Chapter 11

The next day, when Yun Zhuoqing got to school, she arrived just as Huo Jing was chatting with two girls outside the classroom.
Yun Zhuoqing’s gaze met Huo Jing’s head-on. He looked back just as calmly, maybe even flashed a quick smile her way, then refocused on the two girls in front of him, as if Yun Zhuoqing were just another classmate, nothing more.
He played it so cool that the girls didn’t suspect a thing. One of them blushed as Huo Jing leaned in, their faces close, his eyes warm, locking with hers.
The girl’s original purpose forgotten, she watched him draw closer, her mind spinning.
Huo Jing plucked a bit of willow fluff from her hair, holding it out to show her. “You had something on your head. I got it for you.”
The girl’s blush deepened, her heart pounding, and she stammered, “Th-thank you…”
By now, Yun Zhuoqing had taken her seat and pulled out her textbook.
Out of the corner of his eye, Huo Jing glanced back at her. But the girl, still dazed by his smile, suddenly remembered her bestie, and Huo Jing’s little gesture gave her some confidence: “Huo, Huo Jing, you and Senior Wen are close, right? Can you tell him not to break up with Lin? She really likes him, you know, she’s pretty shy, and it takes guts for a girl to chase after someone she likes…” She trailed off with a nervous look.
Not that she realized she was flirting in vain, Huo Jing barely listening. He just muttered, “Oh? That so?”
His voice was as low and smooth as ever, so the girl missed the inattention and launched into what sounded less like a mission for her friend, and more like a confession of her own: “And what about me, Huo Jing? Do you think… I’m okay?”
Lin Lin, aka Wen Shuran’s so-called “ex”, suddenly tugged her friend’s arm, yanking her right out of her emotional buildup. Lin Lin shot her a desperate look, silently urging her not to forget their plan. The girl, though clearly annoyed, had no choice but to help her bestie out: “Young Master Huo…”
“Your name’s Lin Lin?” As she’d hoped, Huo Jing’s attention swung to her, but her friend’s face twisted in disappointment.
Lin Lin, oblivious to this, beamed with surprise. “Yes! Did you hear about me from Shuran? Did he actually mention my name?”
Huo Jing smiled lightly. “He’s never been big on sharing that kind of stuff.”
Lin Lin’s grin faltered. “Yeah… figures.”
Huo Jing, clearly bored, didn’t plan to keep this going. He gave Lin Lin a small smile: “Wen Shuran just doesn’t have good taste. Why not… look around at someone else?” he said low, almost conspiratorial.
Lin Lin’s face went scarlet the moment the words sank in. Wait, wait, did that mean…?
Suddenly, the other girl pulled Lin Lin aside, ticked that Huo Jing was shamelessly flirting with someone right in front of her. But she knew she didn’t have the right to call him out. All she could do was say, stiffly, “Young Master Huo, we’ve got somewhere to be. See you next time.”
Without another word, she dragged a reluctant Lin Lin away.
Huo Jing watched them exit with little interest, then nonchalantly headed back to the classroom.
By now, Yun Zhuoqing was so lost in her notes that she didn’t even notice when Yue Hao knocked over her water bottle as he passed.
“S-sorry!” Yue Hao blurted, scrambling to pick it up and set it back in place. It was only then that Yun Zhuoqing looked up, meeting his flustered gaze with perfect calm. “Don’t worry about it,” she replied.
She immediately dipped her head again, resuming her work.
Yue Hao fled like he’d touched a hot stove, swallowing nervously as he turned his back on Yun Zhuoqing.
Huo Jing, meanwhile, lounged in his seat, chatting away as if nothing had happened.
Equestrian Club President’s office. Someone knocked, a person who definitely wasn’t supposed to be here.
Huo Jing didn’t even glance up. “Come in.”
“I never pegged you for a do-gooder, Huo Jing. I must have misjudged you.” The newcomer’s voice was all warmth and polished manners, but somehow still managed to drip with sly sarcasm.
If you looked at his friendly smile, you’d swear the undertone of mockery was just your imagination.
With a face that clean-cut, how could he possibly be passive-aggressive?
Huo Jing instantly clocked who it was. He put down his pen and shot him a lopsided smirk. “Well, well, Young Master Wen, back so soon? Shouldn’t you be off placating your parents instead of dropping by to see me?”
Anyone who knew Wen Shuran’s family story knew the drill. With control-freak parents, even the sweetest kid would get smothered into silence. Everyone avoided mentioning his family around him, for fear of stirring up old wounds.
But Huo Jing wasn’t “everyone.” He brought it up right to Wen Shuran’s face.
Wen Shuran didn’t mind, though; his tone stayed gentle. “Thanks to you, my ex has stopped pestering me. Really, you saved my life there.”
And with that girl finally done chasing after Wen Shuran, his parents had run out of ammo. Sure, they could lean on Wen Shuran himself, but they couldn’t exactly go force another girl to hang onto him forever. In the end, they had to give up.
Even though Wen Shuran knew the peace wouldn’t last, he had actually gotten a bit of breathing room for once.
After her falling out with her friend, Lin Lin’s reputation tanked, the friend aired all her dirty laundry, including how Lin Lin only latched onto Wen Shuran to spite Song Hanyue. With the whole class clued in, her guilt-tripping routine was over. What caught Wen Shuran’s attention was that, somehow, it had all started because of Huo Jing.
