142: I knew Lu Chen liked me!

Gu Xiaoxiao bit her silver teeth, her tender lips turning slightly pale from the pressure, her eyes filled with unwillingness.

She forcefully threw down the flower, now just a stem, that remained in her hand, then angrily stomped on it with her foot, huffing, "This doesn't count either!"

Immediately after, she decisively pulled out another flower, her gaze filled with a desperate resolve.

Her hands trembled slightly, and she picked the petals faster and faster, muttering incessantly, her voice quivering slightly with excitement.

However, misfortune struck again; the result this time was still, "Lu Chen doesn't like me."

Gu Xiaoxiao finally couldn't hold back and nearly broke down.

She gritted her teeth, vigorously raking her hands through her hair, instantly turning her once smooth locks into a tangled mess.

She let out a frustrated cry, her voice full of vexation and helplessness.

"How can this be! Why, why, why?!"

Gu Xiaoxiao's delicate cheeks were flushed crimson with Life Qi, and her eyes shimmered with tears.

She was like a trapped little beast, struggling desperately in a cage of love and entanglement, yet unable to find an exit.

Gu Xiaoxiao's gaze slowly fell upon the last flower in the vase, her eyes filled with conflict and struggle.

Her tender lips gently pressed together, and her outstretched hand trembled slightly, carrying a hint of hesitation.

A strong sense of unease suddenly welled up in her heart. What if the result of this last flower was still, "Lu Chen doesn't like me"?

Gu Xiaoxiao's tender fingertips hovered near the flower branch, each approach requiring immense courage.

After much deliberation, a flicker of determination appeared in Gu Xiaoxiao's eyes.

Biting her silver teeth, that stubborn streak returned, bringing with it a sense of burning bridges and going all out.

She resolutely picked up that last flower.

Gu Xiaoxiao's movements were slow and heavy, as if she were performing a destiny-deciding ritual.

Each petal she plucked seemed to drain all her strength, and her breathing became increasingly heavy.

Her eyes were fixed on the flower in her hand, the tension and anticipation in her gaze almost overflowing.

As the petals gradually diminished, Gu Xiaoxiao's movements became slower and slower, each one cautious, as if time itself had frozen at that moment.

Her lips trembled slightly, and she continued to murmur softly, her voice almost inaudible: "He must like me, he must like me..."

Finally,

When she saw the few remaining petals, Gu Xiaoxiao's eyes instantly lit up, like stars twinkling in the night sky.

Her eyes were full of surprise and disbelief, because this time, she had finally plucked to "Lu Chen likes me"!

Gu Xiaoxiao paused, as if she hadn't yet recovered from the sudden joy.

Immediately after, a brilliant smile bloomed on her face, a smile as bright and captivating as flowers blossoming in spring.

The corners of her mouth curved high, revealing a row of neat, white teeth, and her eyes formed crescent moons, still carrying the tears from her earlier excitement, which now made her appear even more delicate and charming.

Gu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but cheer, her voice clear and loud, echoing through the small rented room: "I knew Lu Chen liked me!"

As she cheered, she stood up, waving the flower stem with its single remaining petal in the air, like a joyful little bird.

She spun lightly, her fitted jeans and white T-shirt fluttering with her movements, her laughter filling the entire room, dispelling all the previous gloom and worries.

And just as Gu Xiaoxiao was cheering, the door lock suddenly made a twisting sound.

Immediately after, the door slowly opened, and Zhao Jiaqi, returning from work, walked in.

As soon as she entered, she was stunned by the sight before her.

The floor was a mess, colorful petals scattered everywhere, like a garden ravaged by a storm.

Looking at Gu Xiaoxiao, she was cheering with a beaming smile, looking utterly ecstatic.

Zhao Jiaqi stood rooted to the spot, her eyes wide, her mouth involuntarily agape, a look of utter astonishment on her face.

She stared blankly at Gu Xiaoxiao, and it was a while before she came back to her senses, stammering:

"Gu Xiaoxiao, what... what's wrong with you? What kind of fit are you throwing? You didn't go to one concert and go crazy, did you?"

Upon hearing Zhao Jiaqi's voice, Gu Xiaoxiao froze instantly, as if under a spell, her movements abruptly stopping.

Immediately, her complexion rapidly turned incredibly rosy at a visible speed, the blush spreading from her cheeks all the way to her earlobes, like a perfectly ripe red apple.

She frantically turned her head to look at Zhao Jiaqi, stammering, "When... when did you get back?"

Zhao Jiaqi's mouth twitched slightly, her face full of helplessness, and she retorted irritably, "I've been in for ages!"

Hearing this, Gu Xiaoxiao's face became even redder.

Only then did she realize that she had been too excited earlier, so much so that she hadn't noticed Zhao Jiaqi entering at all.

Zhao Jiaqi skillfully locked the door, casually placed the items in her hand on a nearby cabinet, and then unhurriedly changed her shoes.

She clapped her hands, as if dusting off non-existent dust, then turned to Gu Xiaoxiao, a hint of curiosity and teasing on her face, and said,

"Tell me, what exactly happened? Going to a concert got you this excited. Did Lu Chen confess to you?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaiao's face, which had been brimming with excitement, instantly dimmed, like a lamp suddenly blown out.

Her shoulders slumped slightly, and all her spirit seemed to have been drained from her.

She sighed softly, and with heavy steps, she sat back down on the sofa, curling up in a corner, her face full of dejection.

Zhao Jiaqi looked at Gu Xiaoxiao's appearance, her eyes widened even further, her face filled with confusion and incomprehension, and she pressed again,

"What exactly is wrong? One moment you're sighing, the next you're as excited as a rabbit."

Gu Xiaoxiao gently shook her head, her hair swaying with her movement, and her voice carried a hint of fatigue and helplessness.

"This matter is very complicated... Never mind, I won't talk about it."

Zhao Jiaqi looked at Gu Xiaoxiao like this, her mouth twitched slightly again, as if she was very speechless at Gu Xiaoxiao's hesitant attitude.

Just as she was about to ask something else,

At that moment, there was a crisp knock on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock," the sound was particularly abrupt in the slightly quiet room.

The two women exchanged glances in unison, a flicker of surprise in both their eyes.

Who could it be at this time?

This question simultaneously popped into both their minds.

Could it be... Lu Chen!?

When this thought emerged in Gu Xiaoxiao's mind, her eyes once again sparkled with light.

She quickly stood up and, under Zhao Jiaqi's astonished gaze, walked to the door as if reborn!