He Lingyi was no fool. Of course she understood what he was implying.

She put her hands on her hips, shouting angrily, "Who do you think you’re talking about? I dare you to say that again."

"Are you deaf or something? Do you need me to say it again?" Xu Junjie sneered, a smug look on his face.

He Lingyi looked ready to explode. Jiang Sifan knew how shameless Xu Junjie could be, so he pulled He Lingyi back. "Let’s not stoop to his level. Come on, let’s go to the haunted house."

With that, Jiang Sifan led He Lingyi away.

But just before they left, he deliberately bumped into Xu Junjie.

Jiang Sifan added with feigned sincerity, "Oh, sorry. I accidentally bumped into you."

"You motherfucker." Xu Junjie started to move forward.

But the girl beside him stopped him. "Jun Jie, don’t pay attention to people like him. Let’s just go."

"Qiqi, if you hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve taught those two a lesson. They’re horrible. You’re too kind," Xu Junjie said, still lavishing praise on the girl beside him.

Jiang Sifan led He Lingyi away.

But He Lingyi couldn’t let it go. She asked Jiang Sifan furiously, "Teacher Jiang, who on earth is that? Why is he so obnoxious?"

"I went to the Entrepreneurship Department to apply for a studio space. This guy was on duty and clearly didn’t want the hassle, so he just threw my application in the trash. I had to make a big scene and drag him to see the professor in charge before it finally got approved. The professor said he’d make Xu Junjie apologize to me, but he’s been ignoring it ever since," Jiang Sifan explained. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Hearing his story, He Lingyi grew even angrier. "Ugh, why didn’t you tell me sooner? If I’d known, I would have chewed him out back there."

"Okay, okay, don’t let him ruin your mood. We’re here to have fun today," Jiang Sifan explained.

"But seeing him bully you like that makes me even more upset," He Lingyi said, her lips forming an angry pout.

Seeing how angry she was, Jiang Sifan finally smiled and said, "Actually, when I bumped into him on purpose just now, I stuck my gum to his pants. When he sits down later, it’ll probably get everywhere."

"Haha, I’d love to see that happen," He Lingyi said excitedly.

"Okay, let’s not mention that jerk again. Let’s go into the haunted house."

"Okay!"

He Lingyi had just started to calm down, but the moment she stepped into the haunted house, a man in a green-lit mask above them scared her half to death.

She dove headfirst into Jiang Sifan’s arms, letting out a shriek. "AAAAHHH~~"

Jiang Sifan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’So she’s this much of a scaredy-cat, yet she still wanted to go to a haunted house?’

He couldn’t help but tease her, "We’re still not far from the entrance. You want to turn back now and not go in?"

"No way! I have to go through it," He Lingyi insisted.

Left with no other choice, Jiang Sifan had to take her hand and shield her as they walked.

As for He Lingyi, she kept her eyes half-closed the entire time, periodically hiding in Jiang Sifan’s embrace.

She could smell a pleasant scent on him, a faint hint of lavender.

Perhaps it was the scent of his body wash.

Or perhaps it was just his natural, masculine scent.

In any case, He Lingyi gradually shifted from being afraid of the haunted house to enjoying the journey through it.

As a white-faced ghost lunged toward them, He Lingyi took the opportunity to lift her head and quickly plant a kiss on Jiang Sifan’s neck.

It was the first time in her eighteen years she had ever kissed a boy.