Chapter 9: Challenging You

  Pushing aside the girls blocking the way, she ran out of the toilet with a pleased expression, wearing wet clothes... Hurrying her pace, her eyes seemed to be filled with water too, feeling hot and uncomfortable. She must have caught a cold, that's why her nose wanted to run, making her nose red. Being splashed with cold water, although it was September, she still felt cold, otherwise why would she shiver?

  Suddenly stopping in her tracks, Xin Ran tilted her head back to let the sunlight dry her soaked spirit. She had a million whys in her heart, but no one gave her an answer.

  Afternoon no class, Xinran received the book, ignoring the sarcastic words of the people in the classroom. She wore her wet hair and backpack, leaving the classroom. At the school gate, she happened to see Ren Heyu driving a silver-white sports car, he was showing off his new car with his friends...

  Seeing him and his friend talking so seriously, an idea suddenly emerged... Hurriedly squatting down to observe the situation on Ren He Yu's side while quickly letting out the air from his sports car tire.

  Friends were told by Ren Heyu that they wanted to experience a new car. Ren Heyu turned around and thought of getting on the car, with sharp eyes seeing someone crouching over there...

  Delighted to see himself succeed, he also felt something was off, so he bent down and ran forward without even turning his head.

  Xin Ran's exaggerated running motion caught Ren He Yu's attention, and he wondered what she was doing here. Even if she was leaving school, she shouldn't be near his car! With an uneasy expression, she looked down towards the wheel of the car, but as soon as she did, Ren He Yu almost burst with anger...

  "Yexinran, I won't let you go~~~~~"

  Achoo! She rubbed her nose with her fingers after sneezing, hoping she wasn't really catching a cold. With a lingering fear, she looked around cautiously, afraid that Ren He Yu's people might be lurking nearby, waiting to pounce on her.

  Back home, she lay on the hardboard bed with a cooling mat, her eyes closed. The surroundings were quiet and dark, unlike before when she had a sense of fear, but now she felt at ease here for the first time. Her eyelashes, which were usually raised in a cheerful manner, fluttered lightly, and under the dim yellow light, her smooth and translucent skin was unadorned by any cosmetics, with no signs of worry between her eyebrows affecting her pure and innocent appearance.

  Slowly opening her eyes, staring at the ceiling, lightly parting her dry red lips, "Ren He Yu's effect is really huge, it seems that in the future, it will be difficult to get along with him at school." In her heart, she was entangled countless times, when would she and Ren He Yu untie all the knots, and when could her campus life be calm? This thrilling game of teasing every day was not fun at all.

  Dragging her weak body, she changed into clean clothes and prepared to go to work. Life must go on, and it can't be knocked down by a small setback. Ye Xinran, you can do it!

  Arrived at the office coffee shop, smiled and dived into work. As usual, greeted colleagues, but unlike before, their attitude was a bit different today. Smiles froze in surprise, awkward shrugs, doing own things.

  She wiped the cup with her hand, slightly pouting, and frowned lightly. In her heart, she was thinking, why did everyone seem a bit abnormal? Was it also because of Ren He Yu's relationship? The self-denying herself shook her head, no way, having worked here for some time, getting along with colleagues wasn't bad, how could it be possible to betray the friendship between them just because of Ren He Yu's words?

  Xinran carelessly put the wiped cup on the counter, but unexpectedly the cup fell to the ground with a crisp "clang" sound and shattered into pieces...

  "What's wrong with you? How can you be so careless?" The store owner immediately came over to scold Xinran, "Is this your first day on the job? You can't even wipe a cup properly, what can you do?"

  "I..."

  "Be more careful in the future, don't look like you've lost your soul. You're here to work, not to summon spirits."

  He nodded hastily and didn't dare make a sound, "Yes, sorry boss, I was wrong."

  "Hmm, show some spirit, be more energetic." After finishing her instructions, the store manager stepped out in her high heels.

  Xinran slumped in a high-backed chair, trying to collect himself. Before he could even warm the seat, he heard someone calling his name...

  "Great, there are a few cups in the back that haven't been washed, can you go wash them?"

  "Great, here comes a customer, you clear the table."

  "Great, it's dirty, hurry up and mop it."

  In the afternoon, Xinran was ordered around by these colleagues who used to be in good relationship with her. This made her even more certain that things were not simple and must have been manipulated by Ren He Yu. Otherwise, how could the store manager, who had always been very kind to her, scold her harshly in front of so many colleagues? Those colleagues too, in the past when she wanted to swap shifts or was late, they would be understanding and comfort her not to blame herself. But their behavior in the afternoon was really different from their previous attitude.

  Until the sky was completely dark, Xinran finally got off work. Exhausted, she sat on a long bench by the street, looking up to see the stars, but unfortunately there were no stars in the sky tonight. Leaning against the bench, smiling wistfully at the front, it's really good like this, I'm too tired and don't want you to see me like this, it's really good!

  Sparkling in the eyes, brighter than the stars, hiding inner sadness with a smile. Facing the twists and turns of reality with an optimistic attitude, taking a deep breath and exhaling heavily.

  Xin Ran stood up, ready to head home, but froze in her tracks when she saw Ren He Yu standing in front of her. Thinking about all the misfortunes that had befallen her over the past day, which were all thanks to him, she couldn't describe the disgust she felt towards him.

  She deliberately gave him a sideways glance, thinking of walking away like this, but his words made her stop...

  "Doesn't it feel terrible? Don't try to fight me, you can't beat me. I'm giving you a chance now, apologize to me and I'll let you off." Ren He Yu's magnetic and pleasant voice stirred her eardrums, if not for his ridiculous words, she might have been attracted and captivated by his voice!

  "Do you think I still believe in you? Can your words still be heard? I never knew, you are so overbearing and rude. At most, I thought you were spoiled since childhood, everyone feared you and catered to you, so your personality and temperament were understandable. Now that I've discovered my mistake, you're really annoying." These are all true words.

  Ren He Yu's face sank, and he said in a gloomy tone: "What did you say? Say it again."

  His deep eyes were very cold, knowing he was angry, his whole body exuded a strong aura, making her shrink back. She couldn't just give up like this, she wouldn't allow herself to be defeated by his intimidating presence. "Do you think I don't dare say it? Just because no one has ever dared to speak to you like that from childhood to adulthood, so now you're having a hard time accepting it? Let me tell you, Ren He Yu, I've decided to challenge you, I'm going to challenge you, wait for me!"

  With discontent, he hummed a sound from his nose and walked away with a huff.