After Escaping Marriage - Extra 12
Chapter 155: Extra 3 - Parallel World
Cheng Zhanxi contentedly tightened her grip on Yu Qingtang's hand, even swinging it back and forth a couple of times. She showed none of the shy restraint one might expect from holding hands for the first time.
Yu Qingtang's long eyelashes fluttered, and she closed her eyes.
If one looked closely, they would see a vein on her temple throb faintly twice.
Yu Qingtang endured it, not pulling her hand from between Cheng Zhanxi's fingers. No matter why Cheng Zhanxi was holding her hand, the fact was, she was. They could deal with the future later.
For Cheng Zhanxi, pretending to be a couple with Yu Qingtang didn't feel particularly special. They were already inseparable, sticking together at all times except when they were at school or at home eating and sleeping. Cheng Zhanxi had many new friends, but none were as close as Yu Qingtang.
Their families' friendship began with their parents' generation, making the two of them childhood sweethearts. Thus, any level of intimacy felt natural. Cheng Zhanxi hadn't noticed the fleeting, secret delight she felt when she heard Yu Qingtang say those words that day. If Yu Qingtang's "agreement" applied to her, did that mean it also applied to Yu Qingtang?
Although Yu Qingtang was much more "well-behaved" than her, her cold, otherworldly aura meant that many boys and girls at school who liked her only dared to watch her from afar, never mustering the courage to write her a love letter. Still, there were always a few who would try their luck, looking for any opportunity to get close to her. Yu Qingtang was cold, but she wasn't arrogant or detached from the world; she never shied away from normal social interactions. Cheng Zhanxi could tell at a glance that those people liked her, and she had secretly felt jealous countless times, yet she didn't want to interfere with Yu Qingtang's freedom.
Since middle school, the flames of puppy love had spread through the school. Cheng Zhanxi had several nightmares where Yu Qingtang was holding the hand of a boy with a blurry face, telling her, "This is my boyfriend."
Now, things were great. She wasn't dating, and neither was Yu Qingtang. Perfect. Students should focus on their studies. The two of them would push each other, strive together, and in the future…
In the future, what?
In the cafeteria, Cheng Zhanxi chewed on the tip of her chopstick, tilting her head back slightly to stare at the top of a pillar supporting the roof beams in the distance, lost in thought for a moment.
Yu Qingtang tapped the rim of her bowl with her chopsticks.
"Eat."
Cheng Zhanxi brought her gaze back, looking at the usually cool and composed Yu Qingtang before her, and tilted her head.
Yu Qingtang didn't look up, but it was as if she had eyes on top of her head. She said coolly, "What are you smiling about?"
Cheng Zhanxi looked stunned. "How did you know I was smiling?"
Yu Qingtang glanced up at her, her expression indifferent, but the corner of her eyebrow lifted slightly.
Cheng Zhanxi understood her look. It said: You?
The implied meaning was: You think I don't know you?
Cheng Zhanxi let out a sound and couldn't help but laugh. She poked the rice on her plate with her chopsticks and said, "You know me so well. If I can't find a sweetheart in the future, I'm blaming you."
Yu Qingtang's expression instantly darkened.
Oh no, Cheng Zhanxi thought. She opened her mouth dryly, then had a flash of inspiration and tried to salvage the situation. "I don't think anyone in the world is better than you. Why don't we just spend our lives together?"
Yu Qingtang: "..."
At least she had some survival instinct.
Seeing her expression change from stormy to cloudy, Cheng Zhanxi breathed a sigh of relief.
Yu Qingtang was great in every way, except her temper was truly a bit unpredictable.
"Eat," Yu Qingtang urged her again in a low voice.
Cheng Zhanxi agreed, then reached out with her chopsticks and plucked the salt and pepper shrimp from Yu Qingtang's plate.
Yu Qingtang picked out the remaining shrimp and gave them to her. She didn't have Cheng Zhanxi's habit of getting lost in thought, so she ate much faster. After finishing, she put down her chopsticks and sat quietly in her chair, watching Cheng Zhanxi with focused attention.
Cheng Zhanxi's cheeks puffed as she chewed. She would look up at Yu Qingtang from time to time, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.
