Li Man had guessed right. In the end, the sophomore team beat the freshman team, but only by a narrow margin.
Aside from Qin Jiao, Han Juan also performed well, so two freshmen were exceptionally promoted from their team to join the school’s official team.
As the fourth debater for the sophomores, Li Man didn’t get a spot. Instead, the second debater from their team, a male student named Sun Ling, was selected.
Also selected were a junior, Xu Zhengyang, and another female student named Li Mei.
Next, they would all take a break before competing against the debate society from the neighboring North City Technology University. A reward was promised if they won.
Xu Zhengyang, the debate team’s captain, smiled and said to everyone, "Go home and get some good rest. Next week, we’ll go and meet our fellow debaters from the Technology University."
"Alright!"
"Captain, if we win, we have to celebrate with a big feast," Sun Ling said with a smile.
Xu Zhengyang nodded. "Of course."
After he spoke, he threw an inconspicuous glance at Qin Jiao. She, however, didn’t look his way at all and seemed to be talking to Han Juan about something.
Xu Zhengyang’s gaze was just too obvious. Han Juan, standing next to her, noticed it and couldn’t help but whisper, "Qin Jiao, Senior Brother Xu is looking at you."
Qin Jiao turned and saw Xu Zhengyang. She asked calmly, "Senior, do you need something?"
"You performed very well. Keep it up next week."
"Okay, I will."
The two exchanged a few formal pleasantries before parting ways. As Han Juan walked out with Qin Jiao, however, she muttered under her breath, "Qin Jiao, I have a feeling Senior Brother Xu wanted to say more to you than just that."
Qin Jiao smiled faintly. "This is all he should have said."
’In the book’s original plot, Xu Zhengyang was set up to have a crush on me. But he had his own pride. Since I already have a boyfriend and our relationship is very strong, Xu Zhengyang would never make a move. He would only admire me quietly from a distance. Once Xu Zhengyang graduated the following year, our paths would never cross again, and I would slowly become that idealized ’white moonlight’ in his heart.’ Qin Jiao remembered this was Xu Zhengyang’s character in the book. She had also made her relationship status clear, so she knew he wouldn’t cross that line.
Of course, when she returned to the courtyard house that evening, Qin Jiao recounted the results of the debate competition. She also made sure to mention that Xu Zhengyang was the captain of the school’s debate team.
Shen Yi brought over a basin of water, and the two soaked their feet together, his large feet resting on her small ones.
He frowned. "You’re both at the same school, and that Xu Zhengyang seems decent enough, so that’s probably fine. What I’m more worried about is something else."
"What?"
"Will you run into Shen Feng?"
Although Shen Yi would get jealous whenever other men were around Jiao Jiao, it was usually just a slight jealousy, and he wouldn’t overthink it.
But Shen Feng was the one person Shen Yi was most wary of, and also the one he detested the most.
Qin Jiao blinked. "I’m willing to exchange a few words with Xu Zhengyang—we’re classmates, after all. But as for Shen Feng, I have absolutely nothing to say to him."
"But you were high school classmates, too."
"But we barely exchanged a few words throughout all of high school."
Qin Jiao knew Shen Yi still had a hang-up about the book’s ’male and female lead’ dynamic. She reached out, took his large hand in hers, and said, "Our lives are now a world away from the plot of that book. Besides, just look at what Shen Feng did to Lin Nian and Sun Lili. For a scumbag like that, do you really think I could have any other feelings for him? Aside from disgust and revulsion, I feel absolutely nothing."