Dedicated to studying, yet forced into a chaotic situation.

Chapter 136 The World Is So Gentle (1)

Shi Sui was all dressed and ready to leave when she thought for a moment and went back into her room to get a clothes hanger.

In case things really come to a head, it's best to have a handy tool on hand beforehand.

The agreed meeting place was a small grove behind the hotel, a perfect spot for clandestine activities on a dark and windy night.

It was the little card that revealed the existence of such a great place.

With the clothes hanger on her hand and her hands in her pockets, the girl walked briskly with a smile on her face.

Shi Sui felt confident that she could resolve the matter today.

From then on, no one could disturb her peaceful study life.

Clear your mind of distractions and focus on your studies.

The branches were covered with frost crystals and white frost, and the boundless forest was covered with snow.

This is a relatively remote place, and there aren't many footprints in the snow.

From a distance, I could see a person standing under the tree. The light was not clear, and the figure was blurry, but judging from the height, it was the person himself.

Stepping through the snow, Shi Sui approached.

"Chi Yan, I want to ask you—"

The boy's face was mostly hidden in the shadows under the tree, but when Shi Sui looked up, she met Qing Lingling's gaze and froze.

"Didn't you ask me to go for a walk?" Xu Chaomu asked.

what?

Shi Sui was embarrassed. She blinked and looked at him. Ah, she wasn't mistaken. It was Xu Chaomu. Ah! How could it be Xu Chaomu!

"I was supposed to meet Chi Yan for a walk, but I must have sent the message to the wrong person. I'm sorry." Shi Sui felt guilty when those clear eyes looked at her and quickly lowered her head.

It's so hard to lie to him, I don't want to lie anymore.

All around was a vast expanse of white silence, with only the soft rustling of tiny ice crystals falling from the tree branches.

After a moment of silence, not hearing Xu Chaomu speak, Shi Sui wondered and looked up at him again.

Whether it was the snow's natural lighting effect or his natural suitability for snowy landscapes, Shi Sui thought Xu Chaomu looked exceptionally handsome tonight, with his cool yet gentle demeanor—except for his eyes—

His usually aloof eyes now held an unfathomable, thick darkness, like a shadow under the moonlight.

"Shi Sui, I'd like to take a walk with you." Xu Chaomu looked at her. "Can I ask you out now?"

His voice was as soft as falling snow, possessing an irresistible magic.

“Sure!” Shi Sui smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Stepping on the soft snow made a soft crunching sound. A little snow had fallen, and snowflakes drifted onto my shoulders and landed on my hair. If you looked closely, you could see the various shapes and forms of the snowflakes.

My whole being calmed down, and the world felt so gentle.

“Shi Sui,” Xu Chaomu said, “I saw on the school forum today that you and Chi Yan are together.”

Shi Sui was playing with snowflakes when she suddenly heard his voice and was startled at first.

She had completely forgotten about Chi Yan, and Xu Chaomu's mention of it killed her interest in playing in the snow.

"We're not together." Shi Sui shook the snowflakes off her hands and said angrily, "I can't stand it anymore! The students at Xinghua are all so gossipy. They make up stories when nothing's actually happening. I've clarified this so many times, why are they still like this..."

As she was talking, Shi Sui stomped her feet on the snow twice, looking very angry.

Xu Chaomu: "Then why did you ask Chi Yan to take a walk with you tonight?"

He genuinely believed they were together...

"Of course, it's to find out the truth." Shi Sui paused for a moment and said, "He confessed to me before, and we agreed to be friends, but now I suspect that he still has feelings for me, so I want to find him and ask him to find out the truth."

"And what about you, your feelings for him..."

"Of course I have no romantic feelings for him!" Shi Sui's eyes were firm, determined to nip anything that might affect her studies in the bud!

"What would you do if he had feelings for you during your early romantic relationship?"

"Then of course we must nip his puppy love in the bud!" Shi Sui revealed a fierce expression. "Look at this!"

