The Premeditated Seductress Childhood Friend - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Pick Me Up After Class

Song Yixi’s face flushed a deep crimson, and she froze.

All the sarcastic remarks she’d prepared were jammed back down her throat by Xu Qingyu’s directness. Why isn’t she following the script?

“W-why look at me?”

Xu Qingyu said, “Because you’re beautiful.”

Song Yixi’s face turned even redder. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Mhm.”

Xu Qingyu reached out her hand, gently tucking a stray lock of hair that had stuck to Song Yixi’s cheek back behind her ear. The movement was incredibly tender. The brush of fingertips made Song Yixi panic slightly. She dodged a bit, not daring to meet Xu Qingyu’s eyes.

Xu Qingyu looked away, giving her space to recover. “The basketball tournament—did you sign up?”

“No.” Song Yixi bit her lip, finally regaining her composure. “The freshman games aren’t until October. Registration hasn’t closed yet.” After a pause, she added, “Are you coming to watch?”

Xu Qingyu said, “If you participate, I’ll come.”

Song Yixi replied instantly, “I’m participating.”

Xu Qingyu smiled. “Mhm.”

Realizing she had been a bit too eager, Song Yixi stammered through an explanation: “I… I just want you to see what a real basketball game looks like. I’ve been playing for four years. I’m way better than those guys.”

Xu Qingyu nodded. “I know.”

Song Yixi’s bravado faltered. “How would you know? You’ve never come to see me.”

Xu Qingyu said softly, “I have.”

She had watched her in secret several times. Back then, her workload was heavy and her health was poor; she couldn’t stay outdoors for long. She would watch from a distance for a few minutes and leave, fearing that if Song Yixi saw her and worried, she wouldn’t be able to focus on her training.

The corners of Song Yixi’s mouth quirked up, then she pressed them down, asking cautiously, “When?”

Xu Qingyu fell silent for a moment before listing several specific holidays. Usually, when the weather was fine, she would go. She just never stayed long.

Song Yixi was already beyond satisfied. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Our relationship back then…” Xu Qingyu didn’t finish the sentence.

She was reluctant to admit that there was a period when things between her and Song Yixi were stiff. Even now, they hadn’t quite returned to the effortless intimacy of their childhood. They had grown up; they spent more time apart than together. That was only natural.

But Xu Qingyu didn’t want “natural.” She wanted a different kind of relationship—one that would make this intimacy last forever. Or perhaps, make it even deeper than before.

Song Yixi understood half of it. “Yeah… I was pretty extreme when I was dieting back then.” She’d had some psychological struggles as well.

Xu Qingyu smiled, letting the past go. “You look very beautiful now.”

Long limbs, slender but fit; she was a sight for sore eyes. Song Yixi didn’t reply, feeling shy from the praise, but her mood was visibly soaring.

The two stood in silence for a moment until someone approached Song Yixi, asking for her WeChat. Song Yixi turned and saw “Mr. 6’3″”—the guy Yu Wei had mentioned.

She frowned. “What for?”

The guy said, “That Tai Chi routine we just learned—I don’t remember the moves well. I was hoping to learn from you.”

It was a classic pickup line. Xu Qingyu’s gaze turned cold as she looked at him. There was a gloom in her eyes as if she wanted to peel the guy’s skin off.

Song Yixi was guarded. She scanned the area and didn’t see Chen Jingyu. She didn’t hold back. “Learn from me? Are you bored?”

She suspected this guy was sent by Chen Jingyu to mess with her. If she added him, he’d probably just use the chance to insult her.

The guy didn’t get angry; he just smiled, putting on a good-tempered act. “You’re the best in the class. Is there a problem with wanting to learn from you?”

“I’m not teaching.” Song Yixi turned her back on him, refusing to engage further.

Xu Qingyu stood with her arms crossed, her icy gaze radiating a quiet, possessive confidence. Song Yixi could be a bit dense sometimes, but she had one great quality: her attitude toward strangers and her attitude toward Xu Qingyu were worlds apart.

Knowing this guy stood no chance, Xu Qingyu’s expression softened. She said casually, “I have class later. You?”

“No.” Song Yixi was about to say she’d leave with her, but she remembered Yu Wei. She couldn’t ditch her again. “Oh, I’m waiting for Yu Wei. She went to the restroom.”

“Mhm.” Xu Qingyu glanced at the guy still lingering by Song Yixi’s side. In an extremely calm tone, she said:

“Come pick me up after class.”

Song Yixi was stunned. Xu Qingyu’s tone wasn’t mean, nor did it sound like she was bossing her around, but there was a certain weight to it—an authoritative pressure that demanded obedience.

It felt like a warning shot, though not aimed at Song Yixi.

Song Yixi didn’t overthink it. Her mouth moved faster than her brain. “Oh. Okay.”

A slight curve appeared on Xu Qingyu’s lips—a winner’s smile. It was faint and didn’t look entirely real. She said nothing more. Her eyes swept past the 6’3″ guy, her smile fading, and then she simply walked away.

Song Yixi frowned slightly, annoyed at how quickly she’d agreed and confused by Xu Qingyu’s odd behavior. Xu Qingyu had never asked to be picked up before.

That phrase—pick me up after class—gave Song Yixi the same feeling as the hand-holding. It sounded like something you’d say to a girlfriend. She didn’t know how Xu Qingyu managed to make it sound so natural.

She sighed and stepped away from the guy, putting some distance between them. She found him annoying. He tried to speak to her again, but Song Yixi gave him no opening, walking toward the exit while texting Yu Wei.

By the time the message was sent, Yu Wei had returned. Song Yixi let out a sigh of relief. “Any slower and I would have had to mount a rescue mission in that restroom.”

“The restroom was too gross; I had to go to the next building over.” Yu Wei noticed the tall guy. “What happened?”

“Let’s go.” Song Yixi pulled her along, only speaking once they were clear of the gym. “That guy is weird. Why ask for my WeChat? Who knows if Chen Jingyu sent him to settle a score. She really holds a grudge. She turned off my AC, and I haven’t even brought that up with her, yet she won’t let it go.”

Yu Wei’s expression grew complicated. “You think he’s here to settle a score? Why do I feel like he’s looking for a side dish while he’s still eating his main course?”

“What are you talking about?” Song Yixi didn’t understand and didn’t care. “Let’s go, it’s so hot. Let’s hang out in the library for a bit.”

Yu Wei was surprised. “No more classes, why not go home? The library? Since when do you love studying this much?”

“Xu Qingyu told me to wait for her to finish class.” Song Yixi checked the time. “Maybe you should head back first. It’s a two-hour block.”

“The senior asked you to wait for her?” For some reason, this felt even more like a “romantic atmosphere” to Yu Wei than the guy hitting on Song Yixi. She was fully supportive. “It’s boring to wait alone. I’ll stay with you. Let’s get ice cream at the shop by the TCM building. I heard it’s good.”

Song Yixi refused firmly. “No. I’ll get fat.” She really didn’t want to go back to the days of being ridiculed. “Forget it, you go back. See you tonight.”

Fearing the temptation of ice cream, Song Yixi waved her off and ran toward the TCM building.

She reached the building without even losing her breath, only then remembering she was supposed to go to the library. The library was quite far from the TCM department; going back and forth now would waste a lot of time. After some hesitation, Song Yixi found a shaded spot to sit down and play on her phone to pass the time.

Worried that Xu Qingyu wouldn’t see her immediately, she even moved to a more conspicuous spot.

For some reason, the thought of waiting for Xu Qingyu made even the glaring sunlight feel pleasant.