The two were dressed casually, clearly here for leisure.
Casual could also be fitting.
One entirely in black, the other entirely in white. One tall and handsome, the other slender and graceful. They were a striking sight wherever they went.
He Yao’s slightly improved mood plummeted again with Zhan Jingrui’s sudden appearance.
She regretted coming here with Liang Bo.
But since they had already met, regret was useless. She could only try not to look at them.
Pretending not to know them.
Liang Bo was always cheerful and sunny, chatting with Chu Xi with a smile.
"Yes, what a coincidence, Miss Chu. Are you also here to play go-karts?"
Chu Xi said yes. It was her first time. She usually found life boring and was timid, unlike Liang Bo who knew how to enjoy life.
"Miss Chu is too kind. I'm just playful and unambitious."
After speaking, he took the initiative to introduce himself to Zhan Jingrui: "Hello. I'm Liang Bo."
Although Zhan Jingrui was not particularly happy to meet him, he still extended his hand for a handshake. "Zhan Jingrui."
After the two men greeted each other, Chu Xi politely extended her hand to He Yao.
"Hello, my name is Chu Xi. It’s nice to meet you."
He Yao had nowhere to hide, so she could only squeeze her fingers.
"He Yao. It's nice to meet you too."
The way women start conversations is always through compliments, and Chu Xi was no exception.
"You look so beautiful in that outfit, it really suits your complexion."
He Yao knew she was just being polite and reciprocated, "Thank you, you would surely look even more beautiful."
"Your accent sounds like it’s from Sucheng. Miss He, are you from Sucheng?"
She thought a simple greeting would suffice, but Chu Xi was surprisingly talkative today, striking up a conversation with He Yao.
He Yao didn't want to stir up any shared memories, so she deliberately said no.
"Oh, then perhaps I was mistaken. Miss He, you are truly beautiful, very much like an old classmate of mine."
Liang Bo found it awkward hearing "Miss" and "Mister" used repeatedly, so he interrupted them.
"Since we're all friends from now on, let's not be so formal. Calling each other 'Miss' or 'Mister' is awkward. Let's just call each other by name. I'll call you Chu Xi, is that okay?"
Chu Xi replied, "Of course, it's okay. Names are meant to be called. Then I'll call you Liang Bo from now on."
He Yao felt their conversation was rather insubstantial and pointless to continue. She tugged at Liang Bo's clothes.
"Let's go. We shouldn't delay them from changing. Perhaps they have other plans."
"Alright, then I won't bother you two any longer. We'll head over first."
Chu Xi nodded. Liang Bo instinctively put his arm around He Yao's shoulder, and they brushed past them.
However, as they passed, Chu Xi suddenly called out to He Yao.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. Your name also sounds familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"
He Yao's heart pounded a few times. She hadn't expected Chu Xi, who seemed so demure, to be so talkative.
During school, other than a bunch of embarrassing memories, there was nothing memorable about her. How could a high-and-mighty good student like her remember her?
"No way? How could I possibly know Miss Chu? You must be mistaken. I look too common."
"No, I really feel like I've seen you somewhere. Let me think. Ah, I remember now. Did you study at the High School affiliated with Sucheng University?"
Now He Yao had no excuse to escape.
Chu Xi even remembered her school, which meant she did indeed have an impression of her.
At the same time, she was a bit curious why Chu Xi would remember her.
They had clearly never had any interaction.
"Did Miss Chu also study there?"
Chu Xi smiled, "Stop calling me Miss Chu. Just call me Chu Xi. It seems I wasn't mistaken."
"Not only did we attend the same high school, but we were likely in the same graduating year. We weren't in the same class. But you and Jing Rui were in the same class. Was it Jing Rui?"
Zhan Jingrui hadn't expected Chu Xi to remember He Yao, and so clearly at that.
He had never heard her mention He Yao before.
Unsure how to respond to her, and not wanting to cause any misunderstanding, he could only glance casually at He Yao's face, subtly signaling her not to pretend not to know.
"I don't remember. Why are you suddenly talking about this?"
Chu Xi smiled, "It's nothing. I just heard a classmate mention your name, saying you were a top beauty in school back then. I don't know why I remembered. I didn't expect to meet an old classmate after so many years. It's truly fate."
He Yao hadn't realized she had such a high reputation.
Or was Chu Xi speaking with ulterior motives?
In a nice way, she was praised for her beauty. In a not-so-nice way, He Yao had only heard negative gossip about herself.
There was no point in continuing the conversation, so she tugged at Liang Bo again, "Let's go."
After leaving the changing rooms, Liang Bo expressed his amazement to He Yao.
"No wonder you asked so many questions about Chu Xi yesterday. So you actually know her, and she's an old classmate. Impressive, you kept it quite hidden. You were even classmates with her fiancé. Why didn't you say hello?"
He Yao shook off his hand. "What's there to say hello about? Didn't you hear her say she didn't remember me? Besides, after so many years, even if she remembered, so what? I'm not changing jobs, nor am I looking for them for business. What's the use of knowing each other?"
"I like you more and more, He Yao. Your nonchalant attitude towards everything is exactly my cup of tea!"
He Yao felt like kicking him again as she spoke.
"I appreciate that. Don't drag me to these high-class places again. I don't like it; I feel uncomfortable all over."
They went to the track. After the staff explained everything, Liang Bo guided her as they started playing.
It was quite fun and stress-relieving. The clash of speed and passion, chasing Liang Bo lap after lap, quickly helped her release much of her recent stress.
After about ten laps, the staff signaled for them to stop and rest, and they paused.
Taking off her helmet and being helped out of the car by Liang Bo, she saw Zhan Jingrui and Chu Xi, dressed in matching black and white racing suits, standing outside the track. They had clearly been there for a while.
Liang Bo waved to Chu Xi. Chu Xi, holding Zhan Jingrui's arm, walked over.
"How was it? Was it fun? I heard it's quite stress-relieving. I'm a little nervous."
She directed this question at He Yao, who could only respond.
"It's my first time too. It is indeed quite stress-relieving, but you don't need to be nervous. It feels quite safe."
"You're cooler than me. I might be naturally timid. I'm not suited for particularly thrilling games. Fortunately, Jing Rui is here with me."
Chu Xi, clinging to Zhan Jingrui's arm like a little bird, asked, "What are you guys planning to do next? We came out in a hurry and didn't plan anything. We don't know what to play later."
He Yao looked at Liang Bo, passing the conversation to him.
Liang Bo, being an experienced player, enthusiastically began to introduce them.
"Jing Rui, why don't we play that later?"
Zhan Jingrui's expression was indifferent, his gaze drifting somewhere else. "Whatever you say."