School gate.
Although the campus was empty inside, the gate was still bustling with people. Some students who had booked group rides waited for their friends while chatting animatedly.
Andrew Han and Zoe Li walked out of the school gate.
"Hey."
Zoe Li glared at Andrew Han, puffing her cheeks in annoyance. "Which way are you going?"
She had wanted to give Andrew Han some advice, but was unexpectedly intimidated by him... She truly wanted to speak but stopped herself, and then stopped but wanted to speak, feeling a bit stifled.
Andrew Han glanced at Zoe Li, puzzled. "What? Aren't your parents picking you up?"
"Mm." Zoe Li pursed her pink lips. "My mom's not picking me up today, she's busy. Are you going home to the left? We're headed the same way."
"Alright."
Andrew Han nodded and walked straight toward the road on the left.
"Hey, hey!" Zoe Li hurriedly jogged a couple of steps to catch up with Andrew Han, her fair face full of displeasure. "Can't you show a little gentlemanly behavior... Oh right, my home is at Greenfield Estates, about two or three kilometers away."
"Oh."
Andrew Han nodded slightly and continued walking.
...
......
Zoe Li walked beside Andrew Han, her face a bit stiff.
She really wanted to cover her face and sigh. No wonder Andrew Han had so few friends in class! Wasn't her hint obvious enough? As a boy, shouldn't he show some manners—like volunteering to walk her home?
"Andrew Han!"
Zoe Li let out a huff.
Andrew Han frowned, looking at the inexplicably upset Zoe Li. He pondered, "What is it? Two or three kilometers will take at least half an hour to walk... Do you want me to walk you home?"
As he spoke.
A trace of hesitation appeared on his face.
If he walked Zoe Li home, it would take more than an hour round trip, which might delay his practice of the Solar Pillar Stance.
Heh, you're overthinking it.
Zoe Li pursed her pink lips, outwardly refusing firmly, but inwardly she felt a little gratified: As long as you understand my meaning, just invite me again... no, invite me twice more, and I'll reluctantly agree.
However.
Andrew Han, however, breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good. Make sure to be careful on your way home."
Huh?
What the heck??
Zoe Li was stunned, her fair jade-like face full of shock, almost doubting her own attractiveness.
Step.
Step.
The sound of footsteps, one heavy and one light, echoed along the quiet road.
Zoe Li pursed her pink lips, completely losing the desire to speak. She didn't want to talk to Andrew Han at all, sulking to herself.
I can still practice the Solar Pillar Stance for two hours today.
Andrew Han was planning what to do after getting home and thinking about where he should go tomorrow to look for Graywhite Aura.
Just then.
Ahead of them, three or four young men with dyed hair were squatting by the roadside, smoking and slouching with their arms around each other.
One of the boys turned his head and glanced at Andrew Han and Zoe Li, his expression freezing.
Andrew Han? Zoe Li?
The boy squinted, muttering to himself. He was Kyle Gao from Senior Class 7.
Next to Kyle Gao squatted a blond youth, wearing a long-sleeved shirt and ripped jeans. On his left wrist hung an iron chain inlaid with skull patterns, and on his right ear dangled a skull-shaped earring.
"What's up?"
He was leisurely puffing smoke, glancing casually at Andrew Han and Zoe Li. His narrow eyes suddenly lit up. "A beauty! Such an innocent-looking girl!"
The other two youths with dyed hair also gave Zoe Li a couple of glances.
Even though night had fallen and only the dim streetlights shone, they couldn't hide Zoe Li's beautiful face.
"No wonder Ken is in such a hurry."
"This girl is really pretty. Looks like Ken's got his eye on her, haha."
The two dyed-haired youths chuckled.
The "Ken" they spoke of was the blond youth with the skull chain and earring. The three of them weren't students at Riverdale Experimental High School, but rather local youths who frequented nearby entertainment venues, and had met Kyle Gao by chance.
"Kyle, you know them?"
Ken King grabbed Kyle Gao's blue-and-white school uniform, impatiently asking.
"Ken, Ken, easy there." Kyle Gao was yanked off balance, took a drag of his cigarette, and quickly said, "That guy is Andrew Han, I've mentioned him before. The girl is Zoe Li, she's a student in Senior Class 7 with us."
"Oh!"
Hearing the second part, Ken King's eyes lit up. "So she's your classmate... Come on, introduce us to Ken."
As he spoke.
He stood up, still gripping Kyle Gao's uniform, and strode toward Andrew Han and Zoe Li, laughing heartily. "You two are Kyle's classmates? I'm good friends with him too. Let's get to know each other."
As he spoke.
Ken King ran his fingers through his light blond hair, flashing what he considered a friendly smile, his gaze lingering on Zoe Li's delicate features.
The other two dyed-haired youths stood beside him, staring at Zoe Li as well.