“Provoking her occasionally could be considered slightly better, but it seems that he bullied her for some time.” Boys would bully the girls that they liked in order to attract their attention. But girls would not do that. When faced with such boys, the girls had a fifty percent chance of accepting them.

  Obviously, Fang Fang belonged to the fifty percent who did not accept the boy.

  Zhai Hua rolled her eyes, no longer saying anything. She never knew that Gao Yan, who seemed well-mannered and behaved like a gentleman, would be so foolish during his second year in junior high school. It was no wonder that although Fang Fang was classmates with him, she was not interested in him at all. “It is no wonder that Fang Fang has a boyfriend in the university. No girls will want a boyfriend who keeps bullying them. She will be asking for trouble. Alright, I won’t ask anymore. You can deal with it as you please. You don’t have to worry about Dongzi’s business.”

  Qiao Nan yawned and opened the blanket. She lay down next to San Bao. “I don’t intend to interfere. I am sleepy. Remember to switch off the lights and close the door on your way out.”

  “What a lazy bum.” Zhai Hua scolded her lightly with a smile on her face. She switched off the lights and closed the door on her way out.

  The one-month-long internship had ended. The semester was ending soon.

  Qiao Nan reverted to her schedule of going to school and returning home. She was home when Gao Yan came looking for her by himself. “Are you free?”

  \r \r \r

  Qiao Nan, who was carrying the babies, felt helpless upon seeing Gao Yan. “I am quite busy. What’s the matter?”

  “Can we have a chat?” Gao Yan did not look very good. It was obvious that he was upset.

  Qiao Nan sighed. “San Bao, can you play with Da Bao and Er Bao over there? Mama won’t go anywhere. I will sit right here. San Bao can look up and you will see me.”

  Although the triplets were still very young, Qiao Nan had no wish for them to overhear the complicated problems and interpersonal relations among the adults.

  Luckily, the house was quite spacious. The auntie had tidied a small corner in the living room. It was about ten square meters. She laid soft and thick foam cushions on the floor and placed the triplets’ toys on top of the cushions.

  Although the triplets liked to stay close to their mother, they would not insist on staying next to her or for her to carry them. They would behave themselves as long as Qiao Nan was within their sight. They would not be upset that Qiao Nan did not play with them but was busy with her work.

  San Bao nodded abidingly. There was no need for her mother to carry her. She freed herself from her mother’s embrace and walked like a duck, sticking out her chubby bottom to where her brothers were. She squeezed to sit in between them and took her favorite plush toy from the floor, landing a bite on it.

  Once the triplets were settled down, Qiao Nan fixed her gaze on Gao Yan. “What do you want to talk to me about?” Luckily, she spent a large amount of time on her internship this semester. Therefore, she did not have as much homework as the previous two years. Otherwise, she would not have the time to chat with Gao Yan.

  Gao Yan rubbed his face, feeling flustered. ‘Fang Fang rejected my proposal and she has a boyfriend in university. Why did this happen?” He used to think that like him, Fang Fang only had eyes for him. He had been working toward this goal and to give her happiness in the future.

  However, he did not end up with Fang Fang. It was another man who was with her.

  “This is because of the pranks that you pulled on her when you were younger.” Qiao Nan raised her eyebrows. Gao Yan was quite proactive. There was no need for her to remind him and he took the initiative to find out why Fang Fang rejected his proposal.

  Gao Yan respected Fang Fang and hence he did not interfere with what she was doing at school. Fang Fang was stubborn. One must not go against her. Moreover, no matter how mild-tempered she was, if she knew that he was keeping a watch on her, she would end the friendship with him regardless of whether he had good intentions or not.

  On the other hand, Gao Yan noticed that something was amiss. Given that he was able to find out what was going on within such a short time, he was really concerned about Fang Fang.

  Gao Yan was dumbstruck by the answer that he heard. “The pranks that I pulled on her when I was younger?”

  “I suppose back when you were younger, you bullied Fang Fang, and that is why she has a bad impression of you. Thereafter, you did very well in your studies and this became a source of stress for Fang Fang. If I am correct, Fang Fang’s parents must have cited you as a model student and compared you to Fang Fang. They must have wanted Fang Fang to learn from you.” Qiao Nan touched her chin, looking like a scammer.

  “Just because of this?” Gao Yan was perplexed. It turned out that it was because of such minor problems?

  Qiao Nan smiled in anger. “It is no wonder that Fang Fang is wooed by somebody else and you only realized the problem when she rejected your proposal. In the eyes of women, there is no reason and logic. She does not need a reason to like you or hate you. This is not the court. There is no need for evidence or to give you a sentence based on the severity of your crimes. If she hates you, regardless of how much she hates you, she will choose to be with somebody else that she likes.”

  Gao Yan could not understand what Qiao Nan was saying except for one thing—it was useless to use reasons. “Please, will you help me? Since you know Fang Fang so well, can you help me come up with a solution to gain her affection?” Even though there might be a misunderstanding, he was serious in this relationship. He loved Fang Fang and he did not want to give up his happiness, particularly for something so ridiculous.

  Gao Yan had already decided to seek Qiao Nan’s help. He no longer cared about his pride or feelings. “To tell you the truth, I am really at my wit’s end. You should know that Fang Fang is very quiet. Our…… our families had the same thoughts as me. I have been working toward this goal as well. The two families were taken aback when Fang Fang rejected my proposal. Uncle and auntie told me that they would try to persuade Fang Fang. I did not expect that……”

  “You did not expect that Fang Fang would not listen to her parents and left the capital earlier than agreed to return to school to look for her boyfriend. Am I right?” This was simply a giant asteroid striking the earth. There was no room for negotiation.

  Previously, Gao Yan had no idea why things turned out this way.

  After Qiao Nan’s reminder, Gao Yan seemed to have a better understanding. “Fang Fang doesn’t like it when her parents praise me or when they want her to take me as a role model. Therefore, when they put in a good word for me, it will further enrage her, no?”