Yu Qingtang couldn't help but smile. She reached out and ruffled Cheng Zhanxi's hair.
Two days later, Campus Idol Qi came looking for Cheng Zhanxi outside her classroom again. When Cheng Zhanxi came out, a crowd of onlookers had already gathered near and far. Campus Idol Qi was wearing a black and gold No. 8 basketball uniform with a black headband, looking so handsome it was earth-shattering, enough to eclipse the sun and moon.
The campus idol's appearance caused a small commotion. The girls suppressed their screams, their eyes fervent.
Campus Idol Qi pretended to casually run a hand through his short black hair, and some of the screams could no longer be contained, bursting out from the crowd.
He lowered his hand but didn't look at the surrounding girls. Instead, he stared unblinkingly at the classroom door. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but take a step forward.
Cheng Zhanxi walked out from inside, wearing a clean and tidy high school uniform with the school crest, framed by leaves, pinned to her chest. With her fair skin, bright eyes, red lips, and white teeth, the surrounding noise instantly died down.
The girls who had just been wondering if they had a chance instantly dismissed the thought.
When it came to being a good match, no one in the entire school was more suited for Campus Idol Qi than Cheng Zhanxi. No, wait, there was also Yu Qingtang, but she was the unshakable number one in their year, focused solely on her studies and completely uninterested in dating. Cheng Zhanxi, on the other hand, looked like the type to get into a relationship early.
Cheng Zhanxi—the one who looked like she'd date early, the one who was considered a perfect match for Campus Idol Qi by the entire student body—stopped two steps away from him. Her height of over 170 cm allowed her to face him with only a slight tilt of her chin, not appearing weak in the slightest, but rather possessing a pride of her own.
Cheng Zhanxi looked at him coldly. "Will you ever stop?"
The crowd of onlookers was in an uproar.
The last time Campus Idol Qi had come looking for her, Cheng Zhanxi had saved his pride by not embarrassing him in public and had made things clear to him privately. Now he was back again, refusing to take a hint. For someone so shameless, there was no need to show any mercy.
As expected, Campus Idol Qi's expression wasn't good. His voice took on a pleading, subservient tone. "Xixi."
Cheng Zhanxi's scalp tingled.
It was the first time she found her own nickname so disgusting coming from someone's mouth.
Cheng Zhanxi raised her voice, saying angrily, "Qi Ze, is there any point in pestering me like this? I have nothing to do with you, and I haven't even settled the score with you for spreading rumors and ruining my reputation."
The onlookers exchanged glances, their expressions bewildered as they held the "melons" they had just picked up from the ground.
Is that how it is? So it's a story of unrequited love? That can't be, right?
However, Campus Idol Qi's reaction in the next second confirmed this fact.
Campus Idol Qi reached for Cheng Zhanxi's hand, but she dodged it. A pained look flashed in his eyes, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Please give me a chance. I really like you."
Cheng Zhanxi was resolute. "No. I don't like you." To be precise, she detested him.
Why were all guys so overconfident?
Cheng Zhanxi said, "Don't bother me again, or I'll report you to the teachers. And your parents."
Campus Idol Qi laughed. "My parents know I like you. They encourage me to pursue you." At his age, so easily swept away by love, falling for a girl from a family of equal standing… his parents would be setting off firecrackers in celebration, why would they stop him? It would be best if they got engaged right after graduation. She was a daughter of the Cheng family, a catch one couldn't find even with a lantern!
Cheng Zhanxi cursed inwardly, No wonder your parents could raise a son like you.
Seeing her lower her gaze, Campus Idol Qi thought her resolve was wavering and pressed on. "Let's just try dating first. I'll definitely treat you well. If you're not satisfied with me, I'll absolutely stop bothering you. I promise."
Most of the girls watching were swooning over his "boyfriend power," covering their mouths and gasping softly. It was mainly because he was so handsome, like an overbearing CEO from a novel had walked right out of the pages.
Unfortunately, Cheng Zhanxi wasn't buying it. She was so angry she laughed. "Why on earth should I try dating you? Who do you think you are?"
Like a stone thrown into a calm lake, the surrounding discussions instantly erupted.