She waved the clothes hanger: "If he dares to like me, I'll beat him up!"

She encouraged herself: "I will absolutely not show any mercy!"

Xu Chaomu watched her quietly. The girl was wearing a pink ski suit, with two braids under her fluffy hat. Her cheeks were rosy, and her breath was warm as she spoke.

She was the only vibrant and alive person in his otherwise bleak world.

Xu Chaomu concealed the emotions in her eyes and asked her, "Then will you hit me?"

"No way, how could that be?"

"Don't be afraid." Shi Sui immediately broke the hanger into small pieces, stuffed them into her pocket, and planned to throw them in the trash can when she got back to the hotel.

Xu Chaomu chuckled, understanding that she was simple-minded and couldn't grasp his meaning.

He asked, "But what if Chi Yan still likes you even if you get beaten up?"

?

!!!

Shi Sui parted her lips slightly and let out a soft "ah".

Yes, what should we do?

While it's unlikely to be as exaggerated as Pei Shuoxun having masochistic tendencies, the fact that Chi Yan and Pei Shuoxun became good brothers must mean they have some similarities. What if he also gets a good beating?

"Then, what can we do?" Shi Sui asked. "If Chi Yan really likes me, is there any way to make him not like me?"

Shi Sui hesitated for a moment, then decided it would be better to ask Xu Chaomu about this.

First of all, their relationship is purely platonic.

Secondly, if you ask Song Xinying, she'll call Chi Yan an idiot; if you ask Xiao Youran, she'll laugh and say she messed up.

Boys definitely understand boys better. If you ask her colleague Yan Ze, he'll only praise her older brother. If you ask Pei Shuoxun, he'll only push her into a fire pit.

Xu Chaomu looked down at her: "The best way to make him give up is to make sure you already have a boyfriend."

Shi Sui paused for a second, feeling that this method seemed somewhat familiar.

He continued, "I can pretend to be your girlfriend."

"Pretending to be a couple?"

“That’s right.” Xu Chaomu nodded slightly. “I know you don’t want to date in high school. We’re just pretending. It won’t affect our studies. We just need to fool Chi Yan.”

He turned his head to look at Shi Sui, his eyes flashing slightly: "He knows you have a boyfriend, so he will definitely give up."

The method sounded feasible, but Shi Sui still shook her head and said seriously, "Xu Chaomu, this isn't a good idea. This is taking advantage of you."

"We are friends, there's nothing wrong with that."

It's still uncertain who's using whom.

“No, that won’t do.” Shi Sui said seriously, “I know you want to help me, but I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

Xu Chaomu looked at her, his eyes deep and dark, a tender smile playing on his lips: "I'm sorry, I wanted to be used."

Like a spring stream melting into water, soft but not clear.

Shi Sui looked away, her heart beating a little fast, afraid that she might actually agree.

"Let's go." Shi Sui tugged at his sleeve. "Let's not talk about this anymore, we should go back."

……

The lights of the nearby resort dappled the landscape, while snowflakes danced lightly in the moonlight.

Shi Sui, following beside Xu Chaomu, was somewhat distracted and didn't notice the trap. Suddenly, her right foot missed a step—

The snow surface sank rapidly; no one would have imagined that there would be a pit beneath a seemingly flat snowfield!

Suddenly, I lost my balance and felt a weightless, downward sensation.

But the next second, her hand was grabbed.

“Xu Chaomu.” Shi Sui looked up at him.

The boy's eyelashes trembled slightly, his eyes revealed unease, and the corners of his eyes were a little red.

"It's okay, you won't fall." Shi Sui smiled, her eyes crinkling, and used her other hand to grip the ground while pushing upwards with her legs.

But then a dark figure suddenly shoved Xu Chaomu.

The accident happened so suddenly that she didn't see who it was, but Xu Chaomu also fell down.

Shi Sui pulled him into her arms, though perhaps because of their size difference, it looked more like he was hugging her.

The feeling of weightlessness returned, and chunks of snow kept hitting them.