The Arrival of the School Belle

Picking Just One Flavor

Upon seeing Jiang You’s beautiful and innocent face, Yuan Taixian felt an intense surge of resentment. It reminded him of his former self, naive for failing to see through the petty tricks played by her and her mother. Her mother seduced his father, attempting to climb the social ranks, while she lured him in with her guise of innocence and purity.

Despite her family being given ample dignity by his father, who remained silent until the end, Yuan Taixian had previously harbored a long-held grudge against his own father.

Jiang You repulsed him. Shrouded in her pretty face, she was adept at using sweet words to deceive. After arriving at Mingde University, she, leveraging her top grades, set her sights on his cousin Quan Jing for a relationship!

No one knew of his and Jiang You's past, except for his friend Li Shiyu, not even Quan Jing. He only knew that Jiang You's mother had once been a family doctor at his home and that Jiang You had lived there for some time. He was unaware that Yuan Taixian and Jiang You often kissed secretly in the house.

In Yuan Taixian’s eyes, Jiang You’s vanity was clear. Her eagerness to couple up with Quan Jing could only mean one thing, and that only intensified his loathing for her.

He understood Quan Jing—remote and proud by nature with an ingrained sense of class hierarchy. Being targeted by someone of Jiang You’s background for a relationship was a slur to him.

Yuan Taixian’s hostility was not only for his own reason but also for Quan Jing’s sake—a stand against the perceived injustice.

A fierce bump from behind by Yuan Taixian caused Jiang You to stagger. Known for her vanity and narcissism, she most hated those who made her lose face.

Now, as Yuan Taixian entered the convenience store with Quan Jing’s arm around his shoulders, Jiang You followed, furious, and scolded him in a soft yet stern voice, "Yuan Taixian, are you blind? You hit someone and you don’t even apologize!"

It was lunch break, and the store was crowded. Jiang You's admonishment drew everyone’s attention. Her face, pale and cute, flushed with anger, and her luscious black curls sat gracefully on her shoulders—she was incredibly striking. Despite the sweltering heat, her presence was like a cool breeze, refreshing all those around her.

Quan Jing, disapproving of Yuan Taixian’s malice, cast a cold look at him. Fully aware of Yuan Taixian’s dislike for Jiang You, Quan Jing not only disapproved of Yuan Taixian's behavior but also frowned upon his cousin's typically unruly and presumptuous demeanor.

Bold and defiant, Yuan Taixian wasn't deterred by Quan Jing’s icy stare. He eyed Jiang You derisively, their gaze locked, and dismissively scanned her from head to toe. His recent collision had provided a glimpse of her slender waist and creamy legs, fluttering curls revealing pleasing curves with each step.

Now, the scorn in Jiang You's eyes faced, he could observe her closely, noting her snug-fitting uniform accentuating her curves and the pleated skirt barely covering the tops of her thighs—trembling, pale flesh.

Darkness clouded Yuan Taixian’s gaze, marred further by his grimace at his realization—shameless allure was her forte, and he had been hooked exactly so once.

Confronting Jiang You with a sneer, he spoke with disguised contempt, “Trash should be kicked away, shouldn’t it?”

These harsh words did not sit well with Quan Jing, who, ready to rebuke Yuan Taixian, found himself cut off by Jiang You's cool retort. She promptly grabbed an unfinished iced Americano from a neighboring student and splashed it across Yuan Taixian’s face.

Chilled to the bone by the ice chunks, Yuan Taixian stood drenched in coffee, his uniform stained and disgraced before an audience. Maintaining her poise, Jiang You retorted, "You are trash, too."

Yuan Taixian, face dark as a storm cloud, cursed, "b***h," and moved as if to strike her. But many hands restrained him, Quan Jing clutching his wrist and others grasping his other arm, waist, and clothes, all eager to show goodwill to Jiang You.

Meeting Quan Jing's stern gaze and then scanning through the crowd that restrained him, his eyes finally rested on Jiang You’s beaming face, her beauty magnified by her evident satisfaction.

Quan Jing reprimanded him, his voice sharp, “Yuan Taixian, are you not embarrassed enough?”

Murmurs of advice followed, urging calm and restraint, suggesting that Jiang You hadn’t acted intentionally. Yuan Taixian, consumed by rage, could hardly articulate words. Despite appearing belligerent, he had no intention to physically harm her.

He finally exclaimed, demanding release, and as the crowd hesitantly complied, Quan Jing assured, “Let him go. I'll keep an eye on him.”

Quan Jing then steered the still seething Yuan Taixian to the side to sit down, offering him tissues to wipe the coffee from his face. “Clean yourself up first,” he instructed.

A cold laugh escaped Yuan Taixian, inquiries concealed within, "Are you supporting Jiang You because you like her?"

Quan Jing, calm as ever, enjoined him to check his actions, to not besmirch the dignity of their status with such base behavior.

Yuan Taixian scoffed silently. They all assumed he aimed to harm Jiang You and regarded themselves just, excluding him alone as the villain. Unaware, none knew how tenderly he had kissed her, how agonized and angry he felt learning the truth, sobbing as he held her close—striking her was beyond his capacity.

Amidst commotion by the ice cream stand, Jiang You pondered which flavor to savor. Quan Jing, observing her discomfort from a full basket, impatiently returned the ice creams from whence they came, disregarding the boys who hoped she would favor their offering.

Finally, with a stern directive, he took Jiang You’s hand and led her to choose a single favored flavor—her first astonishment at his unexpected initiative followed by vexation as he undid her efforts.

While Yuan Taixian grimaced from a distance, Quan Jing, already wearied by emotion, suggested moving on, “Eat while you walk. Let’s head to the cafeteria.”

Obediently, Jiang You followed, only to throw a triumphant look and gleeful wink at Yuan Taixian before departing.

That deliberately provocative gesture—the tongue teasing the ice cream cone—ignited Yuan Taixian’s fury anew. It was with such an act she had lured him into their first kiss—a moment of lost senses, drawn to her crimson lips, a kiss that marked his first.