The Premeditated Seductress Childhood Friend - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Is He Pursuing You?

Song Yixi immediately unbuckled her seatbelt.

“I’m going, I’m going!”

She didn’t dare offer a single word of protest. Like an obedient child, she got out of the car and escorted Xu Qingyu upstairs to her classroom.

They arrived quite early, and the room was still mostly empty. Song Yixi stopped at the doorway, suddenly feeling a wave of reluctance. Perhaps it was because they had just kissed, but the thought of being apart for a few hours felt like an eternity.

When she was a child, she had been just as clingy. Xu Qingyu would often ignore her, sitting in her wheelchair reading a book, so Song Yixi would spread a blanket on the floor next to her and play by herself. After a while, Xu Qingyu would give her snacks—expensive cookies, milk, or chocolates. Xu Qingyu never hesitated to share everything she had.

Back then, she didn’t understand what “parting” meant; she only knew that from the moment she opened her eyes, she was looking for Xu Qingyu. At night, she’d refuse to go home, insisting on sleeping next to her. Her mother would have to carry her home by force while she cried; she only listened when Xu Qingyu was the one telling her to go.

Thinking back on it now, that childhood clinginess felt different from this current “reluctance.” But one thing was certain: her behavior in high school, trying to distance herself from Xu Qingyu, had been nothing but self-inflicted torture.

She gave a self-deprecating laugh and took a step back. “I’m heading out.”

“Mhm.” Xu Qingyu set down her water bottle and sat in the front row, just a few meters away. Song Yixi stared at her from the door for a moment before finally tearing herself away.

Once downstairs, Song Yixi realized she still had Xu Qingyu’s car keys. She turned to take them back up but then thought about how Xu Qingyu had already settled in. It would be a hassle for her to come out and get them. Since Song Yixi had nothing to do, she figured she’d just come back and pick her up later.

With that in mind, she sent Xu Qingyu a message asking when her class ended. Xu Qingyu replied that it was a back-to-back session finishing at 5:00 PM.

Song Yixi: I have your car keys. I’ll drive the car off for now and come back to pick you up at five.

Xu Qingyu replied with an “OK.” Song Yixi couldn’t help but smile.

She sat in the car for a while and messaged Yu Wei to ask where she was.

Yu Wei: Still at the gym. The TCM seniors are gossiping—want to come listen?

Song Yixi expressed zero interest.

Yu Wei: Fine, you’re so unromantic. Yu Wei: By the way, the seniors suggested we earn more credits in our freshman year. Sophomore and junior years get really busy, and it’s hard to find time.] Yu Wei: The school seminars give credits. There’s a psychology lecture this afternoon. Want to go?

Song Yixi thought about it and asked: What time does it end?]She couldn’t be late to pick up Xu Qingyu.

Yu Wei: Around four or five? It’s about two hours long.

Song Yixi pressed: Four or five?

Yu Wei: …How should I know!

Seminars didn’t have strict end times; it depended on the lecturer’s pace. However, Song Yixi figured a psychology lecture would just be some general talk. If it ran late, she could just sneak out early; missing a few credits wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Song Yixi: [Alright, let’s go. See you in a bit.]

She signed up via the school app and drove over. The lecture was in a public classroom. Song Yixi met Yu Wei on the first floor, and they chatted as they walked upstairs.

Upon entering the room, she spotted a familiar face: “Mr. 6’3″.” Unusually, he wasn’t with Chen Jingyu, but with a few guys from his dorm. Song Yixi didn’t even recognize them as her own classmates and walked straight past them to sit in the row behind.

Yu Wei, who recognized everyone, whispered gossip to Song Yixi: “Looks like Chen Jingyu and 6’3″ had a fight. They didn’t even come together for a lecture that’s basically free credits.”

Song Yixi kept her head down playing a tile-matching game, letting the words go in one ear and out the other. “Mhm, makes sense.”

The next second, a message notification popped up on her phone:

[It’s me.] [Luan Zhouxin.]

Song Yixi searched her brain for a long time but couldn’t recall who that was. She swiped the notification away and kept playing. But the messages kept coming:

[I’m sorry about the conflict we had earlier.] [Chen Jingyu is just like that—sensitive and irritable. she loses her temper for no reason.] [Sometimes I can’t stand her either. I don’t know what to do.] [If only she could be a bit more friendly to people, like you.] [Sigh, I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but I really don’t know who to talk to. So much has happened and we haven’t even been together that long. Do you think I should keep going?]

Song Yixi’s brow furrowed deeper with every line. She knew who this was now.

She typed back a reply: [Sending secret messages to other girls to badmouth your own girlfriend—do you think you’re being noble? You’re really showing your true colors. Where do you get off being so superior?]

[Is your brain connected to your colon? If you don’t know what to do, why don’t you just let out a fart and blast yourself to death?]

She typed faster and faster, her insults getting harsher. Finally, she took a screenshot, blocked him, and posted it to her Moments.

Caption: [SB (Idiot)]

Feeling satisfied after the vent, Song Yixi stretched and went back to her game. Yu Wei saw it and joined in: “This guy has zero shame.”

Song Yixi chuckled. “And you said he was popular? This is it?”

Yu Wei coughed lightly. “Well, he is good-looking, he has a certain aura, and he’s gentle with girls. Who knew that privately…”

“Ugh, how disgusting. I told you he was looking for a side dish. He sent you those messages because he knows you don’t get along with Chen Jingyu. He wanted you to join him in badmouthing her so you’d feel sorry for him.”

“Then, once you feel bad enough for him, he’d find the right moment to make you the bad guy, dump Chen Jingyu, and date you.”

Song Yixi froze, processing those words. “Oh… so that’s what he meant.” She genuinely thought he just wanted to complain about his girlfriend.

Yu Wei twitched her lip. “You really need to spend more time on the internet.” She was officially tired of talking to her.

Song Yixi didn’t care; she was back in her game. Until a message from Xu Qingyu arrived: Is he pursuing you?

Song Yixi quickly switched apps. You think so too?

Xu Qingyu: Poor character. Not worth considering.

Song Yixi laughed. I just tore him a new one in my Moments. What is there to consider?

Xu Qingyu: Don’t consider anyone similar, either.

Song Yixi scratched her head, not quite understanding what she meant by “similar.” As she pondered this, the lecturer on stage announced the theme of today’s psychology course: Love.

She looked up and then back down at her phone to see another message from Xu Qingyu: Don’t consider anyone whose background you don’t know inside and out. You never know what kind of person they are in private.

Song Yixi frowned. Xu Qingyu’s words felt strange. Inside and out? The only person she knew “inside and out” was Xu Qingyu herself.

What? Was she supposed to date Xu Qingyu instead?

When that thought flashed through her mind, Song Yixi gave a silent, mocking laugh at herself. How is that possible? We’re both girls.

She turned off her phone and looked up, just as the lecturer said: “The topic of love we are discussing today is regarding… same-sex relationships.“

Song Yixi froze.