Wang Yuqiong refused to give an inch. She covered her face with one hand and stayed utterly silent, determined to outstubborn Shen An.
If she still believed that Shen An possessed even a shred of shame, then she was undoubtedly overestimating him.
Shen An hoisted her effortlessly over his shoulder, his large hand pressed firmly against the back of her calf and knee. He didn’t budge an inch, his expression unchanging amid the barrage of stares, his strides steady and resolute.
Even with her face hidden, Wang Yuqiong’s tall, slender 1.78-meter frame made her impossible to ignore. She stood out like a crane among chickens, utterly striking.
But at East China Comprehensive University, where women vastly outnumbered men, a handsome and resolute hunk like Shen An was the true rarity. As he walked along, onlookers swarmed endlessly around them.
Each of them alone would have drawn eyes, but together—especially in this brazen, shoulder-carry pose—only a blind person could have looked away.
The longer people watched, the more entertained they became, as if they were witnessing some bizarre spectacle.
Public displays of affection weren’t uncommon on these streets: cuddling couples, passionate kisses, hand-holding pairs beyond count. But this particular pose to flaunt intimacy? That was a genuine rarity.
Yes, nearly every onlooker’s first assumption was that these two were a couple.
That immediately ruled out any notions of harassment. They just found the style of PDA refreshingly unique.
The staring turned to whispers, then to teasing laughter that soon faded as jaws grew sore.
What kind of nonsense was this? They had come out for a simple dinner, only to get stuffed full of sour lemons!
It was too much to watch.
Shen An truly feared nothing. He carried Wang Yuqiong from one end of the street to the other, leaving her mortified even with her face covered.
Though muffled by her hands, the stares and murmurs echoed crystal-clear in her overactive imagination.
She never could have imagined Shen An having guts this big—or skin this thick.
Didn’t this guy feel even a hint of embarrassment?
But to cave so easily and admit defeat? That would be underestimating Wang Yuqiong’s sky-high pride.
She gritted her teeth and held firm.
Her face was covered, after all. Even if someone saw her, they wouldn’t know who she was. The gossip couldn’t touch her!
Why was he still walking?!
Wang Yuqiong gripped his shoulder, her fingers digging into his flesh with a vicious pinch!
Shen An didn’t flinch. Social suicide? Fine, they’d die together.
In front of the restaurant, Zhang Qian and her friends had finished their meal and stepped outside. They lingered by the door, seemingly waiting for someone.
Bored, Zhang Qian’s gaze wandered—and caught sight of Shen An carrying Wang Yuqiong right past.
Zhang Qian froze. Her friends’ gossip instincts kicked in, and they started chattering.
“Kids these days are so bold, huh?”
“Jealous? Go find your own. Being a stone virgin all the time must get boring.”
“Pfft, you’re one to talk!”
The banter escalated into playful scuffling, but Zhang Qian just stared, transfixed.
“Hey, Zhang Qian, get your fill yet?”
One friend teased her.
Zhang Qian took a deep breath, rubbed her eyes, and looked again.
That handsome face…
Oh no!
Zhang Qian whipped around, desperate to prevent a potential catastrophe.
But it was too late. Another person emerged from the restaurant.
“Nannan, how much was it?”
“Two hundred thirty something.” Chen Nannan clutched her briefcase; she still had a Student Union meeting to attend later.
“Not bad at all. And this new place was pretty tasty.”
“Nannan, look, look!”
One friend urgently pointed toward Shen An, eager to share the spectacle.
“What?” Chen Nannan turned her head, but Zhang Qian rushed over and clapped a hand over her eyes. “Nothing worth seeing!”
“Zhang Qian?”
The other friends looked puzzled. Chen Nannan irritably shoved her hand away. “What’s gotten into you?”
True to form, though, Chen Nannan still glanced in the direction her friend had indicated.
Just then, Shen An rounded the corner, his side profile imprinting itself in Chen Nannan’s vision.
Even a profile was intimately familiar to her.
Zhang Qian asked uneasily, “You saw that?”
Chen Nannan arched a brow. “I saw.”
“You… you…” Zhang Qian’s smile was strained to the breaking point. She dreaded an explosion right there on the spot.
“You what?” Chen Nannan pursed her lips. “Just a little couple. What’s so surprising about that?”
