Because of the alternating weekly schedule, there weren’t many classes today.
Only the first two periods in the morning, leaving the rest of the day free.
Wang Yuqiong packed up her books and shot Shen An a sidelong glance. He was still looking utterly listless.
“Class is over,” she said softly.
“Mm… yeah, class is over.” Shen An mumbled in agreement.
“This isn’t like you at all. Normally after class, you’re bouncing off the walls.”
“No helping it—I stayed up late last night.” Shen An shook his head, trying to shake off the drowsiness.
“Stayed up late?” Wang Yuqiong asked. “Was it something with the Art Troupe?”
“Nah, it was you two.”
Shen An glanced left and right. “I was up all night fighting off sleep, waiting for the results with you guys.”
“Ah?” Song Rui covered her mouth. “Really? Then… sorry for dragging you into it.”
Wang Yuqiong chuckled. “Give me a break. He doesn’t usually crash this early anyway. He was probably sneaking off to do something else.”
“After all, there’s no curfew in the North District. You could stroll back at five in the morning and the doors wouldn’t even be locked, right?”
“Wang Yuqiong, you’ve got making stuff up out of thin air down to an art.”
“Thanks for the compliment.” Wang Yuqiong inclined her head slightly, then added, “So, wanna head out and take a walk off campus?”
“Head out…” Shen An narrowed his eyes. “You mean outside school?”
“Yeah.”
Wang Yuqiong stood, her voice gentle. “I wanna go buy a few things.”
“You just want me to carry your stuff, don’t you?”
The corner of Shen An’s mouth quirked up. “I’m not interested in playing pack mule.”
Wang Yuqiong crossed her arms. “I seem to remember you raving about the seafood at the Azure Sea Grand Hotel.”
Ah, damn…
Shen An perked right up and jumped to his feet. “In that case, let me show you what it’s all about.”
Hmph, can’t handle a glutton like you?
Wang Yuqiong felt a quiet surge of smugness.
She was starting to get a read on Shen An’s personality. This guy needed the right incentive to get moving.
It wasn’t that he was cheap or petty.
It came from that subtle “pride” of his.
This wasn’t just friends hanging out anymore. It was the delicate dance between a guy and a girl slipping into that ambiguous phase.
Wang Yuqiong refused to play the passive role. She always wanted to hold the reins.
Shen An was no different.
That was why she tried to boss him around—to claim the “upper hand” before things got official.
Shen An, meanwhile, wasn’t about to hand it over easily. He always framed it as a “fair trade.”
She dangled the bait, he provided the muscle. No debts on either side.
“Song Rui, mind grabbing my books for me?”
Wang Yuqiong turned her gaze to Song Rui.
“Uh…”
“Something come up? I can always ask Li Li to take them if you do.”
Wang Yuqiong was the picture of consideration.
“Nope…” Song Rui stood and took the books. “You two have fun, okay?”
“Thanks~” Wang Yuqiong let out a quiet breath of relief.
The last thing she wanted was Song Rui tagging along, so she’d nipped that possibility in the bud before Shen An could even ask.
Shen An gave her a knowing look, reading her intentions perfectly.
“What’re you staring at!”
Wang Yuqiong’s pretty face flushed. She turned away bashfully. “Gotta hit the bathroom first. Wait here.”
“Tsk, now you’re gonna have to do me a favor too.”
Shen An handed his books to Song Rui as well.
“Mm.”
Song Rui nodded slightly. But once Wang Yuqiong had stepped out of the classroom, she reached out and lightly tugged Shen An’s sleeve.
“Hm?”
Shen An blinked in surprise.
“Um…” Song Rui stammered, her expression full of hesitant reluctance.
“Looks like you’ve got a favor to ask too.” Shen An’s voice softened. “Just come out and say it.”
“It’s… um… course selection.”
Song Rui’s eyes darted evasively, her gaze flickering. She was the total opposite of Wang Yuqiong’s bold confidence—every “request” came with this bashful reluctance to impose.
But that approach wasn’t always less effective.
Some people had a soft spot for the vulnerable type, their sympathy kicking into overdrive.
Where Wang Yuqiong laid out an offer too good to refuse,
Song Rui tugged at the heartstrings, her softness making refusal feel heartless.
“Course selection? What’s up?”
Shen An was a sucker for both tactics.
“Have… have you decided what classes to take?”
“Uh… haven’t given it a thought.” Shen An scratched his head. “You know how slammed I’ve been. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d have forgotten all about course selection.”
“Oh… I heard senior sister say it’s more like a course rush. It’ll be tough to snag the ones you want.”
“So?” Shen An smiled lightly. “Spit it out already. Want me to help you pick?”
“No no no… that’s not it.”
Song Rui shook her head vigorously, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I meant… if you’re too busy, I could… grab them for you.”
“Ha?”
Shen An stared, caught off guard.
“Uh… do you prefer picking your own? Or… having someone do it?”
Her request hitting a snag, Song Rui shrank back. “Then… then never mind me. Ha~ Go on ahead. Yuqiong’s waiting.”
“No no, it’s just… weird.”
Shen An leaned in a bit, his gaze playful as he studied her.
“Weird? What’s… so weird about it…”
Song Rui met his eyes, and her heart began to race despite herself.
That was why she always let her gaze wander.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to look at him.
