The Genius System Without Equal

Xiao Luo and Huang Ruoran walked across the tranquil lawn, neither saying a word. Huang Ruoran was feeling a little nervous as she had never been on a one-on-one date with a man before. Huang Ruoran appeared demure as she swung her hands back and forth. Her cheeks were blus.h.i.+ng, and she felt self-conscious and giddy at the same time. It was the complete opposite from her usual image as a cla.s.s monitor.

“How long will you guys be here?” Xiao Luo asked, breaking the awkward silence.

“I think we will be here for about two weeks,” Huang Ruoran said in almost a whisper.

“So, you are here on an exchange program with the Hua major students?” Xiao Luo asked.

“Yes, that"s right.”

Huang Ruoran replied with a gentle nod, as the light from a street lamp revealed the exquisite, natural beauty of her face, untainted with makeup.

Xiao Luo laughed and said, “That"s great. You can increase your knowledge and understanding of the Mei culture and improve your English at the same time.”

“Yes, that"s true.”

Huang Ruoran plucked up her courage and raised her head to look at Xiao Luo. “What about you? Are you in the Mei Nation for a vacation?” she asked.

Xiao Luo chuckled and said, “Why else would I be here?”

“I thought you might be here on a business trip,” Huang Ruoran replied.

Xiao Luo merely laughed without responding to her question.

Soon, they reached the main road after walking through the lawn. Huang Ruoran felt like they were a couple taking a stroll through the university grounds. Her cheeks were burning, and her heart was thumping rather rapidly. She was giddy with excitement.

Suddenly, Xiao Luo stopped to look at the crescent moon in the night sky. Then he said, “It is getting late, and it is time for me to go. You should head back as well, w.a.n.g Ling is still waiting for you.”

“So soon? I want to walk with you a little more,” Huang Ruoran said, her voice trailing off toward the end of her sentence with a hint of disappointment.

Xiao Luo heard what she had said. Even though Huang Ruoran had not made it too obvious, he knew that he had to put a stop to those lingering feelings of hers. “My wife is waiting for me at the hotel. She is alone, and I am afraid something might happen to her,” he replied.

That statement was false, but it was effective.

What?

Her face immediately changed. Wife? Xiao Luo had married?

In disbelief, Huang Ruoran asked, “You… You are already married?”

Xiao Luo nodded his head firmly and said, “Yes.”

Huang Ruoran lowered her head after Xiao Luo confirmed his marital status. No matter how hard she tried, she could not wipe away the disappointment that washed over her face. It was a tremendous blow to her heart, and she was feeling lost and bewildered. “Why did you suddenly get married?” she asked.

Xiao Luo looked at her steadily for a while. Then he laughed lightheartedly and replied, “I do not think it is that strange to get married at my age.”

“Well, that"s true.”

Huang Ruoran lowered her head again. She forced herself to smile before raising her head once more. “Xiao Luo, congratulations!” she said, holding back some unshed tears.

She could not hide the sad look in her eyes. Just like that, Xiao Luo had crushed her dream of being together with him. Her feelings for him were so strong that it felt like a breakup and the unshed tears threatened to roll down her face.

“Thank you,” Xiao Luo replied in a gentle tone.

It had been unpleasant, but some things in life were better resolved early before they got out of hand. Otherwise, such matters could create unnecessary conflicts. He did not think that he would meet up with anyone from Huaye again. But the world had become so small that one would invariably b.u.mp into friends from the past when they least expected it.

“Alright, it is time for me to go. Goodbye,” Xiao Luo said, then he smiled and turned around to leave.

“Xiao…”

As she looked at his back, Huang Ruoran had wanted to shout out his name, but her pride held her back. Tears began rolling down her cheeks. The love that she had longed for all this time had proven to be one-sided. She had been living in self-delusion, and it was nothing but a short-lived, beautiful dream. And now fate had chosen its course.

It had been nothing more than an unattainable dream.

She smiled bitterly. Every girl yearned for a Prince Charming, and she was no different. The day Xiao Luo saved her from those gangsters, he had already left an indelible mark on her heart. The affection did not disappear with time, and instead, it grew stronger with each pa.s.sing day.

The disappointment had hurt so much that she felt an ache in her heart. But she knew that she had to be tough. She was in tears, but she put on a brave smile and turned around to make her way back. At that moment, it felt as if her soul had left her.

Xiao Luo did not turn around and kept walking ahead. He did not have any feelings for Huang Ruoran. Besides, they had not met under favorable circ.u.mstances. There was no way he would have had such feelings for Huang Ruoran.

He felt relieved that they had cleared the air about their relations.h.i.+p.

SCREECH!

At that moment, an ear-piercing screech came from behind Xiao Luo—emergency brakes!

Xiao Luo instantly turned his head back to look and saw a black car screeching to a halt. It barely missed Huang Ruoran, who was standing next to it, frozen in shock. A Caucasian man seemed to have pushed her to safety and now held her in his arms.

When the driver of the black car saw that Huang Ruoran was unhurt, he immediately sped off.

Xiao Luo ran hastily toward them and asked Huang Ruoran, “Are you alright?”

“Xiao… Xiao Luo…”

Huang Ruoran was in such a shock that her legs were shaking. She removed herself from the man"s hold and clutched Xiao Luo"s arm. She just had a brush with death and her face had turned as white as a sheet. She was so traumatized that she could hardly speak.

“Hey, lady, I just saved your life. Don"t I deserve at least a thank you?”

Her jaunty-looking rescuer said casually. He was a handsome young man with well-defined eyebrows and lovely deep blue eyes that one could easily get lost in gazing into them.

“Thank you. Thank you for saving me.”

Huang Ruoran slowly regained her senses and bowed as she thanked him.

“You are welcome.”

With a devilish smile, the man said, “You must be a Hua Nation girl. You are so pretty! Let us get to know one another. My name is Ian.”

He put out his hand toward Huang Ruoran.

Out of courtesy, Huang Ruoran shook his hand and responded, “Nice to meet you. My name is Huang Ruoran.”

“Is this your boyfriend?” Ian asked as he glanced at Xiao Luo.

Huang Ruoran looked at Xiao Luo, then shook her head and replied, “No, he is my friend.”

“So, does Ms. Huang have a boyfriend?” Ian asked with a smile on his face.

Huang Ruoran felt uncomfortable responding to such a personal question, but she did not want to appear to be rude since he had saved her. She shook her head. With a rather awkward smile, she answered, “No.”

“Oh, is that so? Then, I"ll be honest with you—I liked you the moment I laid eyes on you. Are you willing to be my girlfriend?” Ian said as he kissed the back of her hand.

Huang Ruoran reacted as if she had received an electric shock and immediately retracted her hand. “What are you doing?”

“Ms. Huang, your natural beauty would inspire a love poem. G.o.d has favored you, for He has created a work of art! You captured my heart with your beauty the moment I laid my eyes on you. Will you be my girlfriend?” Ian was spewing ridiculous pickup lines, hoping to impress her.

Xiao Luo raised his hand to prevent him from getting closer to Huang Ruoran. “You may have saved her life, and we are grateful. But that does not give you the right to hara.s.s her s.e.xually. Please leave immediately. Or else…””Or else, what?”Ian"s face turned dark and threatening. He exuded an ominous aura, and had it had been anyone else other than Xiao Luo, that person would have felt his hair stand on ends.