After Dating the President O, I Turned Into a Puppy-Like Lover - Chapter 11.2

Jiang He nearly choked.

Before she could get angry, Zhou Yi had already thickened her skin and started pleading. “Boss, Boss, you have to help me! Play a round with me—go easy on me, just pretend you lose, okay? Please, I’m begging you!”

Her large, bright eyes looked pitifully at Jiang He. What choice did Jiang He really have?

She didn’t want to give in so easily, but she wasn’t angry either. After a moment of hesitation, under the gaze of everyone around them, she finally nodded.

Zhou Yi immediately beamed.

Jiang He gripped the racket and faced her, waiting for the shuttlecock to come flying over so she could put on a convincingly terrible performance.

She’d heard all the teasing earlier. She didn’t think much of it—just assumed Zhou Yi wanted to save face. Jiang He didn’t really care, so going along with it was fine.

Zhou Yi proceeded to beat her 5–0, her movements exaggerated to the extreme.

Jiang He pretended to pant, though it wasn’t entirely fake—Zhou Yi showed zero mercy despite begging for help. She made Jiang He chase down every shuttlecock. Watching Zhou Yi strike pose after pose, Jiang He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d actually gone easy at all. If she’d had skills like this earlier, would she really have lost so badly?

Then she saw Zhou Yi plaster on a sycophantic grin and enthusiastically wave her short arm.

“President! Do you think I’m good at badminton?”

Dan Sirou looked to be in an excellent mood. She hadn’t noticed Zhou Yi at first, but once called out, she immediately smiled sweetly. “You’re amazing! Keep it up!”

Jiang He, reduced to a background prop: “……”

She watched as Dan Sirou walked from Zhou Yi’s side toward hers. The smile lingering on Dan Sirou’s face faded the moment their eyes met. Their gazes locked for two seconds—Jiang He didn’t blink.

Then Dan Sirou turned and left without looking back.

Jiang He watched her retreating figure until it disappeared, all interest in the game gone.

She returned the racket to Zhou Yi and quickly followed after Dan Sirou.

The field was crowded; Dan Sirou had already been gone for a while. No one would connect Jiang He’s sudden departure to her.

Dan Sirou had gone to the equipment room. When she entered, no one was inside—not even the teacher who usually supervised it. The room was maintained partly by staff and partly as part of the school’s shared cleaning duties. It was generally tidy, though the tops of the shelves still gathered dust from lax oversight.

The item she needed was on the top shelf. The rack wasn’t too high, but she’d have to stand on tiptoe to reach it.

Before she could, another hand took it down.

“I’ll get it for you.”

Jiang He handed it to her with ease.

Dan Sirou recognized her voice instantly. She didn’t take the racket, instead giving Jiang He a look that wordlessly asked why she was here.

Jiang He pressed her lips together, hesitating.

Dan Sirou clearly didn’t have the patience to wait.

“I’m sorry,” Jiang He blurted out.

Dan Sirou: “?” Dan Sirou looked surprised, completely lost.

Jiang He explained, “That Tuesday, when I went to find you, I wasn’t very polite.”

Her gaze was sincere, her tone remorseful.

Dan Sirou understood immediately. She replied calmly, “It’s fine. You weren’t the first, and you won’t be the last. I’ve already forgotten about it.”

The apology was accepted. Knowing that something she’d brooded over hadn’t even registered for the other person should’ve been a relief—but Jiang He didn’t feel relieved at all.

To Dan Sirou, she was clearly just another random troublemaker. One more, one less—it made no difference.

Jiang He didn’t want to accept being so insignificant. Nor did she want to accept being remembered as someone who’d picked a fight for no reason.

Dan Sirou took the racket Jiang He had retrieved, acknowledging the apology. Seizing the moment, Jiang He murmured, “I’m sorry. That day, I was just worried. It wasn’t directed at you.”

Dan Sirou had barely looked at her throughout, except for that brief exchange earlier. Now, she finally raised her eyes again.

Jiang He’s gaze was clear and unwavering. In her eyes, there was only Dan Sirou.

Her attitude couldn’t be faulted, yet Dan Sirou felt no comfort.

They stood close, yet it felt as though a deep chasm lay between them. The atmosphere that should’ve been easy and familiar was anything but warm.

After a moment of silence, Dan Sirou looked at her and spoke, her red lips parting slowly.

“Jiang He, I really didn’t take this matter to heart. You don’t owe me anything.”

“You shouldn’t feel indebted to me. I won’t owe you anything either. Once the agreement ends, our relationship is settled—clean and clear.”

With that, she left without another word.

Jiang He remained where she stood, staring at Dan Sirou’s resolute retreating figure.