Chapter 22: Watching Your Performance

"You only lowered your head to Chen Fan for our sake; how could I overthink it?"

Zhao Qinghe raised his hand to smooth the stray hair on Su Xue’s forehead, sighing, "It’s just that the thought of Chen Fan possibly making unreasonable demands of you makes me feel suffocated."

"Don't worry, Qinghe. I have my own bottom line. If Chen Fan’s demands are too excessive, then I..." Su Xue trailed off, lost for words.

In truth, she knew that as long as she humbled herself, Chen Fan would inevitably make some unreasonable requests. Things like kisses, hugs, or wanting to see her legs... Thinking of this, a flash of determination crossed her complex expression.

*Smack!*

Su Xue’s eyes were closed, her eyelashes trembling slightly as a faint blush rose to her fair cheeks. Zhao Qinghe stood frozen, the lingering scent of her perfume still upon his nose. He wanted to go further, but Su Xue had already lowered her heels.

"Qinghe, no matter what unreasonable demands Chen Fan makes next, you must remember that my first time will only ever be for you."

Zhao Qinghe looked at Su Xue with deep affection, his fingers gently stroking the hair that slipped through them. "I’m sorry, Xiaoxue. If I hadn't gotten into that fight with Chen Fan, you wouldn't have had to bow down to him. It’s all because I’m useless—because I lack the ability to protect you, forcing you to compromise yourself for him."

"If I weren't so incompetent, I wouldn't have to watch you suffer this humiliation. I hate myself for not being stronger, for not being able to give you the happiness and stability you deserve."

Zhao Qinghe’s voice was hoarse, filled with resentment and regret, his knuckles turning white from the force of his clenched fists. Watching his eyes grow moist, Su Xue’s heart gave a sharp, painful tug.

She leaned against his chest, clutching his fist, and whispered, "Qinghe, don't blame yourself. This is only temporary; it doesn't define the future. With your grades, you’ll definitely get into a good university and move on to bigger and better places. In the future, you’ll certainly be the wealthiest and most powerful person in this county. I believe in you."

Zhao Qinghe sighed deeply, pulling her gently into his embrace. "Thank you, Xiaoxue. From childhood until now, only you have believed in me, understood me, and supported me. If I ever make a fortune in the future, as long as you want it and I have it, I will give it all to you."

"Qinghe, you will make a fortune! You definitely will!"

After a moment of intimacy, the school bell rang. Su Xue reluctantly left his warm embrace. "Qinghe, wait for my good news."

"Alright!" Zhao Qinghe smiled and nodded, lifting his hand in a gesture of encouragement. But just as Su Xue turned to leave, he suddenly spoke up: "Xiaoxue, if Chen Fan... never mind, go back now."

"It's okay, Qinghe. Just tell me."

"It's... I put all my living expenses for the week onto my meal card, and when I wanted to buy some practice test papers, I realized I didn't have enough money."

"How much are you short?"

"Twenty yuan. If possible, I’d like to put this cost on Chen Fan’s tab," Zhao Qinghe said, sounding slightly hesitant.

Su Xue waved her hand with a smile. "Don't worry, I’ll take care of it."

"Thank you, Xiaoxue!"

Like thieves, the two of them slipped out of the small woods one after the other. Once they were sure no one was around, they headed back to their respective classrooms.

In Class Five of the senior year, Su Xue returned to her seat and let out a soft breath. Seeing her desk-mate, Li Wan, focused on the lecture, she carefully pulled a palm-sized notebook from her desk compartment. Flipping to the page for January 10th, she added an extra thirty yuan to one of the records, inventing an excuse to justify it.

She glanced back at Chen Fan, who was still sleeping, and thought to herself, "Anyway, my first kiss is already given to Qinghe. If Chen Fan demands that, I’ll just give it to him."

At that moment, Chen Fan, fast asleep in his "boss seat," frowned, his face flickering between expressions of panic and relief, as if trapped in a turbulent and agonizing nightmare.

At 9:10 PM, the bell rang for the end of the evening self-study session. Chen Fan stirred awake. He stretched and rubbed his eyes, leaning against the wall, waiting for Gao Xiaojing—who loved to drag out classes for ten extra minutes—to dismiss them.

But tonight, Teacher Gao didn't delay; she simply waved her hand to dismiss the class. Immediately, the boarding students rushed out like hungry wolves toward the cafeteria, while the day students packed their bags and left in groups, chatting and laughing.