Zhang Qian: ???
She tilted her head slowly, practically forming a question mark in the air. “Huh?”
The other friends stifled laughs and teased, “Yeah, Zhang Qian, why the huge reaction? Someone you know?”
Seeing Chen Nannan’s calm expression, Zhang Qian breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Phew~
Maybe she hadn’t gotten a good look?
Good.
Zhang Qian relaxed and shot her a sidelong glance. “Yeah, sure, my old fling.”
“Ooh, then what are you waiting for? Chase him!”
“Quit yapping. Let’s head back—Nannan has a meeting soon.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
The group left the restaurant and made their way to the campus bus stop.
Along the road, Zhang Qian kept stealing glances at Chen Nannan. With no reaction forthcoming, she finally let her guard down completely.
At the same time, she couldn’t help inwardly grumbling.
This junior sure was “something else.”
Hooking up with Senior Sister Zhao wasn’t enough—he had to go after other girls too? Wasn’t he afraid she’d castrate him?
Out in public like this, practically advertising it. Did he want Senior Sister Zhao to find out or what?
Good thing she’d given Nannan a heads-up, or things could have gotten ugly.
Zhang Qian couldn’t meddle too much. She could only keep an eye on her good friend to steer her clear of trouble.
Once on the bus back to the Central District, Chen Nannan got off first.
She grabbed her briefcase and waved. “I’m heading out.”
“Smooth meeting, Nannan,” Zhang Qian said with a grin.
“Alright, alright, you nag.” Chen Nannan rolled her eyes and turned toward the academic building.
The bus pulled away slowly, heading to the next stop.
Zhang Qian and the others faded into the night, far from Chen Nannan.
Meanwhile, Chen Nannan walked alone toward the academic building. Midway there, she suddenly halted.
She faced a shadowy corner, her expression hidden in the gloom.
A gust of wind parted the clouds veiling the moon, and silvery moonlight cascaded down, illuminating even that dark nook.
Chen Nannan’s pale cheeks gleamed like a mirror in the glow, a single teardrop trembling at the corner of her eye.
She took a deep breath and lifted her face to the moon.
The tear had vanished, as if it had never been—though her reddened eyes still betrayed her emotions.
It had to be Yuqiong, right?
Chen Nannan murmured to herself.
Over in the South District.
Shen An kept pacing with Wang Yuqiong slung over his shoulder, showing no sign of stopping.
He looped back to the starting point and glanced around. “Come on, at least point me in the right direction.”
“Go die!”
All he got in response was her gritted-teeth snarl.
“I wouldn’t mind carrying you until tomorrow, but I’m not sure you could handle it.”
Shen An’s lips quirked up in teasing amusement.
Wang Yuqiong seethed inwardly but had no choice.
She reluctantly raised a finger and pointed to the other side.
“Oh, why didn’t you say so earlier? You made me walk all this way for nothing.”
Shen An complained.
“Arrrgh!”
Wang Yuqiong bit her lip hard and swallowed her rage.
Just you wait…
Shen An, just you wait!
Under her directions, Shen An quickly found the place: an old-fashioned-looking diner.
“This it?”
Shen An looked up and asked.
“Put me down already!” Wang Yuqiong demanded, her voice muffled.
“Admitting defeat?” Shen An grinned.
“I…” Wang Yuqiong pounded his shoulder in impotent fury.
“Alright, alright. Just don’t be so petty next time.”
Shen An issued his solemn admonition. Perched helplessly on his shoulder, Wang Yuqiong could only nod in meek agreement.
Then, he gently set her down.
The moment her toes touched solid ground again, Wang Yuqiong felt an inexplicable urge to cry.
But before tears could fall, she had unfinished business.
“Hey, calm down…”
Even as he set her down, Shen An had wisely backed away several steps. Still, the fury and chill in Wang Yuqiong’s eyes made him panic a little.
Wang Yuqiong glanced around, as if searching for something.
“No need to look—the restaurant’s right in front of you,” Shen An helpfully pointed out.
She arched a brow, bent down, and picked up a stick.
Thwack. Thwack.
She tested it against her palm. It felt like the perfect weapon.
Gritting her teeth, her face set in grim determination, Wang Yuqiong advanced on Shen An.
