Lu Jingcheng instinctively took a step back, a sudden unease crawling over him. Something was about to happen—he could feel it.
But then he reasoned with himself: broad daylight, clear skies, in front of everyone… what could Ye Qingyang possibly be doing in the bathroom?
“What are you doing?”
“Are you done?”
“No.”
Ye Qingyang stepped back obediently. “Then you go ahead first.”
The boys who had added him on WeChat couldn’t help but glance at Lu Jingcheng. Some even looked eagerly downward, as if trying to catch a glimpse of him, ready to test their luck against the school heartthrob.
Lu Jingcheng: ……
He shouted furiously at the small crowd not far away, “What are you looking at? Watch it, or I’ll poke your eyes out!”
The onlookers finally remembered: this campus heartthrob wasn’t just handsome—his fists were hard too. They quickly averted their gaze and dispersed.
At this point, Lu Jingcheng wasn’t even thinking about going to the bathroom. He glared at Ye Qingyang and turned to leave.
Ye Qingyang hurried after him. “Lu-ge, you’re not going? Then, uh… how about a haircut? Your bangs are a bit long. I can trim them for you.”
“No,” Lu Jingcheng said coldly.
Ye Qingyang jumped in front of him, pushing his pitch with all his energy. “I’m really good at this! Trust me, Lu-ge, I promise—after I’m done, your bangs will look sunny, cool, and stylish! Handsome like the school heartthrob, with the swagger of the school bully!”
Lu Jingcheng: ……
Ye Qingyang blinked, trying to soften him with a mix of cuteness and innocence. “So… how about it?”
“No!” Lu Jingcheng barked.
When that didn’t work, Ye Qingyang switched tactics immediately. His eyes glistened with tears, and his whole demeanor became that of a pitiful little creature.
Lu Jingcheng: ??????
Is this kid about to cry again?
Is he made of water? How can someone cry this much? The Atlantic Ocean probably has less water than him.
“Why are you making that face again?” Lu Jingcheng said helplessly. “People would think I’m bullying you!”
Sniffling, Ye Qingyang wailed, “I’m just… feeling a bit sad. Lu-ge, you don’t understand. This pair of scissors I bought… was specifically for you. But it can’t serve you right now! What’s the point of its existence? It’s like me—completely useless!”
He held the black scissors in his hands, letting silent tears streak down his face.
Lu Jingcheng: ……
What do scissors have to do with me?
Why did he even buy them? Is he planning some kind of dramatic “stab-the-hero” scenario? Like “the dagger is revealed” or something?!
“No, seriously… what do these scissors have to do with me?” Lu Jingcheng asked.
Ye Qingyang gazed fondly at the scissors, a gentle breeze of memory flickering across his mind. “Don’t you remember? Once, you needed scissors but didn’t have any in your bag. I thought… if only I had a pair, I could hand it to you, and we could be friends.”
Lu Jingcheng: ……
Ye Qingyang’s eyes softened. “I’ve… actually been paying attention to you all along.”
Lu Jingcheng: …Shit! He can’t actually like me, can he?!
Seeing him silent, Ye Qingyang knew his story had been accepted. Though it was fabricated, the logic was convincing: losing your scissors, misplacing your keys, shouting, “Where’s my phone?!”—everyone experienced these little mishaps.
Especially with a soft, “Don’t you remember?”—even if it never happened, you’d think you forgot.
So Ye Qingyang remained calm, confident Lu Jingcheng wouldn’t see through him.
He didn’t. Subconsciously, he skipped over the memory, just thinking that Ye Qingyang really had gone out of his way for him.
Sensing the moment, Ye Qingyang pressed on. “Now, finally, I’ve found a way to make these scissors useful. Lu-ge, I beg you, please let me trim your bangs. I promise—better than Tony next door. And I won’t even charge! Free!”
I don’t care about your five bucks, Lu Jingcheng muttered silently. That price was ridiculously low—he’s only worth five bucks?!
“So… how about it?” Ye Qingyang blinked, his eyes shimmering, pure and pitiful.
Lu Jingcheng finally noticed—his eyes were actually pretty. Almond-shaped, big, slightly upturned at the corners. Innocent and clear.
His bangs had always blocked his eyes, hiding their shape. Now revealed, the almond eyes accentuated his delicate features, giving him a strangely pristine look.
Quite deceptive, Lu Jingcheng thought.
But he wouldn’t be fooled. “Too much trouble,” he rejected.
“It won’t be,” Ye Qingyang insisted. “Just ten minutes, a quick break between classes.”
“You’re planning to do it at school?” Lu Jingcheng frowned. Bold, brazen, completely shameless.
Cutting at school would be in front of everyone—a blatant signal that he’s already at my side!
Preposterous! Outrageous!
“No school,” Lu Jingcheng said firmly.
“Then somewhere else,” Ye Qingyang said easily. “Where do you want it done?”
“Where else but a salon? Don’t you know basic common sense? What are you pretending to be?”
“Of course I’m pretending to be you~” Ye Qingyang sweetly replied.
Lu Jingcheng: ……
He groaned, face in his palm. Can’t he be just a little subtle?
Saying it like this, without blushing, without shame… this is not how straight talk works!
Ye Qingyang looked at him, rolling his eyes silently. So pure, so cute… no wonder he’s still single despite a good family.
Recollecting the original story: yup, girls always had to chase him first. Subtly tutoring him, supervising homework—that’s how Lu Jingcheng fell for them. Classic school romance setup.
Ye Qingyang smiled. “Then it’s settled. After school, we go to the salon, and I’ll trim your bangs.”
Lu Jingcheng: ???
“How is it settled?”
“You said it,” Ye Qingyang feigned innocence. “Since you wouldn’t let me do it at school, of course we have to go to a salon.”
Lu Jingcheng: ???!!!
I didn’t—I’m not—stop talking nonsense!
“I just… don’t want you to do it.”
Ye Qingyang’s eyes immediately glistened.
Lu Jingcheng: ……
He lowered his head, letting tears fall.
Lu Jingcheng: ……………
Ye Qingyang sniffled, hiccupping softly.
Lu Jingcheng, completely defeated, frowned. “Fine, fine!!! After school—trim them!! Happy now?!”
Ye Qingyang burst into a smile, tears replaced by delight. “Lu-ge, you’re the best!”
Lu Jingcheng: ……
He gave a perfunctory smile and quickly walked into the classroom.
Damn it! What kind of path was this?! How did he end up agreeing?!
And that kid… why can he cry like that?! The Atlantic Ocean must be in his eyes!
Lu Jingcheng’s head hurt.
Meanwhile, Ye Qingyang lazily yawned, calmly putting away the scissors. He even borrowed a scrap of paper from a girl staring at him, wiped his tears, folded it, and tossed it in the trash with a smile.
With Lu Jingcheng as his model, he could brand himself as “Lu Jingcheng Exclusive” or “Lu Jingcheng Style.” Countless girls would come for his bangs trims.
A double win: ingratiate himself with Lu Jingcheng and make a little money.
Beautiful! Perfect!
All the while, Lu Jingcheng had no clue he’d just made a terrible mistake by not paying attention before saying yes.
Total miscalculation. A complete disaster.