Chapter 33: The Decisive Hu Yujie

Because it was the last day, a sense of parting melancholy permeated the classroom to varying degrees.

The student yearbooks that had been popular in junior high a few years ago had suddenly become trendy again. Students were holding their yearbooks, moving from person to person to find their close friends.

As for Wang Donglai, he was receiving one yearbook after another, his pen never stopping.

In truth, Wang Donglai didn't see much necessity in these gaudy yearbooks.

However, faced with the many classmates approaching him, he showed no sign of reluctance, picking up his pen to leave his information and blessings in their books.

While writing for these classmates, Wang Donglai’s thoughts drifted to his past life.

Class 14 hadn't possessed such a strong sense of class cohesion; there was no class group chat. After graduation, everyone would scatter like sand.

There hadn't even been yearbooks. Perhaps that wasn't quite accurate—maybe there were yearbooks, but no one had bothered to seek out an isolated, ordinary student like Wang Donglai.

Just as it was now, Wang Donglai could see that some of the quieter classmates were not participating in this feast of farewells.

No one went to them to write in their yearbooks, making it seem as if they hadn't been classmates for two years at all.

If not for his memories, Wang Donglai wouldn't have been able to recognize all of his classmates.

Time passed quickly.

After finishing the yearbooks, Wang Donglai did not return to the dormitory; instead, he walked out of the school gates with Chen Mengni.

...

After eating, Chen Mengni returned to her home.

Wang Donglai, meanwhile, walked slowly back toward the school alone.

Entering the campus, Wang Donglai looked at the school where he had spent three years, his eyes filled with a hint of nostalgia.

He wandered around, taking a stroll to both relax his mind and aid his digestion.

It was just as Wang Donglai reached the back of the teaching building.

A person who came as a surprise appeared before him and blocked his path.

Seeing the newcomer, Wang Donglai frowned, a trace of displeasure in his gaze.

"You... Hu Yujie... what are you...?"

The person was none other than Hu Yujie, with whom Wang Donglai had previously had a conflict. At this moment, she was wearing a red spaghetti-strap A-line skirt, her face adorned with light makeup and her lips painted a fresh, bright red. Her original appearance, which was perhaps a five or six out of ten, had instantly soared to a seven or eight after this makeover.

Being young, her face was full of collagen, and combined with the natural innocence of a student and this slightly seductive A-line skirt, she was truly eye-catching.

If not for her highly recognizable face, Wang Donglai might not have recognized her immediately.

"Wang Donglai, I wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you that day. I've been reflecting and repenting these past few days; I really shouldn't have slandered you like that."

"We are classmates; it was truly wrong of me to speak to you that way. I've been looking for an opportunity to properly express my apologies, but I just haven't had the chance."

"Can you forgive me?"

As Hu Yujie spoke, her large eyes blinked, and her sockets filled with tears, making her look quite pitiable.

"Fine, it's in the past. You don't need to keep reflecting or repenting; there's no need."

Wang Donglai's brow did not relax, nor was he deceived by Hu Yujie's pitiable act.

Hearing his words, Hu Yujie bit her lower lip, her expression showing a hint of fragility, yet her eyes remained fixed on him as she said, "I know you must still be angry. My coming to apologize this time is sincere."

As she spoke, Hu Yujie bowed deeply to him in apology.

The neckline of the red skirt, which already exposed her pale neck, instantly revealed more of her figure.

Hu Yujie remained bent over like that for two or three seconds, seemingly completely unaware that she had exposed herself.

The moment Wang Donglai saw that flash of white, he turned his head away, his frown deepening.

In an instant, he seemed to understand Hu Yujie's intentions.

However, Wang Donglai did not intend to leave just yet; he wanted to see what other tactics Hu Yujie had up her sleeve.

"This isn't right. Stand up straight and talk!"

Hearing his words, Hu Yujie lowered her head, a faint smile curling at the corners of her mouth, her eyes showing a hint of contempt.

But the moment she raised her head, her expression shifted entirely.

"Wang Donglai, have you forgiven me?"

As she spoke, Hu Yujie took two proactive steps toward him, stopping less than a step away.

The fragrance from her body instantly reached Wang Donglai's nose.

"Just say what you want to say directly. If you don't, I'm leaving."

Wang Donglai did not engage with her words but instead issued an ultimatum.

A flash of panic crossed Hu Yujie's eyes. She instinctively glanced around, and finding no one nearby, she breathed a soft sigh of relief, her gaze turning determined.

Taking a step forward, Hu Yujie grabbed Wang Donglai's hand and pressed it against her chest.

