Chapter 12: Her Waist Was So Slim and Soft

Qiao Zhen was pressed against a searingly warm chest, her mind a muddled mess.

Qin Yichi's deep and pleasant voice fell into her ears, carrying a wild and roguish edge—exactly the same as she remembered from before.

It felt as though, in the very next second, something was about to happen.

Qiao Zhen's heart thudded chaotically, her entire face flushing crimson in an instant, as red as a cooked shrimp, the color spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.

Heavens, she still couldn't accept the fact that in her previous life, Qin Yichi had pinned her to the bed. She simply couldn't accept it!

Her memories were only fragments, and she had no idea why she had agreed to marry him in that past life on a sudden whim.

Her legs were weak, her whole body melting into Qin Yichi's embrace. She stammered, "I... I'm fine..."

She just wanted to shrink into a tiny ant and slip away unnoticed—what wrong had she done?

"You're fine?"

Qin Yichi tilted his head slightly, eyes fixed on her with a hint of seriousness. "Then why is your face so red?"

Qiao Zhen bit her lip, unable to speak, nearly dying from embarrassment.

After seeing such an indecent scene, how could her face not be red?

She covered her face, her embarrassment turning to anger, raising her voice in protest, "I—I'm not!"

Who said her face was red? She hadn't seen it herself, so as far as she was concerned, it wasn't true.

Her reasoning was shaky, but her conviction was fierce.

Qin Yichi let out a low laugh, watching her guilty expression, but chose not to expose her any further.

The girl softened in his embrace, her slender waist fitting perfectly in his hand, fingers clutching at his sleeve, her cheeks tinged with a rosy glow.

Her face was as red as a tomato, and she claimed she wasn't?

As if something occurred to him, Qin Yichi wiped away his nonchalance, his tone growing serious. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Three times.

She had fainted in his arms three times.

The first was at the school gate, the second during a heavy rainstorm, and now the third time—each time, Qiao Zhen collapsed suddenly, only to recover moments later as if nothing had happened.

A very peculiar phenomenon.

Qiao Zhen shook her head, blinking. "Maybe... I've just been staying up too late. I'm fine, really."

There was absolutely no way she would ever tell Qin Yichi about those memories from her past life.

Even if he believed her, the fact that they had been married and intimate in a previous life... If Qin Yichi found out, wouldn't he be utterly repulsed?

Things would be far too awkward between them from then on.

Qiao Zhen mumbled an excuse, covering her burning cheeks as she fled, "I just remembered I have something to do. I'm heading back to the dorm—I'll treat you to a meal some other time!"

Like a startled rabbit, she dashed off and vanished in an instant.

Qin Yichi lazily curled his lips, a smile in his eyes, the faint scent of jasmine from the girl still lingering on his fingertips.

Her waist—

So slender, so soft.

Qin Yichi's Adam's apple bobbed. He didn't realize that his own ears were gradually turning red as well.

Like the evening sun outside the window—brilliant, radiant, and endlessly ablaze.

It wasn't until the girl's figure disappeared around the corner that Qin Yichi finally withdrew his gaze, his throat dry, and stepped down the stairs.

In a flash, he sensed something and immediately looked back.

Ji Xian's figure vanished into the corridor—alone and solitary.

How long had he been standing there, and how much had he seen?

Qin Yichi's smile faded, his expression darkened a notch, suppressing the annoyance in his eyes, his fist tightening at his side...

In the corridor, Ji Xian's gaze was icy and severe, his face shrouded in gloom, clutching a tube of anti-inflammatory ointment with a death grip.

He let out a cold laugh, walked to the trash can, and threw the expensive imported ointment away without hesitation, as if discarding something filthy.

He had seen Qiao Zhen apply medicine to another boy.

He had also seen her melt into someone else's arms.

He had seen it all with his own eyes.

A group of boys approached, gathering around Ji Xian.

Ji Xian stood there, his expression frosty, and demanded coldly, "Why did you throw something at her?"

Hearing this, Yu Wenjian wiped the blood from his nose with a tissue, a large lump swelling on his forehead. He snapped, "We lost a basketball game and were already pissed off. Qiao Zhen didn't bring us water, fine, but then she went and gave Qin Yichi a drink instead? Whose side is she on? She's so clueless!"

Ji Xian's face remained cold, silent.

Yu Wenjian, encouraged, continued to exaggerate, "Ji, that Qiao Zhen thinks she's something these days, deliberately going out to eat with other guys. If you ask me, she's just putting on a show to get your attention."

The other boys nodded in agreement, convinced this was the case.

At first, they had been polite enough to Qiao Zhen, at least for the sake of the milk tea and snacks she often brought. Her gentle nature, quiet obedience, and polite reserve meant they didn't mind her tagging along.

But as Ji Xian showed indifference and Yu Wenjian egged them on, they grew accustomed to treating her poorly, escalating their behavior and picking on her deliberately.

After all, what right did an ordinary girl have to hang out with people of their status?

Now their dislike and disdain were almost blatant.

Ji Xian fixed a glacial stare on Yu Wenjian, his voice distant and measured. "Did I give you permission to touch her?"

At his words, the very air seemed to chill.

Yu Wenjian froze, stammering, "N-no..."

Seeing Ji Xian's displeasure, he immediately shrank back, bowing his head in apology. "I won't do it again, Ji. You can trust me."

Ji Xian gave a cold warning, his face expressionless as he walked away.

When he was gone, the others exchanged bewildered glances.

No matter how they had mocked or belittled Qiao Zhen before, Ji Xian had never reacted. They had thought he simply didn't care about her.

Someone let out a slow chuckle, "Who would've thought, that Qiao Zhen really knows how to play her cards."

Yu Wenjian straightened, a shadow flickering in his eyes...

Hundred Flowers Garden, Girls' Dorm 609

Qiao Zhen made her way back to the dorm with a guilty conscience, her fair cheeks dusted pink as if she had just committed some secret misdeed.

All her roommates were present except for Sheng Lulu. The others—sophomores Chen Meixiang and Yun Yue from the dance department—were gathered around in earnest, as if discussing something of great importance.

The moment they heard the door open, all three turned to stare at her with meaningful looks, their eyes filled with complicated emotions, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Qiao Zhen: "?"

What was going on? Why so serious?

In the next instant, Chen Meixiang dragged her into her lap, practically wanting to take a bite out of her, and whispered in her ear, "Sweetheart, tell me honestly, do you really not like Ji Xian anymore?"

Leaning into her embrace, Qiao Zhen nodded with the seriousness of pounding garlic. "Mhm."

Everyone had known she was chasing Ji Xian before—it was no secret.

She had poured out her passion without reservation, only to end up in an icy abyss, her efforts ending in bitter defeat.

Who knew how many people mocked her behind her back, laughing at her overreaching ambition.

Yun Yue looked up, picked up a few tarot cards, and said with utter seriousness, "Actually, I did a tarot reading and checked your star chart with Ji Xian's a long time ago. But since you were so hopeful back then, I didn't tell you."

"Do you want to know now?"