Chapter 107: Bonus – When We Were Young Part Six
“So free? Not doing your homework anymore?” Qin Ai asked, her tone dismissive, but there was a hint of annoyance in her voice.
The new student had been so enthusiastic when they first met, and now she was responding to other people’s feelings. Qin Ai pursed her lips, not even realizing how jealous she felt.
Zuo Bian looked up and smiled. “They put effort into writing me letters, I think it’s only polite to respond.”
“Who wrote them?” If anyone who knew Qin Ai well were present, they would have recognized the dangerous glint in her eyes.
Someone was about to suffer.
Zuo Bian hesitated. Qin Ai was losing her patience, she was annoyed.
“I’ll see for myself.” She snatched the love letters from under Zuo Bian’s hand, reading the names and smirking coldly.
She memorized the names of all the boys who had sent the letters. Zuo Bian looked at her, puzzled. Qin Ai tossed the letters back onto Zuo Bian’s desk, her tone sarcastic. “Their handwriting is atrocious, their grammar is terrible, some even copied cheesy lines from the internet. And you’re going to seriously respond to them? I advise you to save your time and do more math problems.”
Zuo Bian thought Qin Ai’s words made sense. She nodded, put the letters away, and took out her math worksheet.
Qin Ai’s expression softened slightly.
Jiang Yuandong and Liu Liu, who were sitting in front of them, listened silently, not daring to make a sound. Boss was in a bad mood, it was best not to get caught in the crossfire.
Zuo Bian had wanted to walk home with Qin Ai, but Qin Ai disappeared as soon as school ended.
Seeing that Jiang Yuandong was still there, Zuo Bian tapped her shoulder gently. “Jiang Yuandong, do you know where Qin Ai went in such a hurry?”
Jiang Yuandong adjusted her glasses. Based on her understanding of Qin Ai, she was probably going to confront those boys with Liu Liu.
She had only mentioned wanting to be the rebound guy, and Qin Ai had given her a terrifying look. Those who had dared to send Zuo Bian love letters were doomed.
However, Jiang Yuandong also knew that Qin Ai cared about her image, she wouldn’t tell Zuo Bian the truth. Telling on Boss was asking for trouble. So she said, “Boss… she was probably invited to a competition.”
“Oh, thank you, Jiang Yuandong.” Zuo Bian smiled at her and then packed her things, ready to go home.
Qin Ai loved racing, it was normal for her to go to a competition with her friends. Zuo Bian was curious to see what Qin Ai looked like on the racetrack, but it seemed like she wouldn’t be able to see it today.
===============
At that moment, Qin Ai, Liu Liu, and a few of her lackeys had cornered a boy against the wall. The boy smiled nervously. “Qin Jie, w-what’s going on? I didn’t bully anyone.”
Not only did Qin Ai beat up bullies from other schools, but she also occasionally taught a lesson to those who bullied the weak in their own school.
—Although she was currently acting like a bully herself.
“Think about what you’ve done recently.” Qin Ai crossed her arms, looking at the cowering boy.
The boy frantically searched his memories. “Ah!” he exclaimed, slapping his forehead. “Qin Jie, I won’t write love letters to your girlfriend anymore, I swear! To be honest, it was my twin brother who has a crush on her, it has nothing to do with me!”
Qin Ai wouldn’t believe his nonsense, but her goal wasn’t to punish him, but to warn him.
“I’ll let you off the hook this time, but if I catch you doing it again, you won’t be so lucky. And I know you’re a gossip, spread the word that Zuo Bian is my girlfriend.” She slammed her foot against the wall, tilting her head, her eyes dark.
The terrified boy nodded repeatedly. “Qin Jie, since you’ve spoken, I’ll do whatever it takes!”
Qin Ai retracted her leg and turned around, walking away.
Liu Liu and the others immediately followed. Liu Liu, emboldened, asked, “Boss, didn’t you deny it before? How come she’s your girlfriend now?”
Qin Ai’s face had thickened, so she replied shamelessly, “People keep sending her love letters, it’s annoying.”
“Oh, I understand, I understand!” Liu Liu winked, clearly not believing her.
Qin Ai didn’t bother to explain, or rather, she couldn’t explain.
She walked towards her motorcycle, put on her helmet, and swung her leg over the seat.
She looked at her underlings and said, “You guys have fun today.”
