01

"Stop it!" Ding Xiaoxiao broke free from her embrace and took a step back, "Don't play the sympathy card here! I am getting married!"

Mo Yuran let out a cold laugh: "Junior, isn't it important to have a sense of order in everything we do? Are you planning to seize love by force?"

Hmm? He turned around and saw Yan Sitong's somewhat troubled expression

Su Beichen wore a puzzled expression, completely unaware of what had transpired. His mind felt like it was tangled in a mess, and he could no longer continue with the experiment, having no choice but to abandon it

"Hey, if you're going to reject me, just be straightforward about it, okay? When you suddenly look so worried about me, I might think you've fallen in love with me. I'm fine, it's just a rejection of a confession, what's the big deal?" Yan Sitong wanted to be stubborn a little longer, but she found herself unable to hold on. After laughing twice, she turned and ran away. Her steps were quick, as if there were floods and ferocious beasts chasing her from behind.

Mo Yuran, who was behind him, cried pitifully. He strode away without a hint of hesitation. If he were to turn back now to offer comfort, it would be nothing but hypocrisy

Upon seeing the situation, Ding Xiaoxiao immediately found an excuse to leave. Before she departed, Su Beichen handed her an umbrella and said: "Tang Ziye asked me to give this to you"

I did not mean to compete with my senior; I simply want to pursue the person I like. Love has never been something that can be fought for or snatched away. Yan Sitong pulled Ding Xiaoxiao and walked around Mo Yuran to leave. After taking a few steps, she turned back and added, I finally understand why, after three years, Su Beichen still does not like you

Yan Sitong wondered when she had actually started to like Su Beichen. Clearly, they had always been arguing, well, it was her who was unilaterally arguing. They had never shared moments filled with pink bubbles, nor had they ever been ambiguous with each other, so how had she come to like him

Mo Yuran chuckled lightly: "I have something to say to Tongtong"

"Ah? Su Beichen rejected you?" Ding Xiaoxiao took a step back, looking at Yan Sitong's current state, and asked uncertainly, "Is it because you were rejected that you are being melodramatic and crying in the rain?"

Mo Yuran knew that if she were to ask the three words "why" at this moment, it would be self-degrading, so she forcibly swallowed those three words back down

Whether he likes me is his matter, whether I like him is my matter. Regardless of whether it is his matter or mine, this has nothing to do with the senior, right? Or does the senior think that after liking him for three years, she can consider herself as his girlfriend? No, feelings cannot be forced, and love is not about you liking him and him having to like you in return; it requires mutuality. Su Beichen is single, and even if he does not like me, I have the right to pursue him just like the senior does. No, feelings cannot be forced, and love is not about you liking him and him having to like you in return; it requires mutuality. Su Beichen is single, and even if he does not like me, I have the right to pursue him just like the senior does. If the senior is chatting with me today to make me withdraw, then I am sorry.

He stood there in a daze, his face reflecting a sense of utter disbelief

Ding Xiaoxiao wanted to refute further but was interrupted by Yan Sitong: "Senior, I believe that liking the same boy is not directly related to how well we know each other. Perhaps you have listened to too many debates and your mind has become muddled, to the point where you have lost even the most basic logical thinking ability."

"Where have you been?" After Ding Xiaoxiao returned to the dormitory, Yan Sitong had already finished her shower and changed her clothes.

Upon exiting the classroom, Yan Sitong was taken aback. She did not expect Su Beichen to be standing at the classroom door, appearing as if he had just arrived, yet she was uncertain about how much he had actually heard. The two of them stared at each other, neither saying a word.

After the match concluded, Su Beichen packed his belongings and left. Yan Sitong wanted to catch up and say a few words to him, but suddenly, Mo Yuran appeared in front of her, blocking her path

A torrential downpour began, and Yan Sitong sat on the stone bench in the corridor. The raindrops were heavy, and she could not completely avoid them. A gust of wind blew by, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.

Is that so? I thought we were already close enough, close enough to even like the same boy. The others have already left, leaving only the three of them. Mo Yuran no longer felt the need to pretend, her smile growing increasingly cold.

Mo Yuran may not have anticipated that Yan Sitong would say such a thing, and her expression stiffened for a moment. The weather is very sultry, and the weather forecast predicts a heavy downpour tonight. Outside, the sky is overcast, as if it could start pouring rain at any moment. The auditorium is dim, resembling the evening. Three girls, each with a different style, stand facing each other, their expressions hidden in the shadows of the dark clouds, not very apparent.

