The Arrival of the School Belle

I Can't Let Jiang You remain Arrogant Anymore

Jiang You arrived at the parking lot later than the fifteen minutes Quan Jing had mentioned. She didn't believe Quan Jing would be so heartless as to leave her behind, but after searching the entire parking lot and not finding Quan Jing's car, her small face flushed red with anger as she complained in a sweet voice, "What the heck, that mean Quan Jing, he really meant fifteen minutes, not a second more!"

"That's just too heartless!"

As she was fussing and fuming, a familiar cold voice suddenly came from behind her, "Are you cursing me?"

Jiang You turned around joyfully, only to see Quan Jing standing behind her, his expression impassive, his eyes seeming to smile but not quite as he watched her.

She hurried over and clung to his arm, her small white face upturned as she sweetly smiled at him, "I thought you really left me behind."

"I was about to cry."

Quan Jing believed that if he had really abandoned her there today, the scene from the rainy day when they first fell in love would surely replay itself, and in the end, he would be the one driven mad. How could he possibly leave her behind? His harsh words over the phone were only meant to speed her up because of her dilly-dallying nature.

Quan Jing said indifferently, "I misread the time, or I would have left earlier."

Jiang You pouted with pretend annoyance, "Liar."

She almost hung herself on Quan Jing, being very clingy. Quan Jing tried to maintain his frosty manner, but the corners of his lips would still curl up uncontrollably.

He dragged Jiang You, the impediment, towards the parking area. They were on the first underground level, while the car was parked on the second underground level.

On the way, he asked in a cold voice, "Were you cursing me just now?"

Jiang You denied it, giggling innocently and genuinely at him, "How could I?"

She changed the subject and handed him her bag, sweetly coaxing, "Quan Jing, please carry this for me, my shoulder hurts."

As she spoke, she rubbed her shoulder in affectation.

Quan Jing swept her a cold glance, “Dramatic!” Still, he silently took her bag. It was small, pretty, and contained nothing but makeup—a vanity fair in a pouch. He had never seen such vanity.

Relieved from carrying her bag, Jiang You became even more attached to him, her arms wrapped around him, and deliberately rubbing against him with her soft and full body. Quan Jing frowned slightly, warning her in a cool voice, "Stay put, or carry your bag yourself."

Reluctantly, Jiang You let go and stood up straight to walk properly, "Fine, fine, I know."

Quan Jing glanced at her, his face cooling down a notch further. He meant that she should avoid brushing against him with her softness, not that she should let go of him!

Inside the elevator, Jiang You directly went to stand in a corner, keeping her distance from Quan Jing.

Quan Jing, carrying her bag, pressed the button for the second underground floor. The elevator doors closed, and he stood with his back to Jiang You, feeling somewhat restless. This had almost become a conditioned reflex for Quan Jing—whenever Jiang You's pretty mouth kept quiet, a sense of irritation and even a hint of anger would bubble up in him.

The elevator only took a few seconds to reach the second underground floor. With a ding, the doors opened, and Quan Jing stepped aside. He blocked the elevator door with his hand, glanced back at Jiang You, and said indifferently, "You go first."

Jiang You's smile was triumphant and radiant as she hurried a few steps to grab Quan Jing's hand, her voice sweet, "Let's go together."

Quan Jing pressed his lips together but didn't shake off her hand. Instead, he let her lead him.

Jiang You walked ahead, while he followed, looking at their clasped hands. His lips curled up ever so slightly—almost imperceptible, but enough to soften his handsome face significantly.

As they walked, Jiang You suddenly turned around and asked softly, "Where did we park the car?"

Quan Jing hastily put on a stern face, reverting to his cool demeanor, "Turn right and go straight to the end."

Jiang You glanced down the long corridor and couldn't see the end. She frowned prettily and complained, "That's so far! You go get the car, and I'll wait here."

Quan Jing sighed inwardly and dialed the chauffeur, "Bring the car over."

Jiang You was pleased, her eyes twinkling with light-hearted joy, "I knew you were the best."

Soon after, the sleek black luxury car glided to a stop in front of Jiang You, who visibly brightened with happiness. Quan Jing glanced at her, his lips curled slightly—Vain creature! Surely, a ride in a luxury car was quite a thrill. Unlike when she would weep pitifully when riding in his own car or complain naggingly for him to change vehicles.

The chauffeur opened the door and prepared to come around to Jiang You's side, but Quan Jing gestured him away with a casual, "No need, I'll do it."

He opened the door for Jiang You, and she climbed in, her smile beaming and triumphant.

Quan Jing shut the car door and smiled faintly—a subtle smile that was hard to notice.

He walked around to the other side, got into the car, and the chauffeur started the engine.

Quan Jing watched as Jiang You took selfies, an indispensable ritual whenever she was in a luxury car. With slightly dim lighting inside, her pale and coolly fair skin glowed naturally with a fresh pinkish hue that could charm in any light, her wavy black hair draped over one shoulder, stunning in beauty.

Her face was flawless, photogenic at any angle, yet she was absorbed in taking photos, leaving Quan Jing feeling neglected, his expression turning frosty.

Annoyed, he placed Jiang You's bag between them and spoke in his unenthusiastic manner, "Next time, don't complain about shoulder pain if you're going to carry such an impractical bag. It's no wonder the chains would make it uncomfortable."

"It's pinching even my hand."

Finally, Jiang You stopped her selfie session and turned to him with concern, "Pinching your hand? Let me see?"

She tossed aside the bag that Quan Jing had deliberately placed between them, came in close, and examined his palm.