Wei Xun, sitting in front of Chen Fan, packed his bag and asked curiously, "Fan, don't you think Teacher Gao is a bit weird today? She didn't make you stand up, she finished the two sessions peacefully, and most importantly, she didn't drag the class out. That's rare!"

Chen Fan looked at Gao Xiaojing, who was over forty. Today, she was unusually devoid of makeup or jewelry, silently gathering the test papers on the podium. He suddenly remembered that in his past life, around this time, her husband was in the middle of a messy divorce with her.

The reason was simple: her husband had married into her family, but after coming into some sudden wealth, he finally stood his spine straight. After twenty years of pent-up resentment, he finally exploded, refusing to live as a looked-down-upon son-in-law any longer. Chen Fan remembered it clearly because the divorce became a huge scandal, eventually reaching the school and the county education office.

"Fan, it's still early. Want to hit the internet cafe for a few games?" Wei Xun asked excitedly.

Chen Fan took out a pre-packed bread roll with a sausage inside, took a huge bite, and said, "Go to hell. Feige called my dad about the fight this afternoon. I have to get home early, or I'll get a beating."

"Fine, then I'm off. I need to get to the internet cafe for a few rounds."

"Go, go." Wei Xun shouldered his bag, which held very few books, and strode away.

Hungry to the point of exhaustion, Chen Fan decided to finish his own provisions before leaving. Meanwhile, Su Xue watched Wei Xun and the others leave, then looked at Chen Fan, who was still eating at his seat. Her lips curled upward. *As expected, you cold-hearted Chen Fan, you’re just waiting for me to lower my head. Do you think I can't see through your little schemes?*

Su Xue smiled confidently, walked over to Chen Fan, and said softly, "Chen Fan, I have something to talk to you about. Can we go outside?"

Her movement immediately drew side-glances from the other students, though with only six or seven left in the classroom, it didn't stir the same attention or gossip as it had during the day.

"If you have something to say, say it here. Don't be all secretive and make others think we have some kind of relationship," Chen Fan said after swallowing the last of his bread and taking a sip of water.

The seven students remaining in the classroom couldn't help but turn their heads. Chen Fan had really changed; they all perked up, ready to enjoy the drama.

*Rejecting me again...* Su Xue frowned, looking unhappy. "Can't you just give me a chance to explain? Are you coming outside with me or not?"

"No!" Chen Fan took a caterpillar-shaped bun from his bag, took a bite, and shook his head again.

"You..." Su Xue was so angry her teeth ached. She hadn't expected this Chen to be immune to both soft and hard tactics. She shifted her gaze to his bag full of snacks, reached out, grabbed it from the desk, and ran out of the classroom without looking back.

*You actually ambushed me!*

"Give my food back!" Chen Fan shouted, recovering his senses. With a bun in one hand and water in the other, he hurried after her.

In the old school building, inside the second dance studio on the first floor, Su Xue handed the bag to Chen Fan, who only had eyes for his food. She said resentfully, "Chen Fan, I know you're holding a grudge because I didn't care about you after your fight with Zhao Qinghe. But your parents took your phone; how were you supposed to know I cared? I swear, I sent you texts and called you that very night, but your phone was off. Can you blame me? After the first night, I kept sending you messages every day—I'm not lying. Later, when Yang Hua took your phone, she saw my texts and even answered my calls. If you don't believe me, ask her."

*Care about me? If my phone hadn't been in my hand the whole time, the devil would believe your lies, Su Xue.* Chen Fan sneered inwardly while chewing his bun. He stayed silent, letting her perform. In his past life, every time they returned from a break, Su Xue would come to him, the sucker, to report her expenses. Chen Fan wanted to see what tricks she would use today to make him pay.

Seeing Chen Fan staring at her calmly without a word, Su Xue bit her lip. *Damn Chen Fan, you're really acting tough this time!* But she didn't show impatience. She stepped forward, her watery eyes looking at him with deep affection.

"Chen Fan, I was so worried about you because I didn't get any word from you during the break. After that day, I scolded Zhao Qinghe severely; if it weren't for him, you wouldn't have been grounded by your parents. Didn't you notice that I haven't paid any attention to Zhao Qinghe since we got back today?"

