The Premeditated Seductress Childhood Friend - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Looking At You

Song Yixi walked faster and faster.

Yu Wei, who hadn’t spotted Xu Qingyu, was baffled by her sudden mood swing. “What’s wrong with you? It’s boiling out here. Slow down and save some energy, will you? We have P.E. in a bit.”

Song Yixi acted as if she hadn’t heard a word, her pace so fast she was practically taking flight.

She was a “Sports Rehabilitation” major, and her P.E. class—Tai Chi—was held on the second floor of the indoor gymnasium. By the time they arrived, almost everyone was there. The two girls squeezed into the back of the female formation.

From their position, they had a clear view of the basketball game happening on the first floor.

As Yu Wei followed the instructor’s movements, she whispered to a classmate nearby, “Which departments are playing downstairs?”

“TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Chemistry, I think.”

At those words, Song Yixi froze, her eyes instinctively darting toward the court.

Aside from the practice area, the second floor consisted of spectator stands. There were quite a few girls there; she wondered if any were from the TCM department. After scanning for a few seconds, Song Yixi withdrew her gaze.

Xu Qingyu has zero interest in sports, she thought. She’s never even attended a single P.E. class. There’s no way she’d be at the gym.

Besides, just a few minutes ago, she was busy “cultivating her soul” with someone holding an umbrella for her outside the TCM building. She wouldn’t have time for a basketball game.

With these thoughts swirling, Song Yixi’s movements became increasingly broad and aggressive, venting her frustration through the Tai Chi forms.

The P.E. teacher noticed, eyes lighting up. “This student over here is very focused! Come out to the front and give us a demonstration.”

Song Yixi, realizing she was being singled out, was stunned. “Huh?”

Yu Wei gave her a shove. “Go on!”

With a stumble, Song Yixi found herself at the head of the class. There was no retreat. Fortunately, she wasn’t the shy type. She took a deep breath and began the routine alongside the teacher. Her movements were fluid, graceful, and confident.

That was, until she saw Xu Qingyu and a friend enter through the gymnasium’s west gate.

She faltered, her movements stiffening for a second, but she quickly forced herself back into rhythm.

As Xu Qingyu walked up the stairs, she naturally spotted Song Yixi standing at the very front of the formation. At the moment their gazes collided, Song Yixi executed a turn, pretending she hadn’t seen her.

Xu Qingyu let a faint, imperceptible smile tug at the corner of her mouth. She and her friend took seats in the stands to watch the basketball game.

Down on the first floor, the thundering bounce of the basketball echoed through the gym, punctuated by constant applause from the stands. The gap between the two teams was widening; TCM was falling behind.

Song Yixi caught a glimpse during a break. The score didn’t surprise her. Neither department was known for basketball, but Chemistry had more guys and a clear advantage. Regardless of how they played, the final winner of the campus tournament would inevitably be the Sports Department.

Yu Wei leaned in. “TCM is going to lose. Do you think the senior will be sad?”

“Her? Sad?”

Xu Qingyu, getting upset over a departmental game? The very idea was absurd. Song Yixi rolled her eyes. “She should be sad.”

“I’m serious,” Yu Wei said, pulling her by the shoulder and pointing. “Look at her expression.”

Song Yixi looked over reluctantly. Xu Qingyu was staring at the court with an expression that indeed looked quite unhappy. Song Yixi followed her line of sight.

She seemed to be watching a tall guy with a buzz cut, wearing jersey number 08. Based on his skin tone, he looked a bit like the person who had been holding the umbrella for her earlier.

Song Yixi let out a cold snort. “They deserve to lose. He plays like trash. If I went down there, I’d destroy him… I mean, them.”

Yu Wei clicked her tongue. “Why compare yourself to non-majors? Just watch for fun. You sound totally jealous.”

“Psh, who’s jealous? Not me.” Song Yixi crossed her arms. “I just don’t see the point in watching this kind of game, especially coming all the way here in this heat.”

Back when Song Yixi used to play ball with her mom, Xu Qingyu never came to watch. Xu Qingyu has such terrible taste; why would I be jealous?

Yu Wei had already figured out who she was talking about. “Right, not jealous. Just pure hatred.”

Song Yixi’s teeth were practically grinding. The teacher called the class back to order; Yu Wei winked at her and ran back to her spot. Song Yixi suppressed her emotions and resumed her role as the lead demonstrator.

As she immersed herself in the movements, Xu Qingyu’s gaze slowly drifted toward her. It was a slow, deliberate look, carrying a hint of something sharp.

Around Xu Qingyu, people were debating who was playing well. When they asked her, she simply said, “They’re all mediocre.”

She had seen truly good players. At the basketball court in their neighborhood, she had watched Song Yixi and her mother dominate the court like an unstoppable army. Compared to that, these boys showing off on the court were nothing.

Her friend pointed at the boy below and asked gossipingly, “Did he just confess to you earlier?”

Xu Qingyu gave a faint “Mhm.”

“I knew he liked you,” her friend said. “What did you say?”

Xu Qingyu arched an eyebrow. “I said I don’t know who he is.”

The girls around her, all waiting for tea, were stunned. “You’ve been classmates for nearly four years and you don’t know him?”

Xu Qingyu remained calm. “No.” She wasn’t lying; she really didn’t. To her, college classmates were just people who shared a room during lectures. She never paid attention to campus drama, wasn’t a class officer, and never participated in group activities. Her mind had never been on her own classmates. There was no need to know them.

“Then why come to the basketball game? I thought you came for him.”

“Yeah, you never participate in these things. You don’t even stay for two minutes at class meetings.”

“Are you joking? You looked like you were watching so intently. I thought you two had a chance.”

Xu Qingyu adjusted her collar and wrapped her jacket tighter around herself. “Who said I was watching the basketball game?”

She had just been daydreaming. Seeing that time was up, she stood up. “I’m a bit tired. You guys keep watching; I’m heading back.”

She headed down the other staircase, passing right by Song Yixi’s class just as the bell rang. As the crowd dispersed, Song Yixi bent down to grab her water bottle and looked up to find Xu Qingyu walking toward her.

She let out a sarcastic remark: “Oh? Not watching anymore?”

“No,” Xu Qingyu said truthfully. “It wasn’t good.”

Song Yixi curled her lip. “Wasn’t good, yet you sat there for ages without moving an inch.”

Xu Qingyu added: “It was good.”

Song Yixi snapped, “Are your two brain halves fighting each other?” One minute it’s bad, the next it’s good. If the basketball was bad, was the person ‘good’ looking? Such terrible taste.

Xu Qingyu smiled but didn’t speak.

The basketball game? Not good.

The P.E. class, with a certain someone leading at the front? Very good.

She loved the unbridled sunlight and vitality that radiated from Song Yixi. Even leading Tai Chi, the girl was full of energy.

Song Yixi didn’t want to leave yet. She leaned on the second-floor railing, looking down. She asked, trying to sound casual, “Who were you looking at just now? That number 08?”

Xu Qingyu stepped up beside her, her gaze sweeping across the court below. “Who?”

“Stop playing dumb.” Song Yixi pointed. “Weren’t you just staring at him?”

Xu Qingyu replied softly, “I wasn’t looking at him.”

Song Yixi snorted. “Still faking it. If you weren’t looking at him, who were you looking at? You could barely take your eyes off him.”

At that, Xu Qingyu raised her gaze and looked Song Yixi straight in the eyes.

“I was looking at you.”