"You..." Mo Yuran's face flushed with anger, her voice somewhat sharp, "Beichen has not agreed to me because he is currently busy with many things. After graduation, we will naturally be together. Yan Sitong, do you think he would like you? Don't dream about it."

The war among women is perilous, and Tang Ziye casually fabricated an excuse to escape. Ding Xiaoxiao glanced sideways at Mo Yuran and said in a nonchalant tone: "Senior, do you have something to say to us?"

"Marry someone? Are you marrying Tang Ziye?" Yan Sitong asked with a smile

Before him lay a variety of reagents and bottles, and turning his head, he saw various skeletons and anatomical diagrams. Su Beichen returned here, hoping to calm his mind and complete the experiment at hand, but he found it impossible to settle down. The scenes flashing before his eyes were of Yan Sitong's smile as she left, which was somewhat different from her usual self.

Yan Sitong: "If it is valuable, I might sell a little bit as well; who knows, we could become China's Bill Gates."

That kid Tang Ziye must have done it on purpose! Yan Sitong and Ding Xiaoxiao thought simultaneously, truly enjoying the spectacle without fear of trouble, he actually called Su Beichen to come and see the "Shura Field"

The heavy rain came quickly and left just as fast. Although she sheltered from the rain under the corridor, by the time she returned to the dormitory, Yan Sitong's clothes were still more than half wet. Coupled with the fact that she had cried earlier, she looked quite disheveled and pitiful, which startled Ding Xiaoxiao.

Su Beichen emerged from the auditorium and wandered for a while before spotting Yan Sitong sitting beneath the corridor. Seeing that she was fine, he felt a bit relieved and turned to walk into the rain curtain. The experiment in the laboratory was only halfway done, and he needed to hurry back to complete it

Ding Xiaoxiao's face was slightly flushed, but she still firmly said, "How could I possibly marry that disordered narcissist? You are overthinking it."

After a few peals of thunder, the rain finally began to fall. Su Beichen frowned upon hearing the thunder and was about to leave when Mo Yuran walked out of the auditorium. She stood behind him and softly asked, "Did you refuse Yan Sitong because of me?"

"Xiaoxiao, you are truly kind to me," Yan Sitong said as she stepped forward to embrace Ding Xiaoxiao

When she first came out, she thought about standing in the rain like those heartbroken girls in stories, letting the rain wash away her tears. However, it was merely a thought; upon considering that she might catch a cold and develop a fever, and that she would embarrassingly have a runny nose, she gave up on the idea

Ding Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes, knowing that Yan Sitong was not someone who could easily let go of things. There was no need for her to say more than necessary, nor could she say much. Matters of the heart are like this; even the best of friends cannot provide complete advice. Often, one can only rely on oneself to gain insight.

Ding Xiaoxiao: "It's so cheesy that goosebumps could be sold by the pound"

At this moment, Ding Xiaoxiao had already left, leaving only the two of them.

If she wants to understand Ding Xiaoxiao's mood better, she can just observe her face. Yan Sitong did not expose her but simply smiled and said: "Xiaoxiao, it is truly wonderful to have you around"

I am sorry, "Su Beichen said

It is said in exaggeration that Su Beichen has been confessed to since childhood; he has seen all kinds of grand gestures. However, when Yan Sitong timidly uttered those words, he was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for how to respond

In the second match, the "One Two Three Team" won again. During Su Beichen's presentation at the end, Yan Sitong kept glancing at him subtly. Dressed in a simple T-shirt paired with jeans, and sporting a very untrendy buzz cut, how could he still be so handsome

"It is going to rain, I will head back first, you all should hurry up too," said Su Beichen as he intended to leave

"I am still gazing at the forty-five degrees of sorrow!" Yan Sitong shot her a glance, turned around, and rummaged through the closet for clothes. "I will go take a shower first; don't overthink it, I am fine." With that, she slipped into the bathroom

Su Beichen said ... ... I am sorry

Because of this issue, she was troubled for a long time, but later she came to understand that liking someone is simply liking them; there are not so many reasons behind it

Emotions, indeed, are quite troublesome

While Mo Yuran was in a daze, Ding Xiaoxiao interjected, "Senior, are you teaching us that in a romantic relationship we should also respect our elders? But I remember that basic morality states we should respect our elders and love the young. Before you ask us to respect our elders, shouldn't we first learn to love the young?"

