Dedicated to studying, yet forced into a chaotic situation.

Chapter 120: Can you consider me first?

On the way back, Shi Sui said, "I beat Pei Shuoxun and got 20!"

They're so happy they want to share it with the whole world, even showing off to the little flowers and grass by the roadside.

"I know, I know, the whole world knows, you're amazing." Xu Chaomu walked side by side with her, his gaze lingering on her face, and he smiled along with her.

"Of course it's amazing! If I didn't only have ten tickets to play ten games, I could have completed all twenty-five games!" Shi Sui exclaimed dramatically.

"Then we'll have to design even more challenging games next year."

Shi Sui nodded. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She glanced at it and saw that it was a message from Chi Yan asking where she was.

Today is the fourth day I haven't seen Chi Yan. He said he went on a business trip abroad with his grandfather.

Shi Sui thought that this was more like it. In the novel, Chi Yan was described as rarely coming to school, but now he comes to school frequently, and his character is going out of character.

But after a few days apart, I felt a little out of sorts, and my heart felt empty.

Feeling empty? It's probably just because the seat next to you is empty and you're not used to it.

Seeing her lost in thought, Xu Chaomu asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Shi Sui put her phone back in her pocket, refraining from using her phone while walking with others.

As they approached the classroom, Xu Chaomu hesitated the whole way before finally asking, "Do you know Pei Shuoxun?"

The way that guy looked at her was definitely not innocent.

No matter how well he hid it, how could he not discover that he had the same feelings for her?

"Yes," Shi Sui answered frankly. "We've known each other since elementary school, but we were separated for a while. I never expected to run into him again here."

Xu Chaomu froze on the spot.

You've known each other since elementary school?

She met him so many years before him. What was she like in elementary school? What was she like in middle school?

His eyes flickered slightly, and a surge of intense emotions welled up inside him, a mixture of bitterness and jealousy that spread through his heart but he could not express it aloud.

Seeing Xu Chaomu standing still, Shi Sui also stopped and stepped back to his side, asking him, "What's wrong?"

"nothing."

They were just childhood sweethearts. If they had feelings for each other from the beginning, they wouldn't be still together now.

Shi Sui looked up at him. The boy's clear, cold eyes, hidden beneath his long eyelashes, were calm and clear, yet seemed to be full of unspoken thoughts.

Xu Chaomu felt a little flustered by his gaze, and asked softly, tentatively, "Pei Shuoxun seems to like you, what do you think?"

Having learned a painful lesson, Shi Sui clearly realized that what city dwellers 'like' is that kind of 'like'.

"No, how could that be? We're just friends." Shi Sui thought for a moment. "He used to take good care of me; he treated me like a little sister."

"Oh, I see." Xu Chaomu looked at her quietly, paused for a moment, and then spoke softly, "Shi Sui."

His voice was like a secluded valley, and it sounded especially beautiful when he called her name.

"What's wrong?" Shi Sui asked.

"Don't date in high school."

"Of course not, absolutely not." Shi Sui looked at him and readily made her promise.

What's the point of dating? It will only affect her chances of getting first place in her grade.

But Shi Sui was too embarrassed to say it aloud, because the person standing opposite her was the strongest competitor for the top spot in the grade.

Just as she was lost in thought, the boy suddenly spoke.

"If you want to talk, could you?" Xu Chaomu asked, her eyes lowered and her expression focused.

He bent down slightly, leaned close to her ear, and said in a voice with a hint of pleading, "Could you consider me first?"

Shi Sui, who had just made a promise not to fall in love, was immediately startled by this "what if".

Why would she want to be in a relationship?

Why did he say he would consider him?

Could it be that he likes her?

Shi Sui froze, a bold guess popping into her mind: How could this be? Could it be that she'd been infected with narcissism from sitting next to Chi Yan for so long?

Seeing her bewildered and helpless expression, Xu Chaomu couldn't bear to tease her and smiled gently, "Alright, I won't force you."

He changed the subject: "By the way, are you going to the dance tonight?"

No longer needing to guess at random liking, Shi Sui suddenly came to life: "Of course I choose not to participate! I can't dance, going would just make me look foolish, I'm not going to do anything stupid."

"Hmm, then can you stay with me tonight..."

"We have to go!" a voice rang out from behind.

Shi Sui and Xu Chaomu turned around at the same time and looked over.

Song Xinying strode over, grabbed Shi Sui's arm, and then looked up at Xu Chaomu.

"Xu Chaomu, Sui Sui has spent the whole afternoon with you at the garden party. It's my turn tonight!"

"Is that how it's calculated?" Xu Chaomu's lips gradually straightened, her eyes cold.

Under that gaze, Song Xinying suddenly felt a sense of retreat. Should she hand over Sui Sui tonight as well?

Damn it, Xu Chaomu looks like an ice block, much scarier than Chi Yan.

