Su Mi’s mind went almost blank.
Shen Han asked very softly, as if it was just a casual question without any coercive intent.
But her gaze was very focused.
Focused almost to the point that…
Su Mi paused, searching for words in her heart.
Almost like a believer. As if her eyes could hold only Su Mi’s figure, and Su Mi alone was the sole deity worshiped by this devout follower.
In her line of sight stood Shen Han, very close, shorter than her by a head, pressed against her. Her pale, beautiful face and eyes belonged only to Su Mi. Though she was supporting her, she seemed like a loyal pet clinging to her, waiting for a response.
Su Mi’s thoughts stalled. Suddenly, a strange tingling surged through her internal organs—very peculiar, like goosebumps rising or her heart trembling in her chest.
The drumming in her heart quickened under that gaze, and she unconsciously lowered her head a little.
Her tied-up braid fell onto Shen Han’s face. Fine, slightly curly strands brushed over Shen Han’s eyelids and nose bridge, all the way to her lips.
Then, the end of the braid was gently caught by Shen Han’s lips.
She didn’t take it into her mouth but held it politely with the outer side of her lips, tugging it lightly toward herself.
Following that faint pull, Su Mi’s head dipped unconsciously lower. Her gaze remained locked with Shen Han’s.
The distance drew slowly closer until the suddenly sobered girl halted it.
Su Mi jerked her body upright. The hair tip was naturally pulled back, swaying beside her face.
Shen Han’s gaze followed the swaying strand, revealing a hint of regret.
Su Mi swallowed. Her heart pounded like a drum.
She still felt a bit dizzy—as if she’d nearly been seduced into something improper.
She stopped and closed her eyes. She placed her hands on Shen Han’s shoulders to steady herself, pressing down quietly—like gripping tightly or trying to defend.
She coughed lightly in discomfort, her gaze drifting. Suddenly, she picked up Shen Han’s earlier question and tried to fabricate an answer from an objective, uninvolved perspective.
“I think… no need to worry,” Su Mi’s voice drifted too, very low. “Such claims have no reliable basis. As the saying goes… sincerity moves the spirits. It shouldn’t have any effect.”
Shen Han’s pale lips curved upward. She didn’t respond but said instead, “Your heartbeat is fast.”
Su Mi: “…”
She braced her mushy brain. “I’m afraid of heights.”
Shen Han obediently lowered the height at which she held her—but showed no intention of putting her down.
Shen Han asked calmly, “Is this okay? By the way, the scent at your hair tips is nice. Did you spray perfume specially?”
Su Mi had been forced by her parents to retake some ABO social classes just last Saturday.
She pursed her lips and paused.
Her face slowly turned red.
In this ABO society where pheromones reigned supreme, pheromones—in other words, scents—were deeply private for everyone.
Alphas and Omegas with natural pheromone scents usually masked them with specialized perfumes.
Thus, many prideful Betas—especially in upper circles—sought out pleasant perfume scents to enhance themselves.
It was very flirtatious to compliment someone’s scent.
Su Mi almost felt like Shen Han was flirting. Her eyes widened slightly, her cheeks burned, and an itch spread from her heart to her fingertips.
After a stunned moment, her pink cheeks puffed out a little. Her fingers pressed seriously against Shen Han’s face, pushing her back.
The girl’s soft finger pads glided over Shen Han’s cheek—not hard, more like a small animal’s paw pads.
Shen Han chuckled lightly and cooperated fully by tilting her head back.
“Even if I’m a Beta, asking that is hooligan behavior,” Su Mi said muffled. “I want to get down… my legs are going soft.”
One more second, and she would explode right there.
Shen Han wasn’t annoyed at all. She let out a soft “Hm?” from her nose and asked, “Legs soft from being nervous?”
Su Mi emphasized, “Afraid of heights!”
Even though she hadn’t shown a trace of it earlier while hanging the petal notecard.
Shen Han didn’t call her out. She simply looked at Su Mi with a pleased, lighthearted expression before setting her down.
With her feet finally back on the ground, Su Mi’s heart still pounded nonstop. She staggered a little and realized her legs really were soft. Her hand slid down Shen Han’s shoulder to her arm.
Fortunately, they were in a corner where no one paid attention.
Su Mi took a moment to calm down. When she lifted her eyes, she found Shen Han looking at her.
She hesitated, thinking Shen Han still wanted an answer to the previous question. After a pause, she said, “Anyway… whether it’s effective or not, ask the gods. Asking me won’t help.”
“That question’s already settled,” Shen Han said, lips curving. “Thank you.”
Su Mi: “…?”
She looked at Shen Han in confusion.
A riddler?
Had her rambling nonsense actually fooled Shen Han?
Su Mi couldn’t figure it out. She pondered briefly and gave up thinking.
Shen Han gave Su Mi space to catch her breath before saying, “Next activity? How about the quiz one over there?”
