Dark Light Chaser.

Chapter 3 A sudden confession

Since Gao Jiajia was recognized by Yue Qihua, she must be a popular figure in her class, and her appearance must be quite good.

Sure enough, Yang Xingyue saw a girl with a high ponytail and delicate features waving in their direction. Although her appearance was not as good as Yang Xingyue's or Yue Qihua's, it wasn't too different.

He ignored the gossipy looks from the girls and the envious glances from some of the boys.

Ai Liang walked calmly out of the classroom and into the corridor, looking at the smiling face and asking, "Did you need something?"

Gao Jiajia put her hands behind her back and blushed slightly: "Are you free after school today? I have something I want to talk to you about."

As soon as these words were spoken, various jeers and commotion immediately arose from the surrounding area.

"Yes, is there anything else?"

Ai Liang nodded in agreement and continued to ask.

"It's alright, I'll wait for you by the flower bed after school tonight." Seemingly worried that others would hear the meeting place, Gao Jiajia leaned close to Ai Liang and whispered in his ear, her warm breath gently patting his earlobe.

As soon as she finished speaking, Gao Jiajia avoided the crowd and ran back to her class, leaving a group of onlookers watching Ai Liang with amusement.

After all, graduation is just around the corner, and this kind of scene is one of the few ways for students to relieve psychological pressure.

Ignoring the mocking or envious glances, Ai Liang returned to her seat and resumed reading her novel as if nothing had happened.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Ai Liang did not look up.

"Cough! Uh! Cough!"

Ai Liang still didn't look up.

"Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!"

With a thud, Yue Qihua picked up a book and smacked Ma Yu on the head: "If you want to ask, just ask directly. Don't keep coughing like this."

After saying that, she glanced meaningfully at Yang Xingyue, who was struggling with her pen.

"Xiao Ai, what did Gao Jiajia tell you?" Ma Yu asked with a grin.

"It's nothing, they just asked if I was free after school."

Ai Liang didn't look at the expressions of the others, and didn't even bother to lift her head.

"Tsk, no need to guess. Gao Jiajia probably confessed to Ai Liang. I've heard about it from others." Yue Qihua sighed softly as she looked at Yang Xingyue, who seemed hesitant to speak, and Ma Yu, who had turned into a curious child.

"Oh."

"Hey Ai Liang, when a beautiful girl confesses her feelings to you, can't you give her a different kind of response?"

Yue Qihua raised an eyebrow at Ai Liang's calm and composed attitude. She grabbed Yang Xingyue's small hand that was reaching for her waist and said, "If it's true, aren't you going to consider it? Putting aside everything else, Gao Jiajia is quite good-looking."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xingyue looked at Yue Qihua in disbelief, then glared angrily, her little hands struggling even more fiercely below.

"What are you thinking about? We're graduating soon. Is it possible for her to get into the same school as me?"

Ai Liang didn't explicitly say she refused, but the meaning between the lines was very clear.

"You mean you'd consider it if we could get into the same school?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xingyue immediately stopped struggling and secretly observed Ai Liang's reaction with expectant eyes.

"we'll talk about it then."

Yang Xingyue's eyes showed some disappointment again.

Seeing her childhood friend's pathetic state, Yue Qihua couldn't help but twitch her lips. But seeing her pitiful eyes, Yue Qihua couldn't bear it and decided to help her this time.

"It's good that she refused. I heard that Gao Jiajia has some ambiguous relationships with other boys. Although she didn't do anything out of line, it's still a bit... you know."

Yue Qihua truthfully recounted the information she had gathered, and Ai Liang knew that this was not an attempt to deliberately smear her.

After three years of getting to know each other, Ai Liang knew very well that she wasn't the kind of person who liked to gossip behind people's backs.

She wouldn't speak up even if others were talking about someone, and she would never make definitive statements without concrete evidence. Now that she's said it, it proves that it's true.

Gao Jiajia's visit was just a small interlude during lunch break, and the students quickly returned to their studies.

After all, no matter how interesting it is, that's someone else's business. The most important thing right now is to prepare for the high school entrance exam.

