After the Fairy Maidens Fell to Darkness, They Captured Me to Ruthlessly 'Repay' Their Gratitude-Chapter 36 - Do You Think She Likes Me?

“Junior Sister Ranyue, could he be the ‘ideal type’ you’ve mentioned before?”

The one who spoke was Ji Jian, a mid-Foundation Establishment stage spell cultivator and a senior brother from the same sect as Xia Ranyue.

In the past, Ji Jian had pursued Xia Ranyue, only to be politely rejected. She had told him he was a good person but not her “ideal type.”

In short, he had been friend-zoned.

This wasn’t unusual. Xia Ranyue, being a fox demon with natural charm and a lively personality, was adept at presenting herself attractively. It was only natural that she drew attention from her peers.

Ji Jian wasn’t the only male disciple to confess to her, but he was arguably the most qualified among them. As a spell cultivator, his talent was exceptional.

Ji Jian had once believed he was different, that he wouldn’t end up like the other hapless admirers. But to his dismay, Xia Ranyue saw him as no different from any other man. This left him bitter and resentful.

Though he didn’t dare criticize Xia Ranyue openly, he couldn’t resist speaking up if the man she liked turned out to be inferior to him.

“Him?” Xia Ranyue glanced at He Ange, noticing Ji Jian’s jealous gaze. She hesitated, choosing not to answer directly. Instead, she tossed the question to He Ange, watching him with curiosity to see how he would respond.

“I think I am,” He Ange said, looking at Ji Jian with a completely serious expression.

Ji Jian was taken aback. He hadn’t expected such a straightforward response. He had asked Xia Ranyue, not He Ange. Why was this guy so full of himself?

“Did I ask you?” Ji Jian retorted.

“But you asked her, and she didn’t answer you,” He Ange replied matter-of-factly.

“...”

Ji Jian narrowed his eyes, staring at He Ange. This seemingly quiet and unassuming junior brother was turning out to be anything but simple.

He had a sharp tongue, that much was clear.

“I think Senior Sister Ranyue likes me. Otherwise, why would she sit with me for lunch?” He Ange continued, as if analyzing the situation.

His words left Xia Ranyue momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected him to speak so boldly. He wasn’t just being narcissistic—he was doing it on purpose.

He wanted to irritate Ji Jian while also pushing Xia Ranyue away.

If Xia Ranyue became concerned about how others perceived their relationship, she might choose to distance herself from He Ange in the future. This would align perfectly with his goal of severing ties with her.

She understood him. He was the type to abandon relationships once they no longer served him. In He Ange’s mind, the more Xia Ranyue disliked him, the easier it would be for him to move on without guilt.

At least, that’s how Xia Ranyue interpreted his actions. As a fox demon, she was skilled at reading people’s intentions. She was confident her assessment was correct—this was exactly the kind of person He Ange was.

As for Ji Jian, his reaction was even more predictable. As someone who had been rejected by Xia Ranyue, hearing another man speak so confidently about her feelings was unbearable.

He wanted to laugh it off, but the bitterness in his chest made it impossible.

Ji Jian glanced at Xia Ranyue, hoping for some kind of denial. But she remained silent, resting her chin on her hand and watching He Ange with a thoughtful expression. Her lack of response only deepened Ji Jian’s frustration.

Silence, in a way, was a form of agreement.

“Fine. If you think so, then I support you,” Ji Jian said with a bitter smile, giving He Ange a sarcastic thumbs-up. It was unclear whether he was being genuine or mocking He Ange’s audacity.

After all, it took a special kind of person to confidently declare that someone liked them without any clear evidence. Ji Jian had never encountered such boldness before.

Let’s analyze this rationally, Ji Jian thought.

For He Ange to say something so provocative, knowing it would upset both Ji Jian and Xia Ranyue, he must genuinely believe it. But this also made him seem tactless, someone who didn’t care about the consequences of his words.