Just as Song Xinying was hesitating, Shi Sui innocently asked her, "Want to go together tonight? But I don't want to go to the dance. Can we go to the library to study instead?"

Song Xinying suddenly felt more confident: See? Sui Sui wants to be with me tonight.

But she didn't dare to provoke Xu Chaomu. She grabbed Shi Sui's arm and swayed it, pleading, "Just come with me to the ball. It only happens once a year. If you miss today, you'll have to wait another year."

"But I can't dance."

"It's okay, we won't dance, we'll just go eat. There are lots of exquisite pastries on the dessert table, all made by French state banquet pastry chefs."

Song Xinying added, "While everyone else is busy dancing, we'll be busy eating like crazy."

Shi Sui was a little tempted, but said, "I don't have a dress, so I'd better not go."

“I knew this was coming, and I prepared everything for you.” Song Xinying thoughtfully produced a booklet as if by magic. “Take a look, these are all the most fashionable dresses of the season.”

"Look at this, a little red dress. Sui Sui, you have fair skin and a slim waist. It perfectly accentuates your figure. You'll definitely stun everyone when you wear it."

"And this one, with crystal and star elements, is romantic and dazzling. Sui Sui, you look like a fairy in it."

"This pink one is also nice, with heavy embroidery and mesh, giving it an ethereal and sweet princess style."

"..."

Shi Sui: I just want to eat like crazy in a low-key way.

*

The flight back home took 14 hours. Chi Yan irritably put the blindfold on her head and couldn't help but start to overthink.

Today is the fourth day since I last saw Shi Sui. Although we keep in touch every day, her mind is always on studying, taking notes and doing homework.

I just asked him when he would be back.

"Forget it, I should be content." Chi Yan comforted herself, thinking that class notes and homework were just a smokescreen; she still missed him.

As soon as he got off the plane, Chi Yan noticed that Shi Sui hadn't sent him any messages, but Yan Ze's messages came in like cannonballs.

His message exploded like a cannonball.

Yan Ze: [Shi Sui is wearing a maid outfit today, Chi-ge, I brought my DSLR to send you some pictures.]

Yan Ze: [jpg.]

Yan Ze: [jpg.]

……

Overwhelmed by cuteness, Chi Yan mindlessly saved the photo and then kissed it on his phone.

Yan Ze: [Shi Sui was selling milk tea at the club this morning, with Song Xinying by her side. Even though you weren't there, guys were daring to chat her up, but it's okay, they were all just trying to get the better of her; Shi Sui didn't even glance at them.]

Chi Yan's eyes narrowed. Song Xinying was actually with Shi Sui. He felt so jealous, so incredibly jealous.

It's okay, he comforted himself. Song Xinying is a girl, and girls can only be best friends (the naive Chi Yan didn't understand lesbian relationships).

Chi Yan continued scrolling down the information.

Yan Ze: [Holy crap, how did this weak, bookish guy appear out of nowhere in the blink of an eye!]

Chi Yan immediately became alert. He knew that the weak, bookish girl was Xu Chaomu! She had that innocent yet seductive look, and she was always trying to seduce Shi Sui with her homework!

Yan Ze: [I'll follow them and see what they're up to.]

Yan Ze: [So they went to the amusement park. Don't worry, Brother Chi, I'm watching. Shi Sui and Xu Chaomu won't even touch hands.]

Chi Yan was still very worried.

Compared to Song Xinying, Xu Chaomu is the number one threat.

Yan Ze: [Oh, Pei-ge and Shangguan Ying are here too.]

Chi Yan's alarm bells were ringing loudest. Pei Shuoxun! What was he doing here?!

Yan Ze: [Holy crap, Shi Sui is so good at ring toss! She got them all right! That's amazing!]

Yan Ze: [Shi Sui went archery again. What a coincidence, Brother Pei and Shangguan Ying are here too.]

Yan Ze: [Holy crap, Shi Sui hit two bullseyes in archery! That's amazing! And this was a fast-moving target!]

Yan Ze: [What's going on? Are Shi Sui and Pei Shuoxun going to have a battle?]

……

Yan Ze: [Brother Chi, compared to Pei Shuoxun, Shi Sui hasn't interacted with Xu Chaomu much at all. Don't worry, I'm keeping an eye on things!]

Chi Yan: ...

The sky has fallen.

It's precisely because Pei Shuoxun is here that I'm even more worried!

As a failed gossipmonger, Yan Ze failed to detect the relationship between Pei Shuoxun and Shi Sui.

Chi Yan immediately tried to text Shi Sui, but then deleted it.

Oh no, he doesn't even have a title, he has no right to question the mistresses—damn it.

After thinking it over and over, I finally sent: [Shi Sui, I'm back. Where are you now?]

It's more important to see her as soon as possible.

I can't wait, my heart is pounding.

He thought that Shi Sui would definitely reply to his message immediately.

As a result, they waited and waited.

?