Chapter 55

Ren Yue looked up at the sound of her voice. Seeing that it was her, she smiled. “Su Su.”

Su Mi stopped beside her and asked, “Do you live in this building too? What floor?”

The answer was the seventh floor. Su Mi and Xu Nanqiao lived on the sixth.

Su Mi asked, “What are you doing sitting here?”

Ren Yue said softly and gently, “Waiting for a friend to come down so we can go out and have some fun.”

Su Mi let out an “oh” and, seeing her sitting there alone looking bored, chatted with her for a few sentences.

The elevator dinged. Before the doors even opened, a burst of giggling girls’ voices could be heard first.

Three stylishly dressed girls stepped out, all wearing pretty Omega collars that overflowed with fragrance.

After passing through the access control, they spotted the two of them standing there and smiled as they greeted Ren Yue. “Little Yue.”

“Is this your friend?”

The group sized up Su Mi. Ren Yue introduced her to them. “She’s a high school classmate of mine from Lolan, Su Mi.”

“Huh, Su Mi? That name sounds so familiar,” one of the girls said. “Are you from the Su family of Su Yang Technology?”

That was Su Ciyu’s company. Su Mi nodded, her attitude very friendly toward the girls. “Yes, hello.”

Another girl nudged the one next to her and whispered something.

Suddenly, they became very enthusiastic, introducing themselves one after another. Like Ren Yue, they all seemed to be from the business school.

After chatting a bit, the girls were all very outgoing and quick to warm up to people. Even though Su Mi’s responses were fairly simple, they kept the conversation going smoothly.

One of the girls invited her. “Want to come along? We’re going shopping nearby this afternoon. Mainly, tonight we’re heading to a pet-friendly bar. Interested?”

Su Mi scratched her cheek. “I have plans later. I’m going to check out the campus fair.”

“The campus fair?” The girls looked a bit surprised. One laughed. “You like joining these school events? There’s a dance coming up in a few days. You going?”

Now it was Su Mi’s turn to be surprised. “A dance?”

Capital City University had something like that? She hadn’t seen any posts about it on the school forum.

Ren Yue smiled and explained, “It’s new this year. Check the end of the freshman handbook. It’s one of the small changes after Shen Group’s investment.”

She explained it so familiarly that Su Mi pulled up the handbook on her light brain as instructed and saw that it was true.

That sounded pretty fun.

Su Mi made a mental note of it. Since Ren Yue said it was a small change brought by the Shen Group, it was probably Shen Han’s idea.

It could even be added as a favorability boost node.

One girl grinned and asked affectionately, “Su Mi, you going? We can go together then.”

Su Mi said uncertainly, “I should… probably go.”

The group promptly added her contact info one by one, agreeing to meet at the dance, then left chattering and laughing. It was clear Ren Yue was the center of attention among them.

Su Mi vaguely overheard someone say, “She doesn’t know?”

“That’s why I said we still need to…”

“Her neck…”

Su Mi didn’t quite get what they were talking about. Seeing them head off campus, she thought to herself that Ren Yue had such a great personality—plenty of people would want to be her friend.

Whatever. She shrugged and turned to head to the conference center.

More precisely, she called up the system and had it guide her.

The system, pleased with Su Mi’s excellent task progress, was almost fawning over her as it led the way familiarly, all the way into the standalone conference center.

As soon as she entered through the glass doors, a cool breeze hit her face. Su Mi looked around. The lobby was spacious; the meeting rooms were probably upstairs or down some hallway.

Before she could find the way, a staff member from the front desk approached.

With a very polite attitude, she bowed slightly and said, “Classmate, this area isn’t open for freshmen to visit. Are you looking for the registration desk?”

Su Mi smiled politely at the young lady and explained, “No, my sister is in a meeting inside. I’m here to wait for her.”

She gave Shen Han’s name.

The front desk girl was taken aback, then tried to guide her to the sofa and get her some water.

Su Mi quickly waved her hands. “No need, no need. Don’t trouble yourself with work. I’ll just wait over here.”

