Shen An had really gotten under Chen Nannan’s skin this time. Luckily, he had made a timely escape, or he would have endured another furious barrage of her tiny pink fists pounding away.
Chen Nannan had no free time at all that entire day.
After the Student Union’s major meeting wrapped up here, she still had to rush off to another venue for the freshman assistant supervisors’ meeting.
Then, that evening, she had to hurry right back for the second half of the Student Union session.
And her busyness wasn’t limited to just this one day—quite the opposite. This was only the beginning.
Starting tomorrow, when the freshmen arrived for orientation, Chen Nannan would have to juggle her regular classes with her duties as Club Federation President and Assistant Senior Sister, both of which would devour huge chunks of her spare time.
In other words, for the foreseeable future, she wouldn’t be able to stick by Shen An’s side every moment like she had these past few days.
Not until the freshmen had settled in and all the departments and clubs had finished their recruitment drives would Chen Nannan get a bit of breathing room.
And that would take at least a month.
So, beyond her anger, before Shen An left, Chen Nannan had repeatedly warned him not to get involved with Zhao Qingyu anymore. He needed to keep his head down and behave.
If there were any issues, he should just message her online. And absolutely no skipping classes—the homework she assigned had to be done properly.
In short, it was a long string of nagging instructions, and Shen An had smiled and promised to follow every one.
Well, he promised, anyway. Whether he’d actually keep those promises was another matter entirely.
Clutching the hefty stack of documents, Shen An returned to the earlier classroom.
The Art Troupe’s recruitment line was still a mile long, showing no signs of dying down.
He pushed open the door to find the room completely empty—Zhao Qingyu was nowhere in sight.
Shen An decided to take a seat and wait. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Zhao Qingyu.
He didn’t have her contact info, neither her phone number nor her messaging ID.
But the number that had messaged him earlier was probably her personal one.
So, he texted her via SMS.
“Senior Sister, I’ve taken care of things on that end.”
No reply from Zhao Qingyu.
Bored, Shen An got up, left the classroom, and went to check out the Art Troupe’s recruitment scene.
Gawking at the spectacle was human nature, and Shen An was no exception.
The interview room’s side doors were shut tight on purpose, to keep outsiders from peeking in.
Shen An had no such reservations. He cautiously nudged open the back door just a crack and peered inside.
The faint creak drew the attention of those in the room.
One of them glanced back, her eyes meeting Shen An’s.
Shen An cursed inwardly. Busted.
He was about to pull back when he realized she had no intention of stopping him. They simply locked eyes for a moment before she turned away, pretending nothing had happened.
Shen An frowned slightly, then relaxed.
He remembered what Qi Taili had said to Pei Xiuran earlier.
Word that Zhao Qingyu was personally interviewing him had spread throughout the Art Troupe. The girl probably knew, which was why she ignored him.
Emboldened, Shen An stopped skulking at the back door. He pushed it open fully and strode right in.
This naturally drew more eyes.
But the Art Troupe members merely glanced back at him before turning away again, as if they tacitly accepted him as one of their own.
Just as he thought.
Shen An felt a twinge of self-mocking amusement deep down.
He hadn’t even officially joined the Art Troupe yet, and he was already their “big celebrity.”
He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Given what he knew of Zhao Qingyu, Shen An resolved to be even more cautious from now on.
He would plan carefully, then strike when the moment was right!
Zhao Qingyu had toyed with him several times already. There was no way Shen An would let her off easily.
Moreover, he harbored a deeper suspicion: Zhao Qingyu wouldn’t target him for no reason.
As for her nonsense about having high hopes for him, Shen An didn’t buy it for a second.
Her behavior during their first encounter at the North District Apartment had been the most natural—and it matched the rumors about her personality.
Everything after that had been off.
Sure, she’d led him by the nose these past few times, but she’d been the one to approach him from the start.
Whether it was the “chance” meeting at the first interview or her subsequent “special attention.”
Shen An even suspected that the bathroom hallway encounter during the initial interview had been timed by her on purpose.