"Wang Donglai, I want to be your girlfriend. What do you think?"

As she spoke, Hu Yujie pressed his hand firmly against her.

Wang Donglai's scalp tingled; he never imagined Hu Yujie would do something like this.

After an involuntary squeeze, he realized what was happening, jerked his hand away, and retreated two steps before looking at her with a serious face.

"What is the meaning of this?"

In truth, Wang Donglai had roughly grasped her intentions, but he couldn't believe such a thing was actually happening.

He was both shocked by her audacity and confused by her motive.

Watching Wang Donglai's flustered movements and feeling the sensation from her chest, Hu Yujie laughed.

It had to be said that with her decent looks and this outfit, Hu Yujie was indeed quite attractive.

"I'm serious. I want to be your girlfriend. Is that okay?"

As she spoke, Hu Yujie prepared to step forward again to wrap her arms around his.

"Stop. I'll give you one more chance. Tell me your true purpose, or I'm turning around and walking away!"

Wang Donglai took a half-step back, looking at her with extreme seriousness.

Sensing that Wang Donglai was not joking, Hu Yujie stood her ground, stomped her foot, and said with a mix of bashfulness and boldness, "I really do want to be your girlfriend. You have the best grades in our class, and I think you'll definitely make something of yourself in the future, so I don't want to let you go."

"Oh."

With a flat reply, Wang Donglai turned to leave without a hint of hesitation.

Seeing him turn away so decisively, a flash of panic crossed Hu Yujie's eyes, and she hurriedly blocked his path again.

"One last time: state your purpose!"

Wang Donglai's expression was stern, his eyes looking at her with profound calmness.

Hu Yujie could tell that Wang Donglai was being serious and not joking; her expression shifted slightly.

"I'm serious, I want to be your girlfriend. You just have to do me a tiny favor. Really, just a tiny favor."

Fearing that Wang Donglai would lose patience and leave again, she stammered out her true intention.

"What favor?"

Wang Donglai frowned. An answer had already surfaced in his mind, but he waited for her to say it.

"We are in the same exam hall. You are in seat number 10, and I am in seat number 4, just behind and to your side. When the exam starts, just tilt your paper slightly toward me. I have good eyesight and can see it. I promise I won't make it too difficult for you; just a slight tilt is enough."

As Hu Yujie spoke cautiously, she stared intently at the change in Wang Donglai's expression.

"So that's your idea. Interesting!"

Although Wang Donglai had guessed it, he couldn't help but feel a sense of astonishment when she actually said it.

How decisive!

He suspected that after he had mentioned his exam hall and seat number in class, Hu Yujie had overheard and immediately thought of this.

Thus, she changed her clothes and cornered him here.

She used the excuse of wanting to be his girlfriend to confuse him, and then boldly grabbed his hand to prove her "sincerity."

It was a series of interlocking layers, perfectly seamless.

Having figured it out, Wang Donglai couldn't help but admire Hu Yujie's decisiveness and intelligence.

The Gaokao was so important—the exam that decided one's fate.

If there was even a sliver of a chance, she was willing to act immediately to seize it, even putting up her greatest bargaining chip.

Such tactics were something even adults in society might struggle to execute.

While Wang Donglai was inwardly marveling at Hu Yujie's decisiveness and keen insight, Hu Yujie assumed he was simply moved and feeling shy.

A hint of triumph flashed in her eyes. She stepped forward, grabbed his hand again, and clung to his arm tightly.

This action snapped Wang Donglai back to reality.

Ignoring the softness of her touch, he forcefully pulled his hand away and shook his head at her. "Impossible. Give up on this idea!"

His words were firm, leaving no room for negotiation, and his expression was incredibly grave.

Hu Yujie's heart sank, but she was not about to give up easily.

She forced a smile, pretending to be sweet and charming, and said, "If you just help me this once, I'll be your girlfriend. You can do whatever you want."

Her words were vague, but combined with the seductive look in her eyes, they were full of suggestive meaning.

"Find someone else!"

With that, Wang Donglai prepared to leave.

Seeing this, Hu Yujie grew desperate.

"Wang Donglai, I'm serious! As long as you agree, I'll agree to anything. I can stay with you tonight, I can learn anything, I can do anything... I can do it for the next two days."

"As long as you're willing to help me, after the exams, I'm yours."

Discarding all sense of shame, Hu Yujie laid out all her biggest chips at once.

"There's really no need for this. No matter what you say, I won't agree. You'd be better off using this time to study."

Without looking back, Wang Donglai walked straight away.

Watching him leave, Hu Yujie's expression was one of utter disappointment, and she stood there dazed for a long time.