"Oh!" Chen Fan replied coldly. *I was sleeping the whole time, how the hell was I supposed to notice? Besides, you two are practically glued together every day; I’d have to be a ghost to believe you haven't talked to him!*

Seeing Chen Fan remain unmoved, Su Xue gritted her teeth, took his hand, and looked at him with longing. "Chen Fan, you don't know how miserable I was during the break. Besides missing you, my parents were yelling at me every day..."

She quickly began to embellish the story of how her parents scolded her, forced her to kneel, and wouldn't let her eat or sleep. The reason, she claimed, was that she had used up her phone credit sending him messages, leading to her parents' wrath. In short, she framed all the suffering from her break as being caused by him. She knew Chen Fan well; only these words would make him feel guilty.

*Then I'll have a chance to hand over the little notebook hidden in my pocket.*

*Two words: Controlled.*

A moment later, Su Xue’s eyes turned red, and she said with a sob, "Chen Fan, no matter how my parents scold or punish me, I endure it. Because I miss you so much, I couldn't help but steal money from home to top up my phone. Now that I can't send you messages or call you every day, my heart hurts. Truly."

"Wuwuwu..." Small, choked sobs echoed in the dance studio.

Chen Fan sighed, looking at the deeply emotional, wronged-looking Su Xue. His expression became incredibly complex. He then took the last bun from his bag and slowly tore open the packaging.

Seeing this look and action, Su Xue felt a surge of joy. *That's right. You Chen, let's see how you can escape my grasp now.*

Just as Su Xue opened her cherry-red lips, waiting for Chen Fan to feed her, he took a large bite himself. Chewing, he said, "Are you done with your play? If you're done, I'm going back."

Seeing his clear, questioning eyes, Su Xue was stunned. *Why is it different from what I imagined? Shouldn't you be feeding me, then comforting me and feeling sorry for me?*

Su Xue, having reached her limit, finally exploded. "Chen Fan, what the hell is your problem? What play? I am talking to you with all my heart! I’ve already lowered my head and confessed everything about the break, and you still treat me like this? You..."

Before she could finish, Chen Fan turned and walked away.

"Chen Fan, you stop right there! Stop!" Su Xue shouted at his back. But Chen Fan didn't look back as he reached the studio door.

"Chen Fan, if you walk out that door, I will never speak to you again!" Su Xue threatened.

Chen Fan walked out without a glance. Staring at the empty doorway, Su Xue was dazed, unable to believe what she was seeing. In the past, whenever she lowered her attitude or softened her tone, Chen Fan would act like a dog, nodding, bowing, and wagging his tail. But today, whether she threatened him or shed tears, she saw not a hint of wavering.

"I’ve already been so humble and lowly, why are you still treating me like this, Chen Fan? Why?" Su Xue stumbled and sat on the floor, sinking into self-doubt.

*Buzz...* Her phone vibrated.

[Xiaoxue, has Chen Fan gone back to being your dog yet?]

Looking at Zhao Qinghe's text, Su Xue typed out the result. But just as she was about to send it, she deleted it all and typed a new message.

[Because of your fight with him, his parents are strictly controlling his allowance. It will probably take three or four days for him to get the money to me. As soon as he gets it, I will definitely give it to you first.]

Su Xue put her phone away and walked out of the dance studio, her face filled with distress. *Where did things go wrong to make Chen Fan so lukewarm toward me? If he ignores me, where will I find the money for Qinghe?*

Back in the classroom, Su Xue looked at a boy in the back row. After a long hesitation, she walked up to him and whispered, "Dong Hao, do you need help copying your missed questions? Ten yuan, and I can imitate your handwriting."

...

Black Forest Internet Cafe. In a corner of the first floor, Zhao Qinghe sat at a computer, chatting with a Penguin friend named 'Summer Love'.

*Sky City:* MM, aren't your Yellow and Red Diamonds expiring in a few days? I'll top them up for you then.

*Summer Love:* Brother Xiaohe, you're so sweet, but I don't need those. Just top up my Penguin Coins. I'll definitely video chat with you then, and I promise to make you satisfied, Brother Xiaohe.

Along with the message, Summer Love sent a very revealing photo, hinting at everything. Zhao Qinghe’s eyes lit up, and his hand reached into his pants with a wicked intent.

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the internet cafe, Wei Xun stared at his chat box and laughed maliciously.

"Damn bastards, you think I didn't see you two lovebirds in the woods? I'll stand up for my brother myself."