Chapter 253: Chapter 145: Hold On, What Gives Him the Right to Look Down on Me

"Er, good point. Since Xu Yun doesn’t need anything, let’s stop talking about work."

Zheng Yi said, sounding a little awkward, "Let’s talk about something else. It’s not every day we all get together to have some fun."

"So we’re talking about love, then?"

Gao Wenwen asked curiously, "Xu Yun, do you have a girlfriend?"

"I do. Lots of them," Xu Yun answered honestly.

Of course, no one believed him.

To them, ’lots of them’ just meant he didn’t have any.

"Why not? You’re pretty handsome."

Gao Wenwen said, "Plenty of women should be into you."

"I’m not a celebrity. What’s the use of being handsome?"

Seeing they didn’t believe him, Xu Yun laughed. "Out in the real world these days, it’s all about power and connections. I guess I’m just too poor for anyone to like me."

"Don’t worry, we’re all single too."

Gao Wenwen laughed. "I guess this is a get-together for us singletons."

"You’re all single?"

Xu Yun was a little surprised by that answer.

He said, "With your qualities, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding someone."

"Of course not."

Gao Wenwen explained, "There are male teachers at school who are after me, but I don’t want to date yet."

"Lin Xi has always been career-focused. She’s busy with work and doesn’t have the time."

"Director Zheng got his heart broken once and still hasn’t moved on."

"As for our dear Class President, his heart belongs to someone, and he’s been waiting for a certain someone, right?"

"Right."

Zhu Jingheng glanced at Lin Xi and smiled. "I want to, and it’s none of your business."

The fact that he liked Lin Xi was no secret among their old classmates back home.

Hearing this, Xu Yun couldn’t help but go, ’Tsk, tsk, tsk.’

’I can’t believe it. So many years have passed, and he’s worth tens of millions now, but our class president is still just as infatuated with Lin Xi as ever.’

’Devotion... another word for it is simp!’

"What about you, Xu Yun? Seeing our Lin Xi again, are you having the same thoughts you used to?"

Gao Wenwen, ever the pot-stirrer, deliberately asked, "You know, back in high school, you had a secret crush on our Lin Xi, just like the Class President. Don’t think we didn’t know."

"Gao Wenwen, you’re talking nonsense again."

Lin Xi denied it. "Xu Yun didn’t have a crush on me back then. We were just close."

"A youthful crush can’t be taken seriously."

Unfazed by Lin Xi’s denial, Xu Yun said, "The feelings you have now, that’s what’s real."

"So do you like her now?"

Zheng Yi laughed. "Our Lin Xi is single, you know. You still have a shot."

"Nah, I’d better not get mixed up in this."

Xu Yun shook his head. "I’ll just be a quiet, handsome man in the corner. I won’t try to compete with our dear Class President."

’As if you could actually beat me,’ Zhu Jingheng scoffed internally.

He said mockingly, "Xu Yun, you must be used to seeing all the beautiful women in the big city. You’ve become immune to our gorgeous Lin Xi."

"Maybe."

Xu Yun shrugged. "To be honest, I’ve seen so many beautiful women around me lately that I’m actually getting a little desensitized."

"..." said Zhu Jingheng.

’Damn, you really have the guts to say that.’

Zheng Yi and Gao Wenwen hadn’t expected Xu Yun to say something like that either, and things got a little awkward.

But the most awkward person of all was Lin Xi.

However, she wasn’t angry with Xu Yun. She was angry with Zhu Jingheng.

If he hadn’t provoked him, Xu Yun would never have said something like that.

Thanks to Xu Yun, the conversation came to a dead halt.

With nothing left to say, they focused on climbing the mountain.

None of them exercised regularly, so this sudden mountain climb was a huge challenge to their stamina.

Before they had been climbing for long, the two women were the first to feel exhausted.

Zheng Yi and Zhu Jingheng weren’t much better off.

Only Xu Yun felt fine. He was relaxed and not the least bit tired.

This was likely due to his recent fitness routine and practice of the Eight Pieces of Brocade, which had significantly improved his physical condition.

"Lin Xi, this backpack is so heavy."

Gao Wenwen complained, "I wouldn’t have brought it if I’d known."

"Hang in there. I’m tired too."

Lin Xi said this loud enough for Xu Yun and the others behind her to hear, as if on purpose.

Hearing this, Zheng Yi gestured with his chin toward Lin Xi up ahead and teased, "Such a golden opportunity. Aren’t you going to make a move? Offer to carry her backpack?"

"Not interested."

Xu Yun laughed. "If you want to, go ahead."

"Forget it, I’m not going either."

Zheng Yi said, "I’m exhausted myself."

"Don’t worry, someone will go."

The words had barely left Xu Yun’s mouth when Zhu Jingheng, who was beside them, quickened his pace and headed forward.

Zheng Yi was speechless.

Zhu Jingheng was exhausted himself, but to show his chivalry, he braced himself after hearing Lin Xi’s words and approached her.

"Lin Xi, I’m not tired. Give me your backpack. I’ll carry it for a bit."

Lin Xi: "Okay, thanks."

Seeing this, a very envious Gao Wenwen piped up, "Dear Class President, you’re playing favorites! How come you’re not offering to carry mine?"

"I can only carry one."

Zhu Jingheng said, "You can ask Zheng Yi or Xu Yun to help you."

Gao Wenwen turned to the impassive Zheng Yi and Xu Yun and pleaded, "You two handsome gentlemen, can you really bear to just stand there and watch?"

"I really can’t carry anything else." Seeing Gao Wenwen look his way, Zheng Yi quickly refused.

"..." Gao Wenwen’s chest tightened with frustration.

Xu Yun laughed. "If you really can’t carry it anymore, give it to me."

"Thanks, Xu Yun, you’re so handsome."

Gao Wenwen’s face immediately lit up, and she came over to Xu Yun’s side.

Xu Yun took her backpack, transferring the water and snacks from it into his own pack.

Gao Wenwen shot Zheng Yi a disdainful look and said, "Director Zheng, look at you, gasping for air. Then look at Xu Yun—he’s barely broken a sweat."