Shen Ruoshuang’s gaze settled on Xu Yinian, who was currently sitting as stiffly as a board beneath her. A flicker of amusement danced behind her lashes, and her voice carried a strangely light, almost teasing quality.
“Well? Didn’t we agree that I’d choose the same ones as you?”
Xu Yinian’s memory flashed back to the day of course registration. When Shen Ruoshuang had asked her which classes she was taking, Yinian had acted magnanimous, assuming all the spots were already filled anyway…
Hearing it brought up now gave her a sinking feeling. She couldn’t tell if Shen Ruoshuang was just poking fun at her or if she was being serious.
Beside her, Jiang Ke bristled even faster than Yinian could react. “Sis!” she cried out in disbelief. “How could you pick the same class as her? You didn’t even tell me! Waaaah!“
Xu Yinian was backed into a corner, unsure how to respond. If she told the truth, wouldn’t her petty little schemes be laid bare right in front of Shen Ruoshuang?
Shen Ruoshuang’s eyes hadn’t strayed from Xu Yinian for a single second. Her gaze grew deep and inscrutable, as if she were waiting with great interest to see how the girl would wiggle out of this one.
The misunderstanding had morphed into a “special arrangement.”
The worst part was that Xu Yinian couldn’t explain herself. Meanwhile, Shen Ruoshuang seemed to be savoring this brief moment of ambiguity.
“I-It’s not what you think. When we were discussing it in the dorm, we just… talked about it…” Yinian stammered. “It was just talk. Our schedules probably aren’t even the same.”
She mumbles the last part, peeking up at Shen Ruoshuang to gauge her reaction.
They have to be different! she thought. After all, the classes were full when she “agreed.” What was she even worrying about?
Shen Ruoshuang didn’t say a word, letting out only a soft, ambiguous chuckle.
Because Shen Ruoshuang was right there, Xu Yinian couldn’t explain the situation clearly. Jiang Ke was fuming with impotent rage and could only huff, “Sis, you have to make it up to me! I’m coming with you to your elective tonight!”
The elective tonight was “Folk Arts Heritage.”
Despite the serious-sounding name, Xu Yinian knew from the school forums that every session involved making handicrafts—pottery, embroidery, weaving, and the like. It was a rare, interesting elective that didn’t require much social interaction.
It was a “hidden gem” known only to students who did their research. It had been the very first course Yinian selected, and predictably, it had been snatched up in seconds.
Unable to win the argument, Xu Yinian quickly gave in. “Fine, come if you want.”
As the school bus lurched into motion, the growing crowd pushed Shen Ruoshuang even closer to Xu Yinian.
Yinian could practically smell the familiar, subtle scent of winter plum clinging to her. It felt like being transported back to those moments when she had been surrounded by that fragrance, trapped in one embarrassing situation after another. Her cheeks began to burn.
She felt incredibly restless, but looking at the sea of passengers behind them, she knew there was no escape. She just had to endure this agonizing proximity.
Suddenly, the driver slammed on the brakes. A chorus of gasps erupted as the passengers were thrown forward by the momentum. Shen Ruoshuang, already standing close, was forced to lean right into Yinian.
A fragrant breeze swept over her face just before a knee bumped against her leg. Even through the layers of fabric, the contact sent a jolt of panic through Xu Yinian.
Then came the killing blow. Her arm sank into a strange, warm softness. The pressure of the impact made the curves feel even more supple and full.
The very instant Xu Yinian realized exactly where that sensation was coming from, she recoiled toward Jiang Ke as if struck by lightning. Her cheeks and the tips of her ears flushed a violent, uncontrollable red.
I touched something I shouldn’t have.
Even though she didn’t dare look at Shen Ruoshuang’s reaction, her mind was flooded with the memory of what she had seen under that camisole back in the dorm.
Beside her, Shen Ruoshuang straightened up. She looked down at her clothes, noting the wrinkles left behind from the collision.
While Xu Yinian was hiding away with a crimson face, what Shen Ruoshuang felt was a secret, hidden pleasure. She maintained her usual cold, disciplined expression, but as she meticulously smoothed out her clothes, she slowly savored the lingering sensation of that overwhelming moment.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ke asked, both pleasantly surprised and confused by her cousin suddenly throwing herself into her arms.
Though Yinian’s face was buried in Jiang Ke’s shoulder, the younger girl could still see the tips of her ears, which were red enough to bleed.
Jiang Ke looked up and saw the habitually cold and aloof Shen Ruoshuang looking down. Her gaze was fixed directly on the soft, trembling girl hiding on Jiang Ke’s shoulder. Within those eyes was a suppressed, tangled emotion—a look of someone who had finally fallen into the mortal world.
Did Shen Ruoshuang just bully my sister right in front of me?! That was Jiang Ke’s first thought.
She gritted her teeth and whispered into Yinian’s ear, “Did Shen Ruoshuang do something to you?”
Xu Yinian knew her reaction had been too explosive and that Jiang Ke had noticed, but she never imagined her cousin would jump to the exact opposite conclusion. If anyone had been “bullied” in that situation, it was Shen Ruoshuang. After all, she was the one who had been touched.
“No… it’s nothing. I just slipped when he hit the brakes,” Yinian mumbled, pulling away awkwardly. She took a deep breath, trying to brush it off with a lame excuse.
Jiang Ke didn’t believe her for a second, but she knew that if Xu Yinian didn’t want to talk, she couldn’t pry a word out of her. She gave up for now, but for the rest of the ride, she kept Yinian shielded within her arm, eyeing Shen Ruoshuang warily.
The atmosphere between the three of them lapsed into a strange, awkward tension.
When the bus finally reached the stop, half the passengers poured out. Xu Yinian and Jiang Ke waited until Shen Ruoshuang had stepped off and walked away before they finally disembarked.
Watching that tall, radiant figure disappear into the distance, Yinian felt as though she had finally escaped the lingering scent of winter plum. She could finally breathe.
“What really happened back there?” Jiang Ke asked again the moment Shen Ruoshuang was out of earshot.
“Nothing… there’s nothing between me and Shen Ruoshuang.”
Xu Yinian bit her lip. She had already decided to erase that mortifying memory, just like all her other past embarrassments.
Despite her resolve, she couldn’t stop herself from stealing a glance at Shen Ruoshuang’s retreating back. She saw the other girl entering the gymnasium.
Entering the gym doesn’t mean anything… I heard aerobics and a few other classes are held in the indoor gym too, Yinian reassured herself.
She followed her cousin inside, but Shen Ruoshuang was already nowhere to be seen.
Pushing the matter aside, Xu Yinian checked her schedule. The Yoga Room was in Section B, Room 102.
“Wait, where’s Section B, Room 103?” Jiang Ke’s voice chimed in.
“Huh? Isn’t it 102?” Xu Yinian paused, re-checking her schedule to make sure she hadn’t misread it.
The two of them realized something was wrong. After comparing their schedules, they found that the Yoga Class had been split into different sections based on their majors. Xu Yinian was in Section 1, while Jiang Ke was in Section 2.
Jiang Ke’s face went dark, looking like she was about to cry from the sheer injustice of it.
“Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I’ll definitely take you with me to do crafts tonight, okay?” Xu Yinian quickly tried to soothe her, feeling guilty since she had technically misled her.
