You're my wife, don't doubt it!

Chicken feathers all over the place.

The afternoon's visits yielded little result, leaving Xiao Yao somewhat disheartened.

Teacher Yao had another academic affairs meeting to attend, and instructed Xiao Yao to wait for him in the classroom for a moment.

Bored while waiting, Xiao Yao went out for a stroll and saw Ouyang Qianqian leaning casually against the corridor railing, openly making a phone call.

The sky was already ablaze with colorful fiery clouds, and the afterglow of the setting sun slanted across the girl's profile, giving her a faint blush.

Each of the girl's curved eyelashes was clearly visible.

Ouyang Qianqian saw Xiao Yao, turned her face, smiled and gently curved her hand.

For no apparent reason, Xiao Yao felt his heart skip a beat.

“Brother.” Ouyang Qianqian put down her phone and said slowly, “Don’t ask around about that matter anymore, otherwise Yu Luying will only hate you more.”

"Why?" Xiao Yao asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Who understands women better, you or me?” Ouyang Qianqian sighed. “You’re such a blockhead.”

"Oh, right," Xiao Yao suddenly remembered something, "why didn't Zhou Qi come today?"

“How would I know?” Ouyang Qianqian rolled her eyes and said, “I’m not her girlfriend.”

"?" Xiao Yao asked again, "What were you two arguing about yesterday?"

"Oh, so you were eavesdropping on our conversation?" Ouyang Qianqian clapped her hands and jumped up.

"No, nobody has that American kung fu. I was just in the bathroom, and then—ah!"

"What's wrong?" Ouyang Qianqian asked with concern, her faint fragrance wafting into Xiao Yao's nostrils.

Xiao Yao raised his left hand and stared blankly as a tiny bead of blood seeped from his fingertip.

"Oh dear, what happened!" Ouyang Qianqian exclaimed exaggeratedly, took out a pack of wet wipes, pulled one out, and was about to wipe Xiao Yao.

"Where is the instrumental music club's classroom?" Xiao Yao muttered to himself. "Ah, right, it's over there!"

Xiao Yao turned and ran.

"Hey, hey, where are you going?" Ouyang Qianqian stomped her foot and called out from behind.

--split line--

Meanwhile, at the Seventh Girls' High School of the city.

Shen Jie and her deskmate Zhou Xiaoying walked together, chatting and laughing, their steps light and graceful amidst the flow of people leaving school.

"Jie'er, something's been going on lately, isn't it?" Zhou Xiaoying said with a smile, "You're always secretly looking at your phone by yourself."

"No way," Shen Jie chuckled lightly, "There is a situation, but it's not what you think."

"Oh, there really is? And they haven't officially started dating yet?"

"Not yet." Shen Jie shook her head: "Actually, I don't really want him to be my boyfriend."

"Huh? You're still seeing him?" Zhou Xiaoying exclaimed in surprise, "He can't be the fiancé your family has arranged for you, can he?"

"You've been reading too many novels." Shen Jie smiled and reached out to tap Zhou Xiaoying's forehead. "I took the liberty of inviting him to your birthday party this weekend. You can help me observe him then."

"Alright, Miss Shen," Zhou Xiaoying exclaimed excitedly, "Have I met him before?"

“I have indeed seen it before,” Shen Jie tilted her head and thought for a moment, “right here.”

The two of them had already reached the school gate, and Shen Jie pointed to the ground beneath her feet.

"Huh? It can't be that guy, can it?" Zhou Xiaoying's eyes widened in surprise: "You and him actually have a sequel?"

“That guy,” Shen Jie said, as if trying to convince herself, “is at least an honest man, right?”

"Hmph, that's hard to say—"

"Little Shen Jie!" A boy waved loudly across the road from the school gate.

"Oh, here we go again." Shen Jie covered her face, her head aching.

"Oh, another one." Zhou Xiaoying pinched Shen Jie's arm jealously.

"Little Shen Jie!" the boy called out again in a sweet, cloying voice.

"This one is quite cute?" Zhou Xiaoying sized up the newcomer from a distance.

"Cute? Look closely, he's a middle school student!" Shen Jie said irritably.

Indeed, the boy was wearing the standard summer tracksuit for junior high school students in Shanghai, with a bright red scarf tied around his neck. He was about the same height as Shen Jie, but his hair was styled like an adult's. He had big, bright eyes that many girls would envy (of course, not including Shen Jie herself), sparkling and with long, thick eyelashes that curled slightly upwards, covering a pair of bright and deep eyes.

