Chapter 83: Because She Is Obsessed with Love, Her Boyfriend's Madness Doesn't Matter (15)

A few young people exchanged meaningful glances. Having heard that Bai Yao’s boyfriend was just her neighbor—a mere junior reporter—they were all curious to see what special qualities this man possessed to win the heart of their campus belle.

The elective course brought together students from different majors into one classroom.

Bai Yao was only attending this elective because He Cai had dragged her along; the reason was simple: the campus F4 had also signed up for the class. And their reason was just as straightforward—Su Youyou had chosen this course.

Bai Yao glanced at the listless He Cai and asked, “Don’t you usually get excited when you see Dongfang Xuan? Why do you look so out of sorts now?”

He Cai cast a plaintive look at Dongfang Xuan in the distance. He was watching Su Youyou with a complicated expression. Displeased, He Cai said, “Xuanxuan has been acting strange these past few days.”

“What do you mean, strange?” Bai Yao asked.

He Cai replied, “A few days ago, he took leave and didn’t come to school. When I went to his house, he wouldn’t see me. And just yesterday, he actually went to see Su Youyou and paid off all her family’s debts. In the past, he’d at least say a few words to me when I called out to him, but now he spends every day orbiting around Su Youyou. It’s like she’s all he sees.”

He Cai’s anger flared again. “I’ve told him so many times that Su Youyou isn’t as innocent as she looks—she only likes him for his money. But Xuanxuan just won’t listen to me!”

Bai Yao patted He Cai’s shoulder sympathetically. “You have to understand, people in love lose all sense and reason.”

He Cai shot Bai Yao a sidelong glance, thinking that Bai Yao was the least qualified person to say that.

Lately, Dongfang Xuan was feeling rather unsettled.

For reasons he couldn’t fathom, he woke up one day to find he could hear other people’s thoughts. At first, he thought it was just his imagination, but when he accurately guessed what the housekeeper and his friends were thinking, he realized it was all real.

He truly could hear other people’s thoughts.

Just yesterday, he’d happened upon Su Youyou being hounded by a debt collector and helped her pay off her debts. He told himself he was only helping her because they were classmates—absolutely not because he harbored any personal feelings for her!

Su Youyou, tears shimmering in her eyes, clutched the hem of his shirt like a timid little bunny. “Thank you, Dongfang. I’ll definitely repay your kindness!”

Dongfang Xuan responded haughtily, “Let go.”

Su Youyou released her grip, fearfully, but in her heart, he heard: These rich young masters are really easy marks—just a little act and they’re all rushing over to help me. Playing the innocent damsel is exhausting, but if it weren’t for his money, I’d never bother with this charade!

Dongfang Xuan was certain he hadn’t misheard, and he was utterly stunned.

He’d always thought that he simply couldn’t stand such weak, helpless girls, yet time and again, he found himself helping her. Now, with this new ability, he realized that this woman had two faces!

It turned out Su Youyou didn’t flatter him as other women did; in fact, she looked down on him at heart.

Having never been thwarted by a woman before, Dongfang Xuan suddenly felt an unfamiliar sense of frustration. The more he thought about it, the more he found his attention drawn to Su Youyou. He wanted to see just how long she could keep up the act!

However, in crowds, the influx of countless thoughts into his mind left him irritable and exhausted. So when Su Youyou was dragged off to play by the other three of the F4, Dongfang Xuan retreated to the quiet of the library.

This document should help with my thesis.

Oh no, this book is too difficult! What am I going to do about grad school?

The homework that balding teacher assigned is way too hard! Maybe I can find something to copy in these books…

Such study-related thoughts were far more pleasant to hear than the chaotic noise outside the library.

Yesterday, I think I was pretty gentle with him. I hope I didn’t hurt him. His body feels so nice to touch… I want to touch him again, to make him lose his mind, first like this (beep), then like that (beep), hehehe…

Suddenly, Dongfang Xuan caught a string of thoughts riddled with censored sounds, and he froze. He followed the mental voice to its source—a girl sitting in the corner. His eyes widened.

Bai Yao, her book open on the desk, wasn’t reading at all. Resting her face in her hands, she was lost in her own amusing thoughts, a bright smile on her lips.

A few boys nearby were watching her.

The campus belle’s smile is so beautiful!

