Mo Weiyi looked at the screen, the outline of his face was serene and cold.
Su Wenwen only remembered that this movie was quite romantic, and she wanted Mo Weiyi to see what a truly mutual relationship of love should be like, not like her fervent efforts in a one-sided situation.
But she never expected the ending would be a breakup.
Although their time in Rome was romantic, beautiful, and filled with delightful surprises, it seemed to be destined that the princess couldnât be with the common man. For her own country, the princess made a rational choice and gave up her love.
When the movie ended, Su Wanwan glanced at Mo Weiyiâs expression.
Oh my.
He looked even more downcast than before.
The classroom lights were switched on, and the teacher said a few words before dismissing the class.
Su Wanwan and Mo Weiyi left the classroom, just reaching the staircase when a voice sounded from behind.
âMiss Mo?â
They stopped and turned around. A girl had caught up. She was wearing a short, goose-yellow down jacket and short hair that barely reached her ears, a stranger to them.
âMiss Mo, my name is Xia Ling. May I⦠speak to you in private?â
Su Wanwan entered the elevator, âIâll wait for you in the reading room.â
âOkay.â
â¦
Once Su Wanwan was gone, Xia Ling began, âMiss Mo, I am Ling Zhizhouâs classmate, and his high school classmate too.â
âWhat do you want to say?â
Xia Ling bit her lip, âMiss Mo, Ling Zhizhou has had a hard life. His parents are no longer there, and he only has a sixty-year-old grandfather left to take care of at home. His excellent grades got him into Nancheng University, and all his living expenses are earned through his own hard work and frugality. He really isnât like you.â
Mo Weiyi didnât expect Ling Zhizhouâs family circumstances to be this complicated. But⦠âSo what are you trying to say?â
Xia Ling bit her lip again, âMiss Mo, Iâm not sure what you saw in Ling Zhizhou? Heâs two years younger than you, and Iâve seen pictures of your husband. I donât understand, if you have such an extraordinary husband, why are you clinging to Ling Zhizhou? If youâre seeking excitement, there are so many boys in our school. Many of them are more handsome than Ling Zhizhou, their family circumstances are better, and they have more talent. So why must youâ¦â
âShut up!â Mo Weiyi interrupted her sharply.
Xia Ling froze in fear.
Mo Weiyi looked at her with a cold expression and a mocking smile, âJust curious, apart from being his classmate, what else are you to Ling Zhizhou?â
âIâ¦â
âYou like him, donât you?â
ââ¦â As a young girl, having her feelings revealed so blatantly, Xia Lingâs face showed clear signs of embarrassment and discomfort.
âYou canât win him over, and you blame me for sticking to him? Donât you think thatâs ridiculous?â
Mo Weiyi narrowed her beautiful cat-like eyes, âBesides, Ling Zhizhou and I are just common friends. Iâm already married and have no plans to engage in a younger-man or extramarital relationship. Youâre young and naïve. I wonât hold it against you. But what you said has upset me, you have to apologize.â
Apologize? Xia Lingâs face showed even more embarrassment, and she blurted out, âIs what I said not right? You, a third-year student, are always with a freshman in the reading room. Donât you think itâs inappropriate? You even came to his classroom to find him, leading everyone to say that heâs bootlicking the school flower! As long as you make a call, he runs over to help immediately! Last time, because of giving you an English textbook, he even had his grade deducted by the English teacherâ¦â
âXia Ling!â
Before she could finish, Ling Zhizhouâs voice suddenly sounded from behind them.
Upon hearing his voice, Xia Lingâs face turned from blushing embarrassment to cold, pale white.
Ling Zhizhou stood in the hallway, his normally gentle and handsome face now filled with unprecedented coldness and sharpness.
âWhat business is it of yours to meddle in my affairs? Who do you think you are?â
His voice was loud, and they were just outside the classroom and near the elevator door. It immediately drew the attention of some passing students.
Xia Lingâs eyes quickly filled with tears, âZhizhou, I justâ¦â
âI hate it when people meddle in my business!â
âZhizhouâ¦â
âAnd, Iâve told you before, I donât like you,â Ling Zhizhouâs words were blunt and pointed, âCould you please stop being so presumptuous?â
ââ¦â Tears fell rapidly from Xia Lingâs eyes.
Under the whispering of the surrounding students, she could no longer endure this humiliation, she turned and left quickly.
Ling Zhizhou stood there, his hand clenched into a fist, his face looked grim.