He is indeed a handsome young man, and the backpack on his back and the sneakers on his feet also reveal his privileged family background.

"Zhang Zhengkai, what are you up to now?" Shen Jie instinctively hid behind Zhou Xiaoying.

"I'll take you home. I heard this area has been quite unsafe lately." A boy named Zhang Zhengkai casually pushed his bicycle forward, acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Isn't it because of you that I'm not safe?" Shen Jie's dark eyes darted around beneath her blinking eyelids.

"Then shall I go first?" Zhou Xiaoying said hesitantly.

"No, Xiaoying, didn't we agree to go together after school..." Shen Jie said urgently, "Xiaoying, didn't we agree to go together after school..."

"Going to what? Who's with you... Oh, right, right, we made plans." Zhou Xiaoying said, "Shen Jie is coming to my house to play today."

"I would be happy to ensure the safety of the two ladies along the way." Zhang Zhengkai bowed solemnly, clearly indicating that he brooked no refusal.

Shen Jie sighed and started pressing something on her phone.

Then, without looking at Zhang Zhengkai, she hooked her arms around the straps of her backpack and walked quickly in a certain direction with Zhou Xiaoying.

Zhou Xiaoying understood that this was one of the "not-so-gentlemanly suitors" that Shen Jie usually mentioned.

Being targeted by someone like that is definitely troublesome.

What Zhou Xiaoying didn't understand was, given the Shen family's background, why did Shen Jie seem to have no way to deal with this little pest?

Ah, that's it. Shen Jie must be too kind-hearted and embarrassed to be too harsh on him to his face, Zhou Xiaoying thought.

Or perhaps she feels she shouldn't trouble adults with her affairs? That's perfectly normal.

Zhang Zhengkai caught up with him on his bicycle.

"Did you receive the letter I sent you?" Zhang Zhengkai asked while demonstrating his superb slow-riding skills.

“It really was you who wrote it,” Shen Jie said. “Little friend, next time you try to write a love letter like an adult, put aside the writing style, please at least keep the number of typos to within four per ten thousand.”

Zhou Xiaoying laughed out loud.

“My writing skills are definitely not a problem. I just won an award in the district’s middle school essay competition,” Zhang Zhengkai said defiantly. “Want me to show you?”

"Is the essay titled 'My District Chief Dad'?" Shen Jie teased.

So, this child is the legendary son of District Chief Zhang? Zhou Xiaoying was startled.

“What is it?” Zhang Zhengkai was taken aback: “It’s ‘A Little Thing That Was Unforgettable’.”

"You're the one who's been sending song requests to my school's public address system lately, right?" Shen Jie suddenly thought of something.

"That's me. Does Little Shen Jie like it?"

"Don't call me Little Shen Jie! I'm actually a little taller than you!" Shen Jie retorted angrily.

“Your shoes are just 5 centimeters thicker than mine, Xiao Shenjie.”

"..."

"Here you go," as if by magic, Zhang Zhengkai produced a fresh rose in his hand: "I picked it myself, I almost cut my hand."

"Thank you, but I don't want it."

Seeing that Shen Jie didn't answer, Zhang Zhengkai simply unzipped the backpack behind her and put the flowers inside.

"Can you please not touch my backpack?" Shen Jie finally snapped.

"Xiao Shen Jie, why is your backpack so heavy? Put it in my bicycle basket."

The evening breeze made Shen Jie's two ponytails flutter. She stopped and turned around.

"I have a boyfriend," Shen Jie announced, taking a deep breath and trying to make her tone light and cheerful.

The air froze for a few seconds.

"Liar." Zhang Zhengkai switched back to his grinning expression.

"If you don't believe me, ask Zhou Xiaoying." Shen Jie tugged at her best friend's sleeve, who had been silent all along.

“It’s true, absolutely true,” Zhou Xiaoying said as if she had just come to her senses. “Shen Jie is going to bring him to karaoke for my birthday party this weekend.”

"Why did you tell him this?!" Shen Jie stomped her foot, exasperated with her incompetent teammate.

"Oh?" The boy pouted, his face darkening.

Chapter 28 After School

Of course, Xiao Yao was completely unaware of Shen Jie's worrying interpersonal relationships at this time.

He had just said goodbye to Ouyang Qianqian and left the "Zhongshulou" building, walking briskly towards the experimental building.