She just couldn’t handle it.
“Look at you, eyes darting everywhere again. Hold still.”
The classroom had emptied out by now. Everyone who was leaving had gone.
Shen An glanced down the long hallway outside. No sign of Wang Yuqiong yet.
Girls always took their time in the bathroom.
And he had just enough of it to spare.
He gently pinched her slightly chubby cheeks between his fingers. “Why do you have to be so bashful even when you’re offering to help?”
“If you wanna pick for me, I’d be thrilled.”
“Th-then…” Song Rui’s stuttering grew worse.
“Mm-hmm, appreciate it.” Spotting Wang Yuqiong in his peripheral vision, Shen An quietly released her. “I’ll text you my Academic Affairs System login in a bit.”
“Okay!”
Song Rui nodded eagerly. “Any classes you’re eyeing?”
“Eh, whatever works. Just grab the same ones you’re taking for me.”
Shen An said it offhandedly.
“Great!!”
The corners of Song Rui’s mouth curved up as quiet joy bubbled inside her.
This was her real aim.
Helping him pick classes was a way to win some goodwill.
And landing in the same classes? That meant way more chances to bump into him!
“All set?”
Wang Yuqiong shook out her damp hands and leaned against the doorframe, drawling leisurely.
“Yeah.”
Shen An turned. “Let’s go.”
Shoulder to shoulder, they left the teaching building, passed through the Central District, and headed for the school gates.
“Whew, it’s getting kinda hot today.”
Shen An held a hand to his forehead and tilted his head back. The sky stretched endlessly blue, without a single cloud.
As if even the white clouds had melted away under the scorching sun.
Wang Yuqiong’s long legs carried her along without a care. “Short sleeves and you’re already wilting? Not holding up so well.”
“Fair point—you’re still rocking jeans.”
Shen An’s gaze drifted to her legs, concealed beneath the blue denim, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. “Such a shame.”
His stare alone made her shrink back a little, feeling exposed.
And that “such a shame”…
She knew exactly what he regretted.
“Pervert.”
She muttered under her breath.
“Hey, I just wanna see some legs.”
Shen An sidled closer, teasing. “Trust me, swap those for a short skirt and your hotness level doubles easy.”
Wang Yuqiong rolled her eyes. “I’m not as shallow as you.”
“Tch~”
Shen An shrugged.
Right then, a girl passed by in exactly the kind of short skirt he’d mentioned.
Woo-hoo~
Ignoring Wang Yuqiong’s look of disgust, Shen An ogled those perfectly average legs.
Wang Yuqiong pressed a hand to her forehead, utterly speechless.
She knew he was just trying to rile her up. That girl didn’t hold a candle to her, no matter the angle.
She should brush it off.
But it still got under her skin a little. Such a ham-fisted provocation, and yet… The clash of logic and emotion weighed on her heart.
It signaled how much his opinions were starting to sway her.
Even off-the-cuff remarks like that.
Still, it wasn’t all for nothing.
At least she’d gotten one clear takeaway: the guy had a thing for legs.
And when it came to legs…
Hers were straight-up unbeatable.
Not bragging—her long legs were an absolute killer.
Even in the Art Troupe’s Model Group, she stood head and shoulders above the others.
Hmph.
Still looking!
Wang Yuqiong gritted her teeth inwardly. She was determined that next time, she would definitely make him see her in a new light—best if it left him staring in awe!
“Seen enough?”
She murmured.
“Yeah.”
Shen An withdrew his gaze. “Where do you want to go?”
“Heh, just follow me.”
Wang Yuqiong pursed her lips.
“You’re not even sure where to go yourself, are you?”
Uh…
Wang Yuqiong’s eyes flickered, a touch of guilt flashing across her face.
She really hadn’t decided on a destination.
“You’re so chatty.”
“Fine, I won’t ask.”
Suddenly, a comical ringtone blared out.
Wang Yuqiong sighed. “Can’t you change your phone ringtone?”
“Cough, let me check first.”
Shen An pulled out his phone and glanced at an incoming message.
Oh, wait—not a message, a notification.
Zhao Qingyu: “Come to the meeting room now. Emergency meeting. Don’t be late.”
Shen An: ?
He silently pocketed his phone and turned to Wang Yuqiong with a hint of apology in his eyes.
Wang Yuqiong’s heart sank. “What’s wrong?”
“I… uh…”
Shen An sighed. “Senior Sister notified me to attend a meeting. She said it’s an emergency one.”
“So, I’m afraid I can’t go with you.”
Wang Yuqiong frowned. “Right now?”
“Yeah, I need to head to the meeting room immediately.”
“It’s fine. Go take care of it.” Wang Yuqiong said mildly. “We can go next time.”
“Okay.”
Shen An hurriedly said goodbye to Wang Yuqiong, turned back toward the Central District, and made his way to the Art Troupe Meeting Room.
Wang Yuqiong turned as well, heading in the direction of the East District Dormitory.
Halfway there, after reining in her anger several times, she finally couldn’t hold back any longer and stomped her foot hard.
Damn Zhao Qingyu!!!
She had finally shooed away Song Rui, only for Zhao Qingyu to ruin everything.
That damn stinky woman…
Just you wait, this miss!
Wang Yuqiong took a deep breath, channeling her fury into simmering resentment and burying it deep in her heart.
