After dropping Chen Nannan off at her apartment in Building C, Shen An headed straight back to find Xu Yijing.
Along the way, at her urging, he joined the Class 1 group chat. From then on, his phone kept buzzing nonstop with notifications.
When he checked, there was a string of red dots from people requesting to add him as a friend. Chen Nannan had even snarkily remarked that he sure had a way with women.
He approved them one by one. Aside from chatting briefly with a few who greeted him first, he treated the rest as just padding his contacts list.
He figured most of those silent types wouldn’t reach out to him in the future anyway.
College was often like that. A class might have fifty or sixty people on paper, but you only really got close to a handful—the ones in your immediate circle.
If you weren’t in the same dorm, it was hard to bond, especially across genders.
Barring a few extreme social butterflies, most people were pretty low-key and quiet, sometimes even awkward in social situations.
Shen An had no intention of playing the full student role anyway. Fewer interactions suited him just fine.
Back at Apartment 1301, Xu Yijing was already sitting on the sofa, waiting for him.
She was still glued to some mindless soap opera, but what really caught Shen An’s eye was her exquisite outfit.
“Exquisite” wasn’t just about the clothes themselves.
A formal evening gown was obviously refined and elegant, sure.
But casual wear could be just as polished. The real judge was the whole package: makeup, clothing, even the little accessories.
The nuances were endless, way more intricate than picking parts for a PC build.
Luckily, you could tell at a glance whether someone had put in the effort—no deep analysis needed.
Her sky-blue floral dress draped elegantly, with a subtle V-neck that highlighted her silver necklace and the beauty mark nestled at her collarbone.
The hem skimmed her knees just right, baring a glimpse of her pale calves and a pair of delicate, eye-catching feet.
She’d swept her long hair up, tying it with a carefully arranged bow in a red ribbon that trailed down to drape over both sides of her nape, drawing the eye—and revealing a clever heart-shaped cutout at the back of the dress.
The opening was about the size of a couple of stacked coins, a flash of white peeking through the dominant blue like a drop of ink on paper, pulling every gaze straight to it.
A black ribbon bow cinched her waist.
And her makeup? Flawless. Xu Yijing could have been a beauty influencer—her looks and skills would’ve made her the queen of the niche overnight, outshining all those average faces.
It was clear she’d gone all out, prepared to the nines. The formality even gave Shen An the fleeting illusion that this wasn’t just dinner—it felt like a date.
Of course, it could also pass as simple courtesy, the kind of polished etiquette expected from a proper lady.
Even for a casual meal, she’d treat it seriously, never risking a hint of rudeness or giving anyone ammo to gossip.
Considering her mother Zhao Li’s status, this level of decorum made perfect sense.
Wealthier families always placed a premium on that sort of thing.
When Shen An walked in, Xu Yijing glanced over from the TV. “Meeting over?”
“Yeah, it’s done.”
“Heading out now?” Shen An asked.
She checked the wall clock. “No rush. You must be tired rushing back from the Central District. Take a breather first.”
Shen An nodded. “Alright, I’ll go change. Running around has me soaked in sweat.”
“Mm.”
Xu Yijing turned back to the TV.
“Oh, right—nice outfit, Senior Sister,” Shen An added on his way back, tossing the compliment her way.
“Thanks,” she replied without turning.
Tch~ Cool as ice, not even a smile.
Shen An shrugged and headed to his room.
About five minutes later, he emerged in fresh clothes.
“Why not wear the ones I got you? Didn’t they fit?” Xu Yijing asked, glancing sideways with mild curiosity.
“No, they fit great. Just didn’t want to ruin them.”
“Clothes are meant to be worn. Letting them sit in the closet is a waste.”
“Uh, next time. Changing again would be a hassle, and it’s about time to go, right?” Shen An said with a light laugh.
Xu Yijing patted the sofa beside her. “Sit for a bit. No hurry.”
“Sure.”
Since she was treating, Shen An was happy to go along with her pace.
He’d barely sat when he asked, “So, where’s Senior Sister taking me?”
“The South District? I hear they’ve got tons of great food there.”
“Not the South District. I’m taking you out somewhere nice,” Xu Yijing said with a faint smile. “First time calls for some sincerity.”
“What, you want to try the local spots after hearing the class talk them up?”
“No, just curious from the meeting chatter.”
“I’m a stranger here, so whatever Senior Sister says goes,” Shen An said softly.
“Alright.”
Xu Yijing gave a small nod, ending the exchange, then went back to her show without another word.
Shen An: …
Was it really that captivating?
He tried focusing on the soap opera himself.
But less than a minute in, he gave up.
It just made him more puzzled.
With Xu Yijing’s taste… she couldn’t actually enjoy this drivel, could she?
Well, to each their own. Shen An didn’t get it, but he wasn’t about to comment.
He pulled out his phone and quietly messaged Nannan.
Compared to Xu Yijing, Nannan was a total chatterbox.
He also touched base with those girls who’d messaged him first, just to keep the vibe going.
It wasn’t like he was chasing them—things were just too boring.
Sitting there twiddling thumbs had to be the most patience-draining wait ever.
