199 Another Quarrel

“Speak truthfully, when did the Lu family discover Xixi? Does the Lu family intend to take Xixi for themselves?” Zheng Huai demanded in between breaths. He pulled his tattered white coat closer. Lu Lin had torn it in their tussle, exposing his abdominals.

Lu Lin snorted coldly. “You don’t need to know when we discovered her. This is divine providence. Xixi belongs to our Lu family. The Shen family has no room for involvement here. It’s useless!”

Lu Lin tugged at the collar of his frayed T-shirt, which Zheng Huai had turned to ribbons, exposing his well-developed chest. It was covered in fine red scratch marks caused by Zheng Huai’s nails.

Zheng Huai smiled disdainfully. “Hah! That’s all naïve superstition! Don’t forget Shen Xi’s surname is Shen, not Lu!”

The area around Zheng Huai’s eyes, already black and blue, had become even darker following his fight with Lu Lin. He would grimace in pain every time he smiled. Zheng Huai secretly cursed Lu Lin for having practised the Nine Yin White Bone Claws since young.

Lu Lin gave Zheng Huai the side-eye. “It’s just a surname; it isn’t something that can’t be changed. It won’t take much effort.”

Sparks flew, and the smell of gunpowder filled the air. Neither Lu Lin nor Zheng Huai was willing to give an inch.

Shen Xi had gone to the doctor’s office in the infirmary to look for Guan Lei when she stumbled upon Zheng Huai and Lu Lin glaring daggers at each other. The two immediately rushed to her side in unison.

“Xixi, why are you here? Were you looking for me?” Zheng Huai wore a smile, attempting to curry favour from his younger cousin.

Wang Nan, who had just walked to the door, was stunned. He did not expect Zheng Huai to have a side like that to him. To think he would address a female student with such familiarity while looking as dishevelled as he did.

His sharp features, aloof demeanour, and bruises on his face made Zheng Huai’s present expression seem greasy and salacious.

Although Zheng Huai was still fairly new to the school, the female students flocked to him like moths to a flame. He had never seen Zheng Huai take the initiative to interact with a female student till today.

Wang Nan wondered if the female students who idolised Doctor Zheng would have their hearts crushed if they saw what he was seeing. The casual thought sent his heart aflutter, and new topics for gossip burgeoned in his mind.

Lu Lin was not willing to be outdone. Taking Shen Xi’s right hand in his, he put on his most charming appearance, his handsome features blooming like a peacock spreading its tail feathers. “Xixi, you came to see me, didn’t you? You must have heard I was at the infirmary and came looking for me. Am I right, Xixi?

“I did not come looking for either of you. I’m here for Guan Lei. He told me he was going to get some medicine earlier this morning. Is he still here?” Shen Xi asked, pointedly ignoring her two cousins, who were making fools out of themselves again.

Guan Lei had not turned up for lessons, and when she went to the male dormitory to ask after him, she learned he was not there either. That left the infirmary. Otherwise, it would have meant he had returned home.

Lu Lin and Zheng Huai’s eyes widened in disbelief. Shen Xi did not care for her two cousins but showed such concern for Guan Lei, an outsider, instead.

Wang Nan coughed into his fist, hiding his surprise. Lu Lin was an actor of international renown. For him to dote on Shen Xi, like she was his whole world, was too much for him to take in. Was this the fabled love triangle? It had to be!

The school had made a fuss over the news of what had happened. While those eight men were confirmed as not being Shen Xi’s lovers, there were still three others whose status remained unclear.

One was the school doctor, Zheng Huai; another was Guan Lei, and then there was Shen Xi.

Watching the tug-of-war in front of him, Wang Nan shook his head. It seemed there was some truth to the rumours, though the truth was even more farfetched. It was a love triangle that involved a world-famous actor.

To avoid being silenced, Wang Nan sneaked away.

Zheng Huai felt like he had swallowed a lemon. At least he was not the only one to feel that way. Lu Lin’s expression looked no better. Still, that made him feel a little better. If he could not get preferential treatment from Shen Xi, then neither should he!

“That kid? He didn’t come. Although he looks weak, Xixi, don’t worry. He won’t die,” Zheng Huai said indifferently.

Guan Lei? Was that the boy who stayed with Shen Xi in the observation room? Lu Lin narrowed his eyes. Puppy love was not good. Shen Xi was the Lu family’s greatest treasure. No way was some random schoolboy going to steal her away from them!