Chapter 258: Meeting with An Siyao – Part 2

Among these five small groups of people, two individuals took action.

The two attempted to approach An Siyao to strike up a conversation, but their first step was already problematic.

The closer they moved toward her, the farther she stepped back.

Unwilling to give up, they circled around the convenience store, but still failed to get close to An Siyao.

If it had been anyone else witnessing An Siyao’s clear reluctance, they would have long since backed off. However, these two were not decent people; instead, they grew more excited.

They split up, approaching An Siyao from two directions. Using the convenience store and the man-made river as cover, they finally managed to get within ten meters of her.

“Hey, junior, we’re students from Class 3, Grade 3 in the Zheng Music Department. Do you need any help?” the two started the conversation.

An Siyao shook her head.

“Then why are you standing here? Don’t worry, we can show you our student IDs.”

An Siyao shook her head again.

After several more attempts to converse without progress, the two tried to move closer directly.

What Xia Yu witnessed when he arrived was exactly this scene.

He quickly walked to An Siyao’s side: “Sorry, she’s waiting for me.”

The two hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to back off or push forward. The guy looked decent too, so pushing him away might not work. But the girl was just too beautiful, and she seemed so cute.

At this moment, An Siyao shook her head and said to Xia Yu, “I’m not waiting for you.”

Rubbing his forehead, Xia Yu felt slightly helpless. With these two lightbulbs around, he didn’t want to explain things to An Siyao at this moment.

It wasn’t the best environment to reunite.

Hearing An Siyao’s words, the two turned their displeasure toward Xia Yu: “Classmate, lying isn’t a good thing. Which class are you from?”

Xia Yu decided to use intimidation.

However, before he could act, five guys came running from behind and surrounded the two.

Leading them was Qin Youliang.

Qin Youliang and his group had been watching the entire incident beside the convenience store, observing the beautiful girl.

“What are you doing?” Qin Youliang and his five companions approached.

“Nothing, nothing, just a misunderstanding,” the two quickly backed down. They weren’t naive freshmen, and they had no passion or courage in their hearts.

After one last glance at An Siyao, the two left.

Qin Youliang patted Xia Yu’s shoulder, then looked at An Siyao and said, “She’s too tough. Be prepared mentally.”

Without asking why Xia Yu was there, they left the convenience store and headed to the library to check out more girls.

Xia Yu was somewhat amused. Qin Youliang and his group had mistaken him for someone who had approached An Siyao to flirt.

Putting this matter aside for now, Xia Yu turned to An Siyao.

“I’m not waiting for you,” An Siyao slowly stepped back.

“We at least performed together. Couldn’t you have given me a little face just now?” Xia Yu asked.

“I’m not waiting for you,” An Siyao repeated.

“It’s me,” Xia Yu stepped closer to the girl.

“I’m going to call the police,” An Siyao raised her phone.

An Siyao wasn’t joking. This method was something Xia Yu had taught her before. Knowing this, Xia Yu stopped in his tracks.

He asked, “I told you to come at 5:30. Why did you come so early?”

Judging from the number of observers around An Siyao, Xia Yu deduced she had been standing there for quite some time.

An Siyao blinked, lowering the hand that was about to dial.

“This dress, isn’t it the one Luo Yali wore to her birthday party? Why did you choose to wear it today?” Xia Yu continued.

An Siyao’s phone dropped to the ground as she looked at Xia Yu in surprise.

This was the first time Xia Yu had seen such an obvious expression of surprise on the girl’s face.

“How did things go with Yin Wan? Did you figure out your feelings last night?” Xia Yu mentioned something only the two of them knew.

An Siyao, who had been stepping back, suddenly ran toward Xia Yu and threw herself into his arms.

Holding the girl tightly, Xia Yu took three steps back, almost falling into the man-made river.

Feeling her warm body and the rapid beating of her heart, Xia Yu gently patted An Siyao’s back.

They embraced for fifteen seconds before Xia Yu finally spoke:

“Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Xia Yu, eighteen years old, unmarried. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

An Siyao mimicked Xia Yu’s words in her soft voice: “My name is An Siyao, eighteen years old, unmarried. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

After a pause, she added, “Very pleased.”

“But just now you were avoiding me,” Xia Yu teased An Siyao.

He felt An Siyao tighten her arms around him. Then, An Siyao let go of Xia Yu.

Finally seeing her expression, Xia Yu noticed her nervousness.

She opened her clenched hand and revealed a bank card.

Holding it out to Xia Yu, An Siyao looked at him with timid eyes: “This is a gift. Please don’t be angry.”

Trying to bribe me with money?

An Siyao’s actions made Xia Yu somewhat amused.

He pinched her cheek and said, “It’s okay. It was my mistake for not telling you beforehand.”

“Take this too. I promised I’d support you,” An Siyao, unfazed by her cheek being pinched, continued to offer the card.

“How much is in the card?” Xia Yu curiously asked.

“Thirty million,” An Siyao replied.

Xia Yu had previously asked An Siyao about her total assets. Her entire savings amounted to thirty million, and now she was handing it all over to him.

“You keep it,” Xia Yu had no intention of actually accepting An Siyao’s money.

“Not enough?” An Siyao’s expression turned desperate.

It was like a little boy who had saved his pocket money for a whole year, hoping to treat his neighbor’s older sister to dinner at her favorite restaurant, only to find out he didn’t have enough.

Xia Yu could only accept the card: “It’s barely enough.”

“Okay, I’ll keep trying,” An Siyao smiled brightly.

Looking at her upturned lips, Xia Yu couldn’t help but feel a tingle in his heart. He reached out and held An Siyao around the waist.

Before lowering his head, he remembered they were behind the convenience store and that there were at least four groups of boys secretly watching.

Changing the hold to an arm-in-arm gesture, Xia Yu asked An Siyao, “Want to come to my place?”

“Okay,” An Siyao agreed without hesitation, linking her arm with Xia Yu’s.

“You’re not afraid I might do something bad?” Xia Yu looked into An Siyao’s eyes.

An Siyao looked slightly fearful: “Are you going to do something bad?”

However, the fear on her face was similar to the kind felt before bungee jumping or going down a rollercoaster drop—fear mixed with anticipation and joy.

Xia Yu dared not tease An Siyao further. She was ready for anything, but he wasn’t. If he continued, he would only end up losing.

“Let’s go. Xia Xue must still be home. I can’t do anything bad with her around.”

The two walked out of the school gate arm-in-arm and hailed a taxi to Xia Yu’s house.

Their appearance was witnessed by Qin Youliang and his group, who were coming out for dinner.

All five of them muttered in unison.

He had just been rejected for using tactics to feign familiarity, and now he won her over?

(Note: “套路” is translated as “tactics” here, as it refers to manipulative or calculated behavior in this context. The phrasing maintains the original tone of disbelief or irony.)

“I thought Xia Yu was just a bronze player, but turns out he’s a king!” Qin Youliang exclaimed.