The setting sun bathed the back of the school and the area outside the ssroom in a warm orange glow, where two figures stood awkwardly.


    The girl gazed at HuMing nervously, as though desperate to hear his response.


    HuMing, however, quietly pulled a folded letter from his pocket, handing it to her with a calm expression.


    "Sorry. I understand your feelings, but I can''t ept them."


    His tone was polite enough, but the girl froze momentarily upon hearing his words. Then sheughed softly, covering her face with her hand.


    "Ah, I kind of expected this oue, but it still stings a little. Can I ask you something, though? Do you have someone you like? Is it Xia XiaoXi?"


    The girl had, of course, seen HuMing and Xia XiaoXi together frequently and had heard the rumors about their acquaintance.


    Thinking about it now, Xia XiaoXi attending this school might even be because of HuMing. After all, he was an exceptional guy, and Xia XiaoXi seemed like a perfect match for him.Hearing her assumption, HuMing shook his head and replied, "There''s no such thing. Xia XiaoXi and I are just friends, nothing more. Right now, I think focusing on academics is more important."


    "Oh... I see." The girl exhaled softly, as if relieved, then tucked the letter away and ran in the opposite direction.


    Not far away, though, HuMing noticed another familiar figure---her friend, the same girl he had seen her withst time.


    The friendforted the girl gently, speaking in hushed tones as if trying to console her.


    HuMing watched the scene silently, feeling no particr emotion about it.


    Though it was his first time handling something like this, HuMing didn''t consider it a big deal. Yet, seeing the girl''s trembling back as she walked away, he did briefly wonder about her feelings at that moment.


    Not that he would try to find out---such a thing didn''t seem like something a normal person would do.


    With a soft sigh, he turned his head, only to spot Xia XiaoXi peeking at him from behind a tree nearby.


    "Eek~~~"


    Xia XiaoXi let out a startled sound as their eyes met, and HuMing strode over without hesitation.


    "What are you doing here?"


    "I''m observing how you reduced a lovely young girl to tears!"


    "UC News is seriously missing out by not hiring you."


    "But just now, you outright denied any rtionship between us! That really hurt my feelings! Are you saying you''repletely unwilling to consider bing my boyfriend?" Xia XiaoXi puffed up her cheeks, ring at him usingly.


    HuMing rolled his eyes and gave a blunt, straightforward response.


    "Yes."


    "Ugh! Can''t you at least try to say something nice? Girls need to be coaxed, you know!"


    "Funny, so do boys!"


    HuMing shed a confident smile, leaving Xia XiaoXi frantically tugging at her hair.


    As much as she didn''t want to admit it, his calm andposed response was incredibly frustrating.


    "Hmph, forget it. Let''s go. I''m going to make you suffer today!"


    * * * * *


    In the car, HuMing couldn''t ignore the asional nces from the driver in the front seat.


    Even though the man wore sunsses, HuMing could still feel his intermittent stares through the rearview mirror.


    Xia XiaoXi, oblivious to the tension, scanned her surroundings excitedly, firing off questions about the nearby buildings.


    HuMing gave half-hearted replies, his mind elsewhere.


    When the three of them arrived at arge shopping mall, Xia XiaoXi immediately dashed into a clothing store upon spotting it.


    With her mask on, no one seemed to recognize her.


    HuMing checked his phone for the time, then slipped it back into his pocket. Just then, a shadow appeared beside him.


    It was the driver, now standing at his side, his voice low and cautious.


    "Though I don''t know who you are, our youngdy certainly doesn''t seem to know you," the man said, his tone sharp like a warning. He clearly wanted to make it known that he was well aware of anyone who had ever been near Xia XiaoXi. ?


    Hearing this, HuMing raised an eyebrow and countered calmly, "Why don''t you ask her yourself? Maybe she''ll tell you the full story."


    His casual response made the man''s face darken.


    Of course, he was curious about HuMing''s motives. However, Xia XiaoXi had made it clear that this matter was a secret between her and the young man before him. She had expressly instructed him not to let this secret slip out. If HuMing were to face any trouble because of it, she would be upset.


    Though Xia XiaoXi''s tone had been lighthearted when she said this, the man could sense the seriousness underlying her words.


    He had no doubt---if he let the secret slip, the youngdy would show him no mercy.


    With that thought, his tone turned icier.


    "I''m warning you, don''t do anything to harm her."


    "I have no intention of dragging Xia XiaoXi into anything, so there''s no need to worry."


    "Hmph!"


    The man shot HuMing another cold nce before returning his attention to the clothing store.


    Before long, Xia XiaoXi stepped out of the fitting room.


    She wore a short, powder-purple shoulder cape that entuated her figure perfectly, paired with a pale-yellow velvet knee-length skirt. Her jet-ck hair fell in natural waves over her shoulders. Her bright, clear eyes, gracefully arched brows, and longshes fluttered slightly. Her fair, wless skin had a faint blush that hinted at her youthful charm.


    Even with her face partially obscured by a mask, her elegance and poise captivated everyone around her.


    HuMing opened his mouth slightly, but words failed him.


    Some people could only be described with the word "beautiful". It wasn''t ack of vocabry; it was simply that no amount of praise could surpass the essence of that single word.


    Xia XiaoXi walked over to him, her voice cheerful as she asked, "Well? How does it look? Pretty good, right?"


    "Even if I said it didn''t look good, I doubt anyone else would agree with me."


    "Hehe, exactly!" Xia XiaoXi grinned, then nced at the man. "Let''s go with this outfit. Afterward, we''ll grab something to eat!"


    "Just this one outfit? I thought you''d try on a bunch more and buy a whole haul," HuMing said, surprised. In his mind, girls like her loved indulging in shopping sprees at stores like this.


    The man, however, let out a faintly disdainfulugh.


    "Our youngdy has never been one to splurge frivolously."


    "Well, clothes are about finding the one you like the most. If I buy too many, I''ll end up struggling to chooseter!" Xia XiaoXi replied with augh before heading back toward the fitting room.


    Her candid remark and simple decision left HuMing with a newfound impression of her.