After Rebirth and Done Chasing, I Choose the Gentle and Rich Goddess Over the Scheming Campus Belle - Chapter 26:

Chapter 26: Cousin Is Secretly Watching

Liu Yuyan’s words still echoed in the air. 

The passersby around them looked as if they’d swallowed flies. 

None of them had expected Liu Yuyan to turn on them. 

Now they felt like clowns. 

Especially when they saw He Li and Miao Xiaoyu still smiling… their smiles felt like glaring insults. 

Embarrassed and frustrated, the onlookers couldn’t bear to stay and be scolded any longer. One by one, they left with resentment boiling in their hearts.

Only Li Lingjie remained, standing there blankly as if his mind had shut down.

But He Li couldn’t care less about that bootlicker. He only glanced once at the pitiful Liu Yuyan and said, “I told you, don’t bother me again. I don’t want any ties to you. Let’s just pretend we never knew each other. Goodbye.” 

With that, he stepped around Liu Yuyan and walked away.

Miao Xiaoyu bounced happily beside him. She was extremely happy today—not just because He Li had agreed to watch a movie with her, but also because he had firmly rejected Liu Yuyan and showed her some tenderness. It made her feel like she mattered in his heart. Maybe… her place there wasn’t so small anymore.

Even though they hadn’t officially confirmed their relationship, they’d already met each other’s parents. It wouldn’t be long now.

What worried Miao Xiaoyu was whether her family might oppose her being with He Li. After all, the difference between their families was huge. Still, if He Li succeeded in his career, their chances of being together would increase dramatically.

Yes, she had to work hard to support him—so that one day, he could marry her.

As she shyly smiled to herself, murmuring this silently, He Li turned his head, confused by her cheerful expression. What was going on in this girl’s mind again? Why did she suddenly look so happy?

Unable to figure it out, he gave up thinking. The two of them quickened their pace toward the studio…

…

“Yuyan… what you said just now, was it true?” 

Back on the street where it all happened, Li Lingjie, now snapped out of his daze, looked pale and worn out, as if he’d drained all his strength. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was filled with grief.

Hearing him, Liu Yuyan withdrew her gaze from He Li’s fading figure and, suppressing the disappointment in her heart, responded irritably, “Do you not understand human speech? I don’t want to deal with you!”

With that, she turned and left in a daze. She had no intention of giving up on He Li. 

The more he rejected her, the more determined she was to win him back.

Just thinking of Miao Xiaoyu’s radiant smile made Liu Yuyan furious, fueling her determination. But He Li’s harsh words still pierced her heart like arrows. Every time she thought about them, she wanted to cry. 

She felt like only getting He Li back could heal her.

What she didn’t know was…

The moment she walked away, Li Feng’er arrived.

Li Feng’er quietly approached the dazed and hollow-looking Li Lingjie and asked, “Got rejected?”

Li Lingjie didn’t respond.

Li Feng’er didn’t push. She simply said, “Yuyan is like a noble white swan. She’s not someone just anyone can have. But maybe… you should look around. There might be someone else worth caring about.”

Hearing that, Li Lingjie slowly lifted his head…

…

“Why are you two so late?” Wu Gang looked at He Li and Miao Xiaoyu walking through the door with confusion. 

They usually came early—why were they so late today?

He Li shook his head and sat down, then casually recounted what had happened earlier.

Wu Gang was shocked, “Damn? She brought you breakfast? Liu Yuyan brought it? Are you serious?”

“Fake,” He Li rolled his eyes.

Wu Gang laughed, “What a twist! She used to ignore you completely, and now even if she throws herself at you, she can’t reach your level!”

“Alright, back to work.” He Li frowned.

Wu Gang shrugged and started tapping on his keyboard again.

Miao Xiaoyu sat quietly beside He Li. For some reason, she seemed to be thinking of something happy. As she worked on her illustrations, she softly hummed a little tune, making He Li feel especially relaxed.

He couldn’t help but glance sideways at Miao Xiaoyu’s beautiful profile. She was so immersed in her own little world that she didn’t even notice.

Sunlight poured in through the window, wrapping her in a warm golden glow. 

At that moment, Miao Xiaoyu looked like a fairy. Bathed in golden light, her soft, pinkish skin shimmered with a crystal-like luster. She was so beautiful that He Li was completely mesmerized, his hand pausing mid-motion.

Time flowed silently by.

When Miao Xiaoyu finally felt thirsty and reached for water, she suddenly realized… He Li was watching her. His gaze was gentle, with a hint of amusement.

Miao Xiaoyu recognized that look well—it was the same look she had whenever she was mesmerized by He Li. But now, he was looking at her like that, which made her blush and panic.

“Why are you… staring at me like that?” she asked, pretending not to care while nervously grabbing a cup and taking a sip.

He Li blinked and said, “You grabbed the wrong one…”

“Huh?” Miao Xiaoyu looked down at the cup in her hands—and instantly realized it was He Li’s.

They had been sitting close together, and their cups were placed side by side. In her panic, she had picked up his.

There were still faint marks from where He Li had drunk just minutes ago. 

Her face turned red to the roots of her neck, and she quickly lowered her head, too embarrassed to look up.

“Does… does this count as an indirect kiss?” she whispered in her heart, blushing furiously.

He Li rested his cheek in his palm, elbow on the desk, quietly watching her flustered expression. She looked so cute, he couldn’t get enough of her.

After a moment, he couldn’t help but pull out his phone.

Click!

“Hey, what are you doing!” Miao Xiaoyu heard the shutter sound and immediately looked up, pouting angrily at He Li. He waved his phone and said, “Don’t be mad, you just looked so cute. I couldn’t resist taking a picture!”

“You… you’re so annoying…” Miao Xiaoyu turned away, too shy to look at him.

On the other side, Wu Gang rolled his eyes dramatically. These two again? What was that supposed to be?

But Wu Gang didn’t know—this time, he wasn’t the only one being “tortured.” There was another beauty suffering as well…

…

“Aww~ My little cousin is so adorable! Why didn’t she ever show that kind of expression at home? So unfair, this stinky brat totally lucked out!”

Outside the room, in the hallway, Yu Jianxin—dressed in a windbreaker, wearing a mask, and now with her sunglasses off—was crouched like a thief by the window, secretly peeking at the sweet couple inside.

She was here because she was about to leave and wanted to come take one last look at Miao Xiaoyu and He Li. She wanted to know what their usual interactions were like.

She’d been here for a while.

From the moment He Li secretly admired Miao Xiaoyu…
To when Miao Xiaoyu accidentally picked up the wrong cup in a panic…
To their playful teasing at the end—Yu Jianxin had seen it all, and she was squealing inside.

She had to admit—handsome and gentle He Li with her cute little cousin made for a perfect couple.

If it weren’t for the gap in their family backgrounds…
She might’ve pulled out a carp flag and waved it right then and there!

Still, Yu Jianxin did feel a tiny bit jealous. Her sweet little cousin, who was so close to her, had never shown that kind of cute side at home. And now she was acting like that in front of an outsider? It made her feel incredibly unbalanced.

She thought for a moment, then smiled slightly.

“My future cousin-in-law… let me test you a bit. Let’s see if you’re truly worthy of my little Xiaoyu… or if you’re just a flashy fraud who doesn’t deserve her.”