96. Chapter 96: Trap (2)

“Jia’er, can’t you at least stand on my side? Even if you won’t, please don’t pour fuel on the fire.”

“How am I doing that? Cousin is only looking out for you. Your parents handed you over to Uncle for your education, and Uncle handed you over to Cousin. So just listen to Cousin obediently and study hard, and then Cousin won’t keep bothering you.”

“So the two of you cousins are teaming up to bully me, is that it?”

“How could that be? You clearly lost the bet yourself.”

“Forget it. I’m not in the mood to eat. I’m leaving.”

Ji Niansheng got up at once, and the moment he stepped outside, he saw Qiao Xi. He jumped in surprise. “You—you’ve been standing here this whole time? What did you hear?”

She hadn’t heard anything she wasn’t meant to, had she? If she found out that Yu Fan had pursued her because of a bet with him...

“I just got here,” Qiao Xi said.

Ji Niansheng instantly relaxed. After all, this had been his fault first, using her as the stake in a wager.

“Ah, I still have something to do. I’m leaving first.” Feeling guilty, he slipped away.

Their voices had also reached the two inside. Xu Jia’er came over with a friendly smile. “Sister Xi, you’re here. Come on in.”

Qiao Xi nodded and walked inside.

“Back already?” Yu Fan looked at her.

“Mm.” Qiao Xi answered, her expression still calm and unreadable.

Xu Jia’er’s gaze moved back and forth between them, envy written all over her face. “You two look so perfect together. I’m starting to feel like a light bulb here. I think I’d better go eat outside.”

Yu Fan knew she only wanted to leave because Ou Ya wasn’t here, so he said nothing.

He knew Ou Ya had come to class today. Though he hadn’t seen him yet, he wasn’t worried.

Ou Ya was very good at keeping his emotions hidden. Since he had come back to school for class, that meant he had already adjusted himself. Yu Fan didn’t think anything about their future interactions would feel awkward.

Once Xu Jia’er was gone, only Yu Fan and Qiao Xi remained.

With no one else around, Qiao Xi no longer needed to keep up the act.

“I heard everything just now,” she said directly. “Ji Niansheng has admitted defeat, so my cooperation ends here.”

“Let’s eat first,” Yu Fan said.

“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Qiao Xi had no intention of continuing this entanglement with him. She meant to make things clear in one go. “I’ve finished playing my part. From now on, you and I are even.”

“It was even to begin with,” Yu Fan said, his tone neither light nor heavy, his expression as cool and indifferent as ever.

Yet that familiar tone and expression only made Qiao Xi frown. She said nothing.

He went on, “Now everyone knows we’re dating. Do you really think you can say it’s over and have it be over?”

That was exactly what Qiao Xi had feared most. Back when she had agreed to help him, it had been because she knew he was not easy to deal with. Whether it was his family background or his skill, she was no match for him, and she didn’t want trouble. So she had chosen to cooperate, thinking that once it was all over, he would stop pestering her.

What she had feared most was that he would refuse to let go after she had done her part. She hadn’t expected that her worst concern might still come true.

“Say whatever you want. In any case, my cooperation ends here.” Her attitude remained unchanged. She turned and left without hesitation.

But Yu Fan caught her hand.

She had actually been on guard, but he moved too fast and too precisely. In the end, she still failed to dodge him.

“What are you doing?” she asked, still calm.

“You’re my girlfriend now. What do you think I want to do?” Yu Fan asked in return, a faint smile brushing the corner of his lips.