Chapter 25: You Deserve It

After Qin Cheng left, Xie Xu said to Lu Yiqi, “I thought you’d help him.”

Lu Yiqi shook her head. “A lot of things aren’t up to me anymore, even if I wanted to help. Besides, seeing Qin Cheng like that, he’s hardly sincere about wanting to change. His family business is gone, his title as the young master of the Qin family has vanished, so he’s forced to come to us. In the end, he brought this upon himself, so he deserves it.”

A hint of admiration flashed in Xie Xu’s gaze. “That’s actually quite clever of you this time.”

“Of course,” Lu Yiqi replied instinctively, then immediately realized something was wrong. “Nonsense! What do you mean ‘this time’? I’m always clever, aren’t I?”

Xie Xu lowered his eyes and let out a soft laugh.

Xia Jing’an kept her promise, too. She said she would come to apologize to Lu Yiqi, and at noon after class, she arrived.

“Let me buy you two lunch,” she offered.

Xie Xu declined coolly, “No need. If you have something to say, just say it here.”

Xia Jing’an felt a bit awkward. Although it was lunchtime, a few students still lingered in the classroom. Apologizing to Lu Yiqi face-to-face like this was hard for her.

A minute passed, and Xia Jing’an still hadn’t spoken.

Xie Xu grew impatient. “If you have something to say, hurry up. We’re in a rush for lunch.”

Xia Jing’an gave an embarrassed smile, not daring to provoke Xie Xu. “Alright, I came today mainly to thank you, Xie Xu. And also…”

“What?”

“And also to… apologize to Lu.”

“Go ahead, then.”

Xie Xu glanced at his watch, counting the seconds in his mind.

“…”

Xia Jing’an was flustered. She thought an apology would be as simple as saying ‘sorry,’ but Xie Xu clearly didn’t intend to let her off so lightly.

So, Xia Jing’an stammered, “Lu… I’m sorry. I misunderstood you that day. I really apologize. Please forgive me.”

Normally, Xie Xu would have commented on her attitude, saying, “Not sincere enough, too perfunctory.” But now…

His impatient voice sounded again, “Are you done? If you’re done, Lu should give her answer. If she’s satisfied, we drop it; if not, let Xia come back next time.”

Lu Yiqi pointed at herself. “Ask me?”

“Obviously.”

“Oh.”

Xia Jing’an: ???

If she’s not satisfied, does that mean she has to come back and apologize again?

When had Miss Xia ever suffered such humiliation?

But she couldn’t afford to offend Xie Xu, so she could only look hopefully at Lu Yiqi, eager to know her answer.

Lu Yiqi hesitated. “Uh…”

Xie Xu pressed, “Didn’t you hear me tell you to hurry up and respond?”

Just as Xia Jing’an thought Xie Xu was about to lose his temper at Lu Yiqi—

“You’re dragging this out forever. If you don’t hurry up, you won’t get a spot at that restaurant you wanted to go to.”

Lu Yiqi: “…”

Xia Jing’an: “…”

The icy, arrogant image of Xie Xu that Xia Jing’an had built up in her heart began to crumble.

Was this really Xie Xu? Was he swapped with someone else?

The moment she heard about losing their place in line, Lu Yiqi stopped caring about anything else and addressed Xia Jing’an in a perfunctory tone, “Fine, I forgive you.”

Xia Jing’an: ???

After Lu Yiqi forgave her, she waved at Xie Xu, “Quick, quick, let’s head out!”

“Alright.”

Xia Jing’an watched as their figures gradually disappeared from her sight, blinked, and finally dissolved into a sigh so faint it was barely audible.