After all, he’d lingered around the Art Troupe area for a bit—maybe she’d spotted him.
So, where had things gone wrong?
Shen An sat in the back row of the classroom, lost in thought.
During their first meeting, Zhao Qingyu had shown no goodwill and had even set him up deliberately.
Was that calculated, or just her true nature?
And what had sparked the change afterward?
As he pondered, a name flashed in his mind: Xu Yijing!
There was definitely bad blood between Zhao Qingyu and Xu Yijing, and it wasn’t minor.
Zhao Qingyu also knew full well that he lived with Xu Yijing.
This vixen woman might seem to be toying with him, but she was really aiming at Xu Yijing.
Plugging Xu Yijing into the equation suddenly made all the puzzles fall into place.
If Zhao Qingyu was deliberately making trouble for him because of Xu Yijing…
Shen An’s lips curved into a slight smile.
Compared to outright malice, he found this intriguing.
If his theory held, then to Zhao Qingyu, he was just a disposable tool to disgust Xu Yijing.
Easily replaceable.
But starting from that premise, if he could transform from a disposable tool into someone she couldn’t do without—someone she truly valued—then turning the tables and repaying her malice would lead naturally to her begging on her knees, or even collared and gagged.
The idea surfaced in Shen An’s mind effortlessly, without a second thought.
Because this was what he excelled at.
Winning someone’s affection, only to deliver devastating pain.
He glanced at his phone.
The Healing System?
Tch, the System had picked the wrong guy.
He wasn’t good at healing others—he was a master at breaking them.
Beneath his mild, sunny exterior, he might just be the biggest bastard when it came to toying with emotions.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed with a text from Zhao Qingyu.
“Stay put. I’ll be back soon.”
Shen An glanced at it but stayed seated, his eyes drifting to the freshman being interviewed up front.
The freshman had been doing fine until their eyes met Shen An’s. Then, she panicked and lost her composure.
Shen An: ???
A moment later, another text from Zhao Qingyu: “? Where are you?”
She must have returned to the classroom.
Shen An ignored it.
He was enjoying the show from here. He liked interviewing others far more than being interviewed himself.
Between passive and active, he always preferred to hold the reins.
Until a shrill, comical ringtone shattered the room’s atmosphere.
The interviewers up front all whipped around. Shen An quickly grabbed his phone and murmured, “Sorry about that.”
He tapped to answer.
“Hello? Senior Sister Zhao?”
The moment he said the name, the interviewers snapped their heads back again, as if it were some horrifying curse.
“Oh, really sorry, I didn’t check my phone just now.”
“Got it, got it. I’ll head back now.”
Shen An pocketed his phone and said softly, “Pardon the interruption.”
The interviewers forced polite smiles and shook their heads to indicate it was fine.
Back in the original classroom, Zhao Qingyu sat with her legs crossed, looking utterly relaxed.
Two cups of milk tea sat on the table—she had kept her “promise.”
The instant Shen An walked in, Zhao Qingyu whipped her head around to stare at him. Her usually teasing, seductive eyes now held a flicker of surprise.
She kept staring as he approached, not moving a muscle.
Until he sat down right in front of her.
“Senior Sister?” Shen An said softly. “Is there something on my face?”
Zhao Qingyu leaned in closer, propping her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling even more.
“Senior Sister?”
Shen An said, a touch embarrassed, “Don’t stare at me like that. It’s making me shy.”
“Shy?” Zhao Qingyu burst out laughing, covering her mouth as her lips curved seductively. “You weren’t shy showing off in the large classroom in front of everyone, but now you’re shy in front of me?”
She was clearly surprised by Shen An’s stunt in the large classroom.
Shen An remained unfazed. How could Zhao Qingyu not have eyes and ears everywhere?
Even if she hadn’t been there herself, a whole row of Art Troupe members could have been her informants.
She would know everything that happened in real time.
Shen An put on an even more bashful expression. “That’s different. They’re them, and you’re you.”
“Oh my~”
Zhao Qingyu’s smile widened brilliantly, half-teasing. “Such sweet talk. Finally ready to switch affections?”
