Chapter 46.2: Stay Back (2)

Ji Xinxin was going to participate in Lakeside University’s event the following day after meeting Song Shiyu, so she decided to take the opportunity to ask Bai Zhou out.

Bai Zhou refused to admit it, but he was incapable of concealing the anticipation in his voice.

His behavior had been a little weird recently, but Ji Xinxin wasn’t too worried about him. She figured that he was just in a low mood due to his previous confrontation with his father’s mistress and illegitimate son, and that he should bounce back soon enough. 

That being said, there was still a need for her to maintain her relationship with Bai Zhou. He was the sole successor of the ultrawealthy Bai Family, after all. 

I wonder if his parents’ illegitimate children would affect his inheritance rights. If so, I’d have to drop his priority level.

Ji Xinxin began revising the ranking list of her suitors on the way to Lakeside University. 

It didn’t take her long to reach her destination. She got off the cab and made her way into her alma mater. Before she could meet Bai Zhou, she encountered a tall man. 

This man was walking down the pathway alone with a stack of books in his arm. There was a cold, emotionless look on his face as he stared at the phone in his hand intently. With a swift glance at his dress-up, Ji Xinxin could tell that he was from an affluent family.

There aren’t any couple-related accessories on him. Is he single?

Had it been a year ago, there was no way Ji Xinxin would let go of such quality goods. It was just that she was going to meet the ‘vinegar vat’ Bai Zhou today, so it wouldn’t be apt for her to chat up other guys.

Ji Xinxin regrettably gave up on the notion and was just about to pass that man by when the latter suddenly stowed away his phone and raised his head. Their eyes happened to meet that instant. 

It was hard to describe the instantaneous change in that man’s expression. 

In a mere moment, his cold hard facial features melted into a radiant smile, reminiscent of a warm sun shining right into one’s heart in the middle of winter. The sheer feeling of joy he emanated was so pure that it was contagious. 

“Big sis?” That man called out. “Didn’t you say that you’re on a break and aren’t going to leave your house? What brings you here?”

… He got the wrong person. He probably mistook me for Ji Fanyin.

As such a thought flashed past Ji Xinxin’s mind, she adeptly put on a sweet smile and said, “Excuse…”

Before she could even put out a second word, that man’s smile had already faded into a frown. “… My bad, I seem to have gotten the wrong person. You’re Ji Xinxin?”

Even for someone as mentally resilient as Ji Xinxin, it felt utterly terrible to be shoved with a cold face right after such a radiant smile. It took her a while to soothe the stifled sensation in her chest before replying, “Yes, I am. You’re acquainted with my big sis?”

… He was able to tell us apart? This works too. I can at least sound him out.

After all, Ji Fanyin has yet to answer my question about her new friend.

“… Yes, nice to meet you.” By this point, that man had already completely reined in his smile, reverting back to the cold hunk she had seen at the very start. “I’m sorry for mistaking you for someone else.”

He took a step to the side as he said those words, seemingly intending to end the conversation there and take his leave. 

Of course, Ji Xinxin had no intention of letting him go that easily. She casually tilted her body slightly to block him. “You must be a friend of my big sis. I’ve talked to my big sis over the phone so many times, but she has never mentioned you before.”

“…” That man looked at her impassively.

He had a stature so tall that he had to slightly crane his neck in order to look at Ji Xinxin. His towering height paired with his icy face gave him an imposing appearance, making it hard for anyone to approach him.

But Ji Xinxin was the master who took down the haughty Bai Zhou. There was no way she could be intimidated that easily. She ignored the man’s unwelcoming demeanor and proceeded to ask him a question, “I’m Ji Xinxin. Ah! You already know that. What’s your name?”

“… Chen Yunsheng.”

“How do you know my big sis?” Ji Xinxin placed her hands behind her back and subtly inclined her body toward him. 

Chen Yunsheng immediately took a huge step backward, and his expression became even colder than before. “Stay back.”

Ji Xinxin: “…”

It’s not my first time seeing this type. He just acts prim and proper at the start.

Men are visual creatures. Those who are attracted to Ji Fanyin are bound to be attracted to me too. 

The two of them were identical twins. Even if Ji Fanyin started dolling herself up, Ji Xinxin was still confident that she would be able to outdo her older sister with her bubbly personality. 

“Don’t you like my big sis?” Ji Xinxin placed her hand over her mouth and chuckled mischievously. “Shouldn’t you be trying to get in my good books then? You should know that I am very close to my big sis. Who knows? I might just lend you a helping hand.”

Ji Xinxin thought that she had found a good pretext for Chen Yunsheng to engage her in a conversation. It was the perfect excuse. As long as she worked on it a little, it shouldn’t be too hard for her to get some information on Ji Fanyin from him. 

That’s how young men are like. They easily lose themselves when they come into close contact with a beautiful woman for a prolonged period of time… 

Chen Yunsheng impassively rejected her, “There’s no need for that.”

“…” It took Ji Xinxin a second before Chen Yunsheng’s rejection finally sank in.

In that single second, Chen Yunsheng had already stridden past her without a second thought. 

“What a coincidence, your big sis has never told me anything about you either. It looks like the two of you aren’t that close after all.” He left those words behind. 

Left behind, Ji Xinxin quietly took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it out. 

She made sure to imprint the name ‘Chen Yunsheng’ in her mind. 

It’s one thing for him to be Ji Fanyin’s suitor, but how dare he speak so arrogantly in front of me…!

“Big sis?” Bai Zhou’s voice sounded.

Ji Xinxin snapped out of her thoughts and raised her head. Bai Zhou came into her line of sight. She smiled apologetically and said, “I was talking to someone else earlier… His name is Chen Yunsheng, and he seems to be acquainted with my big sis. Do you know him?”

“Chen Yunsheng?” Bai Zhou repeated that name before shaking his head nonchalantly. “Don’t know him.”

“He mistook me for my big sis.” Ji Xinxin gestured in the direction where Chen Yunsheng departed. “He called me ‘big sis’ too when he approached me earlier. It really surprised me. What a coincidence, right?”

Bai Zhou suddenly fell silent.

“Zhouzhou?” Ji Xinxin called him doubtfully. “What’s wrong? Did you remember something?”

“… What did you say his name is again?”

Ji Xinxin frowned. “He said that he’s Chen Yunsheng.”

Bai Zhou clenched his jaws. “Got it. I’ll help you find out who that Chen fellow is.”