The next morning, Shen An was roused from sleep as usual by Song Rui. He dragged himself to the classroom, his eyes barely open.
“Morning!”
Spotting Shen An, Song Rui immediately bounced to her feet with boundless energy to greet him.
“Morning…” Shen An nodded listlessly. Then he walked over to Wang Yuqiong’s side. “Mind scooting over a bit?”
Wang Yuqiong shifted aside irritably, letting him squeeze in between them.
“Here, the glutinous rice chicken you wanted.”
Song Rui handed the still-warm glutinous rice chicken to Shen An. Once he unwrapped it, she thoughtfully stuck a straw into the soy milk and set it by his side.
“How is it? Good?” Song Rui watched him eagerly, as if she’d made it herself.
“Mm, pretty good.”
“That’s a relief. I thought the portion was a little small. Next time, should I get you two?”
Wang Yuqiong, perched on the outermost seat, couldn’t take it anymore.
She drawled sarcastically, “Oh-ho, acting like a young master now, are we?”
“I’m just saying, Song Rui—don’t go playing maidservant, fussing over him morning, noon, and night.”
Song Rui smiled softly. “It’s no trouble. Shen An’s helped me out a ton… I… I don’t really have much to repay him with, so I just do little things like this.”
Wang Yuqiong slapped a hand to her forehead in exasperation. “Fine, you two are a perfect pair—one willing to hit and the other willing to take it.”
“I’ll just step out for some fresh air, the odd one out that I am. Won’t interrupt your sweet little breakfast.”
“Hey, Yuqiong…” Song Rui flushed with embarrassment. “You’ve helped me plenty too… It’s just… we’re dormmates.”
Wang Yuqiong huffed. “With an attitude like yours, you’ll be bullied half to death in the Office.”
“I’ve heard the work there is no joke.”
Song Rui had filled her in on the details when she got back to the dorm last night.
“A bit more work isn’t so bad.”
Song Rui seemed perfectly at ease. “I joined up wanting to challenge myself. If it were dead idle all day, it’d get boring fast.”
Wang Yuqiong’s mouth twitched. “You’ll be a boss’s dream employee when you start working for real.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Absolutely. Bosses love the selflessly devoted type who never asks for anything in return.”
Song Rui blinked, catching the good-natured jab in Wang Yuqiong’s words.
She chuckled lightly. “That’s a long way off still.”
“Can’t watch this.” Seeing Shen An chow down so contentedly only fueled Wang Yuqiong’s irritation.
“You stuff your face without a care in the world. Ever think how much trouble you’re putting her through?”
Shen An swallowed his bite of glutinous rice chicken and turned to fix Wang Yuqiong with a steady gaze. “Class hasn’t started yet. Let me finish my breakfast in peace first.”
The implication was clear: butt out.
“I… You…”
Wang Yuqiong’s annoyance ignited into full-blown fury.
She shot to her feet and snatched the glutinous rice chicken right out of Shen An’s hand.
“Hah! I’ll toss it right now—you won’t get another bite!”
“Hey! Put down my breakfast!”
Shen An gave chase.
Song Rui covered her mouth, giggling softly. The rest of the class barely reacted.
This routine had played out countless times over the past two weeks.
Shen An and Wang Yuqiong’s antics had become the class’s favorite standing entertainment.
Wang Yuqiong weaved around desks and chairs, with Shen An hot on her heels—but he held back, not daring to grab too hard lest the glutinous rice chicken go flying.
In the midst of the chaos, Shen An barreled toward the door and collided head-on with Shen Lianyao, who was walking in.
Shen Lianyao let out an instinctive yelp, nearly losing her footing.
Luckily, Shen An’s reflexes were sharp. He grabbed her hand at once and steadied her.
Seeing this, Wang Yuqiong halted the horseplay and hurried over. “Lianyao? You alright?”
Shen An released her hand. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to bump into you.”
Shen Lianyao glanced silently at the pair, her tone flat. “It’s fine.”
She added, “If you’re going to roughhouse, the sports field would be better. Plenty of room there.”
With that, she sidestepped them and took a seat.
Tsk~
Shen An shot Wang Yuqiong a sly, winking grin. She rolled her eyes in return.
The two slipped out of the classroom and leaned against the corridor railing.
