Chapter 62: Thank You, I Feel Mocked

Xie Xu’s words had left no room for misunderstanding. No matter how unwilling Cheng Jiajia was, she could only leave.

After Cheng Jiajia left, Lu Yiqi questioned Xie Xu, “What did you mean just now?”

She actually wanted to ask why he had used her as a shield, but Xie Xu misunderstood, thinking she was referring to his earlier comment that she was the only girl he could care about.

He felt inexplicably guilty, and his voice grew louder, as if to bolster his courage. “Don’t get any ideas! I was just… talking nonsense!”

“Oh.”

“I’m serious, don’t take it to heart… I only used you as a shield, that group of women is so annoying.”

…I know you used me as a shield.

“I chose you as my shield because I think highly of you! Most people wouldn’t qualify, and besides, I help you with your studies, so using you as a shield… that’s not a big deal, right?”

When he said this last part, his gaze wavered and his tone betrayed uncertainty.

Lu Yiqi burst out laughing.

Xie Xu: Thank you, I feel thoroughly mocked.

“Yiqi.”

A gentle male voice sounded from the side. Both Lu Yiqi and Xie Xu turned to look.

“Yan Yi, brother?”

Yan Yi responded with a soft “Hmm.”

Since Xie Xu caught sight of Yan Yi, his face had become expressionless.

He regretted letting Lu Yiqi call him over. Tsk.

What had he been thinking at the time? Oh, maybe he wanted Yan Yi to witness the young master of the Xie family. But why? Boredom? Territorial display?

He didn’t know.

Lu Yiqi and Yan Yi had already started chatting.

“How come you’re here?”

“I came to find you.” Yan Yi asked, “The friend you mentioned earlier, was it Xie?”

“Yes, yes.”

Xie Xu curled his lips, thinking: My birthday party, and you didn’t come for me—did you come for her?

Yan Yi suddenly turned his gaze to Xie Xu, offering an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’ve been busy lately. I only remembered Yiqi said you invited me to your party. Today’s your birthday, right? Happy birthday.”

Xie Xu replied coldly, “No worries. Star Yan is a busy man, it’s only natural you’d forget. My mistake, really—I shouldn’t have asked a celebrity to spare his valuable time for my birthday party.”

His words were barbed; Lu Yiqi frowned but said nothing.

Yan Yi handled it smoothly. “Not at all. We’re classmates, so of course we’re friends, too. There’s no ‘valuable time’ to speak of—I’m glad I could come. By the way, I haven’t prepared your gift yet, Xie. I hope you won’t mind if I make it up to you in a few days?”

He asked sincerely, but Xie Xu had no interest in his gift. “Of course not. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Star Yan.”

Their awkward conversation quickly ended.

Suddenly, Xie Xu called Lu Yiqi’s name.

Lu Yiqi: ???

What now?

With a gloomy expression, Xie Xu said, “Where’s my gift?”

Lu Yiqi: …

She blinked, trying to bluff her way through.

“You didn’t forget, did you?”

“No, no!” she denied quickly.

“Then take it out.”

…

She wanted to, but…

She silently calculated. If she said she’d left the gift in the car and forgot to bring it down, what were her chances of not getting beaten up by Xie Xu?