Chapter 10: Undercurrents

So Jiang Mugui was actually quite angry.

That day, she deliberately dawdled, tidying up her luggage in the dormitory until quarter past four, then slowly dragged her suitcase out of the dorm building.

Today she wore a denim mini skirt, with delicate, light makeup, her hair down, exuding a fresh and lively charm without a trace of schoolgirl awkwardness—quite captivating.

Moreover, her gaze was somewhat cold, or rather, her overall aura carried a chill, giving off a sense of distance—something to be admired from afar, not to be approached casually.

She quickly attracted attention. A boy about 1.8 meters tall, whose eyes curved slightly upward when he smiled, approached her. “Hey, can I have your WeChat?”

Jiang Mugui glanced up at him, immediately noticing the faint smell of smoke on him, mingled with a subtle scent of men’s cologne. He spoke respectfully, slightly bowing his head, with a sincere look in his eyes.

He was a seasoned player.

This wasn’t an unfamiliar situation—back in high school, many had sent her secret glances, and some even added her on WeChat using secretly smuggled phones.

At that moment, Jiang Mugui keenly caught sight of a low-key, luxurious black car waiting at the school gate. She momentarily felt dazed; though it was still some distance away and only half visible, her intuition told her exactly who was inside.

She turned her gaze back and circled in front of the boy a few times, smiling, “What’s your name?”

“Jin Qi.” The boy scanned Jiang Mugui’s QR code, and they became friends.

As he put down his phone, his hand brushed hers, seemingly accidental, but he definitely felt the texture.

“I’ll help you with your suitcase. Are you going home today?” Jin Qi moved to her right side and took the suitcase.

“Yes. How about you?”

Jin Qi shrugged. “I’m staying at school.”

“Not going home for the National Day holiday?”

Casually, Jin Qi pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, bit one between his lips, and lit it. “There’s no one at home anyway, so no point going back.”

His words struck a chord deep inside her, making her lips purse slightly.

Jin Qi looked at her for a moment, then smiled and offered her the cigarette pack. “Want one?”

Jiang Mugui smiled pure and simple. “I don’t smoke.”

“Oh.” Jin Qi’s eyes flickered; he smiled silently, then asked, “How are you going home? Plane? High-speed train?”

She lifted her chin. “My dad’s picking me up, just outside the school gate.”

Jin Qi let out a low whistle. “Should I stay out of your way then?”

She replied coolly, “What’s there to avoid? My dad openly has mistresses. So what if I walk with a male classmate?”

Surprise flickered in Jin Qi’s eyes, followed by a deeper interest. This girl looked like the obedient type—fair-skinned, soft-spoken—but when she spoke, there was a fierce determination beneath her words.

To be honest, Jiang Mugui found him quite intriguing too, so she changed the subject and chatted with him, learning he was actually a year younger than her, having started school a year earlier.

“Then I have to call you sister,” Jin Qi said with a charming smile, bright as sunshine but somehow reminiscent of a gentle fox.

“Mm-hmm,” Jiang Mugui responded lightly.

That brief exchange rapidly warmed the atmosphere between them. Modern flirtations often escalate swiftly; within minutes, an undercurrent of tension had woven itself between them.

When they reached the school gate, Jiang Mugui took back her suitcase, her eyes curved with a sweet smile. “Thanks a lot. See you after the National Day holiday.”

“Sure. I’ll watch you leave,” Jin Qi said, one hand in his pocket, waving at her.

Under his gaze, Jiang Mugui got into the black car. As she moved toward the back seat to open the door, the front passenger window suddenly rolled down. Mu Anyan’s sharp profile appeared inside, accompanied by a fresh, pleasant scent that wafted out. His voice, tinged with intrigue, reached her ears: “Come sit up front.”