Chapter 275: Chapter 275

After meeting once during the holidays, Ye Ling hadn’t seen Shen Bin again until school started. Then, on the third day after the New Year, Zhao Guodong and the group of seven returned, bringing Ye Ling a lot of delicious food. Ye Ling’s dormitory box was filled with tasty treats, and Ye Ling even secretly gave Fu Lei two apples. However, someone saw it even though Ye Ling was trying to keep it under wraps; somehow it still drew attention. While the teachers didn’t notice, it made Zhao Guodong furious. By the time Ye Ling found out, Zhao Guodong had already beaten up Fu Lei, who came to school the next day with a bruised face, prompting the teacher to have a talk with him. Fu Lei merely said he tripped accidentally, though it was clearly not just a fall. Since he wanted to cover it up, the teacher didn’t ask further, and the matter was brushed aside.

Ye Ling was worried and held back until after school to ask Zhao Guodong, "Tell me, what was that all about? It’s just two apples, he didn’t go home for the New Year, and we’re classmates, how could you beat him like that?"

Zhao Guodong was still angry, "How dare you say that? Out of all the classmates, why did you give it to him? Can you honestly say you have no ulterior motives?"

Zhang Linong and Wang Ping didn’t stop Zhao Guodong, while Liu Zhiyuan and the others were watching on the side.

Under the watchful eyes of this group and Zhao Guodong’s words, Ye Ling couldn’t help feeling guilty, "I have no ulterior motives, we’re just classmates."

Zhao Guodong gritted his teeth in anger, "You better remember what you said."

"What if I remember what I said?" Ye Ling glared back.

Furious, Zhao Guodong turned around and walked away briskly.

Ye Ling looked at Zhang Linong, who shrugged, "I’ll go and persuade him."

For some reason, Ye Ling felt Zhang Linong seemed sad, while Wang Ping walked away with a face full of indignation. At this moment, Ye Ling felt as if she’d committed a heinous crime, like someone guilty of a crime.

Liu Zhiyuan came over and looked at Ye Ling, "Among so many people in our compound, you chose an outsider, so of course that made him angry."

He was obviously referring to Zhao Guodong.

Ye Ling’s face flushed again, "Fu Lei and I are really just classmates, not what you guys think."

Besides, what’s the big deal if I really do find a boyfriend? Why should I have to choose from among them? It’s as if I’m like a queen, or they’ve all made a pact about me.

"Liar." Sun Mingjie, walking with Liu Zhiyuan, threw out the comment, earning a glare from Ye Ling. This text is hosted at novel fire.net

Dong Haoyu usually kept out of matters, so he didn’t react to this, leaving Xiang Weilai alone. Ye Ling, facing his half-smiling eyes, couldn’t help but ask, "You don’t also think there’s something between Fu Lei and me, do you?"

"I know there’s nothing between you two, otherwise Zhao Guodong wouldn’t need to act, I’d make sure Fu Lei’s life wouldn’t be easy." Such harsh words were said so gently that one couldn’t help but take them seriously.

Ye Ling bit her lip, "Why are you all so against it? Normally, you guys get along well with Fu Lei. Besides, even if there was something between Fu Lei and me, that’s my own business, what does beating up Fu Lei solve?"

"Rare to see you expressing grievances," Xiang Weilai laughed, looking like a handsome fox, with his naturally almond-shaped eyes. His smile made it hard for people to look away, "Ye Ling, do you have feelings for Fu Lei?"

The question was asked with extreme seriousness.

Ye Ling’s heart skipped a beat. Even though Xiang Weilai was smiling so gently, at that moment, she felt his presence was overwhelming. For a long time, she didn’t dare to speak, it was her first time feeling pressured by Xiang Weilai.

"It’s good that you don’t." Xiang Weilai smiled, gently patting Ye Ling’s head as if she were a child, "Remember what you said today."

Then he swaggered away.

Ye Ling came to her senses as Xiang Weilai walked further away, stomping her foot in anger. She hadn’t even spoken, so how come it became what she supposedly said? Today, everyone was showing her a face, and what was that Liu Zhiyuan mentioned about having to choose one among them?

Ye Ling didn’t even feel like eating. When she returned to the dormitory, Liu Nan had already brought back the food. Since it’s the second semester, Yang Hui was still in class studying and hadn’t returned, while Ma Yue and Dong Minghui were flipping through fashion magazines. When Ye Ling came in, the two looked up from their magazines, giving Ye Ling a glance, which Ye Ling ignored and sat directly down on a chair.

Liu Nan pushed the food box in front of her, "Eat."

Although naive, Liu Nan and Yang Hui were close to Ye Ling, so they could somewhat sense Ye Ling’s feelings, and knew Ye Ling was close with Fu Lei. Now that Fu Lei had been beaten, aside from Zhao Guodong’s group, they couldn’t think of anyone else who could have done it. After all, Fu Lei could be considered a friend of Sui Gang, who was somewhat of a bully in the class, and even a distant relative of Fu Lei. Who would dare bully Fu Lei, and if Sui Gang did nothing, it was easy to guess a bit.

Ye Ling ate four steamed buns in a row, finishing all the dishes Liu Nan brought. Liu Nan watched from the side, "Seeing you eat so much makes me relieved, knowing you’re not worried."

Ye Ling nearly choked, coughing fiercely. Just as Yang Hui returned, she poured water for Ye Ling, who gulped it down in large swigs, finally calming down. Her face was flushed, no one could tell if it was from Liu Nan’s words or from choking on the water. Liu Nan and Yang Hui couldn’t help but laugh.

"I’m so annoyed with everything right now, and you guys are still laughing." Over the past six months, Ye Ling had become more cheerful, with a lot more smiles on her face.

Liu Nan put on a surrendering look, "Luckily you’re annoyed, otherwise I fear eight buns wouldn’t be enough to fill your stomach. But I’m curious, why don’t you gain any weight despite eating so much?"

"You two also don’t need to worry about your figures every day. After graduation, once you enter the military, it’s impossible not to slim down with all the training." Ye Ling’s spirits were lifted somewhat by their chat, "Did you check on Fu Lei? I didn’t have the chance to talk to him during the day."

Especially after Fu Lei got beaten, Ye Ling really didn’t dare to talk to Fu Lei anymore, fearing Zhao Guodong would beat him again. Others were manageable, but Zhao Guodong’s temper was too impulsive; now with Xiang Weilai’s words, Ye Ling wasn’t afraid.

"It’s nothing, just a few bruises, he’ll be fine in a few days." Liu Nan replied.

Aside, Yang Hui was closely observing Ye Ling. Since the semester started, Ye Ling’s previously darker complexion had lightened over the past six months. With her pointed chin, despite single eyelids, she didn’t look bad, with lips thin on top and thick on the bottom, giving a plump appearance. Despite single eyelids, her eyes weren’t small, and her pupils were dark. Her hair had been cut short before the school’s military training, giving her a playful look with shoulder-length student hair.

Yang Hui watched Ye Ling’s gradual transformation, feeling something indescribable inside. (To be continued. If you liked this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)