Only when the surrounding students gradually dispersed did he turn and look at Mo Weiyi, âSenior, Iâm sorry, she misunderstood. Please donât mind.â
Mo Weiyi looked somewhat embarrassed, âIs what she said just now, all true?â
A trace of pain flashed across Ling Zhizhouâs young and handsome face, but he didnât deny it, âMy parents, and my sister, they all passed away in a car accident.â
Mo Weiyi: ââ¦â
She had only heard about his sister before. She didnât expect it to beâ¦
âYou donât have to feel sorry for me.â Zhizhou forced a laugh, as if already relieved, âThere are so many unfortunate people in this world, and itâs not just me. Besides, itâs been a long time since that happened.â
Mo Weiyi nodded.
After a while, she said, âYour friend misunderstood my relationship with you, youâd better explain it to her.â
Ling Zhizhou continued to smile, âDonât mind her.â
Mo Weiyi: ââ¦â
**
Things like this happening, Mo Weiyiâs already gloomy mood instantly became worse.
She didnât have the mood to study anymore, so she directly took a car home.
At seven oâclock in the evening, Chen Jin arrived.
Although Mo Weiyi didnât have the mood to study, it was not nice to let her leave straight after arriving, so she obediently got up and followed her into the study.
However, Chen Jin quickly noticed that she was somewhat distracted and hadnât even done the exercises assigned three days ago.
âYou finish these exercises first.â Chen Jin said.
Mo Weiyi resignedly picked up her pen.
Not long after, a burst of engine noise suddenly sounded outside the window.
Chen Jinâs eyes lit up, looking at Mo Weiyi, but she saw no reaction from her who was still holding the pen, buried in her work.
Chen Jin couldnât help but remind her, âMiss Mo, it seems that Mr. Xiao is back.â
It was only eight oâclock now, Xiao Yebai rarely returned at this time. If it were in the past, Mo Weiyi would have already been excitedly trying to go look for him.
But nowâ¦
Mo Weiyi bit the pen, âTeacher Chen, please explain this problem to me.â
ââ¦Sure.â Chen Jin was forced to concentrate and start explaining the problem.
One thing led to another, and soon it was nine oâclock.
Chen Jin picked up the cup and took a sip of water to moisten her throat, âMiss Mo, itâs time. Iâll leave for the day.â
âOkay.â
Chen Jin got up to pack up her belongings, but saw that Mo Weiyi was still sitting there, engrossed in reading.
Are these two in a cold war?
Thinking back on how Mo Weiyi had inexplicably disappeared and hadnât come back for class the night before, Chen Jin seemed lost in thought.
As soon as she left the study, she saw Xiao Yebai sitting on the sofa in the living room reading a book.
âMr. Xiao.â As soon as she registered this, Chen Jin immediately called out.
The man raised his head, his icy gaze piercing through his glasses and catching sight of her. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment before lowering his head to continue reading.
Zhou Shu on one side quickly said, âTeacher Chen, Old Liu is waiting for you in the garage.â
âOkay.â Before she left, Chen Jin gave Xiao Yebai another look.
He was sitting there, head down, his pale, slender fingers holding a very thick book. Under the warm light, the sight of him wearing glasses looked particularly refined.
â¦
After Chen Jin left, the living room once again returned to its usual quietness.
Xiao Yebai flipped a page of his book, then raised his left hand to look at his watch.
Nine-thirty.
It had been half an hour since the class had ended.
He put down his book, stood up and, with his long legs, walked to the study, pushing open the door and walked straight in.
Under the bright light, Mo Weiyi sat behind the desk with a serious look on her face, hard at work. Hearing the sound, she looked up at him.
However, she didnât call him âXiaobaiâ in her usual sweet voice nor did she immediately get up and cling to him as she would usually. She didnât even utter a word and just lowered her head to continue reading.
Xiao Yebaiâs deep black eyes unexpectedly narrowed a little.
He stood there, also silent.
Only after another ten minutes did he finally step forward, his slender fingers tapping twice on the black desk, âItâs time to sleep.â
Mo Weiyi put down the pen, collected all her books and put them in her bag.
Just as she was about to leave with her bag, her wrist was held by the manâs clearly defined hand.
Xiao Yebai, looking down at the young girl who barely reached his shoulder, his black eyes calm and his voice low, âAre you still angry?â
âNo.â Mo Weiyiâs voice was flat, eerily like his usual tone.
Xiao Yebaiâs fingers, which had been gripping her wrist, tightened slightly.
She had delicate bone structure, and her wrist was so fine it seemed fragile, even if he was holding it through her thick wool sweater, it felt as if he could break it if he applied any more pressure.