165: That's ridiculous - 1

Gu Yanchen took a deep breath, struggling for half a second between his 'arrogant persona' and 'devoted persona', ultimately choosing the former.

He forced a calm, breezy smile, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a harmless little joke, and nodded slightly at Ye Cheng:

"Sorry, it seems I was too abrupt. My apologies for disturbing you."

After saying this, surrounded by Li Han and others, he quickly left the scene that had made him so embarrassed he could dig his toes into the ground.

With the protagonist leaving dejectedly, the onlookers, seeing there was no more drama to watch, gradually dispersed while excitedly discussing the earlier reversal.

Ye Cheng watched Gu Yanchen's slightly disheveled back, snorted softly, walked over to Xiaomi, and handed over her backpack:

"Xiaomi, could you take my bag back to the dorm first? I need to handle some 'family matters'."

Xiaomi took the backpack, glanced sympathetically at Jiang Ye, suppressed a laugh, and whispered:

"Cheng Cheng, your boyfriend... is really interesting. I'll head back now then."

After saying this, she quickly slipped away, afraid of getting caught up in this 'family matter'.

Only then did Ye Cheng turn her gaze to Jiang Ye, who was looking annoyed as he tossed the short banner into the trash can.

"Helpful passerby? Pioneer of self-cuckolding? Classmate Jiang Ye, your level is impressive, helping others chase your own girlfriend—how generous of you!"

Jiang Ye rolled his eyes helplessly and retorted irritably:

"How was I supposed to know they were chasing you! They didn't mention your name! I was just a passerby minding my own business, and suddenly got handed props for no reason!"

"Hmph, you were involved anyway!"

Ye Cheng snorted again, walked over, and linked arms with him: "Let's go, don't just stand here being a spectacle. I'll show you around our school."

As she said this, she pulled him away from the entrance of the Comprehensive Building and walked along a snow-covered stone path deeper into the campus.

The lazy afternoon winter sun shone on them, the campus was quiet, with only the occasional student carrying a violin case hurrying past.

After walking some distance, away from the earlier commotion, Jiang Ye smacked his lips and asked casually:

"By the way, that Gu Yanchen... what's the deal? Seems pretty flashy, huh?"

Hearing this seemingly casual but actually jealous question, Ye Cheng smiled inwardly, deliberately let go of his arm, quickened her pace, and said lightly:

"Oh, him? He's just a classmate at our school. Looks-wise... he is quite handsome, and his family seems pretty wealthy too. He's a well-known 'Heartthrob' on campus, with lots of Girls secretly crushing on him."

Jiang Ye said "Oh," stroked his chin, and fell silent.

Ye Cheng waited a few seconds without a follow-up, couldn't help but turn to look at him:

"Huh? Why aren't you asking more? Don't you have anything else you want to know?"

"Girl, your trick is too obvious."

Jiang Ye raised a finger and shook it with feigned profundity: "Asking this much is just right—can't ask any more."

"What do you mean 'just right'?"

"If I ask more, it'll make me seem petty and distrustful; but if I don't ask at all, it'll seem like I don't value you or care that you're being pursued. So... I'm clever! This is just right!"

"..."

Ye Cheng's breath hitched, almost getting tangled up in this powerful logic.

What jealousy! She was overthinking it! This guy is just a devil, isn't he?!

She glared at Jiang Ye irritably: "So then? Why did you suddenly come to our school today? Don't tell me you were just bored and came to play helpful passerby."

Just as Jiang Ye was about to speak, Ye Cheng seemed to suddenly remember something and quickly added:

"Oh, and I should declare in advance—I'm on my Period! So... that thing is off the table! Don't even think about it!"

"...Huh?"

Jiang Ye immediately raised an eyebrow, his face full of 'heartache':

"Classmate Ye Cheng! That's too hurtful! Am I the kind of person who only has that on my mind? I came today with the purest of intentions! How could you think of me like that? It pains me so much!"

He grew more 'agitated' as he spoke, finally making a 'difficult' decision:

"To punish you for not trusting me, I've decided—you're not allowed to contact me for a week! We need to cool off! After a week, we'll see how we feel! Goodbye!"

After saying this, Jiang Ye, looking 'indignant', swung his backpack stylishly, turned, and walked away with determined steps.

Ye Cheng: "..."

