Chapter Sixteen: Farewell to Chu Qitong (Part Two)

"It's been a while, hasn't it? Haha, that's how the world is—just when you're searching high and low, what you seek falls right into your lap. Xiao Qiang, I've been looking for you everywhere. I’m in Class One, and I never expected you’d be in Class Two—and you even know Su Xin." Although Chu Qitong’s voice wasn’t loud, I could clearly see her small hands clenched into delicate fists. If Su Xin weren’t here, she probably would have come at me already...

"What do you mean, ‘knows Su Xin’? My boss is actually Su Xin’s deskmate, and their relationship is excellent—don’t even think about making a move on my boss." Zhang Li, the more he looked at this friend of Su Xin’s, the more he suspected she had something going on with me. He quickly jumped in, hoping to help Su Xin and distance me from Chu Qitong.

At that moment, I truly wanted to bang my head against a wall. I shot a fierce glare at the guy beside me, who was more likely to cause trouble than solve it, and shook my head in pain. Zhang Li, oh Zhang Li—if you kept quiet, no one would think you were mute! Now, thanks to you, Su Xin and I are going to be watched by Chu Qitong, and that little troublemaker is not one to be trifled with!

"Oh? I never expected you, Xin Xin, to sit with this guy." Chu Qitong glanced at Su Xin, only to find her cheeks slightly flushed with embarrassment, which made her believe Zhang Li’s words entirely. She turned to me with a heavy, icy sneer. “I really didn’t see this coming, Xiao Qiang. I didn’t realize your sister’s talents ran in the family. No wonder—I forgot that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Hmph, so it’s not just your sister who’s a fox—looks like you’re a pretty boy yourself.”

"Miss Chu, you can eat whatever you like, but you can’t say whatever you like—be careful not to bite your own tongue!" Her words instantly ignited my anger, and I retorted coldly, "I had no idea that daughters of wealthy families speak without any restraint. But becoming a vixen is out of your league—you look more like a sow waiting for slaughter. What a pity..."

"Who are you calling a sow? Xiao Qiang, don’t go too far!" Chu Qitong was instantly enraged and lunged forward to teach me a lesson, but Su Xin, bewildered, quickly pulled her back, softly calling, "Tong Tong, don’t..."

"Don’t? You’re telling me not to? Xin Xin, did I hear you right—you’re taking his side over me?" Shocked and angry, Chu Qitong said, "Have you really fallen for this jerk? Wake up, Xin Xin! He’s just like his sister—only good at seducing people to get what he wants!"

"What do you mean, ‘seducing’? Watch your language, Chu Qitong! I tolerate you not because your family’s rich, but because I can’t be bothered to argue. But if you dare insult my god-sister again, I won’t let you off!" My rage boiled over. Chu Qitong may have been beautiful, but in my eyes, she was no better than a pig!

"Oh, can you both just stop?" Su Xin shoved Chu Qitong aside and spun around, glaring fiercely at me. "Xiao Qiang! If you say one more word, don’t blame me for turning against you!"

"Even if you turn on me, I have to speak up! If I’m bullied and don’t fight back, what kind of man would I be?" Frustration clouded my judgment—if Chu Qitong standing before me were a man, I’d have slapped her already.

"You..." Su Xin hadn’t expected me to talk back to her and was so angry she stopped talking, just glaring at me with fury. At this, Chu Qitong seemed delighted, sneering, "Xin Xin, do you see his true colors now? Hmph! Xiao Qiang, I told you I wouldn’t let you off! Only a useless man argues with women. If you’re a real man, let’s compete—do you dare?"

"Why would I be afraid of you?" I shot back, turning away from Su Xin. Zhang Li finally seemed to realize his blunder. So, in the end, Su Xin’s friend wasn’t romantically involved with his boss, but was actually an enemy! Still, he wondered, his boss had only recently transferred to Fourth High—how could he already have made such a striking enemy, and such a beautiful girl at that? As he listened, an idea struck him. Angrily, he said to Chu Qitong, "Ah, that’s why your voice sounded familiar! On the first day of school, you were the woman causing a scene at the gate!" Then, turning to me, he asked, "Boss, was the woman being scolded your god-sister? No wonder you told me to leave first—you wanted to stay and teach her a lesson!"

"So what if it was me? His sister deserved it! She tried to seduce my cousin—even though he’s already engaged! Doesn’t a woman like that deserve to be scolded? Fox!" Chu Qitong stared me down, her voice cold. "Fine, since you dare to compete with me, let’s set the terms! If you want to prove you’re right, then beat me!"

"Fine! Tell me how you want to compete!" I looked coldly at Chu Qitong, secretly sighing—why is there such a gulf between beauties like Su Xin and Chu Qitong? "And if I win, what then? If I lose, what happens?"

Chu Qitong, seeing me accept the challenge, thought for a moment, then lifted her head. "Don’t say I’m not giving you a chance—we’ll compete three times, winner of the most rounds takes all. The first two rounds are this month's National High School Computer Competition and October’s National Day Singing Contest—whoever does better wins! If you win, I’ll apologize to your sister in person. If you lose, you must stay away from Su Xin and never bother her again!"

"Tong Tong, how could you..." Su Xin began to protest, but before she could finish, I cut in, "Fine! Just don’t cry when you lose and accuse me of bullying you!" I snorted. "You’ve named two events, so I’ll name the third—let’s see who scores higher in this month’s preliminary exams!"

"Preliminary exams? Fine!" Chu Qitong’s eyes flashed with delight and she smiled broadly. "It’s a deal—no backing out! Don’t regret it when the time comes!"

"We’ll see who ends up crying for their mother!" I shot her a fierce look—this girl and I are locked in now. If nobody else will teach her how to behave, I will! I’ll make sure she loses completely and knows what it means to taste defeat!

"Hmph, we’ll see! Xin Xin, let’s go eat." Chu Qitong cast a triumphant look my way, grabbed Su Xin, and strode off as if I were nothing but air.

Watching the two girls’ retreating figures, I ground my teeth in frustration. Chu Qitong’s appearance had instantly ruined my good mood. But I didn’t let it bother me too much—after all, a real man doesn’t tangle with women. My goal was to forge a legendary life, not to get mired in pointless disputes with girls like her. I slapped Zhang Li on the shoulder, forced a smile, and said, "Come on, Zhang Li, Lanzhou noodles are on me today!"