"Gu Bai, I like you!"
In the scorching summer, the sunlight was blindingly hot. Having just finished her college entrance exam, Qiao Orange, who had harbored a marathon-like admiration for Gu Bai for six years, finally brought it to an end with this courageous confession.
...
Three months later, Beicheng University was ushering in a new school year.
Qiao Orange finally had her wish fulfilled and got admission into this "alma mater of Gu Bai". Even though Gu Bai had graduated from Beicheng University more than two years ago, it did not dampen Qiao Orange's joy in the slightest.
September in Beicheng was still trapped in sweltering heat.
Qiao Orange stood at the main gate of Beicheng University, watching the vehicles come and go.
Today, Gu Bai said he booked a restaurant to celebrate her new academic year.
Their relationship had only started three months ago, but Gu Bai’s tenderness and consideration were fully demonstrated in every detail of their relationship.
Ten minutes later, a white Bentley sports car loomed into sight.
Once the car window rolled down, Qiao Orange approached, leaning slightly towards the car to greet the person inside.
"Aren't you busy today? How do you have time to have a meal with me?"
Lately, Gu Bai had been very busy, so much so that they had only seen each other twice in the past half month.
Gu Bai opened the car door and stepped out, a serious look in his eyes.
"Qiao Orange, there's something I want to talk to you about."
She tilted her head with a soft smile, teasingly said as she looked at his car, "You parked your car at the school gate. Be careful that the gatekeeper uncle might lecture you later."
Gu Bai furrowed his brows, his face solemn, staring into her obsidian eyes and said word by word, "Qiao Chen, I'm going to be engaged."
The smile on Qiao Chen's lips hadn't faded, but it gradually stiffened. She paused, her tongue seeming to tie itself in knots, yet she still retained her nonchalant smile, "Gu senior, it's not April Fool's Day today, and your joke is not funny at all."
Gu Bai had anticipated many possible reactions, but he had not expected Qiao Chen's response to be so indifferent. He furrowed his brow deeper, apologizing with pursed lips: "Little Chen, I'm sorry..."
Qiao Chen laughed carelessly, "Gu senior, I know you're teasing me, no need for the act."
"Qiao Chen!" Gu Bai abruptly raised his volume, looking at her with a sorrowful gaze, "I'm not joking."
He took out a purple wedding invitation with gold edges from his car and handed it to her, "I'm truly getting engaged. Thank you for accompanying me these past three months."
Qiao Chen stood rigidly on the spot, twisting the straps of her backpack nervously with both hands. Her fingers, white as spring onions, dug deeply into her palm as she still maintained her laughter, though she looked a bit pale.
Gu Bai spoke impatiently, "You can yell at me, hit me, but Qiao Chen, stop laughing. I'm not joking."
"I know."
The girl's voice was very light, very soft, without any weight.
She felt like a shard of glass was stuck in her throat, struggling to say: "It's okay, I was never your equal in the first place."
After all, she was the one who pursued him in the first place. Given his good background, he probably just played with her all along, she thought.
"Qiao Chen...." Gu Bai called her.
Qiao Chen accepted the invitation, her focus gradually blurring. Slowly she turned around, only to be stopped as Gu Bai held her wrist tightly.
"Qiao Cheng, I..."
Gu Bai paused, struggling to find the words. Gu's butler stepped forward, reminding him respectfully, "Young Master, the elder master and the lady are asking for you."
Gu Bai wanted to explain, to hold her back, but in the end, all he could do was let go of Qiao Cheng's wrist, watching her sprint further and further away from his sight.
....
Qiao Cheng held her head high, her strides brisk. Her eyes felt as if they were filled with grit, somehow stinging.
Her first love started with "I like you", but ended abruptly due to Gu Bai's words, "I'm getting engaged."
...
Not far away, a black Maybach was parked under a plane tree, its windows slowly rolling down.
"Second Master, Gu Bai has formally broken up with Miss Qiao Cheng. You can rest easy now."
The handsome man lounged in the car seat, a thin, apathetic smile crossing his face. "Broke up? Did they even start?"
Fool, it was nothing more than a solo show for the scapegoat.
Assistant Xu Sai wiped off a bead of sweat secretly, "It seems Gu Bai and Miss Su Xi will definitely get engaged smoothly now."
"Gu Bai should thank the young lady for his climb into the Su family."
Young lady? Referring to...Miss Qiao Cheng?
The man's eyes narrowed slightly, staring at the gradually blurrier petite silhouette, and he laughed softly.