After walking seven or eight steps, Jiang Ye smiled smugly to himself.

Though it's a cheesy move, classics never die!

First pretend to leave angrily, then when Ye Cheng gets a bit flustered, suddenly turn back, show a warm smile, and say, 'Silly, I was just joking. How could I bear to ignore you? I just missed you and came to see you.' Then take her out for something nourishing in the evening to show my meticulous care.

With that kind of contrast, wouldn't Ye Cheng be moved to tears and throw herself into my arms?

Jiang Ye happily plotted in his mind, feeling his flirting skills had reached new heights.

He turned back with a smile, about to step back, but suddenly froze in place... Huh?

Where's Ye Cheng?

Jiang Ye quickly looked around and realized Ye Cheng wasn't standing there as he'd expected, watching his retreating back with a pitiful look.

On the contrary, she was walking quickly back the way they came, head down, almost breaking into a run—even faster than when he'd left.

Jiang Ye: "???"

What the hell? What's going on?

Such an obvious joke, such a cheesy move—she couldn't really believe it, could she? That doesn't make sense!

He hurriedly ran a few steps to catch up, grabbing Ye Cheng's arm:

"Hey! Student Xiao Ye! I was joking! Are you really mad?"

Ye Cheng forcefully shook off his hand, kept her head down, and continued walking without slowing.

Jiang Ye tried again, got shaken off again, tried once more and was shaken off again, fully verifying the truth that 'an angry girlfriend is harder to hold down than a pig at New Year'.

"Seriously, Cheng Cheng? I was joking! You believe such a cheesy move?"

"You say it's a joke, so it is? I think you meant every word! In your eyes, coming to see me is all about that one thing!"

"What are you talking about! It really was a joke. I just missed you and came to see you, nothing else. Don't overthink it!"

Ye Cheng finally stopped, looked up at him, her eyes full of grievance and disappointment:

"I've been stressed with finals lately, not in a good mood, and then you say that—what am I supposed to think? It seems you don't really care about me. All you think about now... is those two women at home! Living together day in and day out..."

Jiang Ye: "..."

Looking at his girlfriend and 'Top Salesperson's' furrowed brow and resentful gaze, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Damn, she's really in a mood!

Is the 'Period' debuff that powerful? Did it trigger 'roommate insecurity' too?

He sighed helplessly: "Cheng Cheng, how can you say that? There's nothing between me and them—how could my feelings for them compare to yours? You're just being needlessly jealous..."

Ye Cheng glanced at Jiang Ye's expression, laughing inwardly, but on the surface sighed softly, her tone becoming low and 'understanding':

"Sigh... forget it. Maybe I am too sensitive. After all, they live under the same roof with you, see you every day, can look out for each other—it's normal for feelings to grow slowly. I... I barely see you a few times in half a month, sigh..."

Jiang Ye looked at the woman who'd instantly turned into a 'neglected wife', utterly amused:

"Cheng Cheng, how you talk... you..."

"Me what?"

Ye Cheng raised an eyebrow, her eyes slightly brightening, and waved to cut him off: "Want to say I'm the most important? Then prove it to me."

Jiang Ye was taken aback, seeing the flicker of amusement in her eyes, immediately grew wary, and asked suspiciously: "How do I prove it?"

Ye Cheng took out her phone, tapped a few times quickly, and sent the photo she'd taken earlier of 'Jiang Ye's heartfelt confession' to his WeChat:

"Here, post this photo on your Moments. For the caption, just use what was on the banner... 'Ye Cheng, wherever I look, my eyes are full of you.' Post it, and I'll believe you!"

Jiang Ye: "..."

Ye Cheng watched his instantly raised eyebrow and blinked: "..."

"Cheng Cheng..."

Jiang Ye expressionlessly put away his phone: "By the way... don't you still owe me ten foot massages? That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Ye Cheng: "..."

Her expression immediately changed, and she also put away her phone, cleared her throat, and instantly switched topics:

"Ahem... well, anyway, you said earlier... you came specifically to see me. What for, exactly?"

"..."

"..."

Their eyes met, a faint trace of awkwardness floating in the air.

They both coughed nonchalantly at the same time, very tacit agreemently continued walking along the path, the atmosphere instantly returning to 'harmony', as if that earlier conversation had never happened.