Chapter 21: An Unexpected Summons

Reflecting on Ding Ce’s suspicious call, then recalling the committee’s conversation about Liu Ge’s escape, Qiao Xia suddenly found himself reluctant to answer the unknown number. He couldn’t quite pinpoint why.

Still, the fear of missing an important call gnawed at him. After a moment of hesitation, Qiao Xia ultimately decided to pick up.

“Hello? Who is this?”

Once Qiao Xia answered, silence met him from the other end. He waited for a beat, then spoke, his voice tinged with confusion.

‘Calling but not speaking? Was this some kind of prank call?’

“Qiao Xia, where are you?”

“Duan Yulan!”

Qiao Xia was utterly startled when a voice finally echoed from the other end of the line.

Although he hadn’t interacted much with Duan Yulan, they were classmates. He often saw her around and overheard her conversations with others.

Her voice, undeniably pleasant, was something Qiao Xia remembered vividly. One couldn’t, in good conscience, deny its charm.

Indeed, the world contained people blessed with both striking looks and melodious voices. Such individuals often left others feeling so inferior that they couldn’t sleep, wishing they could consult Nuwa and ask why, despite all being molded from clay, the differences were so vast.

“It’s me. I’m at the entrance of Happiness Residential Area right now. Come over.”

Just as Qiao Xia wondered why Duan Yulan was calling him out of the blue, her subsequent words sent a jolt of shock through him.

‘His mind reeled, filled with countless question marks.’

He had no particular connection to Duan Yulan, so why on earth was she at the entrance of Happiness Residential Area?

While Qiao Xia had previously considered seeking out Duan Yulan, it was solely to uncover the origins of the black bracelet and determine if it was linked to his sudden ‘cheat’ ability.

However, this certainly didn’t mean he actually wanted to meet her.

Duan Yulan was, admittedly, a universally admired beauty. Even with her somewhat aloof personality, countless men still showered her with attention, secretly hoping to turn the goddess into their girlfriend. Yet, Qiao Xia was not among them.

Why, one might ask?

Simply because Qiao Xia found it all too troublesome.

No matter how beautiful Duan Yulan was, in a hundred years, she would be nothing more than a handful of dust.

Moreover, the very concept of a girlfriend was far too bothersome. They would infringe upon his personal space, a thought that greatly displeased Qiao Xia.

This was the fundamental reason why Qiao Xia, despite his handsome features and decent family background, remained single. He was simply too lazy to navigate interpersonal relationships, refusing even to date.

‘Weren’t two-dimensional girls more appealing?’

“Duan Yulan, we’re not close. If you have something to say, just tell me over the phone. I’m busy right now and can’t leave.”

Although Qiao Xia wanted to inquire about the black bracelet, hearing Duan Yulan’s request to meet at the residential area entrance made him abandon the idea. He decided it would be better to ask her at school later.

‘Are you kidding me? So many people come and go at the entrance; he was bound to run into someone he knew.’ The thought of becoming the subject of neighborhood gossip immediately gave Qiao Xia a headache.

“I’ll wait for you at the entrance for five minutes. If you’re not on time, I’ll simply use the property management’s loudspeaker to call your name.”

Qiao Xia had just resolved to refuse, even if it killed him. However, Duan Yulan’s next words successfully shattered his determination.

‘Having his name shouted at the residential area entrance? The mere thought of it was mortifying!’

‘Didn’t everyone say Duan Yulan was aloof towards everyone?’

‘Why was she so relentless with him now, impossible to shake off?’

“I won’t—”

Before Qiao Xia could finish his refusal, the other end of the line clicked dead.

Listening to the ‘beep-beep’ sound from his phone, Qiao Xia no longer worried about the danger of encountering Liu Ge at home. His mind was consumed with the thought of whether Duan Yulan would truly use a loudspeaker to call his name.

‘A super beauty like Duan Yulan would surely cherish her reputation; she wouldn’t ruin her image in public.’

‘Yes, that had to be it!’

‘Except…’

That very morning, at the school entrance, despite the crowd, Duan Yulan had acted entirely as she pleased, hugging and kissing him without a care for anyone’s gaze.

Qiao Xia’s lips twitched in vexation. Ultimately, his apprehension won out, and he decided to go glance at the residential area entrance.

Just a quick look!

If Duan Yulan was bluffing, he would simply go straight home.

“Oh, it’s Qiao Xia! Where are you off to?”

“It feels like ages since we last saw you. Students nowadays really have it tough!”

As Qiao Xia walked towards the entrance, his heart aflutter with anxiety, a group of people suddenly appeared behind him. These were the usual residents who idled around the complex, now greeting Qiao Xia warmly.

Qiao Xia found their faces familiar but couldn’t recall their names. However, it didn’t take him long to remember who they were.

‘Damn it! The neighborhood gossip mongers, the “Information Hub” group, why did he have to run into them now?’

From which family stayed up late hitting their kids to whose wife was caught cheating, no matter the gossip, it always originated from this group.

It was as if they had antennas installed on their heads, constantly receiving every piece of gossip in the residential area.

Seeing that the gossip group was also heading towards the entrance, Qiao Xia was suddenly overcome with a terrible premonition.

“Tell me about it! My kid is always buried in books. I worry he’ll get nearsighted. And if I scold him, he has an excuse! He says all his classmates have great grades, and if he doesn’t work harder, no one will play with him because nobody likes students with poor grades.”

“Ah, my child is nothing like that. They’re always glued to their phone, playing games, never listening… Anyway, let’s not dwell on it. We should hurry; it’s rare for the neighborhood group to have an offline gathering. We absolutely have to have a good time today.”

“Right? It’s been so long since we had an event. I’m really looking forward to it!”

“We’re almost at the entrance. Everyone, hurry up! Remember to queue for the car.”

Hearing the chatter from the group, Qiao Xia now had only one thought.

‘He wanted to go home!’

However, that was clearly impossible.

If he didn’t reach the entrance within five minutes, and if Duan Yulan truly used a loudspeaker to call his name, the gossip mongers would hear it. The very next day, ‘legends’ about him would undoubtedly spread throughout the entire residential area.

‘He hoped Duan Yulan would be a bit more normal this time. That way, even if they were seen, it wouldn’t matter; he could just explain they were classmates.’

As Qiao Xia, filled with apprehension, arrived at the residential area entrance, his gaze immediately fell upon Duan Yulan, stylishly and beautifully dressed. Amidst the frequent, infatuated stares of passersby, she stood somewhat bored, a sizable speaker beside her, topped with a microphone.

‘Damn it, she was serious!’

As if sensing his presence, Duan Yulan quickly looked up. Upon seeing Qiao Xia, a radiant, flower-like smile bloomed unexpectedly on her beautiful face. She then darted towards him like a joyful bird.

“Qiao Xia, I knew it! I knew you’d come!”

Despite Qiao Xia’s every precaution, Duan Yulan bypassed his defenses, reaching out to wrap her arms around his waist with perfect precision, pulling him into an intimate embrace.

At that very moment, the neighborhood gossip group, walking beside Qiao Xia, collectively froze, stunned by the scene unfolding before them.

‘How could this quiet, reserved Qiao Xia have such a beautiful girlfriend?’

‘This wasn’t normal!’