045 - The Persuader

"Come in!"

Ye Lifeng was reviewing the proposal for the new event in the student council office. He answered without looking up when he heard the knock.

Xin Xin entered quietly, placing two movie tickets on Ye Lifeng’s desk. She called out, “Senior!” Ye Lifeng was as charming as ever: thick black hair, tall and slender, seeming carefree yet secretly deep and passionate. His every gesture exuded elegance, giving him the air of a superstar. No wonder he was adored by countless girls.

Ye Lifeng glanced at the tickets, then looked up and joked, “Xin Xin, are you telling me you want to invite me to a movie? Won’t your boyfriend lose his mind?”

“Senior!” Xin Xin protested, thinking how difficult it was to date Lu Yichen. It seemed everyone in school knew they were together, and those jealous looks on the street could have killed her a hundred times. The pressure was immense—even Ye Lifeng was teasing her about it!

“I’m just a messenger. It’s not from me—Yu Wei asked me to give these to you!” Xin Xin leaned on the desk, deliberately elongating the pronunciation of “Yu Wei.”

“Oh?” Ye Lifeng closed the folder, giving her his full attention. His interest was piqued.

“Haha, Senior, it seems you really care about our Yu Wei. I’ve been here a while and you didn’t even look up, but the moment her name is mentioned, you’re all ears.”

“If she came herself, then I’d believe you.” Ye Lifeng crossed his arms and shrugged, shaking his head. He wasn’t a fool; he certainly didn’t believe that Xia Yu Wei, who had always kept a bit of distance from him, would suddenly send someone with two movie tickets.

“Well, Senior, you’re—so—smart! You saw through me so easily…” Xin Xin scratched her head in embarrassment. “To tell you the truth, Yu Wei’s been feeling really down lately. I think she needs you now more than ever.”

“Really? What’s going on?”

“I don’t know either. Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

“But she might not want to see me,” Ye Lifeng replied calmly.

Ever since that summer day when he, in a moment of impulsiveness, kissed her forcefully, she hadn’t seen him again, always choosing to avoid him if they met. Her attitude had dealt a serious blow to his masculine pride.

He knew a man shouldn’t wait silently for the girl he loved to declare her feelings, but when it came to Xia Yu Wei, he always felt helpless. Whether he approached her gently or domineeringly, it seemed he could never reach her heart. Each time he stepped forward, he sensed her retreating. She smiled sweetly, her face radiant, but her heart had never opened to him.

“Senior, you’re not someone who gives up easily! I actually think her sadness is your best opportunity. When a woman is at her most vulnerable, doesn’t she want a broad shoulder to lean on? You’re the only one, and the one she trusts most—don’t you have a responsibility to make her happy?” Xin Xin pleaded earnestly.

Listening to Xin Xin, Ye Lifeng smiled meaningfully. Yes, now was the time for him to make his move.