Chapter 205 - Scared

Cedric turned when he heard the sound of the brush connecting with the floor. When he saw Cheng Yu staring wide-eyed at his painting that was basically her painting, he froze. It was much like being caught making a mistake as a kid. 

He had painted it upside–down and because it was a back view of her, she couldn't really recognize herself. But when he was done, he had forgotten that she was still in the studio and excitedly turned it. 

"Why would you paint me?" She expectedly asked. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't find a reasonable excuse for him painting her. 

"Because I like you." He answered like it meant nothing. As though afraid she didn't hear, he looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers. "Cheng Yu, I'm in love with you." 

Cheng Yu stared in shock. What did she just hear? There was something wrong with her ears. There must be. Maybe it was the way she had turned that was wrong. "What… you…" she couldn't even construct a complete statement and kept stammering. 

It was only later that she found her voice. "You're kidding, right?" 

"Yes." 

"What?" Cheng Yu glared at him. She had just freaked the hell out her by suddenly declaring that he liked her and before she could process it, he was saying that it was a joke?

"That's what you expected me to say-that I like you, right?" Cedric grinned at her, making her unable to say a word for a while. 

"You're crazy." Cheng Yu harrumphed and picked his paintbrush, threw it at him and went about her own business. What kind of sick joke was that?

Cedric looked watched as she angrily started to do her own work and ignored him. A sly smile escaped his lips. "Actually, there might be some truth in some jokes." 

"What are you saying?" Cheng Yu didn't want to but before she could stop herself, she turned to ask. 

"I'm reading a quote from a book." He stuck out a novel to show her. It wasn't sure whether he was actually reading it but that was none of her business so she shrugged and continued doing her own work. 

Actually Cedric was not lying. Neither was he joking. He actually liked Cheng Yu. The first time he saw her was a few months ago. Her brother had almost been run over by a car and he saved him. Cheng Yu had frantically thanked him before going away with her brother. She had dropped her purse and before he could give it to her, she had already hurried away. 

He knew that it was wrong to check people's purses but he was smitten by her beauty and he was curious about who she was. Who could blame him for checking out of curiosity? Her purse had what Cedric assumed would usually be in girls' purses-a lip gloss, a few bills and what looked like a small, pink packet which Cedric looked at curiously but didn't understand at the time. There were also her national ID and her school ID. That was how Cedric knew what university she was in. 

He didn't even think of using that information to return her purse until much later. When he did, he changed his mind about it. She had probably forgotten all about their meeting and replaced her IDs. Besides, he might be unable to control his feelings once he met her; and he didn't want her to think that he was taking advantage of the fact that he saved her brother. He thought of sending them to her school or address but at last, he kept them safely with him. 

He hadn't even thought that they would meet again until he heard that Star Art International was sponsoring an art contest and Hun He Art School would participate, as well as B City University. Not only that, the venue would be B City University. He had excitedly joined the contest in the hope of meeting her again. 

When he reached B City University, he was in for an even better surprise. She had joined the contest too! He couldn't describe his joy. How could he be so lucky? Unfortunately, he wasn't good with girls and offended her from the start. He could only ask about her but he couldn't possibly get close to her.

When the contest started, an idea crossed his mind. The winner would go to Star Art International for comic arts training. She was such a good painter and it was possible for her to win. So he deliberately restrained his skill so he wouldn't win. If all went well, she would win and go to Star Art International. Then he would find other means to go to Star Art International and they would be in the same school, and he would have a chance to pursue her. 

Of course, fate was not going to play things according to his wishful imagination. The winner was actually not Cheng Yu but his idol's daughter instead! His disappointment was immeasurable.

As though that was not taunting enough, the people from Star Art International had personally invited him to the institution. What was the use? Cheng Yu wasn't going. 

Yet just at the last moment, he learnt from someone that Cheng Yu was going to Star Art International too! Hence he had hurried into the institution and accepted the invitation that he had almost rejected. 

When he arrived, it was such a coincidence that Ruby Chan was there too. He knew Ruby because their parents were a little close and he knew that she was in B City University too. He had learnt from her that Lanni and Cheng Yu were very close, so he dragged her everywhere with him so she would distract Lanni while he got close to Cheng Yu. 

However, that had failed miserably. Lanni didn't seem to trust Ruby. Besides, Cheng Yu would ignore him every time they met or scold him for merely breathing the same air as her. 

Lately, she had not been avoiding him so much and now that Lanni had left the class, he could now slot himself next to Cheng Yu and she wouldn't mind so much. Just a moment ago, he had uncontrollably blurted out his pent-up feelings. 

He was ready to face her reaction, but when he saw how scared he looked, he changed his mind and made a joke out of it. A bad joke that earned scolding from her. 

Why was she so scared anyway? Did she have a bad history with love?