family. At the time, the number of boys pursuing her could have filled an entire sports field, including well-known scions from prominent East Sea families.

But Ji Xueyao was always serious about her studies and never agreed to date anyone. Zhao Dong had been puzzled by this back then, but his relationship with her wasn't particularly close. They would share laughs and chat in class, but their interactions were less frequent than one might imagine. They were closer than acquaintances, but not quite best friends. Besides, Zhao Dong hadn't been focused on making friends back then; he was preoccupied with his studies.

So, hearing her say this now, he was deeply confused.

"Class President Ji, I'm still a bit confused. You…" Zhao Dong trailed off, his face filled with bewilderment.

Ji Xueyao bit her lip, looking as if she wanted to say something. But seeing his expression, she held back. With a small laugh, she said, "Alright, don't overthink it. I was just bored back then. I happened to see you on the road one day and, on a whim, decided to follow you."

"Oh, so that's what it was," Zhao Dong said with a smile. "Are all you rich girls so bored that you follow people home just for fun?"

Ji Xueyao pouted. "What's wrong with being a rich girl? Is it that special?"

"Of course it's special," Zhao Dong laughed. "Back in school, I used to hear classmates talking about how your family was incredibly wealthy. Your backpacks, your clothes, your shoes… none of it cost less than a few thousand yuan. Meanwhile, my sneakers were so worn out they were falling apart."

Ji Xueyao glanced at him and smiled. "I never paid attention to those things. My parents bought my clothes and shoes, so I had no idea how much they cost. But…"

"But what?"

She looked deeply into his eyes. "But if you had told me back then that those things bothered you, I would have worn ordinary clothes and shoes. I'm not that high-maintenance. I'm just like any other ordinary girl, so don't think of me as so special."

Zhao Dong scratched his head. There's a hidden meaning in her words…

Resting her chin in her hand, Ji Xueyao blinked, her gaze fixed on the distant sunset as she said softly, "Zhao Dong, I actually envy a simple, humble life. At least it's better than my life now. As long as you have enough money, it's fine. Sometimes I wish I didn't have any; then I wouldn't be under so much pressure."

Zhao Dong teased, "A simple, humble life is good? Look at my home. This is what a simple life gets you. How about you move in and live this kind of life with me?"

Ji Xueyao looked at him and said, enunciating each word, "Are you serious?"

"Of course I'm serious," Zhao Dong laughed breezily. "Do you dare?"

Without another word, Ji Xueyao took out her phone, ready to make a call.

Zhao Dong was taken aback. "What are you doing?"

"I'm calling my mom to have her pack my things," she said. "I'm moving in with you. You have a spare room, right?"

Stunned for a moment, Zhao Dong then let out a helpless laugh and quickly snatched her phone. "I was just joking, Class President Ji! How could a pampered young lady like you live here? No way!"

Ji Xueyao frowned and pouted. "I told you, don't think of me as so special."

"Alright, alright, alright," Zhao Dong said with a wry smile. "I won't think of you as special. But you can't do something this foolish. Listen to me and don't be rash."

Ji Xueyao bit her lip. With a deep look at Zhao Dong, she walked out into the small courtyard and sat on the edge of the flower bed, silently watching the evening glow.

Zhao Dong followed her out, lit a cigarette, and glanced her way. The twilight painted her beautiful face with flecks of orange-red light, tinting her long eyelashes and hair a faint gold. Her skin, already as white as snow, took on an ethereal orange hue, and her white dress seemed flecked with gold, making her look exceptionally beautiful.

"Zhao Dong…"

"Hmm?" He looked at her.

With her head lowered, Ji Xueyao was silent for a few seconds before saying softly, "Actually, there's one thing I really regret."

"What is it?"

She turned her head and stared at him. "I deeply regret not saying certain things back then. To be honest… I always thought I was far better than Ding Lan. If I had been the one who mustered the courage that afternoon to tell you I liked you, would we have had an epic romance?"

The hand holding the cigarette froze as Zhao Dong stared back at her. As they looked at each other, the evening glow washed over their faces. The courtyard was silent, save for a few leaves that drifted down and settled at their feet.

After a long moment, Zhao Dong's voice was slightly hoarse. "Class President Ji, I… I never thought about those things back then. And I had no idea that you…"

Understanding dawned on Ji Xueyao. She gently turned her head away, a lonely smile touching her lips. "Alright, it seems I've said a bit too much today. It's all in the past now. It's just that… over these past few years, I've always felt a little regret. Why couldn't I bring myself to tell the person I liked how I felt?"

A ripple went through his heart. Even a fool would understand what she meant. But he had truly never imagined that Ji Xueyao could have liked him back then. No wonder he'd been so confused. In class and around school, she never seemed to interact much with boys, but she had always offered him a gentle smile. He used to hear other classmates complain about how aloof she was, but he had never felt that way at all. He even remembered thinking, 'Aloof? She seems very approachable to me.'

Sighing softly to himself, he understood now. He glanced at her again.

Ji Xueyao was stunningly beautiful, with an extraordinary aura that would make her stand out as a goddess anywhere. But he had never dared to imagine she could like him, not when so many other guys were pursuing her. The memory of that time felt distant now, like looking back on a landscape that had already passed into autumn.

Any guy would have had a crush on a girl like Ji Xueyao. Back in school, he too had greatly admired her. After all, she was so beautiful and gentle.

If he hadn't gotten together with Ding Lan back then, could a spark have ignited between him and Ji Xueyao? But… that was all in the past now.

Zhao Dong gave another internal, wry smile and calmed his thoughts.

Suddenly, Ji Xueyao waved her small hand in front of his face and giggled playfully, "Hey, what are you thinking about?"

Startled, Zhao Dong shook his head. "Nothing."

"Do you think I was being too forward?" she asked softly, biting her lip.

Zhao Dong smiled. "No, I just find it a little unbelievable."

"What's so unbelievable? That I liked you back then?"

"Yeah. I was just a poor kid. What was there to like?"

"You're honest and principled, neither arrogant nor submissive. You have good character, and you're a hard worker," she said with a half-smile. "I was always watching you in school. You liked to walk alone, and you were the most focused person in class, whether in lectures or doing homework. You never refused to help out when it was needed. Plus, you're handsome. So what's so unbelievable about me liking you?"

Zhao Dong rubbed his nose and gave a bitter laugh. "That doesn't mean much. There were plenty of handsome guys chasing you, and a lot of them were rich kids."

"You're different from them."

"How so?"

"Hmm… on second thought, I won't tell you!" she said with a sly smile.

Zhao Dong was about to say something more, but her phone rang, and he closed his mouth, rubbing his nose.

Ji Xueyao answered the call. A moment later, her smile froze. She shot to her feet, her expression changing drastically. "What? Okay, I'll be right there!"

After she hung up, Zhao Dong quickly asked, "What happened, Class President Ji?"

Her face was etched with anxiety. "A project I'm responsible for at Dingsheng Group had another accident! There have been frequent incidents on this project for the past few days, and just now, two more workers got hurt. I need to go check on it."

Zhao Dong frowned slightly, surprised. "Frequent accidents on the construction site?"

Ji Xueyao clenched her teeth. "Yes, and the accidents are all very strange!"

He gazed at her intently. Could it be a feng shui problem? Or something more sinister? After thinking for a few seconds, he said, "Class President Ji, I'll go with you to take a look."

Ji Xueyao was taken aback for a second, then looked deeply at him. "Okay, let's go together."

Without another word, they got into the car and sped off. Soon, they arrived at a construction site.