Chapter 21: I Also Have a Love History

  Zhang Yang was still immersed in the ecstasy of the M-level mission when Han Xue’s song 《Thinking of You》 suddenly started playing. It was a phone ringtone, and it was coming from the bag that Xu Danlu was carrying.

  Xu Danlu glanced at Zhang Yang, took out her phone from the bag, and answered it. After she picked up, her brows furrowed slightly, and then she seemed to want to hang up, but for some reason didn’t. Instead, she stood up and walked toward the office door, talking on the phone through the closed door.

  Through the transparent glass, Zhang Yang could tell that Xu Danlu seemed quite agitated, occasionally gesturing as she spoke.

  About two or three minutes later, she hung up the phone and walked back into Yang Jing’s office with an indifferent face. Her beautiful eyes locked firmly on Zhang Yang, as if Zhang Yang owed her a fortune.

  Before Zhang Yang could speak, she stared straight at him, said nothing, and directly grabbed his arm, dragging him toward the door.

  Yang Jing and Xu’s mother both looked astonished. Just as they were about to ask, Xu Danlu shook her head and said, “He and I have something to talk about. Give us a few minutes.”

  Outside the office, Xu Danlu stared at Zhang Yang without saying a word. After a long silence, she finally sighed and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “What?” Zhang Yang had a faint guess but didn’t dare to be sure.

  “You know what I mean. That call just now was from Bai Liangfeng.” Xu Danlu bit her cherry lips and shook the HTC in her hand. “Something this big happened—why didn’t you tell me?”

  Hearing that it was Bai Liangfeng calling, Zhang Yang basically understood, but he still pretended to be confused. “Didn’t tell you what? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

  Xu Danlu pressed her lips together and lowered her head. When she looked up again, Zhang Yang noticed her eyes were red. “Still pretending? Bai Liangfeng said you were expelled, and it’s all because of me.”

  “So what if I was expelled?” Zhang Yang forced a relaxed expression. “It’s no pressure to me, and honestly, it has nothing to do with you.”

  “How could it have nothing to do with me? Bai Liangfeng admitted it on the phone.”

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  “Damn, that bastard’s talking nonsense.” Zhang Yang cursed, then looked straight at Xu Danlu and sighed, speaking as sincerely as he could. “It really has nothing to do with you. My relationship with that jerk Bai Liangfeng has been bad for a long time. Him coming after me is no surprise.”

  “I don’t believe it.” Xu Danlu shook her head. Zhang Yang’s words didn’t convince her at all. It was obvious—Bai Liangfeng must be retaliating because his fun at Qingyuan Hotel was ruined.

  “But don’t worry, I won’t let you get expelled.” She lifted her head, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.

  Zhang Yang froze. What could she possibly do? A thought flashed in his mind—she must’ve agreed to some condition from Bai Liangfeng.

  “Did that bastard threaten you into doing something? Don’t fall for it.”

  “No, he didn’t!” Xu Danlu shook her head, but her eyes betrayed her. Zhang Yang became even more certain she had been coerced.

  Zhang Yang didn’t press further. He looked at her again and said seriously, “Trust me, he’s not coming after me because of you.”

  Seeing she still wasn’t convinced, Zhang Yang sighed and reluctantly continued, “I wasn’t planning to say this, but at this point, I might as well be honest. If you really think Bai Liangfeng’s targeting me because of you, you’re dead wrong.”

  Hearing that, Xu Danlu subconsciously looked at him, blinking—clearly interested in what Zhang Yang would say next.

  Seeing that he’d hooked her interest, Zhang Yang spoke in a near-tragic tone, “Do you know who the campus belle of Meining University is now?”

  “Of course! The stunning beauty from the Music Department, the top actress of Huaxia Entertainment, Lin Yin—the goddess of Meining University, rivaled only by Teacher Yang. But what does that have to do with you and Bai Liangfeng?”

  “It’s definitely related.” Zhang Yang looked up toward the distant… ceiling, his tone nostalgic. “Back when I was a freshman, the first time I saw Lin Yin, I was deeply captivated by her voice and beauty. I fell head over heels, couldn’t eat or sleep, her image filled my mind. But you know, the gap between us was too big, impossible to cross. We were like two parallel lines that would never meet.”

  “And then?” Xu Danlu pouted, clearly not paying attention, but still a little swayed by his expression.

  “We were never meant to be, but…” Zhang Yang skillfully shifted the tone to keep her hooked. “One time, when I was running a stall at the campus gate, she noticed one of my crafts. I don’t know if it was a whim or if she really liked it, but she left me her contact info and told me to make another one. After that…”

  “After that, you two started talking?” Xu Danlu raised an eyebrow, continuing for him.

  “Yeah!” Zhang Yang nodded shamelessly. “Then she often came to discuss crafts with me, sometimes even artistic creation. Gradually, sparks started flying between us…”

  “Wait, you and Lin Yin? No way! She said on Weibo she’s never dated anyone…”

  “Cough, cough… Come on, you know Lin Yin’s a rising star in showbiz now—a national goddess for otakus. If word got out that she’d dated someone, she’d lose tons of fans.” Zhang Yang shamelessly continued fabricating, even swearing at the end, “If you don’t believe me, you can ask her yourself at graduation. If I’m lying, I’m a vile scum overflowing with evil!”

  Anyway, since the system kept calling him that, using it for an oath shouldn’t be a problem, right?

  But Zhang Yang saw that Xu Danlu’s face still showed disbelief. She looked doubtful, so he quickly changed his story. “Actually, I don’t even know if it counts as dating. I was serious about her, but I’m not sure about her.”

  Hearing that, Xu Danlu gave him a look, half skeptical. “Then how does this have anything to do with Bai Liangfeng?”

  “What do you think?” Zhang Yang looked annoyed. “You should know what kind of guy Bai Liangfeng is. He never lets go of a pretty girl. When he saw Lin Yin, it was like a fly spotting fresh shit… okay, that’s a bit unfair to Lin Yin, but still. The moment he saw her, he shamelessly made a move, but she ignored him completely. Since then, he’s considered me his love rival.”

  “So my feud with him started back in sophomore year. He trashed my stalls more times than I can count. You can ask Li Jindong and Zhou Wei if you don’t believe me.”

  Xu Danlu fell silent after hearing that. After a while, she said softly, “I know you just made that up so I wouldn’t give in to Bai Liangfeng.”

  Zhang Yang wilted, covering his forehead with his hand, and sighed. “Come on, if I were going to make something up, I’d pick someone else, right? Why would I make up something about Lin Yin, the campus goddess?”

  “Because you know I’d never ask her.” Xu Danlu pouted, looking at Zhang Yang, and then exaggeratedly asked, “So, do you still love Lin Yin now?”

  “Uh?” Zhang Yang smacked his lips. Damn, women’s thoughts were such a pain in the ass.