“Who knew you cared about me so much behind the scenes,” Wen Shuran said, the smile on his lips deepening in obvious delight.
Huo Jing shuddered dramatically, tossing his pen on the desk with a bang. “Alright, enough. You know I can’t stand your parents, they drive me up the wall. Just think of it as me being in a good mood and rescuing Cinderella for the day.”
Wen Shuran raised an eyebrow. “So you’re not expecting any reward from me?”
Huo Jing was ready to nod that off, but something clicked in his head. His drumming fingers went suddenly still on the desk.
Wen Shuran’s eyes glinted with mischief.
“Since you mention it…” Huo Jing dragged out the words. “There’s a new recruit in your club. Yun Zhuoqing, right? Do me a favor and send her my way.”
How Wen Shuran got it done was none of Huo Jing’s business, he just knew Wen Shuran was more than capable.
Huo Jing didn’t notice the fleeting shadow that crossed Wen Shuran’s eyes at the name, one blink, and it was gone, replaced by that lazy half-smile.
“You need me to set you up?” This time, Wen Shuran’s voice shifted just slightly from his earlier teasing, though Huo Jing didn’t pick up on it.
Huo Jing snorted. “She’s just a fun little thing, nothing serious. Don’t tell me I have to grovel and beg just to get a girl’s number?”
The truth? He’d gone out of his way to invite her himself, offering her perks most would kill for, and she’d turned him down flat.
Worse, she didn’t even seem to realize she’d snubbed him. She hadn’t said more than three words to him, ever.
Huo Jing wasn’t used to being ignored like that.
Wen Shuran smoothed his expression, giving nothing away. “I’ll see what I can do.”
He reached for the door, and Huo Jing couldn’t help reminding him, “Don’t forget to bring her over!”
Wen Shuran glanced back with a small, enigmatic smile, looked like a yes, then closed the door behind him.
Huo Jing let out a sigh of relief.
He never expected Wen Shuran to play games here. In their circle, Wen Shuran’s family had the worst reputation, thanks to his parents, but Wen Shuran himself was universally well-liked. Huo Jing, having seen the real him, just assumed he’d handle this simple favor, after all, why wouldn’t he?
In the empty hallway, Wen Shuran pulled out his phone and dialed a number he’d memorized only a few days ago.
“Hello.” The girl’s voice was calm on the other end.
“Is this Yun Zhuoqing?” Wen Shuran’s tone was soft, the smile reaching into his words. “It’s Wen Shuran, President of the Math Olympiad Club. We met a few days ago, remember?”
Yun Zhuoqing, on her way back to the dorm, paused in her tracks. She hesitated. “I thought today wasn’t a club meeting day?”
“It isn’t.” The boy’s voice was polite, all courtesy and no pressure. “I just have a… personal matter to discuss. Are you free?”
Yun Zhuoqing agreed, heading toward the Math Club room, only to run straight into a group who had zero reason to be there.
She saw Yue Hao at the front and frowned slightly.
Yue Hao visibly panicked, fumbling out, “I, I wasn’t following you! I broke your water bottle earlier, I just, wanted to repay you. I’ll get you a new one!”
And immediately wished he could smack himself, why did he make it sound like he was doing her a favor?
Yun Zhuoqing looked past him at the others and spoke, slow and cool: “Are you guys trying to sneak into the girls’ dorm?”
Yue Hao whipped around and realized his idol, Brother Chen, had been right behind him the whole time. Worst of all, he was the last to notice!
Chen Huo looked mortified and forced out an explanation: “Saw Yue Hao acting fishy, just wanted to check what he was up to. Wasn’t following you, never do anything that shady.” He hastily tried to clear his own name.
Yun Zhuoqing remembered what Yue Hao had said, but also recalled telling him it was fine.
She assumed he hadn’t heard her and repeated, “Really, it’s no big deal. You don’t owe me anything.”
She nodded at Chen Huo in greeting and slipped past the group to head into the math club room.
Leaving Chen Huo and Yue Hao standing there in deep awkwardness.
Finally, Chen Huo broke the silence. “Yue Hao, why the hell are you tailing her? What kind of creep are you?”
Yue Hao yelped, “Boss, why are you following me then? Who’s the real stalker here?”
Chen Huo scratched his nose and stayed quiet. He couldn’t exactly admit he’d been suspicious of Yue Hao following Yun Zhuoqing and had tailed him to ‘protect’ her.
He’d badmouthed Yun Zhuoqing behind her back to Huo Jing more times than he’d care to count. Even if she didn’t know, Chen Huo couldn’t help feeling a twinge of guilt inside.
Yun Zhuoqing pushed open the door. Wen Shuran wasn’t behind the desk, but reclining on the couch. He saw her, set down his phone with a smile, and waved her over. “We met a few days ago, remember?”
Yun Zhuoqing walked in. There weren’t any seats by the sofa; if she stood, Wen Shuran would have to look up at her. So she chose the farthest spot from him and sat down, nodding politely.
Wen Shuran wasn’t surprised by her choice. Meanwhile, his phone screen, still lit, showed a message from Huo Jing, a reminder not to forget their “deal.”
Wen Shuran’s smile never wavered as he spoke, “First, let me officially welcome you to the Math Olympiad Club.”
No hint of wanting to push her away.