The boy stood beside her. They were so close, so close that Su Qing could even feel his breath.
From his exercise, he carried a fiery, arousing aura.
Looking down, Su Qing rubbed her fingertips, then cautiously reached out and grasped the edge of the boy's shirt.
"Jiang Sui..."
Her face was a little stiff, and her voice was soft and dry.
In the sunlight, the boy's hair shone a hint of brown, and his gaze, cast upon the girl, was slightly distant.
"Qing Qing, who's calling?"
Black pupils, cold and stern, a faint frown formed between the boy's brows.
Feeling Su Qing's delicate fingertips tug at the edge of his clothes, the boy felt a flame ignite within him, sizzling deep within.
Her limp little head hung low, not daring to look at the boy, as she fiddled with her fingers.
"Jiang Sui, please stop asking."
The girl's once gentle whispers now felt like sharp knives slicing at every nerve in his ear.
"Qing Qing!"
The harsh tone of his voice, his eyes tinged with anger, was suppressed with difficulty.
She was clearly hiding something from him, and Jiang Sui could probably guess a little by now. Her behavior these past few days was probably related to that phone call.
The girl's delicate shoulders trembled slightly. One hand had already left the edge of his clothes and was constantly clawing at the edge of her clothes. Her lower lip was red from biting.
Her refusal to confess filled Jiang Sui with a cold sense of frustration.
He didn't want to force it, but he didn't dare to vent his anger on her. The girl's eyes were filled with redness, and a faint pleading in them pierced his heart.
"Okay, if you don't tell me, I'll have someone investigate."
Jiang Sui's voice was hoarse, and the empty bottle of mineral water in his palm had been crumpled into a ball, clutched in his fist as if to vent his anger.
Seeing Jiang Sui about to reach for his phone, Su Qing hurriedly grabbed his arm, stopping him from making the call.
"Jiang Sui, don't..."
She clutched the boy's wrist tightly and hurried forward to stop him, her gaze fixed on Jiang Sui. Her soft palms were damp with sweat. Despite the bright sun, her hands felt cold.
Her tender eyes now held a hint of sorrow, and a bitter, sour taste lingered in her mouth. Su Qing felt timid, her fair face paling even more.
"Don't."
The young man paused, his brows lowered, his gaze fixed on the phone, his fingers still clenched, never pressing the dial button.
"What thing that you can't tell me?"
The young man's handsome face was etched with frustration as he stared intently at the delicate, slightly pale face.
He was simmering with anger, his resentment overflowing uncontrollably.
"Qing Qing, who did you tell this to? It has nothing to do with me!"
The thought that the girl was hiding something from him ripped Jiang Sui's inner anger and frustration into submission, and he clenched his fists tightly.
Su Qing had clearly sensed that the boy seemed to have calmed down considerably, though his voice was noticeably higher now.
She saw the veins bulging on the boy's arm, where she had gripped him, in anger.
"Jiang Sui, I..."
Her clear eyes held a trace of brokenness, and the words stagnated in her throat, unsettled.
She had already made up her mind today to pursue the person who had harmed her, but Su Qing hadn't caught anything. Her trip had been in vain, and the boy had even caught her lying.
Thinking of the photo...
Thinking of the scholarship...
Thinking of Su Rao...
And those who bullied her, those who were working behind secretly.
Thinking of what happened at Jiangcheng No. 1 Middle School, Su Qing subconsciously bit her lip and loosened her grip on Jiang Sui's arm.
She timidly took a few steps back, putting some distance between herself and the boy. From the side, she could still see Jiang Sui putting his clothes on the ground for her to sit on.
The young man cared for her gently, like a gentle breeze. His deep, star-like eyes always focused on her alone. He even smiled at her during their basketball games.
Watching the girl retreat, Jiang Sui's eyes suddenly turned piercingly cold. He reached out to grab Su Qing's wrist, but she shook him off.
His handsome, elegant face suddenly took on a sullen expression. He ignored his missed fingertips and stared at the retreating girl.
Su Qing pursed her lips slightly. "Jiang Sui, I just don't like you."
She still didn't dare meet his eyes, nor did she dare to see the boy's reaction. With her head bowed, a wry smile played at the corners of Su Qing's lips.
The air suddenly grew quiet, the scorching sunlight seeming chilly.
Jiang Sui waited for the girl's reaction, only to receive a single sentence, "I just don't like you."
Without any explanation, it seemed as if she had never intended to confess to him from the beginning.
His brows grew cold, and his fingers, unretracted, stiffened as he tried to grasp the girl's arm again, only to be evaded.
"Qing Qing, stop making joke."
His voice, shrill and windy, carried a note of emptiness, his throat tight and dry.
"I'm not making a joke."
The girl's voice was so soft, like an invisible knife, slicing through his heart with unwavering sharpness.
Soft hair, a fleeing gesture. Su Qing, mentally prepared, looked up.
Jiang Sui was both unfamiliar and familiar with Su Qing like this.
He had seen her before.
Her stubborn expression held a cold, indifferent air.
"Qing Qing, come here. I won't ask any more questions. Talk when you want."
Jiang Sui momentarily tightened his fingertips, wanting to move closer to Su Qing, but every time he took a step forward, the girl took a step back.
The distance between them didn't close, but instead widened.
He figured if she didn't want to talk, he could investigate. Why force her to tell him? Faced with her evasion, Jiang Sui's heart sank.
"Jiang Sui, don't you understand?"
She spoke easily, no emotion in her eyes, no lingering glance. Those beautiful eyes held a cold, empty emptiness.
"Qing Qing, I'll say it again. Come here. You said before that you were insecure, that you wanted to play it safe at the slightest sign of trouble, and that blamed me for not protecting you enough and for putting too much pressure on you. Don't make me angry now. Come here."
The boy's dark eyes showed a look of extreme forbearance.
The words, "I don't like you," had nearly shattered his sanity. If she said anything more, he didn't know what he would do.
The taut jawline was cold and sharp.
"Come here."