Chapter 22: The Unexpected Encounter

Duan Yulan’s beauty was undeniable. Even when she stood silently, she seemed like a masterfully crafted sculpture, captivating anyone who laid eyes on her. No matter where she went, she always drew stares. And that was exactly the case now.

“My goodness, Qiao Xia is quite the catch, isn’t he? At such a young age, he already has a girlfriend this beautiful. He’s really something else!”

“Look at that girl’s clothes. Wow, all designer brands! It must have cost at least tens of thousands of yuan!”

“Wow, she’s a rich girl too!”

“I always thought Qiao Xia was a quiet, well-behaved kid, but now I see he’s already in a relationship. Guess I was wrong about him.”

“Come on, they’re just teenagers in high school. You’re just jealous because he has a beautiful and wealthy girlfriend. If you can find one, go ahead, but stop being so snarky.”

The whispers around him made Qiao Xia look down at Duan Yulan, who had managed to hug him again. He couldn’t figure out how, despite his quick reaction, she had caught him off guard.

“Was it because I haven’t been exercising, and my reflexes have slowed down?” he wondered.

But looking at Duan Yulan, who seemed so delicate, he doubted she was trained in any way. How could her movements be so swift?

And why were people staring at him with such shock? There was nothing between him and Duan Yulan. She was still the untouchable goddess she had always been.

“Duan Yulan, let’s talk about this. Please let go of me.”

After being surprised by Duan Yulan at the school gate earlier, Qiao Xia had become somewhat immune to such incidents. Even with people staring, he remained calm and spoke to Duan Yulan quietly.

“Thank goodness Zhou Li isn’t here; otherwise, he would be making a big fuss again.”

Qiao Xia had initially feared that Duan Yulan’s presence would disrupt his daily life. But now that the situation had become a reality, he felt like a dead pig in boiling water, indifferent to the gossip around him.

“Let them talk.” he thought.

“What could be worse than this?”

As he tried to comfort himself, he didn’t realize the situation was about to take a turn for the worse.

Just then, without a word, Duan Yulan lifted her hands to hold Qiao Xia’s face, pulling him close. Her soft, plump lips met his in a kiss, catching him completely off guard.

The onlookers gasped, amazed at how open-minded the youth were, making out in public like that! And the girl was even the one taking the initiative… what luck!

Men of all ages are drawn to beauty, so when a stunning woman appeared at the gate, they couldn’t take their eyes off her. Some young men even eyed Duan Yulan with a mix of admiration and longing, hoping for a chance to approach her. They wouldn’t mind being her devoted followers, even if it meant being seen as ‘puppies’ or ‘fans’!

Even when Duan Yulan hugged Qiao Xia, they comforted themselves, thinking they might be siblings or cousins. But now, with Duan Yulan’s bold kiss, everyone was sure they were a couple. How else could they explain such intimacy?

As the crowd realized that their beloved goddess was taken, Qiao Xia, who had been passively receiving the kiss, finally came to his senses. Seeing Duan Yulan up close, her agile tongue invading his defenses, Qiao Xia felt like a helpless maiden being ravaged by a villain, about to be devoured.

“If this were at home, she’d probably be stripping my clothes off already!” he thought, blushing at the thought of the explicit scene that could unfold.

“Isn’t this a bit too forward?”

His perception of Duan Yulan had changed drastically. The once-cold, aloof goddess now seemed like a woman possessed, and he felt overwhelmed.

“Why is she doing this? What did I do to deserve this?” he wondered, unable to understand the sudden turn of events. It was as if he had been set up in a ‘honeytrap’.

“Duan Yulan, what are you doing? This is a public place!”

Qiao Xia pushed Duan Yulan away and wiped his lips vigorously, feeling a stinging pain, as if his lips were sore and chapped.

“Did she have to kiss me so hard?”

Instead of being embarrassed by his rejection, Duan Yulan’s smile only grew brighter. She licked her lips as if savoring the moment, which would have looked perverse on anyone else, but on her, it only added to her allure.

“Qiao Xia, I’m just so excited. You don’t know… I haven’t seen you in so long, and now that I have, it’s wonderful.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the contrast between her smile and her reddened eyes was heart-wrenching.

“Duan Yulan, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“It’s okay; you’ll understand soon. I’ll be back at school tomorrow, so wait for me… If anything happens, don’t panic, just go to the rooftop of the teaching building and wait for me!”

Despite his confusion, Duan Yulan didn’t offer any explanation, instead speaking cryptically about the next day.