In the blink of an eye, the afternoon had passed, and after dinner, evening self-study began immediately.

Just like during the day, I spent the night doing endless practice problems until the school bell rang at 8:40.

Just as the students were about to pack up and leave, the homeroom teacher coughed twice and patted the podium.

Everyone could tell from this setup that the cunning homeroom teacher was planning to hold a class meeting after school again in order to free up more study time.

"Quiet down for a moment, I'll say a few words." The students were already experienced, and the class immediately quieted down as soon as the homeroom teacher finished speaking.

The more you make noise, the less the homeroom teacher will say, and the later school ends. I remember the time they were the latest to leave school was after everyone else had left.

The homeroom teacher looked at the quiet classroom and nodded with a satisfied smile.

"As you all know, the high school entrance exam is just one month away. I won't waste any more words. I believe you've all heard about what I'm about to say. Tomorrow, Friday afternoon, is your last day off. Boarding students, remember to bring enough money for a month's living expenses when you go back. We current students will not have any holidays for the next month, and we will only get one day off before the high school entrance exam."

"Of course, it's the last month. Some parents may hire professional tutors to help their children with extra lessons. If so, please ask me for leave. You can study at home for the last month."

There was no discussion in the class; they already knew this, as it had always been the case at the school.

"Day students, go back and get some rest. Don't stay up late studying and ruin your health in the last few days. Health is the foundation of everything. School's out now."

After finishing his speech, the homeroom teacher waved his hand and left the classroom first.

The students in the class then stood up in twos and threes to pack their things, occasionally complaining that most of the students from other classes had left.

As soon as Ai Liang stood up, Yang Xingyue, Yue Qihua, and Ma Yu all turned to look at him.

"Is something wrong?" Ai Liang asked, but her hands were busy as she put a bookmark on the novel and put it back in her desk.

"No, shouldn't you be meeting with Gao Jiajia next? Can I... Ouch! Sister Hua, it hurts!"

Before Ma Yu could finish speaking, Yue Qihua grabbed his ear.

"Why are you meddling in other people's business? Go home and get some sleep!"

These words were meant for both Ma Yu and Yang Xingyue. Despite her seemingly carefree attitude, she has strong principles in her words and actions.

Do not gossip, do not meddle in other people's business; do not eat for free, do not tolerate cold faces; do not hide your own shortcomings, do not expose others' weaknesses; do not lose your childlike innocence, do not show a flattering face; do not laugh at the poor, do not owe money to others; do not seek others' favor, do not annoy others.

These twelve "no's" are Yue Qihua's family rules, which her grandfather has been repeating to her since she was a child.

It was her strict upbringing that shaped her current personality.

Yue Qihua spoke loudly. Several classmates who had originally planned to follow Ai Liang to watch the scene saw that the school bully had spoken, so they packed up their things and left in a sorry state.

Ai Liang nodded her thanks and then walked out of the classroom.

"Hua Hua." Yang Xingyue shook Yue Qihua's arm pitifully.

"Alright, you know Ai Liang's personality. Is he the kind of person who would agree to anything just because the other person is good-looking when they grow up? If it were me, I feel like you have a better chance than Gao Jiajia, whom I've barely even met. Besides, aren't you worried that Ai Liang will find out you're watching him make a fool of himself?"

Yue Qihua took off her school uniform and draped it over her shoulders, exuding a boss-like aura that made her look unapproachable. "Ma Yu, call Xiao Xiao, let's go get some skewers."

"Okay, Sister Hua." Ma Yu followed along eagerly.

Xiaoxiao is Ma Yu's girlfriend, and she's in the same class as Gao Jiajia.

Yang Xingyue glanced in the direction Ai Liang had left, and after much deliberation, ultimately decided not to follow him to find out what was going on.

As soon as Ai Liang stepped out of the classroom, he saw Gao Jiajia standing at the top of the stairs waving at him.

The two walked side by side without attracting much attention.

The first and second year students at their school finish their evening self-study sessions 20 minutes earlier than the third year students. In addition, Ai Liang's homeroom teacher extended the class time, so there was almost no one in the front yard of the school at this time. Those from other classes who had heard the rumors and wanted to see the excitement could not resist going home late at night.

