Xiaoyou were more interested in the relationship between Qin Hanyue and Qiao Ying than the competition itself. The only two people who were genuinely interested in the competition were not students from Peking University or Huanxi University.
The next day, the two of them came to Peking University.
Qiao Ying went to the principal's office, only to find those two guys from the 509 Supervision Bureau waiting for her.
After yesterday's competition, they didn't find her home but waited until today to come to the school, hoping that Principal Zhang would put in a good word for them.
Seeing Qiao Ying, Liang Feng enthusiastically came up to her.
He thought to himself that he almost let her slip away.
When Qiao Ying saved Cheng Yin's words abroad, they actually went to Qin Hanyue to confirm the truth.
As a result, Qin Hanyue admitted that he was the one who paralyzed the national network. Their fantasy was instantly shattered.
They didn't have the ability to recruit Qin Hanyue into their department.
They could only give up.
They didn't expect that in the computer competition, Qiao Ying demonstrated her skills. Liang Feng immediately realized that they almost let Qiao Ying slip away.
So they came looking for her again.
Principal Zhang looked at Liang Feng, who was eager and sincere to Qiao Ying. He kept nodding his head in admiration.
This was the 509 Supervision Bureau! Talents pursued by this department were hard to come by.
Qiao Ying directly said, "Don't bother me again."
Then she left.
Principal Zhang was stunned: She refused?
Considering everything that had happened to Qiao Ying, it was not surprising at all.
Even Qin San Ye had to try every means to pursue her.
What was so great about the 509 Supervision Bureau?
After a moment of bewilderment, Principal Zhang came back to his senses.
When Liang Feng asked Principal Zhang for help, he refused: "I'm just a messenger. It's not appropriate for me to interfere with students' affairs."
Liang Feng was reluctant to give up and went after Qiao Ying again.
He chased her all the way to the bottom of the teaching building.
Shamelessly, he offered generous terms.
Just as Qiao Ying was about to lose her temper, Xiao He called her, "Qiao Ying."
Xiao He walked over and looked at Liang Feng. Then he said to Qiao Ying, "It's time for class. Let's go."
"Hey..." Liang Feng had to stop in his tracks helplessly.
The two walked towards the classroom. Xiao He asked, "They want to recruit you into that Supervision Bureau again?"
Qiao Ying: "Yeah."
Then the conversation ended.
Qiao Ying asked him, "How are you? Feeling better?"
Xiao He told her, "I'm fine."
Fine? Anyone could tell he was not.
No one wanted to discuss their illness with peers of the opposite sex. So Xiao He changed the subject, "I haven't congratulated you yet."
Qiao Ying: "Thank you."
Xiao He turned his head and looked at Qiao Ying's soft profile. After a brief silence, he asked, "Can I take you out for dinner tonight?"
Before Qiao Ying could answer,
Xiao He seemed afraid that she would refuse, and quickly added, "I heard a new restaurant opened near the school. It looks quite good."
Qiao Ying: "Sure."
Xiao He's mouth twitched slightly as if he was smiling.
After school, the two went to the restaurant.
The restaurant was quite nice with an average spending of 500-600 RMB per person. With two people, it would cost over 1,000 RMB. Xiao He had part-time jobs both on and off campus, but 1,000 RMB was still too much for him to spend.
Qiao Ying also noticed the new bruises and injuries on Xiao He's arms.
Since she met him, he had always been injured.
Qiao Ying didn't ask where those injuries came from.
Holding the menu, she didn't order cheap dishes to save him money but asked for a mid-range steak set.
This unintentionally protected Xiao He's self-esteem.
Xiao He didn't look at the menu. He just told the waiter, "I'll have the same."
While waiting for the food, Xiao He asked, "Do you know hackers?"
Qiao Ying asked back, "Interested in this mysterious profession?"
Xiao He: "No."
After a moment of silence, he added, "Just trying to find a topic."
Qiao Ying looked at him.
He was looking at the street outside the floor-to-ceiling window. His side profile was thin and slightly tense. His eyelashes fluttered. He probably noticed that Qiao Ying was looking at him, so he didn't turn his head to look back at her.
Qiao Ying said, "I don't know much about psychotherapy. Whether this disease can be cured depends entirely on the patient's mentality."
Finally, Xiao He looked at her. His eyes grew increasingly hot. He stared into Qiao Ying's eyes and nodded, "Um."