“Here. Yours.”
Wang Yuqiong, satisfied with her fun, lobbed the glutinous rice chicken back to Shen An.
“Damn.”
Shen An snatched it out of the air. “Can’t you just hand it over nicely? Nearly dropped.”
“Politeness and you? Don’t exist in the same universe.”
Wang Yuqiong tossed her long hair, her voice tinged with dry mockery.
“Fine, fine. Wanna head to the sports field and settle this properly?” Shen An took a huge bite of what was left, standing casually beside Wang Yuqiong.
Wang Yuqiong snorted, her eyes flicking toward Shen Lianyao in the classroom.
“She ended up in your department. You knew?”
“Yeah? Explains why she looks a little sour today.”
Shen An put on an exaggerated look of surprise.
“Yep. Out of the four of us, you’re the only one who got what you wanted.”
Wang Yuqiong sighed. “Song Rui aimed for Singing Group—Office instead. I wanted Office—Drama Group. And she’s the real raw deal: total Dance Group material, stuck in Office too.”
“You’re off there. I wasn’t gunning for Office.”
Shen An shrugged. “Didn’t have my heart set on any one group at first. Just wanted into the Art Troupe.”
“Still making excuses.”
Wang Yuqiong gave his shoulder a light pat. “Weren’t you after Zhao Qingyu’s soft rice?”
“Now you’re inventing things out of thin air.” Shen An brushed her hand away. “Defamation. Pure defamation.”
“Tch. Call it defamation or excuses—the results are in.”
Wang Yuqiong had tossed and turned all night, still drawing a blank.
Drama Group…
Performances…
She knew zilch about any of it.
She’d braced for Zhao Qingyu to target her on purpose, but Drama Group? That she hadn’t seen coming.
“Don’t look so glum.” Shen An polished off the last of his glutinous rice chicken.
He nudged her shoulder and spoke gently. “Word is, Senior Sister Pei is pretty easy to get along with.”
“With your people skills, you’ll be a star in Drama Group in no time. What’s to worry?”
Wang Yuqiong shot him a sidelong glance. “You think I’m stressing about fitting in?”
“Er, fair point.”
Shen An shrugged again. “First time for everything, though. Like you said, results are final—Senior Sister Zhao won’t pull strings to change it.”
“You’ll just have to suck it up and dive in.”
Wang Yuqiong rolled her eyes harder than ever.
As if she didn’t know all that!!!
She kicked Shen An squarely in the shin and huffed. “I called you over to comfort me, not lecture!”
“Was I? Thought you just needed to vent.”
Shen An burst out laughing, turning to lean back against the railing. “Rare sight—you, all hesitant and worked up.”
“No helping it. I don’t have your thick skin.”
“?” Shen An arched a brow. “Itching for round two?”
“Just facts!”
Wang Yuqiong said coolly, “Wanna trade? You do Drama Group, I take Office?”
“No skin off my nose—if you can talk Senior Sister Zhao into it.”
“You were all gung-ho to avenge me last night. Here’s your shot.”
“Last night was last night.”
“Pfft, coward!” Wang Yuqiong’s temper flared anew; she kicked him again.
“Alright, alright.”
Shen An slung an arm around her shoulder as if it were the most natural thing. “Once I make deputy troupe leader, I’ll get you transferred back pronto. Deal?”
“Forget it—better odds of me becoming Student Union President.”
“You’ve got a real way of killing the mood.”
Shen An pinched her lips shut, eyes narrowing playfully. “You’d be perfect if you were mute.”
Wang Yuqiong narrowed her eyes right back. “Ditto.”
“And hands to yourself!”
She swatted his hand away with force.
“Anyway, different departments now. You… look after yourself.”
Leaning on the railing, she tried to play off her concern for Shen An.
“I should be saying that.” Shen An ruffled her hair. “Come on, bell’s about to ring.”
He headed back into the classroom. Wang Yuqiong stared at his retreating back, muttering curses under her breath.
Then she touched her sleeve.
Hm?
Why’s it greasy…
Her eyes landed on the lotus leaf he’d chucked in the trash. Her pretty face flushed crimson with mortified fury.
The jerk hadn’t even washed his hands!!!
“Shen An!”
Her roar blended with the class bell as lessons began.