Quan Jing's hands were attractive—well-proportioned and strong, and most importantly, very smooth to the touch.

Indeed, a red mark was visible where the chain had pinched his palm. His fair skin made the red swell starkly, oddly invoking a delicate, tortured beauty.

Jiang You didn't offer soothing words but took out her phone to capture the moment, "To remember this, the first time Quan Jing carried my bag."

Quan Jing was left speechless, pulling his hand back with a cool expression.

Jiang You often took pictures of him, but he was not willing to be photographed, feeling uneasy in front of a camera, never letting her take his picture. So she found another way by capturing details—his fingers, his Adam's apple, their legs side by side, his wrist wearing a watch, his silhouette—all posted on her social media.

The first time she posted, Quan Jing was furious, sternly telling her to delete them. He was a private person with strong boundaries, not liking anything about himself to be displayed on social platforms for public commentary.

Jiang You cried and pouted, her voice crackling softly as she berated him, "I didn't capture your face, why are you so harsh?"

She stubbornly refused to delete them.

Quan Jing tried to take her phone to delete them himself, but she hid it behind her back, leaning in to kiss and cajole him. Quan Jing recoiled in shock and although they didn't kiss, her tears on his face felt burning hot, annoyingly so.

Eventually, a compromise was made. She could post as long as it was private, visible only to him as her boyfriend.

Quan Jing even downloaded the social media app specifically for her, setting his account to private, following only Jiang You. He's never posted anything himself; he would only check her page for updates or to see the private photos visible only to them—to see if she had uploaded new ones of him.

At first, he would look with a frown, but now, even he didn't realize he looked at her photos with a smile in his eyes.

Jiang You finished uploading and showed him the phone with a curled, triumphant smile, like a white, smug little cat with her tail held high, "This is all evidence of my love for you."

She clung to Quan Jing and cooed near his ear, "I love you so much, Quan Jing."

Jiang You pushed him almost against the window, mirroring their current situation. She stepped on his red lines in a spoiled and arrogant way, repeatedly testing his limits, pushing him back step by step until now, he had broken many principles and done things he would have never considered before for her.

Quan Jing was vaguely aware of this, but faced with the pampered Jiang You, he was unable to enforce any strict measures, thus being slowly but surely conquered by her.

Even when he heard her sweet, whining voice at his ear professing her love, his heart would race fiercely before he could discern the truth of her words—his body reacting before his mind.

Quan Jing feared letting Jiang You grow too proud, afraid that she would catch on and would stop taking him seriously, thinking she could do anything she wished. He turned his head away, unwilling to see her, but inadvertently, through the car window, he saw his own reflection—far from the word "impassive"; his eyes clearly held a smile.

Feeling startled and growing silent, Quan Jing realized he was alarmed.

Unaware of his inner turmoil, Jiang You snuggled against him and teased in her soft, coquettish voice, "Quan Jing, do I smell nice?"

He had already caught her scent in the parking lot when she was all over him—it was impossible not to notice. The sweet, fresh aroma of green grapes as if he had wandered into a vineyard—pure and refined, with no trace of other florals, exceptionally true to the fruit.

Quan Jing glanced at her and asked coldly, "You changed your perfume?"

Jiang You beamed, all flirtation in the tilt of her brows, "This is my natural scent."

With merciless accuracy, Quan Jing debunked her claim, “Your natural scent changes from morning to afternoon?”

He scoffed coolly, "You sure know how to mix it up."

During lunch, her scent was of honeyed citrus, warm and sweetly moisturizing.

Jiang You glared at him, flipping back her black curls to reveal her pale neck, "Smell it up close."

Indeed, it wasn't perfume. The fragrance was mixed by her friend to blend better with her own natural scent, without the overpowering strength of perfume, and with lasting power beyond the fading of time.

Quan Jing gazed at Jiang You’s neck—undeniably beautiful, a snow-white length with exquisite lines, black curls swept behind her ear. His dark eyes deepened, even his heartbeat audible to himself. Beneath her thin, translucent skin ran delicate blue veins, seeming fragile to the touch—her neck could be encircled completely by just one hand.

Jiang You peered up at him, lightly curling her lips into a pretty smile, her other hand stealthily reaching for the button to raise the car's privacy divider.

She wanted to kiss Quan Jing.

One hand stirring up hair to entice Quan Jing, her other hand fumbling discreetly for the button. Having found it, she almost pressed it when suddenly, her wrist was grasped tightly by a cool hand.

Glancing to the side, she saw Quan Jing's broad, forceful hand firmly holding her wrist.

Annoyed, Jiang You looked at Quan Jing, meeting his stern and impassive gaze as he warned, "I knew you were up to no good, behave yourself."

Ignoring him, she pressed the button anyway, the divider began to rise, and she looked at him with eager eyes, "Kiss me."

The panel had only risen halfway when Quan Jing lowered it again; his ears blushing, he ordered curtly, "Shut up."

Jiang You glared at him, her expression exhibiting irritation, "Stop the car, I want to get off."

Quan Jing felt a headache at her anger, instructing the driver with a cold face, "Don’t listen to her, keep driving."

Jiang You huffed, "If I don't get off, then we kiss."

Quan Jing's gaze inadvertently rested upon her soft, moist lips, and regaining his senses only to be shocked, he became annoyed and frustrated, instructing the driver coldly, "Stop the car, let her out."

He couldn't let Jiang You remain arrogant any longer, stepping on his bottom line, thinking she could do whatever she wanted.