Chapter 44 Can I Be Your Boyfriend?

Xu Jiaojiao is practically flying high!

The contestants, exhausted and hot from walking, were filled with envy and jealousy, practically itching for more.

"Hi," Wang Wei waved cheerfully at everyone, "You've finally arrived." "

..." The contestants were furious.

Could they just pack this up and throw her out?!

"Hello, everybody!" Henry greeted the expressionless contestants, knowing they didn't understand Italian, he greeted them in English.

The handsome foreign man's smile was incredibly charming; the closest contestant blushed, and the others could no longer maintain their composure.

"Jiaojiao, you have friends in Rome?" Pu Mingyu asked Sheng Jiaoyang in surprise.

"I caught them on the way." Sheng Jiaoyang withdrew her hand and took a small sip of her juice.

Caught them?

Seeing everyone's puzzled expressions, enthusiastic audience member Wang Wei added, "After we left the Supermodel House, we flagged down a car on the roadside. Henry was the driver, and we got a ride here."

Hitchhiking... the contestants belatedly realized that when the director told them to find their destination that morning, he hadn't specified that they had to walk.

"Alright, everyone, sit down and eat breakfast quickly," Zhuo Yiyan stepped in to manage the situation.

The later contestants looked at their breakfasts and then at the dishes on Sheng Jiaoyang's table. Even though they had finished eating, just looking at the tableware showed that their food was completely inferior to Sheng Jiaoyang's.

"Teacher Zhuo, why is our food different from theirs?" Everyone felt a sense of injustice; if everyone ate the same, they wouldn't complain about the difference, but this was clearly different!

"Those who arrive within half an hour can choose their own breakfast," Zhuo Yiyan replied.

"But the director didn't say that this morning!"

Zhuo Yiyan said calmly, "This is a competition; opportunities are earned."

"Alright, Hanhan, stop talking, let's eat quickly," Xiao Yang pulled her friend, who still wanted to say something, to sit down.

Zhuo Yiyan and Yan Xiaoxuan sat down at Sheng Jiaoyang's table.

"You guys were having a lot of fun!" Yan Xiaoxuan said with a smile.

Wang Wei chuckled.

Henry couldn't understand Mandarin and just kept talking to Sheng Jiaoyang. There were Chinese girls at their school, but the ones he'd met were all so boring. Putting aside their looks, some were always bookish and academically brilliant, but they were just plain dull. Others who loved to have fun were rather superficial. A friend of his had previously fallen for an Asian girl, showering her with affection. He finally won her over, but they broke up in less than two weeks. The reason for the breakup was that she wasn't what he'd imagined. She seemed mysterious, but actually, apart from her appearance, she was no different from other Italian girls.

He hadn't been particularly interested in Asian girls before. They weren't as beautiful as Italian girls, and their personalities weren't as outgoing, though they were all the same when they were infatuated. But unexpectedly, on his way back to school after attending a friend's birthday party, he encountered a very different Asian girl.

Her Italian was fluent, and she possessed the same mysterious and beautiful qualities that his friend was obsessed with. When she wasn't smiling, she resembled a noblewoman; when she smiled, it made him feel like the whole world lit up.

"Jiao, can you give me your mobile phone number?" Henry gazed at the girl before him, trying to captivate her with his usual deep and alluring eyes.

But to no avail. His

flirtatious glances were directed at the dog.

Sheng Jiaoyang glanced at this guy who had just asked for a photo and now wanted her phone number, and replied, "I don't have a mobile phone."

"What about your landline?"

"No."

"Why?" Henry found it hard to believe that anyone in this day and age didn't use a phone at all.

"My family is poor; we can't afford a landline," Sheng Jiaoyang said seriously.

"Oh, my poor girl, no wonder you participated in the competition; it could change your destiny. I imagine you must have had a very difficult past." Henry looked at her with pity and sympathy.

"..."

Before Sheng Jiaoyang could react, this overthinking guy had already said to her in the tone of a prince who had found Cinderella, "Luckily, I met you today."

What's wrong with him? Sheng Jiaoyang's lips twitched.

"Jiaojiao, what are you talking about?" Wang Wei gently nudged Sheng Jiaoyang's arm.

"He said he was lucky to meet you today."

"Really?" Wang Wei cupped her face, looking at Hengrui with starry eyes.

A smile flashed in Sheng Jiaoyang's eyes.

Hengrui didn't know what they were talking about, but he could roughly guess they were talking about him. Seeing the bob-haired girl staring at him with a lovesick expression, he returned a smile, satisfied with the power of his smile. But when he turned his head and saw the faint expression on the girl's face next to him, the sense of defeat returned.

He was the most charming person in the school, and the girls had no resistance to his smile. How come his advantages didn't work in front of this girl?

To the people at the next table, their chatting and laughing was truly enviable.

"That handsome guy seems to have a bit of a crush on Jiaojiao." Pu Mingyu whispered to Luo Yi.

"Anyone with eyes can see that it's just that silly girl Wang Wei who's still head over heels." Luo Yi replied with a smile, biting her straw.

"Jiaojiao truly lives up to her reputation as a top student. She even speaks Italian! Look how easily she chats with that handsome local guy. Her skill level must be quite high. How is her brain structured? Her talent is something I can't even be envious of. If I had half of her talent, I wouldn't be where I am now," Pu Mingyu exclaimed.

Luo Yi remained silent. Xu Jiaojiao was still young, had been admitted to a prestigious university, and knew so much; her future prospects were bright. Meanwhile, she and Pu Mingyu had been models for several years, yet remained relatively unknown. Look at Yan Xiaoxuan, about their age, already a highly famous star, appearing on variety shows, filming TV dramas, and receiving one gig after another.

So, life's circumstances are truly unpredictable. Seizing the moment was the only thing she could do. Luo Yi's gaze hardened. She didn't have much youth left to waste; this time, she had to win the championship!

After everyone had finished breakfast, Zhuo Yiyan introduced Yan Xiaoxuan to everyone. Of course, everyone present except Sheng Jiaoyang should know her; he was introducing her to the audience.

"Xiaoxuan will be with everyone during your time in Rome. Now, what would you like to say to Xiaoxuan?"

Hearing Zhuo Yiyan's last sentence, everyone fell silent, exchanging bewildered glances.

"Yan Xiaoxuan, I love you!" Wang Wei, who couldn't stand the awkward silence, shouted.

Yan Xiaoxuan, who had been feeling a little embarrassed, chuckled and took the initiative to ease the tension: "Anything you want to ask me, feel free to ask. I'll answer whatever I can. Don't miss this opportunity!"

As if a floodgate had opened, the contestants began asking questions they wanted answered.

"Jiao, what did the girl next to you just say? The last thing Yan Xiaoxuan said?" Henry asked Sheng Jiaoyang with a curious expression. Sheng

Jiaoyang, who was listening to the contestants' questions, suddenly heard Henry's words and casually replied in Italian, "I love you."

"Really? Then can I be your boyfriend?" Henry grasped Sheng Jiaoyang's hand resting on the table, his face full of surprise.

"..." Sheng Jiaoyang froze for a moment.

She withdrew her hand and explained, "I was just translating what Wang Wei said, don't misunderstand."

Henry persisted, "Then can I be your boyfriend?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I have someone I like," Sheng Jiaoyang glanced at him and said casually, "He's better looking than you."

Henry was struck a chord by a seasoned looks-obsessed person; in that instant, he felt as if his heart was exploding.

For the first time since birth, Henry lost confidence in his appearance.