Jiang Xue'er could not believe what she was hearing. Then she heard the girl say.
"It's still a secret."
"OK. Don't be afraid. We have a lot of time to get along." Gu Lingze said.
That girl still didn't respond and left. Soon did Gu Lingze. But Jiang Xue'er couldn't digest the information.
'Su Rouli is Gu Lingze's childhood sweetheart..... his fiancée'
She wanted to scream but before she could, she saw someone emerging from under the stairs. She was very shocked. She looked carefully and saw that it was a girl holding a sketch book and a pencil pouch in her hand. She lifted her face and Jiang Xue'er recognized her. She was Fu Rouxi!!!!!
'It was not only me who discovered this secret. Fu Rouxi also heard them.'
Fu Rouxi didn't stay long. She patted her skirt and left.
Jiang Xue'er reached the classroom in daze. She sat on her seat but couldn't get rid of that moment she saw. Soon Gu Lingze entered the classroom. He flashed her a brilliant smile as if nothing happened. She forced a smile and thought that she'll ask him later directly.
After second period was over, she gathered her courage and took him to a quiet place in the corridor. She asked him
"Gu Lingze, do you like me?"
"Of course, I do. That's why we're dating, aren't we?" He gently caressed her hair.
"If suddenly, you have a fiancée out of nowhere which your parents arranged for you, then what about me?"
Gu Lingze stayed silent for a while then asked,"What's with this all of a sudden?"
"I was on stairs this morning." Jiang Xue'er said.
"What did you hear?" Gu Lingze grabbed her shoulders tightly and asked anxiously.
"It hurts... leave me..."
Gu Lingze loosened his grip.
"I just heard that Su Rouli is your fiancée and it is a secret." Jiang Xue'er said.
Gu Lingze left her shoulders and leaned against the wall. He sighed, " It's just as you heard. It is arranged by my parents and I don't like her. I'll never marry her. I am doing this just for my parents. To make her fall for me and then gain her family business."
"What about me, then?" asked Jiang Xue'er.
"You?! You are of course the girl I like and want to marry. Don't worry all the other girls to me are just like logs. You are the only one. I don't even look at other girls much less think about them.
Just bear for some time. When I have achieved what I want from her, I'll call off the engagement and marry you. Till then let's date in secret. OK?"
Jiang Xue'er nodded even when she was feeling a little confused. Both returned to their classroom.
Soon the bell rang and students began to pack their things and made their way to canteen. Jiang Xue'er and Gu Lingze also left the classroom. Suddenly, Gu Lingze stopped
"You go on. I'll be there later."
"OK, I also need to go to toilet. May be I'll reach there later then you" she joked and walked away.
After sometime, she returned as she remembered that she has not taken her wallet from her bag. The corridor was quite as almost all students were in canteen. The she heard noise of something falling. She quietly ran there and was stunned to see Gu Lingze holding Fu Rouxi's hand.
"Let go of my hand, you scumbag!"
"How am I a scumbag? huh?" Gu Lingze asked.
Fu Rouxi twisted her hand hard and broke free from his grip.
"Get lost!"
"Hey, what are you getting all worked up for, huh? You are beautiful and I am handsome. You're not gonna loose anything. I did not rape you, I just tried to kiss you. What's with all this anger?"
"Why should I let you kiss me, huh? and rape? Ha, looks like you've done this before" Fu Rouxi said with taunt.
"Oooh... you do know me well. Of course, I did it. Women are born for pleasuring men-"
Gu Lingze said in a strange and terrifying voice. But Fu Rouxi cit him off.
"Get lost!!! You're a shame to all the men in the world."
Fu Rouxi said angrily and turned around to return the classroom.
Gu Lingze wanted to follow her but did otherwise. Jiang Xue'er would get suspicious if he stayed here for too long. He turned on his heels and walked towards the canteen.
Jiang Xue'er came out. Her eyes were red. It was clear that she was trying her best to not to cry. Finally, she couldn't control and gently closed her eyes. A teardrop made its way from her eye to her cheek.
'Lies...!!! all were lies.'
She raised her hand and wiped her face. She rubbed her eyes and patted her face and fixed her emotions. Then she walked towards Su Rouli's classroom.
She didn't expect to hear something there. She again hid.
'Today I am being hiding all the day to eavesdrop... sigh!'
She heard Fu Rouxi's voice.
"Never fall in love with your fiancé. He is not sincere to you. He doesn't love you. He is not worthy of you."
"How did you know that he is ... my fian..cè?"
"Well, I guess, that's not the main point here, right? he don't deserve you. He doesn't understand your worth"
"He will.... in future"
"He won't. Fine, I won't say anything just do not fall for him before he does. Don't get fooled be his sudden gentle gestures. Just don't hurt yourself....."
"I understand,... thank you"
Jiang Xue'er didn't stay any longer. She held her tears and ran away quickly. She went to washroom and washed her face. She adjusted her emotions and went to classroom to get her wallet and went to canteen.
*Splash*
Jiang Xue'er once again splashed on her face and woke up from her memories. Fu Rouxi's words rang in her mind.
'You are shame to all the men in the world.'
Jiang Xue'er dried her face and returned to classroom. Like all students, she was also concentrating on her studies as final exams were coming soon and all had some high school in their mind as a target. All students were planning their future.
Nothing happened special after the meal time. Everything as usual. Students listened to the teachers and cheered themselves and others. Well another week ended. Finally the bell rang and students picked up their stuff and prepared to return home.