Perhaps it was with this in mind that Gao Jiajia specifically set the appointment time after school.

"Didn't you say you'd wait for me at the flower bed?"

"I waited for so long and didn't see you. I thought you stood me up," Gao Jiajia said, pouting and pretending to be dissatisfied.

"Feel sorry."

As they were talking, Gao Jiajia pressed herself against him again, and through the thin school uniform, one could feel her soft shoulders.

Although it wasn't Ai Liang's fault, he still honestly apologized first and subtly distanced himself from Gao Jiajia.

Neither of them spoke the rest of the way, until they entered the small garden in the front yard. Gao Jiajia turned to look at Ai Liang.

The colored lights in the grass emitted a faint red glow, flickering on her face and making it difficult to see clearly.

I like you and I want to be your girlfriend.

Gao Jiajia spoke in a casual tone, without pausing for a moment, and her expression remained unchanged, making it impossible to tell that she was confessing her feelings to someone.

A red glow enveloped her face, making it impossible to tell whether she was shy or not.

"Sorry, we..."

"I know you don't like me." Ai Liang was interrupted by Gao Jiajia before she could finish speaking, "After all, we've only met a few times."

"Then why did you come looking for me?"

Knowing full well that you'll be rejected, why confess your feelings? Is it simply to avoid having any regrets?
"Didn't I just say why? I like you and want to be your girlfriend. You're my type, is it strange to have such thoughts?"

Gao Jiajia tilted her head and looked at Ai Liang: "You have a girlfriend? Could it be that the rumors about you and Yang Xingyue are true?"

"No, I was just tutoring her." Ai Liang immediately denied the rumors.

The rumor started after he and Yang Xingyue went to a bookstore one weekend and were seen by someone. He was just helping her with her studies and had no other intentions.

No matter how much the two denied it, people still spread rumors that they were a secret couple. Even the teachers had heard about it, let alone Gao Jiajia, a central figure in the class.

These rumors didn't involve any personal attacks; they were simply meant to pair the two together. Yue Qihua, the eldest sister, was helpless against it, since she couldn't find a reason to put pressure on them. Besides, her childhood friend would blush every time she heard about it, so she didn't want to shatter the fantasy.

Gao Jiajia leaned closer to observe Ai Liang's expression carefully, but she didn't see any panic or attempt to hide it; it was as if Ai Liang was simply stating a fact.

"Yeah, I believe you." Gao Jiajia jumped back. "I know you don't have any feelings for me right now, but aren't feelings cultivated? I'm fairly confident in my looks, so why don't we try dating first? If it doesn't work out, we can start as friends?"

This was the first time Ai Liang had ever met such a proactive girl in his two lifetimes, and she was also quite good-looking. If it were in his previous life or if he hadn't experienced that five-year-old incident, he would have agreed immediately.

"It's the last month, so I should focus on my studies."

Ai Liang didn't spell it out, after all, girls still care about their pride, and a direct rejection would definitely hurt someone's self-esteem.

"Pfft, what are you saying? You're clearly the only one in the whole school who doesn't care about studying at all, right?"

Ai Liang didn't speak because he couldn't refute it. He just couldn't figure out if Gao Jiajia was really stupid or pretending not to understand him.

"Alright, I didn't call you today expecting an immediate answer, I just wanted to let you know. It's getting late, let's go home first, we can talk about other things tomorrow."

Gao Jiajia smiled arrogantly. She was very confident in her own qualities. She was beautiful, her family was in the real estate business, and she was a typical rich, beautiful, and beautiful girl, a campus goddess.

At the same time, Gao Jiajia knew that pursuing someone required a balance of intensity and gentleness. She didn't push Ai Liang too hard and walked towards the teaching building alone. In her opinion, as long as she persisted, she would eventually win Ai Liang over, so there was no need to rush.

"Girls these days are really precocious."

Ai Liang let out a long sigh and turned to walk towards the school gate.

He walked under the brightly lit streetlights, while Gao Jiajia entered the dark teaching building.

(End of this chapter)