Soon, the steak was served.
From the corner of her eye, Qiao Ying saw Xiao He glance at the knife and fork in front of him. Then he secretly glanced at her but didn't move.
Qiao Ying held the knife in her right hand and the fork in her left hand, and cut the steak.
Xiao He followed and picked up his knife and fork.
The dinner went by very quietly.
After finishing eating, Xiao He got up to pay the bill. Then the two walked out of the restaurant, heading towards Qiao Ying's neighborhood.
They had almost finished catching up on lessons. Xiao He wanted Qiao Ying to teach him computer skills but hadn't worked up the courage to ask.
At this point, Qiao Ying said, "Being an ordinary programmer after graduation is quite stable. Are you interested in learning some other skills from me?"
Xiao He immediately looked at her and nodded.
He even asked, "Are you really going to start a company?"
Qiao Ying smiled, "Maybe."
Qiao Ying could feel that Xiao He's mood had obviously changed.
Under the moonlight, the two walked side by side.
Suddenly, they both slowed down at the same time.
They saw over twenty street punks walking towards them.
The leader fixed his fierce eyes on Xiao He. He took out the cigarette in his mouth, spat on the ground, and looked ready to rush up and hack Xiao He to death.
Xiao He stopped and grabbed Qiao Ying's hand.
Qiao Ying stopped as well.
The next moment,
Xiao He fled like crazy.
Qiao Ying didn't understand why he was running.
"Damn it, chase them!" Those people started chasing them.
On the street,
the two were chased by a group of people.
Xiao He didn't give Qiao Ying a chance to speak and just kept running desperately.
Those people chased relentlessly. They tried to intercept Qiao Ying and Xiao He from all directions. Finding the road ahead blocked, Xiao He could only change direction and keep running.
In the end, they ran into a park. But those people chased in as well.
After searching for a while without finding them, they left cursing.
Meanwhile, Xiao He and Qiao Ying hid behind a tree about ten meters away.
Seeing them leave, Xiao He's tense body finally relaxed.
Then he realized they were standing very close to each other.
Xiao He immediately let go of Qiao Ying and took half a step back. But somehow, he stopped and didn't move back, maintaining that distance between them.
Xiao He lowered his eyes and gazed at her.
The late summer night air felt a little stuffy.
The next moment, he was pushed away by Qiao Ying.
Xiao He stood there stiffly and awkwardly, not saying a word.
Qiao Ying walked back.
Xiao He followed behind her.
Without following Qiao Ying to catch up on lessons, when they walked out of the park, facing Qiao Ying's back, he said, "I'll go back first."
He left quickly without waiting for Qiao Ying's response.
Because of what happened that night, Xiao He had been avoiding her for the next few days. Even when they sat together to catch up on lessons, he deliberately avoided eye contact with her.
Qiao Ying didn't care, but others did.
Ever since Qiao Ying started giving Xiao He remedial lessons until now when Qin Hanyue came to see her every night, she had been tutoring Xiao He.
Even Instructor Hou who came to give Qiao Ying acupuncture was confused.
With this scene between two men and one woman, Instructor Hou's gaze and Qin Hanyue's perception were apparent.
That day,
In front of Xiao He, Qin Hanyue asked Qiao Ying directly, "Still not finished catching up?"
Qiao Ying: "Finished catching up, now teaching him computer skills."
Qin Hanyue looked at both of them. After half a day, he dropped a line, "Then keep teaching him slowly. I'll go first."
Anyone could tell that Qin Hanyue was unhappy.
Qiao Ying watched the entrance without saying a word.
Until Xiao He opened his mouth, "Sorry."
Qiao Ying looked at him with a flat tone: "What are you apologizing for?"
Xiao He tentatively said, "You and him..." Then he added on his own, "It's because of me."
Qiao Ying got up, "Remember to turn off the lights when you leave."
Xiao He also got up and called Qiao Ying back when she went upstairs.
"Qiao Ying."
Qiao Ying turned around, "Yes?"
Xiao He looked at her. He seemed hesitant and struggling before saying, "...I have something to tell you."
Qiao Ying: "You're not going to say you like me, are you?"
Xiao He was stunned for a moment, but his eyes gradually became firm.
Qiao Ying: "Can't you see I'm having an affair with Qin Hanyue? The whole Peking University knows we're a couple."
