Chapter Twenty-Seven: Dealing with a Rival in Love

“Bai Wei, Jiang Hu is looking for you!”

This single sentence set off a storm in Class One, Freshman Year, at the School of Foreign Languages. Every head turned in her direction.

“Jiang Hu, the campus heartthrob?”

“No way! Is this for real?”

“Pinch me, will you? Ow! That hurts! So it’s true?”

The classroom erupted into chaos as everyone glanced toward the door, hoping for a glimpse of the legendary Jiang Hu—cold, aloof, breathtakingly handsome, the very embodiment of every girl’s ideal.

To be honest, not a single girl in the school hadn’t daydreamed about some connection with Jiang Hu.

But that unattainable flower always bloomed alone, never deigning to spare them even a glance.

Only his rumored former girlfriend had ever witnessed a rare flash of gentleness from him.

Bai Wei rose slowly to her feet, glaring at the others. “Stop making up stories.”

Had it been before, she might have entertained a fleeting hope regarding Jiang Hu, but after what happened yesterday, she’d given up completely.

With Jiang Hu’s attitude, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that he had no interest. She had no desire to throw herself at him and invite humiliation.

She walked out at an unhurried pace.

Jiang Hu stood at the door, and she instinctively kept a three-meter distance from him.

Her face frosty, she asked, “What do you want?”

She had a temper too, after all—wasn’t she a princess in her own right?

Jiang Hu’s voice was colder than hers, his expression even darker. “Come with me. My sister wants to see you.”

Bai Wei wanted nothing more than to retort pridefully that she wouldn’t go, but she thought of Mo Nian’nian.

She’d always gotten along well with Mo Nian’nian. She ought to take this chance to explain to her that there was no possibility between herself and Jiang Hu.

“Fine, just let me—”

Before Bai Wei could finish, Jiang Hu had already turned and walked away without a backward glance.

Bai Wei was left speechless.

With a temperament like his, could he ever really find a wife? She had her doubts.

Forget it, a fairy needn’t stoop to quarrel with a fool. Slinging her little bag over her shoulder, she trotted after Jiang Hu.

Jiang Hu’s aura was so glacial it could freeze a person solid. Bai Wei instinctively kept a few meters between them.

At last, they reached their destination. Bai Wei hurried over to Mo Nian’nian.

Strictly speaking, Mo Nian’nian wasn’t much older than they were, so Bai Wei simply greeted her as “Sister Nian’nian.”

No sooner had she spoken than she felt a predatory gaze fix on her—icy, chilling to the bone.

Her instincts screamed that if she got any closer to Mo Nian’nian, she’d be in mortal danger.

Bai Wei shrank into a corner.

Mo Nian’nian glanced at Jiang Hu. “What’s wrong? Why do you look so upset?”

“Did you invite her to a meal specially, Sister?” Jiang Hu stared stubbornly at Mo Nian’nian.

“Of course not,”

She was simply trying to matchmake the two of them.

Jiang Hu’s expression eased a little, though it was still far from pleasant.

He sat down next to Mo Nian’nian, leaving Bai Wei on the other side.

Mo Nian’nian couldn’t very well ask him to move, so she simply signaled for the food to be served.

“Bai Wei, do try this. The ingredients are so fresh, I—”

“Sister, I want what’s in front of you. I can’t reach it.”

Mo Nian’nian set the foie gras down in front of Jiang Hu.

“By the way, last time we—”

“Sister, I remember this is your favorite. Every time we go out, you order it. Here, have some.”

Jiang Hu’s hand remained poised, offering her food as he often did. Mo Nian’nian, accustomed to this, accepted it without a second thought.

“Last time we—”

“Sister, I think my cold hasn’t really cleared up. I’m running a fever again today.”

“How bad is it?” Mo Nian’nian asked, worried, pressing a hand to his forehead. “It’s not too hot, you seem okay.”

“Maybe I’m fine now. Your hand is so cool, Sister. It feels nice—can you do it again?”

As he spoke, Jiang Hu leaned his head toward her and rubbed against her, much like a kitten.

Bai Wei’s jaw nearly hit the floor; it was the first time she’d seen this side of the fabled, untouchable campus idol.

And it was clear—he was deliberately keeping Mo Nian’nian from speaking with her.

This… didn’t seem right.

Jiang Hu’s shameless display of affection left Mo Nian’nian with no attention to spare for Bai Wei.

As Bai Wei nibbled at her food, she watched the pair, growing more and more uneasy.

“Sister, your favorite crayfish. Try it and see how it tastes.” Jiang Hu had peeled a plateful and set it before Mo Nian’nian.

He did this sort of thing so often that Mo Nian’nian took it in stride, picking one up to eat.

“Sister, try this too—I cut it up for you.”

Bai Wei frowned. “Um…”

Was this really a sibling relationship? It looked more like a beautiful woman and her adoring puppy.

They couldn’t be related by blood—their surnames were different.

Bai Wei spoke up, finally drawing Mo Nian’nian’s attention back to her and making her realize she’d neglected Bai Wei for some time.

“Vivi, what do you like to do in your free time?”

“Oh, just hiking, shopping, sightseeing… that sort of thing.”

Mo Nian’nian’s eyes lit up. “What a coincidence! Jiang Hu enjoys hiking and shopping too, isn’t that right?”

She gave Jiang Hu a firm nudge.

Jiang Hu’s face remained blank, his eyes dark as he stared at Bai Wei.

Bai Wei forced a smile and shifted the topic.

To keep Bai Wei entertained, Mo Nian’nian chatted with her throughout the meal, while Jiang Hu’s icy presence grew ever more oppressive.

Bai Wei felt as though she were being stalked by some predator, restless and ill at ease.

She longed for an excuse to leave early, but Mo Nian’nian was too warm and enthusiastic, determined to play matchmaker between them, her kindness almost too much to bear.

“Sister, I’m not feeling well. Let’s go home, okay?” Jiang Hu tilted his head, resting it on Mo Nian’nian’s shoulder.

“Is your fever back? Maybe we should go to the hospital?”

“It’s nothing, just a headache. Can we go home first?”

Mo Nian’nian turned to check his condition, while Jiang Hu fixed Bai Wei with a gaze full of murderous intent.

Bai Wei’s breath caught; for a moment, she truly sensed a threat to her life. In her panic, she knocked over her utensils.

Mo Nian’nian tried to help. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine! I can handle it myself!” Bai Wei’s heart pounded wildly; every instinct screamed that if she didn’t leave now, she’d be in real danger.

The more anxious she grew, the more her hands betrayed her. As she picked up her fork, her knife slipped, knocking over a glass of red wine.

The entire table was a mess.

Mo Nian’nian tried to help again, but Jiang Hu was quicker. “Sister, I’ll take care of it. You sit down.”

With that, he moved closer to Bai Wei. “Let me help you.”

Bai Wei felt as if she could hear the very voice of death calling. Her hands shook uncontrollably; in her panic, she had no idea what she was holding as she flung it aside, blurting, “Don’t come any closer!”

“Hiss—” Jiang Hu clutched his hand, brows furrowing as blood trickled down the back of it.

Only then did Bai Wei realize she’d accidentally cut him with her dinner knife. Flustered, she had no idea what to do.