"Isn't that a bit too harsh?"
"How is it harsh? It's only because Campus Idol Qi is handsome. If he were ugly, he'd be a total creep, acting like he's doing her a favor. I support Cheng Zhanxi."
"They're classmates, they see each other all the time. There's no need to embarrass him like that."
"This definitely isn't the first time Campus Idol Qi has bothered her. Everyone has a temper, and Cheng Zhanxi's family is just as well-off as the Qi family."
Most people were just neutral spectators enjoying the show.
Campus Idol Qi's face flushed red. Embarrassed and angry, he threw out, "You'll change your mind sooner or later," and turned to leave.
Cheng Zhanxi called out to him, "Hey."
Campus Idol Qi turned back.
Cheng Zhanxi said, "I'm already seeing someone."
Convinced it was an excuse, Campus Idol Qi sneered, "Who is it?" Even if it were true, he didn't believe any boy in school could compare to him. Cheng Zhanxi would fall into his arms sooner or later.
Cheng Zhanxi's heart pounded nervously. She cleared her throat and said, "She is…"
A cool female voice came from outside the crowd.
"Me."
Everyone turned to see a beautiful girl emerge from the crowd. She walked step by step to Cheng Zhanxi and took her hand.
Yu Qingtang looked at the stunned Campus Idol Qi, her eyes filled with faint mockery.
She didn't say a word, but her hand, with fingers intertwined with Cheng Zhanxi's, said it all.
The onlookers scattered back to their respective classrooms to share the explosive news—
"Big news! Our year's beauty, Cheng Zhanxi, is dating someone—"
"What's so big about that? Wasn't she already with Qi Ze?"
"Qi Ze is nothing!"
"??? Are you getting ahead of yourself?"
"I'm saying Qi Ze has nothing to do with this at all. It was all one-sided. Cheng Zhanxi never paid him any attention from start to finish."
"Huh? No way. Qi Ze is so handsome. Does she have bad taste?"
"Not at all. Guess who she's with?"
"Campus Idol He? Campus Idol Hu?"
"Neither! It's Yu Qingtang, the one who crushed all the upperclassmen in the last campus belle election and left them in the dust!"
"Oh my god! No wonder I always thought there was something strange about those two. They were way too close."
"Right? I can't believe it's actually true."
"If Campus Idol Qi and Yu Qingtang both fell for me at the same time, who should I choose?"
"Why are you daydreaming in broad daylight?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Yu Qingtang walked Cheng Zhanxi back to her classroom, all the way to her seat. She pinched her thick, soft earlobe, gave her a gentle smile, and then walked out with her hands in her pockets.
Cheng Zhanxi stared blankly at her retreating back.
A classmate interrupted her reverie, teasing, "You sure kept it a secret. None of us knew you were dating."
Cheng Zhanxi had thought the first challenge of acting like a couple would be her acting skills. Unexpectedly, as soon as her classmate said that, she was immediately overcome with a wave of shyness, so overwhelming and natural that it shocked even herself.
If she couldn't become a painter in the future, maybe she could be an actress. With acting skills like these, it would be a crime not to win an Oscar.
Seeing her lower her eyes shyly, the classmate found it incredibly novel and pointed at her, laughing. "So you have a day like this too!"
Cheng Zhanxi thought to herself: What were the admission requirements for the film academy again?
The news spread from the students to the teachers, and the teachers called both sets of parents.
When Cheng Zhanxi got home from school, Song Qingrou, who was sitting on the sofa, beckoned to her. "Come here."
Cheng Zhanxi put down her schoolbag, glanced at Cheng Yi sitting stiffly beside her with a complicated expression, and did as she was told, sitting down opposite them. "What's wrong?"
Song Qingrou seemed hesitant to speak.
Cheng Zhanxi: "?"
Song Qingrou picked up a glass of water from the coffee table, holding it with both hands. She asked, "I heard… um… that you and Yu Qingtang are dating?"
Cheng Yi's expression grew even more serious, the old father's brow furrowed.
Cheng Zhanxi couldn't help but laugh. "No, we're just acting."
Song Qingrou glanced at her equally bewildered husband and asked in surprise, "Acting?"
