Chapter 30: The Third Wheel

However, just as Zhang Pu was about to leave, the campus belle, Liu Qingyan, stepped right in front of him, blocking his path.

"Miss, what are you doing?" Zhang Pu asked, puzzled.

"Doing a good deed and trying to leave without a word?" Liu Qingyan retorted, theatrically spreading her hands as if to stop him. Then, she introduced herself, "My name is Liu Qingyan."

So that's what this is about! It turned out that Liu, the renowned campus beauty, had watched the entire scene of him saving the child. And now... was she interested in him because of it? Zhang Pu felt an unexpected warmth blossom in his heart, though he couldn't quite explain why.

"I already know your name," Zhang Pu replied.

In truth, Zhang Pu didn't know her name—at least, not unless he unlocked the memories of his previous life. But with over a thousand years of experience behind him, he was no longer the naive youth he once was. He knew exactly what to say to make others feel at ease.

His words, their meaning obvious, made Liu Qingyan immediately assume that Zhang Pu had long since noticed her exceptional beauty.

Yet, Liu Qingyan, who was accustomed to admiration and adoration, wasn't particularly moved by such remarks. She merely nodded calmly, then asked, "Now, tell me, what's your name?"

Zhang Pu gave her his name honestly. From her reaction, he could tell at once that she had never heard of him before. Not in the slightest.

But Zhang Pu wasn't offended. After all, he was a recent transfer to this modern high school, and Liu Qingyan had always lived in her own rarefied world, far above the likes of someone as deliberately low-key as himself. Unless, of course, she had some sort of elite detective club digging into his recent run-ins with Zheng Furen and Gao Lixia...

For a moment, Zhang Pu's heart gave a little leap at the thought, but he quickly dismissed it as unlikely.

To his further surprise, after learning his name, Liu Qingyan no longer blocked his way. Instead, her next words caught him off guard once more—

"Go change your clothes first! Once you're done, come back here. I'll wait for you, and then we can have a proper chat!"

Really? Zhang Pu froze in disbelief—had Liu Qingyan, the campus belle herself, just said that to him?

He never doubted his own ears, and the next moment, obediently did as she asked. Whatever her reasons, she had been the one to approach him—how could he refuse such kindness?

Honestly, Zhang Pu was delighted! Liu Qingyan, who was far more beautiful than Wu Xiaomei or Hong Yingying, had come to seek him out of her own accord, while the other two wouldn't even let him follow them. Ah, those two really had no taste!

Liu Qingyan was clearly no mere ornament.

Soon, Zhang Pu returned in a fresh change of clothes to find Liu Qingyan still waiting for him. She hadn't played a trick—she really was still there.

"I thought you'd be gone by now," Zhang Pu said.

"And I thought you wouldn't dare come back," Liu Qingyan shot back.

Zhang Pu burst out laughing, bold and hearty. If, after this rebirth, he needed to fall in love as well as cultivate immortality, then surely this woman before him would be an excellent choice.

In this moment, with the shimmering lake and picturesque scenery all around, and such a peerless beauty by his side, Zhang Pu felt that if he allowed himself just a little more mortal longing, he might soon envy mortal lovers more than immortals.

He was filled with emotion, falling silent.

What he didn't realize was that, in this quietness, Liu Qingyan felt her heart stirring even more.

She found herself secretly thrilled: this man, seeing someone in trouble, had leapt into the water without a second thought... She might have noticed the child even earlier than he did, but she couldn't swim well, and rushing in blindly would only have risked her own life. She had been about to look around for help when he jumped in without hesitation...

And his movements—how swift and sure! Was he some kind of swimming champion?

After saving the child, he hadn't waited for thanks, but tried to slip away quietly. Such people were rare in the world today.

His looks were ordinary, unlike the boys who schemed to get close to her—all of whom were far more handsome than he. Yet none of them had ever caught her eye. Even when they performed good deeds right under her nose, it always seemed calculated, with some ulterior motive...

And as for Zhang Pu, he seemed like the sort who had no idea how to flirt with a girl, unlike those suitors who were all empty words and hollow charm.

In his previous life, Zhang Pu had indeed been rather dull, but after a thousand years in the world of cultivation, he now knew how to speak with eloquence if he so wished. Yet somehow, at this moment, he felt that silence spoke louder than words.

But Liu Qingyan, it seemed, was waiting for him to speak.

Just then, Zhang Pu's attention was caught by a movement; glancing sideways, he saw Wu Yu approaching with two others.

Wu Yu wore a clear scowl, his attitude unmistakably hostile.

Zhang Pu glanced at Liu Qingyan, but she seemed utterly indifferent to Wu Yu's presence.

"Qingyan, what are you doing here?" Wu Yu asked, though his glare remained fixed on Zhang Pu, his meaning all too clear: Get lost while you still can, pauper—this campus belle is out of your league!

Liu Qingyan easily saw through Wu Yu's animosity, but responded blandly, "Why? Am I not allowed to be here?"

"You misunderstand me, Qingyan!" Wu Yu quickly forced a smile, "I just meant, as one of the owners of this water park, there are lots of fun places here you haven't seen yet. Let me show you around?"

With these words, Wu Yu not only reminded Zhang Pu that he was the host and had bankrolled much of the students' outing—even if Zhang Pu was staying in the cheapest room, he still owed Wu Yu a favor—but also tried, subtly yet firmly, to separate Zhang Pu and Liu Qingyan under the guise of being a gracious host.

Wu Yu was certainly a despicable fellow, Zhang Pu thought to himself, seeing right through the act.

Yet Liu Qingyan remained unmoved by Wu Yu's attempts at both threat and flattery.

"I think this place is perfectly fine," she said. "Thank you for your kind offer, Young Master Wu."