Who Accompanied Him to the End

"Zhizhi, what are you looking at?"

Lin Wanwan, who was beside him, noticed Chen Zhi's pause and followed his gaze.

When she saw Pei Ningxue sitting at the main seat, leaning lazily against the back of her chair in a black backless evening gown, Lin Wanwan's grip on Chen Zhi's arm noticeably tightened.

Tonight, Pei Ningxue was indeed so stunning it was almost criminal.

The tailoring of that evening gown was extremely bold, fully revealing her perfect shoulder and neck lines, with collarbones so deep you could keep fish in them.

Her aura was absolutely flawless.

"Heh, dressing like that, people who don't know any better would think she's here to walk the red carpet."

Lin Wanwan snorted through her nose, "Doesn't she feel cold?"

Chen Zhi felt like the flesh on his arm was about to be pinched off and quickly tried to smooth things over: "True, the air conditioning is set pretty low. Our long-sleeved shirts are definitely warmer."

"Of course!" Lin Wanwan instantly regained her confidence, puffed out her chest, and pulled Chen Zhi along with wide strides. "Come on, let's sit at the main table!"

"Yo, our top scholar and his wife have arrived!"

The class monitor, Zhao Kai, was someone who loved watching drama unfold. He immediately stood up to offer his seat. "Come, come, Brother Zhi, sit here. We saved the center spots for you two!"

That position was exactly opposite Pei Ningxue.

Chen Zhi was just about to say, "No need, we can just sit on the side," but Lin Wanwan had already plopped down, conveniently dragging him onto the chair next to her.

"Thanks, monitor!" Lin Wanwan smiled radiantly, even tilting her chin up at Pei Ningxue across the table with a triumphant look.

Pei Ningxue put down her wine glass. Her beautiful peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze swept over the couple's matching outfits.

"Quite festive."

She parted her red lips, her voice cold and clear, "Looks like you just came back from getting your marriage certificate at the civil registry, and conveniently threw a couple of roadside banquet tables at the village entrance."

Lin Wanwan's smile froze on her face.

Village entrance? Roadside banquet?

Was this wicked woman calling her tacky?!

"Pei Ningxue, what do you mean by that?" Lin Wanwan slammed her bag onto the table. "Look at you, dressed in pitch black. People who don't know any better would think you're here to attend a memorial service!"

The surrounding classmates didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, their eyes darting wildly between the two women.

How thrilling!

They're going at it already?

Is this the legendary romantic battlefield?

Chen Zhi felt his scalp tingle, wishing he could find a hole in the ground to crawl into. He was just about to speak up to break up the fight when Pei Ningxue opposite him suddenly smiled.

That smile was like melting ice and snow, so dazzling it made people dizzy.

"Don't be angry, classmate Lin Wanwan."

Pei Ningxue leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table, her posture lazy and charming. "I just think this red really suits you. After all..."

She paused, her gaze subtly sweeping over Chen Zhi's neck as she said meaningfully, "After all, red represents passion. And the passion of a certain someone last night is impossible to hide."

Chen Zhi subconsciously covered his neck.

Fuck!

Lin Wanwan froze for a moment, then realized Pei Ningxue was talking about that hickey.

What should have been an embarrassing matter now became her weapon to fight back.

"Of course!" Lin Wanwan simply stopped pretending. She openly hooked her arm around Chen Zhi's and rested her head on his shoulder. "Zhizhi and I have a great relationship. Unlike some people, who are all alone and can only sit here making sarcastic remarks."

As she spoke, she deliberately pulled Chen Zhi's hand over, interlacing their fingers, and placed them on the table for display.

Pei Ningxue looked at those clasped hands, the smile on her face fading a bit.

"All alone?"

Pei Ningxue examined her fingertips. "Not necessarily. When it comes to certain things, if I want to snatch them, there is nothing I cannot get."

Alarm bells instantly went off in Lin Wanwan's head. "Don't you dare!"

"Alright, alright! Everyone, say a few words less!"

Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, Chen Zhi had to bite the bullet and step up as the peacemaker. He picked up the juice pitcher from the table and poured a glass for each of the two grand ladies. "Today is our graduation dinner, everyone should be happy. Come, come, drink some juice, drink some juice."

"I don't drink juice." Pei Ningxue didn't even glance at the glass of juice, her eyes staring fixedly at Chen Zhi. "I want to drink alcohol."

"Uh..." Chen Zhi was a bit embarrassed. "It's not good for girls to drink too much."

"What, is classmate Chen Zhi afraid I'll get drunk?"

Pei Ningxue suddenly lowered her voice, speaking at a volume that only the people at this table could hear. "Or are you afraid that if I get drunk, I'll blurt out the good deeds you did on the bus?"

Cough, cough, cough!

Chen Zhi started coughing violently, his face flushing bright red.

Is this woman crazy?!

Lin Wanwan looked at the two suspiciously. "The bus? What happened on the bus? Zhizhi, what did you do?"

"Nothing! Nothing!" Chen Zhi quickly waved his hands, breaking out in a cold sweat. "It's just... just that I accidentally stepped on her foot! Right, stepped on her foot!"

"Is that so?" Pei Ningxue gave a half-smile. "That step was certainly deep enough."

Chen Zhi felt like he was going to suffocate.

How had he never realized before that this wicked woman was not only devious but also an expert at playing with fire?

Right at this critical moment, the doors to the banquet hall were pushed open again.

A graceful and elegant figure appeared at the doorway.

The crowd, who had been enjoying the drama, involuntarily had their attention drawn over.

The newcomer wore a simple floral dress, her long black hair falling smoothly over her shoulders. She wore no makeup, yet her face was as fair and clear as fine mutton-fat jade.

She held a book in her arms, standing there quietly like a little white flower blooming in the noisy mortal world.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Li Zhiyi said softly. She looked around, her gaze lingering for a second on Chen Zhi and Lin Wanwan's red outfits, then looked at Pei Ningxue in her black dress.

Finally, she revealed a tranquil smile and walked straight toward the main table.

"Is there an empty seat here?" She pointed to the spot next to Pei Ningxue.

The entire hall fell silent once more.

Good heavens.

The stakes were getting higher.

"Yes, of course!" Zhao Kai quickly pulled out a chair. "Study Committeeman, please sit!"

Li Zhiyi sat down, effectively flanking Pei Ningxue on the left and right with Lin Wanwan... No, it formed a triangle, and Chen Zhi was the poor bastard being roasted over the fire.

"Zhiyi, why are you only arriving now!" Seeing Li Zhiyi, Lin Wanwan reined in her hostility a bit; after all, this was her best friend.

"I went to the bookstore to buy two books." Li Zhiyi placed the books she was holding on the table. They were two brand-new copies of Dream of the Red Chamber.

Pei Ningxue glanced at the two books and raised an eyebrow. "Dream of the Red Chamber? Is classmate Li going to study Redology?"

"No."

Li Zhiyi poured herself a cup of tea. Her tone was gentle and soft, but there was a needle hidden in the cotton. "I am just reading to see, with so many sisters and female cousins around Jia Baoyu, who exactly is the one that stays with him until the very end."

Hiss...

A collective gasp could be heard from the surroundings.

Was this really the Li Zhiyi who never dared to speak loudly?

This combat power is simply off the charts!

Chen Zhi painfully covered his face.