After a few minutes, Ding Xiaoxiao stood in front of Su Beichen. She looked at him as if he were an enemy, wanting very much to punch him in the face. However, thinking that Yan Sitong might feel hurt, she clenched and then relaxed her fist. She stared at him fiercely for a long time, and after her eyes began to hurt, she said, "Su Beichen, you are truly a scoundrel!" After saying this, she turned and walked away.

"Here, cold medicine. You got caught in the rain, so you should take precautions in advance." Ding Xiaoxiao threw a bag of medicine onto Yan Sitong's bed, "Don't be foolish and get caught in the rain again, it's not worth it."

"I had already anticipated that you would say this. You haven't made any mistakes, so why say sorry? I really look down on you boys; you always like to use 'sorry' to brush off girls, it's so annoying. Next time a girl confesses to you, remember to use a different word; 'sorry' is so cliché, it's really bothersome." Yan Sitong smiled as she looked up and patted his shoulder, "It's going to rain, I will leave first, and you should head back quickly too."

"Su Beichen, I like you." Yan Sitong took a deep breath and finally spoke the words. She had thought it over; after all, it was something that needed to be said sooner or later. Rather than avoiding the topic, it was better to be direct about it. After speaking, she looked up, gazing at the person in front of her with a hint of anticipation.

Ding Xiaoxiao silently gave Yan Sitong a thumbs up, praising her for finally coming to her senses, no longer avoiding Mo Yuran as she used to. Well done. At the same time, she felt a bit worried, unsure of what hurtful actions Mo Yuran might take later.

"I was rejected by Su Beichen," Yan Sitong said

"Tsk, Tongtong? It seems that my Tongtong is not yet familiar enough with the senior sister to this extent." Ding Xiaoxiao has always disapproved of Mo Yuran, who, despite being insidious and cunning, insists on putting on an innocent and harmless facade.

How could Ding Xiaoxiao not have wild thoughts? Right now, she is very eager to drag Su Beichen out of the laboratory and give him a good beating. If it were someone else, perhaps it would just be a passing thought, but she is Ding Xiaoxiao; not only does she think about it, but she also acts on it. She believes that Su Beichen must be in the laboratory, so she rolled up her sleeves and stepped out.

Perhaps tired of waiting, Yan Sitong's voice grew a little louder: "Hey, Su Beichen, I said I like you, why don't you respond!"

Perhaps it is simply because of the serious demeanor he displays when he is working, or perhaps it is just because he is handsome

The atmosphere among the three individuals was as gloomy as the weather outside, making it difficult to breathe

Tang Ziye furrowed his brows and gave a bitter smile. He did not know how to tell Ding Xiaoxiao that Su Beichen had no interest in Yan Sitong.

"First come, first served? Senior, I don't quite understand what you mean by that. Are you saying that you liked Su Beichen first, and even if he has rejected you ten thousand times, I still cannot like him?" In terms of reaction speed, Yan Sitong is definitely not inferior to anyone, especially at such moments. She responded quickly and spoke rapidly, which left Mo Yuran stunned once again

Emotions cannot be forced or traded. I reiterate, do not insist any longer, nor should you use those ridiculous public opinions to pressure me. I do not like you, so I will not feel any pressure. Su Beichen's voice was very calm, as if he were saying, "The weather is nice today."

"With just you, do you think you can compete with me?" Mo Yuran's expression was very gloomy, and her words carried a hint of coldness

Yan Sitong suddenly grabbed his arm and whispered, "Su Beichen, I have something to tell you"

Are you alright? Su Beichen asked with some concern

"Tongtong, what happened to you? Did you get caught in the rain? You know it's raining outside, so you should avoid going out for a while. You know that the rain in this season comes quickly and goes just as fast. Hurry up and dry yourself off." Ding Xiaoxiao said as she draped a towel over Yan Sitong's head and helped her dry her hair, her brows furrowed. "Is something bothering you? Did Su Beichen say something to you?"

Ding Xiaoxiao nudged Tang Ziye and, with a meaningful glance, whispered: "Tongtong is now seeing Su Beichen through the eyes of a lover, finding him so pleasing to the eye."