Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Even Two-Timing Is Acceptable

The school cafeteria.

Xue Rui and Gu Muxue sat in a corner of the cafeteria, with the third wheel, Mei Lili, beside them.

Xue Rui brazenly reached his chopsticks over to take food from Gu Muxue’s plate, though he would occasionally put a few morsels on her plate in return.

He had only gotten two dishes for himself, claiming he didn’t want to waste food, but his main goal was to eat her food.

He glanced to the side and spotted Lin Ruoxi in the southeast corner.

Maybe it was because of his guilty conscience, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that a pair of eyes was watching him from beneath that cascade of black hair.

But that was nothing new. It wasn’t the first time. If Xue Rui couldn’t even handle this much, he wouldn’t be Xue Rui.

The real problem was Chen Tingting, who was now skipping her way over.

"Muxue, put some food on my plate," Xue Rui said calmly, his expression unchanged.

"Are your hands broken?"

Mei Lili shot back. She was already unhappy with Xue Rui’s chopstick-crossing antics, and now he was ordering her goddess around.

"Did I ask you to butt in?" Xue Rui snapped.

Mei Lili was below average in looks and was Gu Muxue’s loyal little follower. And this "loyalty" of hers was heartfelt.

Xue Rui had seen this mentality before. Because she was lacking in the looks department, Mei Lili was actually quite insecure.

But Gu Muxue was Mei Lili’s idea of a "perfect self." The girl’s mentality was already a bit twisted.

It was a mindless fanaticism, a subconscious need to defend everything about Gu Muxue.

Just like those brain-dead, power-worshipping idiots over a decade from now.

They’d be on the internet every day, speaking up for the young masters and misses of the rentier class.

Completely unaware that those very people stood on the opposite side of them.

Xue Rui felt helpless when it came to this type of woman.

Gu Muxue looked surprised. Why was Xue Rui asking her to get food for him today? Still, it wasn’t an outrageous request. She always ate the food Xue Rui put on her plate.

’Hmph, I guess I’ll grant you this little wish,’ she thought.

However, just as she raised her hand, Xue Rui bit down on her chopsticks, startling her.

"Ahhh, let me feed you." Xue Rui also picked up some food with his chopsticks, gesturing for Gu Muxue to play along.

A wave of heat instantly rushed to Gu Muxue’s face.

She grumbled internally.

’There are so many people here! Have you no shame!’

’This bastard, why didn’t he do this when we were eating in that secluded classroom before?’

’Why the sudden urge to feed me today?’

In reality, Xue Rui was getting goosebumps himself.

But he had no better ideas. He had to put on a show of affection to scare Chen Tingting off first.

"I—mmph..." Gu Muxue’s beautiful eyes went wide.

She had wanted to refuse, but Xue Rui gave her no chance to do so.

Now, she was chewing on a small piece of celery.

If she hadn’t accepted it just now, Xue Rui probably would have smeared the oily food on her face.

This act made Gu Muxue’s brow twitch, expressing her displeasure.

’That bastard Xue Rui hadn’t asked at all; it was a unilateral declaration.’

Chen Tingting naturally saw this scene, and her steps faltered.

’Could it be they’re already together?’ she wondered.

’If that’s the case... I’ll have to hurry up.’

So, after a brief moment of surprise, Chen Tingting put on a bright smile again.

"Xue Rui!" Chen Tingting said, carrying her tray and sitting down diagonally across from him with a smile.

"Chen Tingting? What are you doing at our school? Did you transfer?"

Xue Rui feigned surprise, acting as if it were the first time he had seen her at school.

"Hmph! You definitely saw me."

Chen Tingting scoffed internally. ’Xue Rui is a really convincing actor.’

"I like you," Chen Tingting said, getting straight to the point.

The corner of Xue Rui’s eye twitched. Chen Tingting was way too direct.

Suddenly, Xue Rui felt the atmosphere turn strange. It was as if he were sitting right in front of an air conditioner vent—a chilly draft was in the air.

He glanced at Mei Lili, who seemed to be feeling the same thing.

He turned back to see Gu Muxue’s expression was terrifyingly cold, like an iceberg, making everyone around her feel a chill.

Chen Tingting swallowed hard, a shiver running down her spine. She scooted a little farther away from Gu Muxue, moving to a spot closer to Xue Rui.