After about an hour, Xu Yijing checked the clock and turned to him. “Rested up?”
Shen An’s mouth twitched. “Ready whenever.”
“Then let’s head out.”
Xu Yijing grabbed the remote and switched off the TV.
She stood, her skirt swaying and wafting her perfume through the air in gentle waves.
The scent was incredible—the best Shen An had ever smelled.
They left the apartment and headed downstairs.
Click-clack.
Her high heels struck the ground with crisp echoes. Shen An trailed behind Xu Yijing, finding it a bit over-the-top.
He’d figured she’d go with comfy flats…
Never imagined high heels.
With that rhythmic click-clack, her floral dress might as well have been formal wear. His casual getup suddenly felt mismatched.
Too bad—the only suit he’d brought was trashed in the dumpster, and his dress shirt was in ruins. No way was he wearing those again.
At the main entrance, Xu Yijing paused. “Hold on. Car’s almost here.”
Shen An stepped closer with a grin. “Senior Sister, you prepping for a date with me or what?”
It was probably the boldest thing he’d said to her yet.
The words slipped out, and facing her, he felt a twinge of pressure.
Say the same to Nannan, and it’d be playful teasing—maybe earn a shy smile and a pouty “Pah~”.
But Xu Yijing’s response was utterly flat. No flirtatious spark, no mood-lifter—just awkward silence.
She didn’t even reply.
Good thing Shen An was immune to embarrassment; his composure was rock-solid.
“Car’s here.”
That was her second sentence since coming downstairs.
Shen An vowed never to dine with her again. Pure torture.
In the car’s snug back seat, her perfume hung everywhere.
Shen An wanted none of it. Her iciness killed any chat vibe, so he cracked the window and stared outside.
The car rolled out slowly, exiting campus along a familiar route.
The farther it went, the more recognizable it became.
This path… wasn’t it the one he’d taken coming here?
Huh?
Curiosity bubbled in Shen An. Was Xu Yijing taking him to the Azure Sea Grand Hotel?
Sure, it was a hotel, but the first ten floors were all dining. The food quality was top-tier, a five-star “restaurant” through and through.
Plenty of sincerity there.
Soon, the car pulled up. They’d arrived.
The familiar entrance, the familiar sign…
Yup, Azure Sea Grand Hotel!
Shen An narrowed his eyes. He hoped no one recognized him, or the plan he’d hashed out with Zhao Li might unravel.
With his current persona, showing up here didn’t add up—he’d stayed three days, after all.
Xu Yijing glanced at him, mistaking his thoughtfulness for awe.
She drawled, “This is the best hotel in Eight Seas City. Naturally, the best restaurant too.”
“I hope you’re satisfied.”
“Satisfied? I couldn’t be more pleased,” Shen An said with a grin.
“Mm, let’s go.”
Following behind Xu Yijing, Shen An quietly observed his surroundings.
Along the way, from the front desk staff to the servers, everyone treated Xu Yijing with utmost respect. It was not the deference shown to ordinary guests.
Clearly, Xu Yijing’s identity was no secret. The entire hotel knew she was Zhao Li’s daughter.
“Miss Xu.”
They reached the seafood section on the third floor, where the manager glanced curiously at Shen An trailing behind Xu Yijing. He then asked, “The usual spot?”
“Mm.”
Xu Yijing nodded.
Shen An felt a bit uneasy. He didn’t recognize this manager and was fairly sure they’d never met before.
But the flicker of surprise in the manager’s eyes made him wonder if he’d been recognized.
During his three days at the hotel, the place he had frequented most was the third-floor seafood section.
“You can eat seafood, right?” Xu Yijing asked.
“Yes, I love seafood.”
“Good. Their seafood feast is the most famous dish here.”
Under the manager’s guidance, the two soon arrived at the private room.
But once the door closed behind them, Xu Yijing’s actions caught Shen An off guard.
She picked up the menu and circled behind him. Then she bent down and placed a small hand on his shoulder. “You order. Get whatever you like.”
A faint, elegant perfume wafted close to Shen An. The warmth of her small hand pressed against him, while her slender fingers swayed tantalizingly before his eyes.
Yet it stirred no romantic feelings in Shen An. Instead, it set him on high alert. He grew extremely wary.
This was too abnormal.
He kept up a calm facade, coolly studying the menu as if it were his first time there.
He said nothing about Xu Yijing’s unusual behavior and acted as if it hadn’t happened, discussing only what to order.
At that moment, in another private room at the end of the corridor, the manager pushed open the door. “Miss, Miss Xu has arrived. She’s with a young man.”
The girl sat with her back to him, savoring her lunch.
She paused briefly at his words, then turned around. A playful smile curled at the corners of her mouth.
“A young man?”
Her eyes flickered as some realization dawned on her. The playful smile shifted into something more mischievous.
She rose and strode out of the room. Her fair, long legs moved with seductive haste toward the far end of the corridor, where the elevators waited.
The girl had a head of orange-red short hair, with strands curling down to her shoulders.
She also bore a very pleasant name.
Zhao Qingyu.
And today, she wasn’t dressed in red. She wore a simple white outfit.
All white!
