four

However, being late has become an irreversible fact, and she had no choice but to walk to the back door, hoping to slip in unnoticed. Suddenly, a pair of hands rested on her shoulders, startling her into a stiffened posture. She turned around nervously and met Chen Yao's bleary eyes.

Jiang Ruoge gave him a disdainful glance and said, "I thought you actually understood."

Now, this person, who is on the same legendary level as Lin Xunyan, was sizing her up and asked with a smile: "So you are from Z University, how did you become a member of Lin Xunyan's support group?"

I must say, Chen Yao's smile really resembles that of a certain celebrity, so radiant that Jiang Ruoge found it somewhat dazzling

"Jiang Ruoge, that is quite a pleasant name," Chen Yao leaned closer to look at her literature appreciation book filled with annotations, "Do you have a strong interest in literature?"

Jiang Ruoge opened the book and replied without looking up: "Jiang Ruoge, 'jiang' as in ginger, 'ruo' as in 'the highest good is like water', 'ge' as in song."

To her surprise, as soon as she turned around, she met another pair of eyes filled with playful intrigue. If she remembered correctly, the boy in front of her, dressed in a jersey and casual pants, looking fresh, sunny, and handsome, was named Chen Yao

Jiang Ruoge nodded: "I like it, but I haven't done much research, it's limited to reading novels and writing love letters"

She just did not expect that trouble would come so quickly

Indeed, she has become accustomed to it. It is not that she lacks sorrow and indignation, nor is it that she does not wish to have a bit of backbone; it is simply that the duration of her oppression has been too long. She has grown accustomed to the mode of interaction with Lin Xunyan, and gradually forgotten how to resist.

She does not want to admit that she has never actually read them. Her understanding is limited to modern popular novels, and she only began to comprehend foreign literature after taking a literature appreciation course

In fact, Jiang Ruoge and Chen Yao were not taught by the same teacher for their literature appreciation class. However, due to the teacher of Jiang Ruoge's class taking an extended leave, her class was divided into two parts and placed into two other classes.

Jiang Ruoge paused

A letter to Lin Xunyan? Chen Yao precisely captured the essence of her words, and the smile at the corner of his mouth held a hint of significance

Lin Xunyan, you are truly a devil

Hearing such words, Jiang Ruoge merely raised an eyebrow calmly and glanced at him: "Thank you, but it may not be necessary."

Seeing Chen Yao's smile, Jiang Ruoge couldn't help but recall the time when she wore a rabbit ear headband and dressed in the so-called Lin Xunyan support team uniform, promoting on the campus of Z University. She immediately blushed, wishing she could dig a hole and hide in it

Jiang Ruoge felt a cold sweat break out on her back from his gaze, and she did not know how to clearly express her position.

Lin Xunyan rested his chin on his hand in contemplation: "Dreams and reality are opposites; from this perspective, my frequency of appearance should increase next."

She closed her eyes in pain and despair

Chen Yao was somewhat surprised to see Jiang Ruoge so calm and resolute in rejecting him, as typically a girl would glance at him a couple more times. Although he did not care much about such things, Jiang Ruoge's refusal brought him a sense of novelty, akin to a quiet butterfly suddenly mingling among a swarm of bothersome little bees

Chen Yao smiled again: "Hey, you are listening so attentively, do you know what the four great tragedies of Shakespeare are?"

He walked over to her, slightly bent down and looked into her eyes seriously: "Your eyesight seems fine, so why did you fall for Lin Xunyan? What a pity."

"What a coincidence, is this what they call fate?" Chen Yao's eyes and brows were filled with a smile

Jiang Ruoge nodded vigorously without hesitation: "Of course I accept, one hundred percent acceptance"

The taxi stopped at Gate Z, and Jiang Ruoge got out of the car

In fact, from a certain perspective, she truly wanted to nod in agreement with Chen Yao's words. However, upon recalling Lin Xunyan's insidious demeanor, she instinctively displayed a look of loyalty: "I just like the way he has poor character yet feels good about himself."

"... no, I am just helping him write." Jiang Ruoge paused slightly, then seemingly casually added, "I do not meet the standards of his girlfriend; I am merely a follower, helping him write love letters and running errands."

Jiang Ruoge immediately put on a serious expression: "Pay attention in class and do not speak nonsense"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud, her brows and eyes curving with delight. Her words fully expressed her dissatisfaction with Lin Xunyan, while also reflecting her loyalty. It was truly amusing, unlike those mere ornaments around Lin Xunyan.