Following the front desk girl’s directions, she found the meeting room location.

On the second floor, there was an impressive large door on the left, from which faint voices like speeches could be heard.

That had to be it.

Su Mi didn’t peek. She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, stowed her umbrella, and watched the pedestrians on the avenue outside.

She had already spent a dozen minutes downstairs at the dorm, so she didn’t wait long before the meeting ended.

The voices inside grew noisier. Soon, the meeting room doors opened.

Su Mi spotted Shen Han in the crowd at a glance. Among all these elite professionals, she still stood out like a crane among chickens.

Shen Han wore a impeccably tailored white suit. Her hair seemed a bit shorter than before, framing her porcelain-cold face with a calm, relaxed expression. She turned her head slightly, saying something to Secretary Zhuang in his black suit behind her.

Su Mi thought idly that Shen Han usually tied her hair up for work, but today it was down, and it looked pretty good.

Amid the ink-black strands, a pair of ice-blue gem earrings peeked out, swaying gently with her movements, echoing the woman’s pale blue eyes that seemed devoid of any emotion.

But the next second, Shen Han looked up and precisely spotted Su Mi standing by the window.

Her pale lips curved up, revealing a faint smile.

Before she could come over, more well-dressed people surrounded her, seemingly wanting to talk.

Shen Han raised her hand slightly, her smile fading a touch as she lifted her chin toward Su Mi.

“Sorry, my little sister is here to pick me up.”

The people around all looked toward Su Mi, some even seeming about to walk over.

But Shen Han stopped them with just a few words.

She left Secretary Zhuang in place and, under everyone’s gaze, walked straight to Su Mi’s side.

She raised an eyebrow. “Let’s go. Campus fair?”

Su Mi blinked dazedly. “Okay.”

Following Shen Han downstairs, she couldn’t help glancing back at the meeting room entrance.

The group of suited professionals who hadn’t dispersed yet—quite a few were watching her and Shen Han.

It was… a bit embarrassing.

Su Mi bit her lip and sidled closer to Shen Han in small steps.

At the conference center entrance downstairs, Su Mi waved to the front desk girl.

At the same time, Shen Han naturally took the parasol from her hand.

Once outside the conference center, Shen Han opened the umbrella and looked back at her. “Shall we?”

Su Mi: “Mm-hmm.”

With the umbrella already open, Su Mi obediently ducked under it.

Shen Han’s fingers on the handle shifted slightly, tilting the canopy more toward Su Mi’s side for shade.

The two walked forward. Shen Han pointed her in a direction. “The campus fair is on the lawn next to the library. Not far—just a few steps.”

Su Mi said, “I saw it on the way here. Looks pretty lively.”

Shen Han hummed in acknowledgment. “Xu Nanqiao’s already there?”

Su Mi was glad that she brought up Xu Nanqiao on her own.

She grinned. “Yeah.”

Casually adding, “I heard there’s a dance in a few days? They said it’s Capital City University’s first freshman dance since the start of term. Sounds fun.”

At that, Shen Han’s expression turned a bit helpless. She rubbed the corner of her eye. “It is. Grandma said we need some of those ceremonial traditions.”

Su Mi asked curiously, “A Holy Cross Academy tradition?”

Shen Han said, “Seems like it. I’ve never been to one either.”

Wow, never been to one!

So it would be a first-time experience.

Su Mi asked bluntly, “Will you come this time, sis?”

Shen Han paused, not answering right away. She tilted her head to look at Su Mi, catching the anticipation on her face.

Her clear voice betrayed no emotion. “What’s up?”

The trailing tone lingered, like a suspense waiting for Su Mi to fill it.

Su Mi jumped right in without hesitation, eyes wide and pleading. “I think you’ll definitely come, sis.”

She pulled up the event details on her light brain and pointed. “It says it’s a masquerade. You can wear a mask—no one will recognize you.”

She followed expectantly beside Shen Han.

