As soon as he stepped out the door, Shen An sent a message to Song Rui.
“Hey, I’m heading to the Basketball Club’s booth now.”
Song Rui replied right away: “Okay, I’m getting ready to head out too.”
“Are you going by yourself?”
“Nope, with my roommates. They want to check it out too.”
“OK.”
Shen An pocketed his phone and made his way toward the main athletic field in the central district.
“The Art Troupe… That Red-Clothed Senior Sister is there too, but Xu Yijing seems to be deliberately steering me toward it. Better stay cautious.”
Along the way, Shen An mulled it over. He clutched the flyer, mentally reviewing every student organization one by one.
Suddenly, he froze.
“Shit, I really feel like a college student now—actually taking the time to think about this stuff.”
With a self-mocking chuckle, Shen An tucked the flyer away.
He let out a sigh. The last thing he wanted was to repeat his old mistakes and end up on the same dead-end path.
Halfway there, Song Rui messaged him again. She’d arrived at the milk tea shop.
She snapped a photo of the menu and sent it over, asking what he wanted.
Shen An didn’t want her to splurge, so he picked two cheap options and told her to wait for him at the library entrance.
It wasn’t far from the north district to the library in the central district. Shen An arrived quickly.
Song Rui had been held up buying the drinks, so he waited a few minutes before spotting her hurrying over with two cups of milk tea.
“Sorry, sorry! The line at the milk tea shop was crazy.”
She apologized as soon as she reached him.
Shen An smiled gently. “No worries, I just got here too.”
He glanced curiously behind her. “Where are your roommates?”
“Uh, they went ahead. I… said I had to use the bathroom.” Song Rui explained in a small voice.
“Afraid they’ll get the wrong idea?” Shen An took one of the milk teas from her hand and teased lightly.
“No, no!” Song Rui shook her head vigorously. “They actually know I bought this for you…”
“Hm?”
“I… I told them about our chat from before.”
Shen An raised an eyebrow slightly. Song Rui looked at him nervously. “Was that… not okay?”
“Well, it’s fine to tell them, but don’t share everything. It’s good to keep a few things to yourself.”
Shen An patted her shoulder with a light laugh. “Alright, I’m off. Maybe we’ll run into each other later.”
With that, he turned and headed toward the main athletic field.
Song Rui stood there in a daze, watching his retreating back. She lowered her head, a quiet flicker of disappointment crossing her face.
Last night, she’d tossed and turned in bed, wondering why he’d told her to buy two cups of milk tea.
Her rational side kept insisting he probably just liked drinking two cups himself—or maybe planned to give one to a friend.
But another voice echoed in her mind.
What if… the second cup was meant for her?
Perfect timing for booth day—they could stroll around together, milk teas in hand?
It wasn’t entirely her fault for overthinking.
After she’d told her roommates about it yesterday, they’d gossiped endlessly, feeding her the same idea.
School had just started, and among her classmates, Shen An was the one she’d interacted with most outside her roommates.
They were a little jealous, telling her to seize the chance.
With all those voices chiming in, how could she not wonder?
But now, his back looked so carefree and resolute. Those extra thoughts were just her silly fantasies.
He had no such intentions at all.
Central district. Main athletic field. Basketball Club booth.
Chen Nannan strolled up alone, holding an umbrella.
Zhang Qian, manning the booth, glanced over and grumbled in disappointment, “What, just you?”
After greeting the others, Chen Nannan folded her umbrella and stood in front of Zhang Qian, snapping irritably, “What’s the problem? Can’t I come by myself?”
“Fine, fine.”
Zhang Qian immediately turned fawning, pulling up a seat for her and waving a little fan to cool her off. “Five more minutes and I’m off duty.”
“The rest is up to you!”
“I knew you’d slack off. Can’t you stick around and chat with me?”
Aside from Zhang Qian, Chen Nannan wasn’t close to the other Basketball Club members. They’d met a few times, exchanged greetings at most.
“Hmph, I was up early this morning, running around all day!”
Zhang Qian pouted. “No energy left to chat. Right now, I just want to crash in the dorm.”
“Fine, go sleep if you’re so tired.”
Chen Nannan waved her off impatiently.
“Heh heh, here’s the sign-up sheet. Our court’s on the left—the basketball court. If any freshmen sign up, get them registered first.”
Zhang Qian pointed to the left-side court, which had a Basketball Club sign and a few members hanging around.
She nagged on and on, making sure nothing would go wrong after she left.
Chen Nannan rolled her eyes. “I’m more familiar with this stuff than you. No need to repeat it a million times.”
“It’s different! I’m the club president!”
Zhang Qian puffed up proudly.
“Yeah… the fluke president~” Chen Nannan huffed.
“A fluke president is still president!” Zhang Qian declared loudly. “And you’re vice president too—keep your eyes open, okay?”
“Alright, alright~” Chen Nannan just wanted to shoo her away before her buzzing got any worse.
Suddenly, a low voice called out.
“Hello, is Senior Sister Chen Nannan here?”
Before Chen Nannan or Zhang Qian noticed, one of the other senior sisters stepped forward quickly. “Hey, you a freshman? Interested in the Basketball Club??”
The other senior sisters crowded around too.
The voice belonged to Shen An, holding two cups of milk tea.
He kept smiling. “I’d like to speak with Senior Sister Chen Nannan.”
“Nannan?” one senior sister called over her shoulder. “Nannan, a freshman’s here for you!”
At that, both Chen Nannan and Zhang Qian turned to look.
Shen An stood there politely off to the side, one hand holding both milk teas, the other waving in greeting.
Chen Nannan’s face lit up with surprise at the sight of him, quickly overtaken by irrepressible delight!
But the delight faded fast, suppressed by a mask of cool indifference.