Her smile is so healing!

Moments like this make life feel so peaceful.

Wake up! That’s a lecherous grin if I ever saw one!

Dongfang Xuan’s expression became a tapestry of emotions.

Noticing his stare, Bai Yao shot Dongfang Xuan a cold look.

What are you staring at, you pretentious jerk?

Dongfang Xuan felt a surge of frustration. He walked straight over and sat across from Bai Yao, his gaze cold and his words tinged with sarcasm. “It seems you had a wonderful time with your boyfriend last night, didn’t you, Bai?”

Bai Yao smiled openly. “I did.”

She was an adult; there was nothing shameful about having an intimate life with her boyfriend. Why should she be afraid to admit it?

Dongfang Xuan was astonished by her brazenness. Thanks to Su Youyou, he and Bai Yao had always been at odds, but he had to admit—of all the thoughts he’d overheard, the admiration the boys felt for her was almost always genuine.

Unlike him, who was the target of Su Youyou’s duplicity—one thing to his face, another behind his back.

A strange curiosity took hold of Dongfang Xuan. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he asked, “Bai Yao, if—just hypothetically—you could suddenly hear other people’s thoughts, and you discovered that someone you cared about acted very differently toward you in private than in public, what would you do?”

Bai Yao gave him a puzzled look. “What else? I’d stop hanging out with them, of course.”

After all, everyone had many sides. Bai Yao was sure that not everyone around her was showing their true selves—He Cai, for instance.

But as long as she didn’t catch He Cai bad-mouthing her, she could pretend not to know. If she ever did find out, though, it would be different—she’d keep her distance, because things would never be easy between them again.

Dongfang Xuan straightened up. “So, imagine a girl who always acts weak and pitiful in front of you. You help her pay off her debts, but behind your back, she mocks you for being foolish and rich. Wouldn’t you think she’s—”

“Wouldn’t you say she’s interesting?” Bai Yao interrupted, leaving Dongfang Xuan speechless.

She frowned at him. “Are you out of your mind? You spend money on her and she doesn’t even treat you like a golden goose—instead, she says you’re an idiot behind your back. If you don’t stay far away from a two-faced person like that, you’re just asking for trouble.”

Dongfang Xuan fell silent.

Bai Yao went on, “If I really had the power to hear people’s thoughts, I’d only spend time with those who truly love me for my money. That way, spending money would at least make me happy.”

Wait—wasn’t there something wrong with that logic, too?

At that moment, He Cai came over carrying two drinks. Spotting Dongfang Xuan, her eyes lit up.

Bai Yao, ever perceptive, glanced at her watch and excused herself, saying she had something to attend to.

He Cai immediately sat down across from Dongfang Xuan, trying her best to smile demurely. “What a coincidence, Dongfang.”

Dongfang Xuan was still replaying Bai Yao’s words in his mind. Looking at He Cai, he couldn’t help but ask, “I’ve told you before, you don’t need to take our parents’ arrangement seriously. Why do you still like me?”

He Cai was anything but reserved—otherwise, she and Bai Yao would never get along. She answered briskly, “I’ve said it before: I don’t like you because of some marriage pact. You’re rich and handsome—my ideal fiancé!”

That’s right, I like you because you’re rich and handsome!

Staring at He Cai’s smiling face, Dongfang Xuan was momentarily dazed.

He’d seen too many people who praised his character and trustworthiness to his face, but secretly only wanted his money or his looks. He Cai was the only one who could be so honest about loving his face and his wealth, inside and out.

Bai Yao left the library, silently wishing that He Cai’s devotion wouldn’t end in heartbreak. Thinking of her own beloved boyfriend, she found the perfect angle, took a selfie, and sent it to him: Lu Sheng, do I look good?

The reply came instantly: You look amazing!

Bai Yao smiled with satisfaction.

Behind a tree, a boy wrapped in a hat and sunglasses, his whole body concealed in shadow, held a camera in one hand. Staring at the girl through his lens, he licked his lips unconsciously, then put away his phone and started snapping photos rapidly.

“Yao Yao is so beautiful.” He inhaled deeply, savoring the scent in the air, hands pressed to his face as if to trap it there. “Yao Yao smells so good... I really want to kiss her.”

He leaned weakly against the tree, looking every bit the madman lurking in the shadows.