Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 408: Can’t Escape

Chapter 408: Chapter 408: Can’t Escape

The performance was a success. Backstage, Yang Xinran started to change her clothes and remove her makeup, invigorated by the performance. Tonight had proved that she had the talent to be a lead dancer, and that the dance club could survive without Lin Xi.

When the dance team came backstage, Lin Xi was nowhere to be found, but no one seemed to care. Everyone was busy with their own affairs.

At that moment, Zhang Yang entered backstage. His cheerful and handsome appearance quickly grabbed everyone’s attention. He walked straight to Yang Xinran’s side, revealing their relationship to all.

"Great performance tonight, you danced exceptionally well," Zhang Yang said, his eyes seemingly on nothing and no one else but her.

"Thank you!" Yang Xinran replied politely with a smile. Just then she heard the curiosity in the voices around her, "Who’s this guy, Xinran? He seems quite close to you. He even came to see you. Come on, introduce him to us."

The crowd joined in, "Yeah, don’t be shy. We won’t steal him from you."

Hearing this, Yang Xinran blushed, but she was secretly delighted.

"Alright, I won’t intrude further. I’ll wait for you outside." After saying this, Zhang Yang politely greeted everyone else before quickly leaving. It seemed as if he was embarrassed, but that was not the case.

Once Zhang Yang reached outside the backstage area, he saw Ning Qi and her companions anxiously waiting. He shook his head. None of the girls backstage was especially striking in looks. Lin Xi didn’t seem to be around.

"Dammit!" Ning Qi grumbled in annoyance. She had hoped for a breakthrough but it turned out to be a false hope.

"We now know this ’Lin Xi’ is part of the dance club. That narrows down our search considerably. It’s only a matter of time before we find her," someone reminded.

"Time, huh?" Ning Qi knew they would find Lin Xi eventually. But the question was whether the woman back home would accept an empty-handed Ning Qi.

Before she left, Ning Qi had promised that she would find Lin Xi. If she failed this time, it would be up to the other woman how things would proceed.

Seeing the situation now, Ning Qi had no choice but to withdraw. But Zhang Yang stayed with his goal of getting closer to Yang Xinran.

However, as Ning Qi and her gang were leaving, they were spotted by Lu Yi, who was transporting something nearby. Lu Yi was stunned. After a closer look, he confirmed that it was indeed Ning Qi.

"Why is Ning Qi here? And she brought several people with her, too." Lu Yi wondered. "She can’t be here to cause trouble, can she?"

Lu Yi remembered the unpleasant confrontation that Ning Qi and Gu Fan had at Yuxueyun Mountain. It seemed likely that Ning Qi had brought along some muscle to settle a score with Gu Fan. Feeling the need to warn Gu Fan about this threat, Lu Yi made a call to him.

Seeing the incoming call, Gu Fan’s expression slightly changed. Lu Yi must have called him to ask for his help with moving things. So, Gu Fan decided to ditch his dutiful part just this once and not answer the call.

Lin Xi was puzzled. "Why didn’t you answer Lu Yi’s call?" she asked.

"Probably not a good thing. I prefer to accompany you instead," Gu Fan replied, then took Lin Xi’s hand and started walking towards the school gate, towards the business square full of delicious food outside.

Just as they had taken a few steps, the annoying phone ringtone began again. Gu Fan resignedly accepted the call and sighed, "Hey man, if you’re calling me to do some heavy lifting, I’m sorry but I’ll have to disappoint you this time. Please allow me to put romance before friendship to accompany Lin Xi. You know how it is."

Lu Yi snapped, "This isn’t the first time you’ve ditched me for a girl. I’m used to it now. I didn’t call you to ask for your help. I wanted to tell you that I just spotted someone you know. Guess who it is?"

"Someone I know? Don’t tell me it’s Leng Le," Gu Fan nervously answered. Judging from Lu Yi’s tone, it was definitely not an ordinary person.

Lu Yi replied, "Close, but it’s not Leng Le."

"If it’s not Leng Le, then who is it?" said Gu Fan, totally confused and impatient. "Come on, spit it out. Stop playing guessing games."

"Okay okay, here it is." Lu Yi teased Gu Fan a little. After all, Gu Fan always ditched him for girls. "I just saw Ning Qi, and several burly, intimidating-looking guys were with her. Looks like they came looking for you. I suggest you be careful."

"No way! Ning Qi is on campus? Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?" Gu Fan was utterly bewildered. He thought he had permanently parted ways with Ning Qi, but now she had come looking for him.

When Lin Xi found out about Ning Qi’s arrival, her expression changed, and she queried, "Why would Ning Qi come to our school? Is she looking for you? What did you do to offend her at Yuxueyun Mountain that she just won’t let it go?"

Gu Fan hurriedly defended himself, "I swear, I didn’t do anything to her. You know me, I wouldn’t mess around. She did save my life once, but I’ve helped her before too. We don’t owe each other anything!"

Gu Fan was still under the assumption that Ning Qi had shot Hu Bo to save him from the latter’s gun. Lin Xi knew the truth and was initially going to tell Gu Fan, but then decided not to. She wanted to see if his gratitude towards Ning Qi would turn into fondness.

Lin Xi had long been worried about Gu Fan’s relationship with Su Hui. The two helping each other out and fighting adversity together had pushed their relationship beyond mere friendship. And Gu Fan was clearly grateful for the help he received from Su Hui.

"I am an open and honest person. If I didn’t do it, then I didn’t do it." With that, Gu Fan looked as if he was about to make a solemn oath.

Lin Xi expressed her trust in Gu Fan; she just wanted to find out why Ning Qi was here. Even if Ning Qi had come to settle scores, Gu Fan was now pretty good at fighting.

"Alright, let’s forget about Ning Qi. Let’s go and enjoy some good food," Gu Fan concluded, leading Lin Xi by the hand towards the school gate.

Sometimes, life has a funny way of working, playing tricks. You can’t find the person you want to meet no matter how hard you try. And when you’re trying to avoid someone, you can’t seem to dodge them.

Because of Lu Yi’s call, Gu Fan and Lin Xi were late. When they reached the gate, they ran into Ning Qi and her crew.

Both parties stared at each other, the encounter taking everyone by surprise. It was as if nobody had foreseen this unexpected meeting.