Zhang Qian’s reaction was far more genuine.
“Oh!! Junior bro, you made it!!!”
She ditched Chen Nannan in a flash, rushing up to Shen An with eager eyes. “Remember me?”
“Of course, Senior Sister Zhang Qian.” Shen An smiled softly.
“Heh heh, good memory! So, here to sign up? Give the Basketball Club a shot?”
“Sure.”
Shen An nodded slightly.
“Come on in then, don’t just stand there like a goof.”
Zhang Qian grabbed his hand and pulled him to the booth. “No umbrella? Sun’s brutal today. Oh ho.”
She eyed the two milk teas in his hand, her grin turning mischievous. “For me?”
Chen Nannan noticed the milk teas too.
She stared daggers at Zhang Qian’s back, her gaze laced with icy sharpness.
Too bad Zhang Qian faced away, oblivious to the “threat” boring into her.
Shen An lifted the cups. “Yeah, one for you, and one for Senior Sister Nannan.”
His generosity caught Zhang Qian off guard.
She’d only been joking, not expecting him to actually offer.
Only then did she remember Chen Nannan.
Zhang Qian turned and called, “Nannan, your good little junior’s here~”
“Hey? Why are you still just sitting there?”
Chen Nannan had heard Shen An’s words, and some of her resentment eased. Still, she pursed her lips, her expression full of reluctance.
Shen An walked straight up to her, set down the two cups, then turned back to Zhang Qian. “Senior Sister, do you like extra sugar or less?”
Zhang Qian laughed lightly. “Sugar-free would be perfect. I’m on a diet—no sugary milk tea for me.”
“Got it. Next time, sugar-free for you, Senior Sister!”
Shen An said warmly.
“Tsk, you haven’t added me yet?” Zhang Qian pulled out her phone.
Shen An added her without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Chen Nannan stayed silent the whole time, not even acknowledging him.
Even an idiot could tell the vibe was off.
Zhang Qian was sharp enough to pick up on it.
After adding Shen An, she pocketed her phone and clapped his shoulder. “I can’t be your assistant class supervisor, but if you join the Basketball Club, we can hang out plenty.”
“Nannan’s in the club too—she’s vice president~”
She tiptoed to whisper in his ear, “Even if it’s just in name.”
“I’ll think it over.” Shen An nodded earnestly.
“Good. I’m off then—leaving you two with the booth.” Zhang Qian made a smooth exit.
Halfway gone, she suddenly remembered: “Crap, what if Nannan and him are already a thing? Damn, forgot to warn her.”
She considered turning back but thought better of it…
Forget it. He’d just talk to Nannan about it tonight.
Those who’d caught Senior Sister Zhao’s eye all met pretty miserable ends.
Over at the stall, although Zhang Qian had left, Shen An didn’t rush to strike up a conversation with Chen Nannan.
He glanced around the booth, then walked to the other side and greeted a few other senior sisters. Casually, he picked their brains about the Basketball Club.
The senior sisters were a bit surprised. It was obvious Shen An had come straight for Chen Nannan.
But thanks to his politeness and handsome looks, they were more than happy to chat with him.
This left Chen Nannan’s side feeling utterly deserted.
She didn’t have many friends in the Basketball Club to begin with, and she rarely joined their activities. With Zhang Qian gone, no one was left to keep her company.
Meanwhile, Shen An was like a magnet, drawing all the senior sisters over to crowd around him.
Before long, laughter erupted from that side—loud and carefree.
Shen An handled their barrage of questions with complete ease.
Chen Nannan sat quietly, her gaze drifting to the other side, but her ears stayed sharply tuned to Shen An’s corner.
When the giggling started, her little hand under the table quietly clenched into a fist.
Damn it!!!!
After adding all the senior sisters on his contacts and chatting enough, Shen An finally returned to Chen Nannan’s side.
He glanced at her, grabbed a stool, and sat down right beside her.
“Senior Sister, do you want it with extra sugar or light?”
Chen Nannan shot him a sidelong glance and said coolly, “What are you doing here? Weren’t you unwilling to come?”
“I wasn’t unwilling. I just had other things to do.”
Shen An’s voice softened. “But a little hiccup came up, freeing me up now, so I came to find you.”
Chen Nannan pursed her little lips and huffed. “Find me? Sounds more like you wanted to add a few more senior sisters!”
She said it so softly that probably only Shen An could hear.
He grinned at that. “Doesn’t conflict, does it? Didn’t you tell me to make more friends, Senior Sister?”
Bang.
Chen Nannan suddenly slammed her little hand down on the table.
I didn’t tell you to make friends like this!!!
But right after, she regretted it.
Her hand was so delicate. The table was unscathed, but she’d hurt herself, a clear red mark blooming on her skin.
“Hiss…”
She’d barely let out a soft gasp when Shen An beat her to it, grabbing her little hand.
“Hoo~ Hoo~ Hoo~”
He held Chen Nannan’s hand and gently blew on the reddened spot.
Seeing how carefully he did it, Chen Nannan’s heart skipped. She pulled her hand back, a bit flustered.
“What are you blowing on it for? It was just a bump. Doesn’t hurt.”
Shen An propped his chin on his hand and chuckled. “Not mad anymore, right?”
Chen Nannan blinked, then grumbled, “I wasn’t mad. Come if you want.”
With that, she reached out. “I want light sugar.”
She stuck in the straw and gulped it down, then muttered under her breath, “I don’t even like milk tea~”
Hearing that, Shen An picked up the other cup of milk tea and said gently, “This is all I can treat you to for now, Senior Sister. Bear with it, okay?”
Chen Nannan turned her head away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “Oh~ I didn’t ask you to treat me~ Why the splurge? Acting on your own like that.”