Cheng Zhanxi explained the situation.
Song Qingrou frowned. "How could the Qi family raise a son like that?"
Cheng Yi said in a deep voice, "I'll talk to his father tomorrow and tell him to keep that Qi boy in line."
Cheng Zhanxi quickly said, "There's no need, Dad. The matter is already resolved."
Cheng Yi said, "If something like this happens again, you tell me. Dad will take care of it for you."
Cheng Zhanxi moved over to hug his arm coquettishly. "I know, Dad. Don't be angry. Getting angry gives you wrinkles."
Song Qingrou said, "So you're saying you and Yu Qingtang aren't dating?"
Cheng Zhanxi shook her head.
"Then does she like someone?"
"How would I know?" Cheng Zhanxi thought for a moment, then said, "Probably not." Then, with a firm tone, "Definitely not!"
Song Qingrou looked at her, her gaze meaningful.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Mom?"
Song Qingrou said, "It's nothing. Are you hungry? I'll have your dad make you a bowl of noodles."
"Okay, okay." Cheng Zhanxi happily waited for her late-night snack, and after eating, she went back to her room to study.
Cheng Yi closed the bedroom door and looked at his wife, who was removing her makeup at the vanity. "Qingrou, what were you trying to say just now?"
Song Qingrou's movements paused slightly. She turned and smiled. "I was just thinking, it wouldn't be bad if Xixi dated Yu Ci's daughter."
Cheng Yi said, "But she's also a girl. I don't mean to discriminate against homosexuals, but most people are heterosexual, right? Our daughter doesn't seem to have those tendencies."
Song Qingrou sounded quite regretful. "You're right." She sighed. "I wonder what kind of person Tangtang will marry in the future?"
Cheng Yi said, "Isn't Tangtang our daughter-in-law?"
Song Qingrou had a sudden realization.
That's right, hadn't their son and Yu Qingtang been engaged as children?
It was all Cheng Yuanxi's fault. His presence around Yu Qingtang was so minimal that she had almost forgotten about it.
"What has Yuanxi been up to lately?"
"It seems he's starting a business with a few classmates. He's quite busy. Says he wants to rely on himself and won't let me help."
Song Qingrou dismissed the idea of having him come back to make his presence known. This was the age for studying and building a career. Besides, Yu Qingtang was still young.
At the same time, Yu Qingtang was also explaining the whole story to her parents in the living room.
"…and that's what happened."
Wei Tingyu and Yu Ci exchanged a look, their eyes flashing with an emotion only they could understand.
Wei Tingyu asked, almost choosing his words with care, "So, you two aren't dating?"
Yu Qingtang gave him a deep look.
Wei Tingyu swallowed unconsciously and squeezed his wife's hand.
Yu Ci patted the back of his hand reassuringly, then said to Yu Qingtang, "Even if you were really dating, it's not a big deal. You don't have to hide it from us."
Yu Qingtang's lips moved. "We're not."
One-sided feelings can only be considered a crush, not a relationship.
Yu Ci hummed and said, "Alright then. Your dad made you some soup. Want some?"
Yu Qingtang: "…Mm."
Wei Tingyu went to the kitchen to get the soup.
Only the mother and daughter were left in the living room. Yu Ci leaned closer to Yu Qingtang. Their similar faces looked as if they were carved from the same mold, one mature and captivating, the other still showing a youthful immaturity.
Yu Ci blinked and asked in a volume only the two of them could hear, "Really not dating? Tell me quietly, I promise I won't tell your dad. He can't handle shocks. I'm not like him, so don't worry about scaring me."
Yu Qingtang: "..."
She pressed her lips together and said, "We're really not."
Yu Ci looked her up and down with a teasing gaze and said leisurely, "Is it that you don't want to, or that you can't?"
The comment hit its mark. A flash of shame and anger crossed Yu Qingtang's eyes, and a blush spread across her jade-like face. "Mom!"
"Mom didn't say anything." Yu Ci covered her mouth with a smile, then rose and gracefully walked into the kitchen.
Yu Qingtang raised a hand to cover her burning ear, her face completely red.
What kind of twisted sense of humor did her mom have?
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