“I don’t mind either way, but liking me isn’t easy, you know.”
Shen An’s expression turned serious as he deftly changed the subject. “Mission accomplished, Senior Sister. I didn’t let you down.”
Zhao Qingyu’s fingertip lightly brushed her cheek, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a watery gleam. Her soft, enchanting voice seeped soul-deep, effortlessly stirring anyone who heard it into losing their composure.
“Not bad at all. You did very well—better than I expected, even.”
She paused, a smile playing on her lips. “I knew I hadn’t misjudged you. You’re nothing like those useless idiots.”
Zhao Qingyu offered a few words of praise before shifting gears. “By the way, do you have any friends in the Art Troupe?”
“Hmm?” Shen An looked puzzled.
She picked up the thick stack of documents. “Have you seen these beforehand?”
“How could I? This is the first time,” Shen An said, shaking his head.
“Really?”
Zhao Qingyu narrowed her eyes. “No one showed them to you? No one mentioned anything?”
“Uh…”
“For instance, telling you to be extra careful—especially around me.” Her smile turned playful, but her gaze sharpened. “That it’s best not to get involved in anything to do with me. Ring any bells?”
A flicker of hesitation and confusion crossed Shen An’s face before it hardened into resolve.
“No.”
His acting was even more polished than hers.
Zhao Qingyu studied him closely but detected no hint of deceit. She softened her tone. “So you memorized all this on the spot?”
“Yeah.”
Shen An nodded slightly.
“Impressive. I wonder… could you recite this one for me right now?”
Somehow, she produced another document.
It wasn’t as thick as the Summary Report.
Shen An raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you trust me, Senior Sister?”
“Nothing like that,” Zhao Qingyu said with a pout. “I just want to see it for myself. I’ve never met anyone with a memory like yours.”
She leaned in a little. “You know how it is—something novel, something you can’t quite grasp, or just plain interesting… it sparks curiosity without you even trying.”
“And right now, I’m very curious.”
“What, you won’t indulge a senior sister’s little whim?”
As she spoke, Zhao Qingyu let a touch of eager anticipation show—mingled with her natural charm, more potent than any coquettish plea.
“Come on, show me~”
She added softly, “I even bought milk tea, just like you asked. Original flavor, extra sugar. I remembered.”
Shen An sighed. “Fine.”
He took the document from her hand, lowered his gaze, and focused on it intently.
Zhao Qingyu nodded in satisfaction, her beautiful eyes fixed on him without blinking.
Of course, she wasn’t interested in him.
She just wanted to confirm a few things.
About half an hour later, Shen An set the document aside. “All right.”
In truth, he’d memorized it in ten minutes but dragged it out to lower her guard.
“Done already? Let’s test you, then.”
“I’ll read a section, and you continue from there.”
Zhao Qingyu took the document back, leaned against her chair, and began reading slowly.
She’d recite a passage, then pause.
Shen An picked up seamlessly, without a hitch.
Section after section, until they’d nearly gone through the whole thing.
“Amazing!”
Zhao Qingyu closed the document, her praise genuine this time.
Shen An frowned slightly. “This document…”
“Oh? You just noticed?”
She covered her mouth with a soft laugh. “This one’s for impeaching Xu Yijing.”
“She embarrassed you like that earlier. I won’t let her off easy.”
Shen An feigned reluctance. “No need for that, right? Senior Sister Xu was just doing her job.”
“Heh.”
Zhao Qingyu’s eyes narrowed again as she scoffed. “You’re my guy. Who does she think she is?”
“Even if she hates my face, she should give a nod to my position. I wasn’t there, but she still should’ve shown some respect.”
“Since she didn’t give me any, I won’t give her any either.”
She paused, her smile returning. “You might think I’m petty or reckless, but she’s the real reckless one.”
“Doing her job? That’s the biggest joke.”
Shen An hesitated a moment before nodding.
“Tsk. I know you don’t buy it, but that’s fine. Plenty of time ahead—just wait and see.”
Zhao Qingyu said meaningfully.
