Slap in the Face
Everyone asked excitedly and did not at all pay attention to Qiao Nian's flustered expression.
After Jiang Yi asked, Qiao Nian's hand that was holding onto her backpack tightened. Her lips twitched as well.
"I'm sorry. When my aunt went to ask editor Sun, all of the signed copies had been sold."
Jiang Yi's smile froze on his face. The others, who were ready to take out all their money to get their hand on a signed copy also showed looks of disappointment.
However, someone asked with much expectation, "What about unsigned copies?"
"Yeah, I didn't dare to hope for a signed copy. I'm good to get one that isn't signed! Yesterday, I couldn't get my hand on anything!"
"For an unsigned copy, I am willing to pay 10 times its original price!"
...
Qiao Nian felt like she would be crawling into a crack on the ground right now if there was one.
Just as she was about to tell everyone she failed to get one, she heard someone in front of her brag about getting his hand on a copy.
"Hehehe, I got it! Though it's not signed, I am satisfied!"
Qiao Nian's face turned white. If nobody here got a copy of an unsigned one, then it wouldn't be too humiliating for her.
But someone got one!
Words were about to leave her lips when she changed her statement, "I did get a few unsigned copies. But some of my relatives' kids wanted one, so I divided them up amongst them."
"Ah~"
"What the hell!"
"What is this? Didn't you promise you would buy some for us?"
Everyone around her couldn't help but complain.
"Exactly, if you never said you'd buy some for us, then we'd let the fact that you favor your relatives go. But you already said you'd buy some for us and yet you still gave the books to your relatives. Are you joking with us?"
Some people pursued this matter. It wasn't for certain whether they were intentionally or unintentionally stirring this up.
"Qiao Nian, I don't have the luxurious wish to buy it off of you. But can I at least borrow it to read? Once I'm done, I'll give it back to you. I promise you I won't damage it! I swear on it!"
Qiao Nian bit her lips and began to curse this man silently, "I... I didn't bring it!"
Just then, people began to whisper around her.
"Didn't bring? She most likely never got her hands on one!" This person bluntly spoke out what everyone else was thinking.
"I was just gonna say that! She's been muttering since she got in today. If she didn't get one, then she didn't get one. Why does she feel the need to lie?"
"Just where did she find the audacity to claim she'll be able to get her hands on two to three copies of the signed version? That was a complete waste of my emotion."
"It's really true that you shouldn't rely on anyone but yourself."
...
Luo Chen poked his head in from the side as he bit down on his lollipop, looking too happy.
Thank god he didn't ask her to get him one!
Qiao Nian was now biting down her lips hard, her head was lowered as she stood there, speechless.
Jiang Yi felt awkward by all this as well. However, he remained a gentleman and patted her head, "It's okay. You don't need to mind what others are saying."
"Exactly!" Qiao Nian's deskmate, Xu Yingying stepped up and spoke on her behalf, "It was already a battlefield to be able to buy a copy of Feng Ci's book. Is it Niannian's fault for you not getting one? At least she had the heart to help you! None of you got your hands on one anyway! What gives you the right to laugh at her?"
Right after she spoke, a cold voice arose, "Excuse me."
Currently, everyone had circled around Qiao Nian by the door, blocking the entrance.
After the voice spoke out, everyone parted and made a path for Qiao Qing to walk through.
Qiao Qing went to her seat with her backpack.
Luo Chen turned around his head and followed, wanting to gossip with her about what happened today.
But when his gaze caught the sight of her buffy backpack, he asked casually, "what's in there?"
Qiao Qing didn't answer straight away. She unzipped her bag and took out a stack of books. Then, she threw them on top of Luo Chen's desk, "They're for you.