Shen Han didn’t keep her waiting long. She let out a soft chuckle, sounding in a great mood. “I can.”

Su Mi cheered.

She felt like this side character was working her butt off to set them up.

Muttering to herself, “Just don’t know what dances they’ll do. Nanqiao, uh, Nanqiao probably hasn’t learned any.”

Ah, got it.

Have Shen Han teach her?

The villain would surely be happy to—close-contact dance lessons to boost their bond.

Su Mi schemed happily, her steps lightening with excitement.

She had been worrying earlier. With Xu Nanqiao starting school, per the original plot, she would gradually break free from Shen Han’s control and start dating the male lead.

But thanks to her efforts over the past few months, Xu Nanqiao wasn’t as resistant to the “part-time job” Shen Han offered. Even after starting school, she should still go over to reduce the villain’s blackening value.

Still, that level of contact wasn’t enough. They needed more special opportunities to build favorability.

Dancing together at the ball would be super romantic—like a fairy tale.

Su Mi was thrilled and bounced a couple times under the not-so-wide umbrella canopy, bumping Shen Han’s arm each time.

Realizing it, she instinctively stepped outward.

Then, from the corner of her eye, Shen Han’s arm moved back.

A slender hand circled behind Su Mi, loosely draping over her shoulder. The palm rested lightly on her shoulder blade, perfectly fitting the bare skin exposed by her dress’s off-shoulder design.

The cool touch settled over her. The half-embrace wasn’t forceful, but it startled Su Mi badly.

Su Mi: …?!

She nearly reflexively bounced out into the sunlight.

They were walking just fine—why suddenly hug her!

Dazed, she looked up. Shen Han was lowering her gaze to look at her too.

In her view, those ice-blue eyes peered at Su Mi from beneath long, fluttering lashes. Her voice was calm. “Aren’t you afraid of getting sunburned? Walk properly.”

Su Mi smiled awkwardly and obediently let Shen Han hold her. “…Oh, okay.”

So that’s it. The villain was so thoughtful.

Girls sharing an umbrella often held each other like this—especially with such a small one.

Totally normal.

…Right?

Sisters did this too, didn’t they?

Last time after Shen Han’s birthday, on the way back from South Garden, Su Mi had even searched it up specially.

“Do sisters hug?”

The answer was yes, especially when emotional comfort was needed.

That’s why Su Mi had sighed in relief back then.

Now, that breath was stuck again.

Su Mi brainwashed herself that other girls did this too.

Even so, after being guided forward by the shoulder for a few steps, Su Mi still felt her hairs standing on end.

It just felt awkward. This posture almost felt like Shen Han was loosely enveloping her.

The cool sensation on her shoulder was vivid, the jade-smooth palm shifting slightly with each step.

Each shift felt like an electric current—such a weird sensation.

Su Mi swallowed. Her heart fluttered, her nose filled with Shen Han’s unique cool, faint fragrance.

Shen Han’s presence was refreshingly cool, so the hold wasn’t hot—it was just… heart-pounding.

Like… they were super intimate.

But they shouldn’t act that intimate. She and Shen Han were just a somewhat superficial boss-subordinate duo. Shen Han was purely being kind, but if she accepted it so casually, it would be… blaspheming the villain!

Su Mi’s mind wandered hazily. Seizing on an idea, she tried to stealthily shift outward.

Before she moved ten centimeters, the hand on her shoulder didn’t even use force—it just casually pulled inward, pressing her back.

Su Mi: …QAQ.

She didn’t dare move.

They walked all the way to the campus fair stalls.

Su Mi’s sharp eyes spotted the eye-catching ice cream sign—like spotting a savior.

She hurriedly said, “Sis, I’ll go check on Nanqiao first!”

With that, like a puppy off its leash, she ducked low and slipped out from under the umbrella, darting to the ice cream stall.

Shen Han chuckled softly. Her gaze accurately caught the girl’s clearly flushed ear tips as she fled the umbrella.

She said nothing, sauntering after her unhurriedly.