Therefore, she did not hesitate to reject Chen Yao's very tempting advances. It is worth noting that Chen Yao's reputation is much better than Lin Xunyan's, and he is currently single with almost no gossip surrounding him. Compared to someone like Lin Xunyan, he could even be considered an angel.

As always, the slow-witted Jiang Ruoge did not notice anything and simply regarded Chen Yao as a very enthusiastic and easy-to-talk-to friend

She let out a deep sigh and marched in that direction. After she sat down, Chen Yao naturally took a seat beside her

Chen Yao looked at Jiang Ruoge, whose cheeks were puffed up in anger, and couldn't help but laugh. This girl really has no sense of caution at all; she believes whatever others say. To put it nicely, she is innocent; to put it bluntly, she is a bit simple-minded.

The answer is quite clear, of course not

Anyone can tell that this guy is joking, and she does not appreciate such jokes from others. She takes her feelings very seriously and does not like relationships that are merely casual. Therefore, perhaps it is because of this obsession that she has not been able to truly let go of Lin Xunyan until now

Molière's works are quite good as well, you must have seen "The Learned Ladies" right

The phrase "used to ... ..." seemed to float out of Jiang Ruoge's mouth, her voice very soft, lacking weight, and carrying a hint of helplessness

However, unexpectedly, Chen Yao tapped her on the head and said, "I was just joking, these are what the teacher wrote on the blackboard, I made them up randomly to ask you."

In fact, what I like the most is Gothic literature, where darkness and horror intertwine, seeking the truth in a shroud of mist. Have you read Ann Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho"?

Since that class, the interactions between Jiang Ruoge and Chen Yao gradually increased. During the literature appreciation class, he would occasionally arrive early to save a seat for her. The two would sometimes discuss literature and at other times gossip, and before they knew it, the class would pass quickly.

She sadly discovered that four years later, the heart she once thought had become silent because of him was still beating clearly and briskly

Jiang Ruoge entered the classroom with a crouched posture and found that the classroom was almost full, with only two seats left in the corner of the last row.

Jiang Ruoge glanced around with great vigilance and found that most of the boys sitting nearby were sleeping with their heads on the desks. She concluded that she was likely not in danger of being devoured by the girls. With this conclusion, she let out a slight sigh of relief, took out her textbook, and decided that if she couldn't hear the teacher's lecture, she would just casually read the book herself

They had met once before at the soup shop, and her impression of him was not deep; all her understanding was merely limited to a name that the girls from Z University had passed around. He was indeed handsome and alluring, but Jiang Ruoge knew that attractive creatures also represented a certain danger

Chen Yao looked at the series of vivid expressions on the face of the girl beside him with great interest and said, "Hey, I haven't asked you your name yet"

Lin Xunyan leaned against the window and looked at her: "Hey, Jiang Ruoge, if I gave you a chance right now, to never see me again starting tomorrow, would you gladly accept it?"

Hello, if you give up on Lin Xunyan, consider me; I will open my arms to you.

Jiang Ruoge made a "shh" gesture, cautiously peeking into the classroom, and said in a lowered voice: "This is not the time to greet, hurry up and go in."

Old Man Lin, please let me go...

Chen Yao furrowed her brows slightly and said, "Have you never considered that this is particularly unfair to you?"

Jiang Ruoge did not pay much attention to her chance encounter with Chen Yao. Perhaps for many girls, this would be a rare romantic encounter, but for her, it was a trouble she wished to avoid.

Jiang Ruoge almost wanted to dig a hole to bury herself; she was wondering how she had the audacity to say that she liked literature just now. It was simply a case of showing off in front of an expert.

On the afternoon of the second day, there was a literature appreciation class. Due to the fact that Xiaoxiao, the human alarm clock, had gone on a date, Jiang Ruoge overslept. When she woke up, there were only five minutes left until class. Thus, she sprang out of bed in a hurry, quickly changed her clothes, and rushed to the classroom.

Her wailing was ultimately drowned out by the sound of the taxi engine starting

Chen Yao rested his chin on his hand, his smile radiating a warmth akin to sunlight: "So, consider me, will you"

She has been asking herself whether, on this day four years ago or four years hence, she truly succumbed to his tyranny solely because of Lin Xunyan's threats