Pursuing Her Best Friend after Confession Failed-Chapter 49 - 48 Xia Hua, Can You Write a Song for Me?

Chapter 49: Chapter 48 Xia Hua, Can You Write a Song for Me?

The girl in the Hanfu, Jiang Zhiyu, presented the bouquet she was holding to Li Yuan. Her beautiful eyes discreetly glanced at his cheeks, and for some reason, a delicate blush crept onto her exquisite face.

A university student who writes web novels... could he be one of those nerdy shut-ins? Scruffy, unkempt, maybe a little short...? But the moment she saw him, she knew she had been mistaken. Completely and utterly mistaken!

No wonder they say dreams are the opposite of reality!

Li Yuan was not only tall but also well-built, with the faint outline of his muscles showing. Paired with his handsome features, he had the aura of an athletic guy—the complete opposite of what she had imagined.

"Hehe, Xia Hua, you’re really not what I imagined at all! I love it! I love it!"

Li Yuan accepted the bouquet—a mix of roses, lilies, carnations, and other flowers—and felt momentarily at a loss. A peculiar feeling welled up inside him. Across two lifetimes spanning more than thirty years, this was the first time he had ever received flowers from anyone.

After all, a man’s standing in a relationship is usually incredibly low, so it was rare for one to receive flowers from a woman. Other than at a funeral or in a hospital, it seemed almost impossible.

What’s more, the one giving them was a stunning beauty in a Hanfu, with looks and a figure that could rival Bai Weixi’s or Zhong Tingyue’s. To say he wasn’t excited would be a bold-faced lie.

Holding the bouquet, Li Yuan looked at Jiang Zhiyu, who was staring intently back at him. He suddenly felt a bit self-conscious, a feeling he’d never experienced when facing Zhong Tingyue or Bai Weixi.

Noticing the stares of passing students, Li Yuan felt a little awkward. "Cilantro," he began, "what made you decide to come to my university to find me? I thought you were just kidding when you mentioned it."

Jiang Zhiyu’s cheeks were tinged with red. Her bright eyes gazed boldly at Li Yuan, holding both the budding shyness of a young woman and the warmth of a cosmopolitan beauty. "I came because I wanted to see you, Xia Hua," she said. "And I’m so happy I did. You’re different from how I imagined."

Li Yuan asked curiously, "Oh? And what did you imagine I’d be like?"

Jiang Zhiyu looked him over from head to toe. Her lips curved into a slight smile, revealing two faint dimples. Bathed in the light of the setting sun, she looked like a celestial fairy from a classical painting. "I imagined Xia Hua would be a bit of a chubby shut-in... but I like this version of you much more."

This girl is bold! Isn’t her choice of words a little rash? We just met for the first time, and she’s already using the word ’like.’ Li Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

Suddenly, a camera flash caught Li Yuan’s attention. He glanced over and saw a girl pointing a camera at him and Jiang Zhiyu, pressing the shutter. When she noticed his gaze, she quickly lowered her head and pretended nothing had happened.

It was a beautiful time of year, with autumn deepening and the sky filled with the colors of sunset. Daxia University was a renowned 985 university with gorgeous scenery, so it often attracted photography enthusiasts looking for the perfect shot.

I suddenly feel like a celebrity being ambushed by paparazzi.

Of course, I’m not vain enough to think they’re taking pictures of me because I’m handsome. The real reason is that the girl beside me is just too dazzling.

Back in 2008, girls who dared to wear a Hanfu in public were quite rare, let alone a goddess-level beauty like Jiang Zhiyu. Dressed as she was, she was a stunning sight on the streets of Modu.

Luckily, short-form video platforms didn’t exist yet; otherwise, I might have ridden Jiang Zhiyu’s coattails to internet fame today...

"So, uh, Cilantro, are we just going to stand here at the school gate?" Li Yuan suggested with a smile. "There are a lot of people coming and going, not to mention the sneaky photographers. It’s a bit awkward."

Jiang Zhiyu seemed completely used to it, unfazed by the attention. A gentle smile graced her lips, and her alluring eyes twinkled as if they could speak.

