Chapter 153

After sending the message, she threw her phone aside, not daring to look at the reply, and went to take a shower.

After the shower, she mentally prepared herself before picking up her phone.

Less than a minute after she sent her message, Qiao Rui replied:

"Screenshotted!"

Then he sent a picture, which was the WeChat interface on his phone.

Xu Yi then realized he had pinned her account to the top, and the remark was "The Cutest Princess Xu Yi in the Whole World".

He didn't change it.

He even kept it pinned.

...

The next day after being busy all morning, she went to the cafeteria with Gu Ran and Cui Ning to have lunch. After lunch, they each went about their own business.

Xu Yi went back to her dorm alone, took a quick shower, then sat at her desk and took out some makeup.

She didn't have much makeup, just enough for light makeup, but she also wasn't very good at heavy makeup, light makeup suited her better.

The appointed time was 3 pm in the afternoon.

Qiao Rui swaggered onto the G University campus. Shortly after arriving, he saw Xu Yi hurrying towards him.

At a glance, he noticed Xu Yi was wearing makeup today.

The makeup was very light, but very elegant and suited her well.

On her already beautiful face, the makeup made her appear even more exquisite.

But Qiao Rui's main concern was...did she put on makeup to see him?

She did!

Xu Yi didn't know what he was thinking, but noticed he kept staring at her, with an expression that was...hard to describe, as if afraid she would get lost.

Xu Yi, feeling a little awkward, asked: "I'm wearing makeup, do I look good?"

Qiao Rui asked outright: “Did you put on makeup to see me?”

"..."

Embarrassed, she didn't answer, “Let’s get going.”

Qiao Rui took her non-reply as acquiescence, and put his arm around her shoulder, answering her previous question: “How could my girl not look good?” Not looking up, Xu Yi replied shyly: "...What do you mean your girl."

"Didn't you say it yourself yesterday, and wanted me to show you a screenshot?"

"...I don't want to see it!"

Leaving school, Xu Yi asked: “Where are we going?”

Qiao Rui said: “I heard Mount He is very beautiful at dusk these days, and there aren’t many people either. Don’t girls all like taking pictures? I’ll take pictures of you, how about it?"

In fact, it was Lu Jian who told him Mount He was the best place to confess one's love.

Because at the top of the mountain, you can overlook the whole view of G City, especially at dusk, the scenery is very beautiful, perfect for confessions of love.

And with students going back to school recently, there weren't many people on weekdays.

So Qiao Rui listened to his advice.

Xu Yi wasn't very interested in having her picture taken, but she was willing to do anything with Qiao Rui.

The two took a taxi to Mount He.

Qiao Rui asked, "Should we take the cable car up?”

"Let's climb up ourselves?"

The sunset approached from the west, and Xu Yi had zero interest in exercise.

Qiao Rui asked again to confirm: "Are you sure? It's tiring to climb a mountain."

"I'm sure!"

"Okay, if you get tired just tell me, I’ll carry you up on my back.”

But today Xu Yi was full of energy, usually by midway up the mountain she would already be too tired to walk.

This time she actually made it all the way to the top, although she was panting for breath and had to rest several times along the way.

Upon reaching the top, Xu Yi excitedly ran to the front.

The tall buildings and low houses of G City were in full view beneath her, the busy scenery stretching to the horizon.

Hands on her hips, she rested as she admired the view.

Qiao Rui simply leaned against the nearby railing, gazing quietly at her.

Suddenly he took out his phone and openly snapped a side profile shot of her, with strands of her hair fluttering in the wind. The bridge of the girl's nose was pert, the lines of her cheekbones sleek and soft.

He really liked her so, so much.

If only time could stop right now.

Xu Yi knew he took a picture of her, but didn't say anything. Instead she brought up another topic: “When I used to watch idol dramas, I often saw the male and female leads shout out their dreams at the top of a mountain.”

Qiao Rui asked earnestly: “By shouting them out, could the dreams come true?”

“How could that be possible? Without striving towards your dreams, how could they ever come true? Just like with you testing into G University―you and I both know how much effort you put in along the way.”

Qiao Rui scoffed: “Hmph, so what would you shout?”

“It just suddenly occurred to me to mention it,” Xu Yi asked interestedly, “So now, do you have any dreams?” “I do. People without dreams might as well be salmon. What’s the difference?”

“What’s your dream? Tell me about it?”

“It’s related to you.” Qiao Rui’s expression suddenly became serious, and he asked, “Could you help me make it come true?”

“If it’s related to me, as long as I’m capable of doing so―” Xu Yi’s eyes were as clear as water, bright as the stars, “I will definitely help you achieve it.”

Qiao Rui’s Adam's apple bobbed lightly up and down as he struggled internally.

The girl stubbornly gazed at him, waiting for him to speak of his dream.

His eyes were deep, and he had been rehearsing for this moment since last night.

“My dream is for you to be my girlfriend.”

The sunset rolled along the horizon, like a drop of ink staining the originally clear and limpid canvas with a heavy smear of color.

It was dusk now.

He had succeeded in confessing at dusk, though not how he had envisioned doing so.

Though Xu Yi had guessed what he wanted to say, hearing the actual words still made her heart flutter lightly.

She gazed blankly at him.

Qiao Rui mustered his courage and walked over to stand in front of her. He looked very nervous but was trying hard to restrain it.

“The reason I took the initiative to ask you out today was because I wanted to confess to you.”

“Not long after we became deskmates, I started liking you.”

“I'm not smart at studying, and my grades aren’t good either. My motivation behind working hard at my studies was because I wanted to be in the same city as you. I wanted to see you every day.”

“I know this is pathetic, but I just can’t help it.”

“When you’re not by my side, you fill my entire mind, yet I don’t dare bother you all the time because I’m afraid you’ll get annoyed. But I can’t control how much I miss you―I hate that we can’t be together every minute of every day.”

“Last night, when you were suddenly so cold towards me, I got really scared. I was afraid you didn’t like me always clinging to you like that.”

“But I just...”

By this point Qiao Rui found himself tongue-tied, unable to spout any more sweet nothings.

This brave young man now lacked even the courage to look her in the eye and confess face-to-face.

“Xu Yi.”

He forced himself to slowly lift his head, gripping her shoulders. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

Afraid she would reject him, he deliberately added: “I’m serious.”

The fading rays of dusk light shone down on her, like a holy yet romantic ritual.

Tiny specks of light glimmered in Xu Yi’s round almond eyes, dazzling like the stars.

Her gaze quivered subtly, in that moment her brows and eyes filled with a tenderness that belonged only to him.

“I’m willing.”