The engine roared to life, and the motorcycle sped off, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
The strong wind carried the scorching heat of summer. Qin Ai enjoyed the feeling of freedom as she rode through the wind.
However, when she spotted a certain figure, she slowed down. She didn’t know what had come over her, but she whistled at Zuo Bian like a hooligan.
Zuo Bian instinctively turned around and smiled when she saw Qin Ai. “Qin Ai.”
“Are you walking home alone?” Qin Ai frowned.
Anyone would take a second glance at a beautiful girl like Zuo Bian. And wasn’t her skirt a bit too short? Her calves were exposed.
Zuo Bian replied, “Mm, I wanted to walk home today.”
Qin Ai propped one leg on the ground, her long legs even more prominent. “Get on.”
“Qin Ai, are you going to give me a ride home?” Zuo Bian looked at her with surprise.
Qin Ai deliberately put on a gruff voice. “Give you a ride home? I’m going to sell you. Do you dare to get on?”
Zuo Bian smiled, knowing she was joking.
“I’m not afraid.” She got on the motorcycle and wrapped her arms around Qin Ai’s waist, her body pressed against Qin Ai’s back.
Qin Ai stiffened the moment she felt Zuo Bian’s touch. She didn’t understand why she was reacting so strongly.
“What’s wrong? Am I crowding you?” Zuo Bian tilted her head and asked.
Qin Ai coughed. “Nothing, hold on tight.”
“Mm.” Zuo Bian tightened her grip, her arms fully encircling Qin Ai’s waist.
The motorcycle sped off. The wind whipped against Qin Ai’s face, but it didn’t cool her down. Instead, she felt a strange heat rising in her chest, threatening to burst out.
She wanted to go faster, to shake off this inexplicable feeling, but she didn’t dare to go too fast, afraid of scaring the girl behind her.
Damn it! When did she become so hesitant?
“Qin Ai, Qin Ai…”
“What?” Qin Ai’s voice was stiff and unnatural.
Zuo Bian looked at the scenery passing by. “Do you not know where I live? This isn’t the way to my house.”
Qin Ai snorted. “I told you I was going to sell you, why would I take you home?”
“Can I sell myself to you? I’m easy to keep, just feed me and I’ll be happy.”
How could this girl be so adorable? Qin Ai felt like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She almost said “okay” without thinking.
“Who would buy you? You look delicate and high-maintenance, trying to trick me.” Her words contradicted her thoughts.
Zuo Bian chuckled, her body shaking with laughter. Qin Ai felt her face heating up for some reason.
“What are you laughing at?” Qin Ai was still a pure and innocent girl at this age, her actions far less calculated and manipulative than her adult self. In Zuo Bian’s eyes, she was naive and adorable.
Zuo Bian shook her head. “I’m laughing at your hypocrisy.”
“You better explain yourself clearly, or I’ll beat you up. I’m not afraid to hit a girl.”
“You might be complaining, but your eyes are saying you like me.” Zuo Bian nuzzled Qin Ai’s back with her cheek, a gesture filled with affection.
Qin Ai slowed down, her lips pursed. After a long silence, she finally said, “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“You really don’t like me?” Zuo Bian leaned forward, looking intently at Qin Ai’s profile.
This time, Qin Ai couldn’t bring herself to lie. “Why are you asking? Are you annoying? If you ask again, I’ll kiss you.”
Zuo Bian’s smile widened. She leaned closer to Qin Ai’s ear. “I know, you just want to kiss me. You know I’ll keep asking. Qin Ai, do you like me or not?”
Qin Ai suddenly stopped the motorcycle, put down the kickstand, and turned around, cupping Zuo Bian’s face and trying to kiss her.
But Zuo Bian dodged, and Qin Ai’s lips landed on her cheek.
Even just a kiss on the cheek made Qin Ai’s heart race. Young love was pure and passionate, untainted by other factors. It was a simple flutter of the heart.
Zuo Bian was also flustered. She touched the spot where Qin Ai had kissed her, her hand covering the blush that spread like a sunset across her cheek.
“Qin Ai, we can’t date.”
Qin Ai looked like she had been struck by lightning. She had almost forgotten that she had said those words to Zuo Bian.
“Tell me the truth, were you doing that on purpose?”
Deliberately teasing her, making her heart race, and then using her own words against her.
Zuo Bian shook her head innocently. “No, and you were mean to me before.”
Seeing the tears welling up in Zuo Bian’s eyes, Qin Ai panicked, not knowing what to do.
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