She naturally drew in her arm, letting Su Mi hold it as they walked to the next activity spot.
Su Mi glanced over. Sure enough, aside from the gallery staff, no one was at the quiz area.
Upon closer inspection, she learned that Li Zhao and Yu Ranran—for whatever reason—had set ten questions, all math problems. The only couple-themed element was that their right hands had to be tied together.
No wonder the other couples took one look and left.
But they had run into Su Mi—perfect timing. A high school graduate of less than two months, her unified exam knowledge was still fresh in her mind, at the peak of her lifetime brain capacity.
Su Mi’s eyes lit up. She figured this activity would be a breeze.
Her previously disordered mindset instantly recomposed itself. Full of confidence.
She even proactively pulled Shen Han to sit down and handed the point card to the staff. The staff took a red string and began binding their right wrists.
Shen Han let her do it, sitting naturally on the right. Her slender, pale arm rested on the table while her other hand propped her cheek, watching Su Mi write.
Their wrists touched, but the string wasn’t tied too tightly. Shen Han considerately minimized her hand’s presence, keeping her wrist half-suspended most of the time.
This led Su Mi—before picking up the pen—to subconsciously linger her gaze there a few extra moments.
She couldn’t help sighing inwardly. As expected of an Alpha—such strong physique. She wondered…
She cut the thought off. Su Mi shook her head and quickly entered her focused study mode.
She had no idea where Li Zhao had gotten the questions. The first half were normal, but midway through, the difficulty ramped up. Su Mi could solve a few from memory, but she hit an unfamiliar knowledge point and got stuck.
She subconsciously turned to Shen Han for help.
The moment she turned, she froze in place.
Unbeknownst to her, Shen Han had scooted right up beside her. Her chin pressed close to Su Mi’s shoulder as she furrowed her brows and studied the questions on the desk intently.
This turn nearly bumped Shen Han’s nose tip.
She didn’t jolt away and fall off the chair only because she’d been held by Shen Han for so long—a bit desensitized.
But this was too close! Su Mi held her breath and froze.
Shen Han finished reading casually. “This knowledge point you might not have learned yet.”
She looked up at the staff. “Did your boss make these questions?”
The staff grinned. “Yep.”
Shen Han turned her gaze. Beneath her slightly long lashes, her ice-blue eyes shifted downward in a smooth arc toward the dazed Su Mi.
“…” Shen Han licked her canine tooth and lowered her eyes. “The key to this question is here. Look…”
She pretended nothing was amiss and explained the problem to Su Mi.
It wasn’t hard—just one theorem Su Mi hadn’t learned. Shen Han simply outlined the theorem’s key points and the solving strategy, ready to let Su Mi enjoy solving it.
But when Shen Han looked up afterward, she found Su Mi still staring at her.
Shen Han: “…”
She let out a soft chuckle.
She really wanted to say something.
But she’d already overstepped a little earlier. They had a restaurant reservation later—if she teased the girl too much now, the outing might not end smoothly.
She cleared her throat and patiently snapped the dazed Su Mi out of it.
“Got it?”
To make sure, Shen Han brought her half-suspended wrist closer. It pressed against Su Mi’s pen-holding fingers. Through them, it was like she held Su Mi’s hand and the pen, lightly tapping the question.
“From this formula, derive this…”
The cool, soft touch made Su Mi’s cheeks burn even hotter.
This was weird… What the hell…
Normally at school, Xu Nanqiao tutored her homework up close too—huddled together over problems was common.
Shen Han’s body wasn’t pressed against hers, just very close. Her cool, scented breath brushed Su Mi’s ear, and their fingers fit together…
It was like every spot asserted her presence.
Even her nape itched. Was it Shen Han’s hair draped there too?
Su Mi felt like she couldn’t think straight.
So when Shen Han asked again, “Got it?”, Su Mi shook her head honestly.
Shen Han: “…Then should I do it?”
Su Mi obediently went, “Mm.”
As Shen Han reached for the question booklet, Su Mi quietly defended herself. “Or stay farther away and explain. I’m not used to people this close. When you’re this near, I can’t think straight…”
Shen Han’s movement halted abruptly.
She paused, released the paper, and gently pressed her brow.
She exhaled slowly.
Shen Han sounded a bit helpless. “Do you know what you’re saying?”
Su Mi blinked in confusion. “What?”
Shen Han pursed her lips, for once feeling that urge to speak but hold back. She didn’t even dare admit how this thrilled her.
How could she explain? She could fully interpret it as Su Mi being very affected by her closeness.
Just like her earlier realization: Su Mi got nervous and her legs went soft when held and gazed at by her—but she didn’t feel disgusted or want to flee.
Though Su Mi herself hadn’t realized it, every emotion and reaction screamed that she had feelings for Shen Han too.
Did she? Or was it a misread?