"Alright, Xia Hua. Aren’t you going to invite me for a tour of your campus?"

Li Yuan saw no reason to refuse. "In that case, Cilantro, may I invite you for a tour of our campus?"

"Hehe, of course, Xia Hua! I’d love to!" Jiang Zhiyu replied with a happy laugh.

"Then let’s go. It’s a bit too conspicuous for a guy like me to be carrying this bouquet. You should hold it."

Li Yuan tried to hand the bouquet to Jiang Zhiyu. A grown man carrying flowers across campus was simply too attention-grabbing; he’d risk ending up as a headline on the school’s Tieba forum tomorrow. He didn’t like being the center of attention. Low-profile was the way to go.

Seeing Li Yuan’s awkward expression, Jiang Zhiyu covered her mouth and let out a gentle laugh. She obediently took the bouquet from him, which now made it look as though he were giving the flowers to her.

They walked side by side, so close they were almost touching. The occasional brush of their clothes sent a tremor through Li Yuan’s heart. Inhaling the scent wafting from her, he couldn’t tell if it was the fragrance of the flowers or her own natural, youthful scent. He shrugged and casually tried to start a conversation.

"Cilantro, which university do you go to? You seem younger than me."

Jiang Zhiyu had a quirky, lively energy, with none of a typical girl’s shyness. She walked right beside Li Yuan, their bodies close, completely ignoring the stares of others. Her eyes were fixed solely on him.

"Hehe, Xia Hua, I’m a music major! Take a guess, and if you get it right, there’s a reward."

She’s a music major? No wonder her voice is so pleasant. I almost thought she was putting on a cutesy voice, but it turns out it’s natural! Li Yuan was surprised.

Modu had several music universities, but the most famous was undoubtedly the Modu Music Academy, one of the four major conservatories in Huaxia. "Cilantro, are you at the Modu Music Academy?"

Jiang Zhiyu shook her head with a small smile. "Nope! Guess again." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Li Yuan thought of another school. "The Modu Theatre Academy?"

"That’s not it either, Xia Hua."

"Ah, well, I give up. You’ll just have to tell me."

Jiang Zhiyu giggled, covering her mouth. "It’s also a 985 university, but my major isn’t very well-known there. I’ll give you another hint: the school’s nickname is ’Modu’s Number One Construction Crew.’"

Li Yuan understood immediately. There were only four 985 universities in Modu, and with that nickname and major, it could only be one of them.

"Then it’s not far from my school. I should come by and take a stroll around your campus sometime."

"Hehe, you’re welcome to inspect our school anytime, Big Writer Li. I’ll be your guide."

"That would be awesome. I’ve never been to your school."

Li Yuan and Jiang Zhiyu continued their walk through the Daxia University campus, still under the watchful eyes of other students, until they reached the lakeside. The setting sun cast sparkling reflections across the water’s surface.

As they talked, the conversation eventually turned back to writing. "Xia Hua, your book is so good. Your military training is starting soon, right? Will you still have time to write?"

"It should be fine. I have a bit of a stockpile to get me through for a while."

Li Yuan didn’t have the heart to tell her he had a backlog of 600,000 words. If she knew, she’d probably ask to read it, and then what would he do? Give it to her or not?

Jiang Zhiyu laughed happily. "Xia Hua, your update speed is already incredible. Do you know what other authors call you?"

Li Yuan actually had some idea. He often read the comment section for his novel. They call me a writing machine. "What do they say? That I type fast, I assume?"

Jiang Zhiyu pouted, her delicate nose wrinkling as she let out a little huff. "It’s more than that! They call you a genius freak and an octopus freak. Some even say you must be using cheats... In short, they’re all incredibly envious of you!"

Li Yuan rubbed his nose awkwardly. It’s true, I kind of do have a cheat code. My memory and physical fitness are so much better after being reborn.

"Haha, writing fast is my innate talent. They can’t get it just by being jealous."

Jiang Zhiyu was laughing too. Then, a sudden thought seemed to strike her. Her beautiful eyes twinkled as she looked at Li Yuan, and she shook his arm coaxingly. "Brother Xia Hua, could you write a song for me?"