Chapter 101: Don’t Get Entangled
As Xu Jiaxin spoke, she couldn’t help but look over at Su Zhaozhao. "Zhaozhao, it’s such a shame. My family lives too far from West State, or I’d really want to invite you to my birthday party. Why don’t you come home with us? You can stay at my place! Where do you get all these hair accessories? I think if it’s possible, you should try selling them in Shencheng City. The market there is much bigger."
"Oh, no, that’s alright."
Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but sigh. ’It seems that as long as you’re not her rival in love, the female side character is actually a pretty good person.’
’She may have the air of a spoiled rich girl, but her personality is straightforward and endearing.’
’How long have we even known each other? Yet she looks at me with all the sincerity she’d show a good friend.’
’A girl like that has clearly never faced any real hardships. You can tell her family has protected her well.’
Xu Jiaming, on the other hand, struck Su Zhaozhao as very strange.
Xu Jiaxin was completely satisfied after she finished picking out her hair accessories.
Su Zhaozhao then invited the other girls to make their selections.
She had brought plenty of stock with her today, giving them more than enough to choose from.
Just then, Xu Jiaming came to stand beside Su Zhaozhao, his almond-shaped eyes fixed on her.
They kept a distance that was neither too far nor too close, but from where he was, he could smell the elegant scent of jasmine on her.
It wasn’t like the scent of the cold creams girls usually used.
It was more natural, like the fragrance of fresh jasmine flowers.
Xu Jiaming couldn’t help but take a few deep breaths, a dark glint in his eyes.
He found his body moving uncontrollably closer to Su Zhaozhao, until he was almost pressed right up against her.
From such a close distance, his gaze swept over the girl’s face, inch by inch.
’What a beautiful face,’ he thought. ’Even in bustling Shencheng City, I’ve never seen a girl this beautiful.’
’She’s beautiful, without a single flaw.’
’Like a figure from one of my paintings.’
He was a perfectionist. He couldn’t stand anything that wasn’t perfect.
Whether it was his work or his tastes, he demanded perfection in all things.
From the first moment he saw Su Zhaozhao, he felt she was the embodiment of his aesthetic ideals.
’So beautiful. So perfect.’
Su Zhaozhao felt his cloying gaze on her. At that moment, she felt like she was being watched by a snake.
When she turned to look at Xu Jiaming, she was startled to find him so close.
Her body was practically against his, and as she turned, she brushed against his chest.
Su Zhaozhao scrambled back two steps.
She was just about to ask him what he thought he was doing. ’Doesn’t this guy know how sensitive relations between men and women are these days?’
But Xu Jiaming spoke first. "Zhaozhao, do you have any hair ties that would suit me?"
Su Zhaozhao’s gaze fell on Xu Jiaming’s hair. It was thick and dark, styled in a center part that was currently very popular in Hong Kong.
It was a difficult hairstyle to pull off, but Xu Jiaming was very handsome, with a slightly pale face, reddish lips, and deep, dark eyes.
He looked just like one of those pretty boys from a magazine pictorial.
’But he’s a guy,’ she thought. ’What would he need a hair tie for?’
"You don’t need one," Su Zhaozhao said.
The strange feeling in her heart grew stronger. ’It would be best if I never see Xu Jiaming again.’
’I have no desire to become the next heroine.’
Thinking of all the twisted things Xu Jiaming did in the novel, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but shudder.
But in the next moment, Xu Jiaming picked up a hair tie from her display on the ground.
This one was different from the others. It didn’t have any showy fabric; it was a more minimalist style.
It was just a thin cord, but it was strung with a few small jasmine flowers.
Though simple, the jasmine flowers were so detailed they looked real. They even carried the faint scent of jasmine!
There were other options like bellflower and rose, but of all things, Xu Jiaming chose jasmine.
Su Zhaozhao was surprised. ’This creepy pretty boy actually has some taste. I love the smell of jasmine too.’
’It’s a light, elegant fragrance you never get tired of.’
"I’ll take this one," Xu Jiaming said.
"Alright."
Xu Jiaming took out some money to give her, but Su Zhaozhao waved her hand. "No need. Your sister bought so many, just consider this one a gift."
Xu Jiaxin had already given her so much money; she could certainly afford to give this one little cord away.
Xu Jiaxin chimed in from the side, "Zhaozhao, it’s fine, just take his money. He’s loaded. Might as well take it."
Su Zhaozhao was taken aback. ’Are they really siblings? Why does it feel like Xu Jiaxin is trying to fleece her own brother?’
Xu Jiaming pulled a one-yuan note from his wallet and handed it to Su Zhaozhao. "Yes, indeed. Might as well take it."
Su Zhaozhao got the change for him.
As she handed it to him, Xu Jiaming’s hand closed around hers.
Su Zhaozhao froze. Before she could even react, he had already pulled his hand away.
It was as if that moment of discomfort had just been her imagination.
By now, most of her hair ties were sold. Feeling it was getting late, Su Zhaozhao prepared to head back.
Xu Jiaxin called out to her, "Zhaozhao, want to go walk around and shop with us?"
"I can’t, I have to get back. It’s getting late."
"Is your family in such a rush for you to be back?"
Su Zhaozhao shook her head. "My fiancé will worry about me. He even offered to come with me today."
"Oh, I see. Then you should hurry back, so he doesn’t worry."
Su Zhaozhao nodded at Xu Jiaxin. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Xu Jiaming. Seeing that his expression was normal, she breathed a small sigh of relief.
’Looks like I was overthinking things.’
’I really hope I don’t get tangled up with that creepy guy. That would be terrifying.’
Remembering his twisted obsession with the novel’s heroine, and all the deranged things he did to stop her and the male lead from getting together, Su Zhaozhao’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.
’Thank goodness I’m just the beautiful but villainous side character, not nearly as clever or cute as the heroine.’
However, she had only taken two steps when Xu Jiaxin suddenly called out from behind her, "Zhaozhao, will you be back again?"
"Aren’t you guys about to start summer vacation?" Su Zhaozhao found the question a bit strange. Besides, Xu Jiaxin had just bought a huge pile of her wares, including gifts for all her friends.
She felt she had saturated the market here and didn’t need to come back to sell again.
"Oh... right. We’re going home for the break," Xu Jiaxin said, looking over at Xu Jiaming.
The look that passed between the siblings struck Su Zhaozhao as odd, but she figured they wouldn’t have any reason to interact again anyway.
So, Su Zhaozhao just waved to them. "I’m heading out then. See you around if fate allows!"
"Okay, you’re welcome to set up your stall here again when the next semester starts!" Xu Jiaxin said with a grin.
The moment Su Zhaozhao was gone, Xu Jiaxin’s expression changed. She looked at Xu Jiaming. "You’re interested in her, aren’t you? Why else would you tell me to ask if she’s coming back?"
"Yes," Xu Jiaming admitted without hesitation.
He toyed with the jasmine hair tie in his hand before slipping it onto his wrist.
It was as if Su Zhaozhao herself were wrapped around his wrist.
The thought was twisted, but it sent a thrill coursing through his veins.
Thinking of the girl’s eyes, her scent, and her face, Xu Jiaming bit his lip, his canine digging in like a predator that had just tasted blood.