She didn’t want to sit side-by-side with Gu Muxue; the comparison would be too stark.

"Tell me what you like about me, and I’ll change it," Xue Rui sighed.

"Huh?" Chen Tingting was a little taken aback. She thought for a moment, her big eyes darting around. "I like tall guys."

"Alright, I’ll go saw my legs off tomorrow."

Xue Rui said it with a completely serious face, as if he meant it.

"Xue Rui, do you know this underclassman?" Gu Muxue asked with a radiant smile.

However, her tone was like she was speaking to a stranger, and the smile was fake.

Xue Rui’s mouth twitched. ’What’s with this girl? Is she mad because I was too forceful when I fed her?’

"Classmate Chen Tingting, I don’t like you. My main focus right now is my studies," Xue Rui said with a sincere expression.

"I can tutor you!"

"I’m a sophomore. You’re a freshman, and you’re going to tutor me?"

...

Mei Lili shot Xue Rui a glare.

’Studies?’

’He’s ranked last in the entire grade, and he has the nerve to use his studies as an excuse?’

She thought to herself that this girl, Chen Tingting, was really thick-skinned.

Any other girl would have looked heartbroken and dejected after being rejected and would have left long ago, but this girl was still shamelessly hanging around.

"Actually, I like tall girls too," Xue Rui said.

Chen Tingting pouted. "I can still grow taller."

"I like girls who are... open-minded." Xue Rui glanced at Gu Muxue.

Chen Tingting followed his gaze, then looked down at her own chest. A faint wave of sorrow washed over her.

She felt a tightness in her chest. Sitting with Gu Muxue, she felt like she was shrinking with every comparison.

Xue Rui gestured for Chen Tingting to lean in.

Curious, Chen Tingting moved closer, only to hear Xue Rui say ominously:

"Actually, I wasn’t trying to save you that day. I was trying to trick you into a hotel room, but then I checked my pockets and didn’t have enough money, so I gave up."

"And later, when I found out your dad is a cop, I got scared and dropped the idea."

Xue Rui was trying to tarnish his own image, hoping to make Chen Tingting retreat.

"Why didn’t you say so earlier? I have money in my pocket, and you don’t need to worry about Old Chen."

Chen Tingting whispered, leaning close to Xue Rui’s ear.

Xue Rui jerked backward. ’Is there something seriously wrong with this girl’s brain?’

Any other girl who heard that would have cursed him out: "Pervert! Scumbag!"

But not only did Chen Tingting not curse him, she looked eager, and even said she’d pay for the hotel?

"Tingting? I’ve been looking all over for you. What are you doing here?" Zhang Jing came over with her tray.

She had been planning to show her old classmate around the campus.

But Chen Tingting had vanished the moment class ended, and she figured she had probably gone to find Xue Rui.

So, in the cafeteria, she followed the gazes of many of the boys, found Gu Muxue, and quickly located Xue Rui and Chen Tingting.

"Oh, I’ll be right there," Chen Tingting replied.

She wanted to stay by Xue Rui’s side, but she also felt that being next to Gu Muxue would only make her seem more inadequate.

She understood the concept that distance creates beauty.

Before she left, she leaned close to Xue Rui’s ear and whispered:

"Actually, I’m very open-minded. I can even accept you two-timing."

But she added in her heart: ’And when the boats capsize, I’ll be the one to pull you out.’

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xue Rui felt a pang of guilt. ’Which two "boats" was Chen Tingting talking about?’

"Xue Rui, I’m full." Gu Muxue shot him a glare, quickly tidied up, and stood to leave.

She complained endlessly about Xue Rui in her mind.

When Xue Rui had decisively rejected Chen Tingting, she had actually felt a little thrill of joy.

But if you’re going to reject someone, just reject them, right?

’What’s all this about tall and short?’

’Couldn’t he just say he likes Gu Muxue?’

’Why did he have to come up with so many weird excuses?’

’And on top of that, the two of them were leaning so close, whispering secrets to each other.’

Xue Rui knew Gu Muxue was angry and was about to go after her to coax her, but his phone suddenly started vibrating.

He answered the call, and Ren Jun’s voice came through: "Xiaorui, Brother Rui! You’re the man! Xiaying actually wore it!"