And Xia Ranyue? She wasn’t just a pretty face. Her charm and intelligence had earned her a significant following within the sect. If she truly liked someone, it wouldn’t be a tactless fool like He Ange.

She had rejected Ji Jian, a talented and promising disciple. Her standards were clearly high—likely at the level of a true disciple.

By this logic, Xia Ranyue’s silence wasn’t an endorsement of He Ange. It was more likely that she was too exasperated to respond to his cluelessness.

With this conclusion in mind, Ji Jian let out a cold laugh. Looking at He Ange as if he were a clown, he said, “Not bad, Junior Brother He Ange. Your courage is commendable. I look forward to seeing how you confess to Junior Sister Ranyue.”

Ah, one of life’s great illusions: Does she like me?

Ji Jian had experienced this illusion himself when he confessed to Xia Ranyue and was rejected. He knew all too well the sting of misplaced confidence.

Now, seeing the same delusion play out in He Ange, Ji Jian couldn’t help but anticipate the moment it would all come crashing down. He wanted to see He Ange humiliated, to watch him suffer the same rejection he had endured.

But Ji Jian was overthinking it.

“Why would I confess to Senior Sister Ranyue?” He Ange asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

“If you don’t confess, then you must not—” Ji Jian began, but his words faltered. His smile froze, and his eyes widened as he realized something.

Wait a minute. He Ange hadn’t actually said he liked Xia Ranyue. If he didn’t like her, then why would he confess?

But that didn’t make sense either.

If he didn’t like Xia Ranyue, why was he sitting with her? Why had he said she liked him?

Could it really be a simple statement of fact?

No, that couldn’t be possible.

“Whatever happens between me and Senior Sister Ranyue is our business. It has nothing to do with bystanders like you, does it?” He Ange said, cutting off Ji Jian’s train of thought.

Ji Jian’s mood soured even further.

He had come over intending to provoke He Ange, but now he felt like the one being played. He Ange’s confidence left no room for mockery, and Ji Jian was starting to feel like the clown in this situation.

“Hah... Haha. Our new junior brother certainly has a lot of nerve. No wonder he managed to rile up Senior Brother Wang Yuan during the swordsmanship class,” Ji Jian said, forcing a laugh. But his eyes betrayed a simmering resentment.

He Ange ignored him, finishing the last bite of his noodles before standing up to leave.

But before he could get far, Xia Ranyue also stood up, drawing the attention of everyone in the cafeteria. Under their curious gazes, she followed He Ange out of the hall.

After walking a few steps outside, He Ange stopped and turned to face her.

“Why are you following me?”

“You said I like you, didn’t you? So of course, I should walk with the person I like. What’s wrong with that?” Xia Ranyue replied, her tone light and innocent.

Her words were as straightforward as He Ange’s earlier claim about her feelings.

He Ange clicked his tongue in annoyance.

They were standing in front of the cafeteria, a conspicuous spot where nearly everyone inside could see them. The crowd had gathered at the doorway, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Among them was Ji Jian, his face dark with anger.

Noticing the prying eyes, He Ange sighed.

“Are you sure you want to follow me? I’m heading back to my dorm for a nap. If you come with me, there might be rumors,” he said.

“What’s the problem? Are you worried they’ll gossip about me, saying I’m clinging to you because I really do like you?” Xia Ranyue asked, her hands clasped behind her back as she leaned slightly forward. Her sharp, fox-like eyes studied his expression intently.

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Her unwavering confidence unsettled He Ange, making him feel as though she could see right through him.

As a fox demon and a beloved figure within the sect, Xia Ranyue understood the dynamics of gossip all too well. Only those who lacked confidence feared the judgment of others.

Because she understood this, she didn’t care.

“If that’s what they think, so be it,” she said with a faint smile.

She enjoyed watching He Ange’s flustered reaction. Leaning closer, she lifted his chin with her delicate fingers.

“He Ange, you need to understand something.”

“Whether or not I like you depends entirely on your attitude.”