Chapter 24: Lin Ming’s Setup

To achieve the scene he fantasized about, Lin Ming still needed to lay the groundwork.

As the saying goes, to build up, you must first tear down. To make the girls’ emotions reach their peak, he needed to bring himself to the lowest point.

He had to act as if he was deeply hurt by the girls’ cold attitudes, as if his heart had turned to ashes.

Then, when everything was revealed, the girls would feel so moved and guilty that he might even experience being pursued by the goddesses!

Although Lin Ming still didn’t know why the two girls disliked him now, he didn’t think it was a big deal.

Aside from pulling between the two girls and telling a few little lies, he really hadn’t done anything bad.

Holding onto his plan and hope, Lin Ming took action as soon as class ended.

He first rushed to the podium, coughed twice to attract his classmates’ attention, then looked intently at Xia Xinyan.

Lin Ming bowed and lowered his head.

“Class Rep Xia, I’m really sorry for causing you trouble!”

“Thanks to your selfless help, my grades have gradually improved.”

“Although I don’t know what I did wrong to make you hate me so much, I still want to say I’m sorry!”

“I will respect your decision.”

“From now on, I won’t bother you anymore!”

Listening to Lin Ming’s forceful voice, even the top students who wished they could nail their eyes to their test papers couldn’t help but look up at him. After a moment of silence, the class started murmuring.

Everyone thought these words sounded strange, like a breakup between lovers? But upon further thought, there wasn’t an issue.

Below, the chubby boy was already dumbfounded.

What’s up with my buddy? What kind of stimulus did he receive?

Earlier, he boldly claimed he would surpass everyone, and now he’s publicly saying he won’t bother the class beauty anymore, with a forced smile on his face.

But during class, you were clearly… appreciating the class beauty’s back in a daze!

Everyone is in their senior year, with only a few days until the college entrance exams. Can we please stop causing drama? Can’t you just be calm and settled like I am?

Of course, some suspected Lin Ming had ulterior motives, especially Xia Xinyan’s deskmate, Lili.

“Lin Ming, what bad intentions are you up to this time? Don’t you dare say you won’t bother her and then find various excuses to get close to Xinyan!”

“Don’t worry, I was too arrogant before, I won’t do it again.”

Questioned, Lin Ming spoke in a lonely tone and even apologized to Lili.

“I also troubled you before, Lili, I’m sorry!”

“Tch, how do we know if your apology is sincere? Maybe you’re retreating to advance, playing hard to get! Don’t think you, a toad, can eat swan meat!”

Hearing Lili’s doubts, Lin Ming’s head lowered further.

But inside, he was laughing wildly.

(Haha, doubt me, mock me, insult me!)

(Every word you say will become an arrow to break down Xinyan’s defenses, becoming the catalyst for our love!)

(When we get married, I’ll invite you all to the wedding.)

(Then you’ll know who’s the wise one and who’s the clown!)

At this moment, Lin Ming found the voices from below so sweet.

And Xia Xinyan, seeing Lin Ming being judged by everyone, couldn’t figure out his true intentions and had to change her previously cold attitude, softly saying to him.

“It’s alright, just focus on the right path and study hard. You can go back now.”

Hearing Xia Xinyan finally not saying “get lost,” Lin Ming was secretly delighted but didn’t show it. Instead, he calmly thanked her and “dejectedly” returned to his seat.

When it came to lunch break.

Lin Ming went to the teachers’ office.

“Teacher Liu, I’m really sorry for causing you trouble!”

“Thanks to your patient guidance, my grades have gradually improved.”

“Although I don’t know what I did wrong to make you hate me so much, I still want to say I’m sorry!”

“I will respect your decision.”

“From now on, I won’t bother you anymore!”

***

After laying all the groundwork, Lin Ming finally made it to the end of the school day. He immediately went to the café, pretending to browse the shops.

Sure enough, he saw Wang Haoran arrive at the café first, then Liu Yunshuang and Xia Xinyan also went in.

“Damn! When did those three get so close?!” Lin Ming gritted his teeth.

However, the hot dog stand owner across from him was even more frustrated.

(I’m just a hot dog vendor, do you need to take half an hour to choose?)

One for three yuan, two for six yuan, three for ten yuan! Special discount! If you’re not buying, don’t hog the spot!

After the stand owner resisted the urge to shove a hot dog up Lin Ming’s nose for the forty-fifth time, Lin Ming finally left.

The owner got even angrier.

You really didn’t buy anything?!

Seeing the car in front of him drive away, Lin Ming hurriedly followed.

Why didn’t he go to the abandoned building ahead of time?

First, running there while out of breath had more impact.

Second, the road’s surveillance would capture his heroic image, making it easier for Liu Yunshuang and Xia Xinyan to “unmask” him later.

After all, after “accidentally” exposing his wounds, he would “coldly deny” everything, and then Xia Xinyan and Liu Yunshuang would be skeptical and check the surveillance footage.

As a result, the two women would see on the surveillance how Lin Ming, whom they disliked so much, ran desperately after seeing them kidnapped—

“Woo, why won’t you admit it? Is it because we hurt you too deeply before? Sorry!”

“Lin Ming, we’ll do everything to make it up to you!”

“Even our bodies!”

Thinking of this scene, Lin Ming’s legs gained more strength.

As the sun set, Lin Ming ran full speed behind the car.

His grin, in the red twilight, spread across his face like a blooming chrysanthemum.