Shen An sighed and stood his ground, closing his eyes. “Go ahead, beat me to death. If I die, at least it’ll prove my innocence.”
Wang Yuqiong gripped the stick tightly and jabbed it toward his head, her voice thick with humiliated rage. “Who said anything about innocence?!”
“You told me to carry you. I did, and now you want to hit me? If you can’t handle playing, just say so next time. I won’t play with you anymore.”
“I…”
Wang Yuqiong raised her small hand high. Shen An promptly shut his mouth.
Just as the chunk of firewood came within a few centimeters of Shen An’s face, Wang Yuqiong stopped short. She thought to herself that if she actually swung it down, she really would disfigure him.
This guy wasn’t even trying to dodge. Was he just giving up entirely?
Wang Yuqiong was furious deep down, but she never dared to truly smash the wood down on him.
In fact, she was even more annoyed by his current cluelessness about romance than by the humiliation she’d felt moments ago when he’d carried her around on his shoulder like a trophy.
He couldn’t even muster one soft word!!!
You’re the one who can’t handle it!!!
A surge of impotent rage and grievance welled up in her heart. Wang Yuqiong stomped her foot hard, tossed the firewood aside, and turned away, her eyes reddening as she choked out, “Eat by yourself!”
Huh?
Shen An hurried forward and grabbed her sleeve. “Why are you crying now? Don’t cry—at least wait until you’ve eaten your fill.”
Wang Yuqiong hadn’t really intended to leave.
But she hadn’t held out much hope for Shen An either. At least this fool could read the mood a little and had come to pull her back.
His words of persuasion, though, were like pouring oil on the flames.
Wang Yuqiong stood still, twisted her head around, and fixed him with a wounded yet furious glare. “Who’s the one who can’t handle it?”
“Uh… I think we can talk that over slowly after we’ve eaten our fill.”
Shen An beat around the bush.
Wang Yuqiong let out a cold “heh” and stressed again, “Who’s the one who can’t handle it?”
“I am, I am. Happy now?”
Seeing that she was really on the verge of tears, Shen An dropped the teasing and said it with a straight face.
“No, you’re just brushing me off!”
Wang Yuqiong sniffled, holding back the tears about to spill over.
“I…” Shen An was at a loss for words.
“So what do you want from me, my dear lady?” Shen An chuckled inwardly but put on a helpless expression.
“I want you to admit it sincerely—that you’re the one who can’t handle it.”
Wang Yuqiong declared, chin held high.
“I’m warning you—there’s a limit even to unreasonable tantrums.” Shen An’s expression shifted as he said righteously, “Keep this up, and I’m out.”
Wang Yuqiong laughed out of sheer fury. “You think I’m throwing an unreasonable tantrum?”
“Fine, I can’t beat you, so I’ll just leave.” Shen An put on a show of being intimidated and turned to retreat.
Now it was Wang Yuqiong’s turn to grab him.
But Shen An had no sleeves for her to catch, so she seized his hand instead.
“You have to explain yourself clearly. I am not throwing an unreasonable tantrum!” Wang Yuqiong said, her face stern as she enunciated every word.
“Or maybe you could carry me around the block instead.”
Shen An closed his eyes in resignation. “I’m a bit heavy. Hope you don’t mind.”
“As if I’d carry you around the block!”
Wang Yuqiong huffed petulantly.
“Not gonna? So, we eating or not?”
“I…” Wang Yuqiong realized that her usual tactics weren’t working on Shen An.
She’d dug this pit for herself.
After some internal debate, Wang Yuqiong decided to swallow her pride for now and settle the score with him later.
“Fine, let’s eat!”
“Good, come on then. Let’s head inside first.”
Shen An smiled warmly and pulled Wang Yuqiong straight toward the restaurant.
Wang Yuqiong: …
She glanced at Shen An. “Have you ever been in a relationship?”
“Nope. Why?”
“That explains it.” Wang Yuqiong sighed, looking at him with utter pity.
“Why do I feel like you’re mocking me?”
“Nope, just your imagination.”
“Whatever, that’s not important. Let’s see if there’s a table first.” Shen An peered inside the restaurant. “Looks like everything’s full…”
A black line appeared on Wang Yuqiong’s forehead, but she was truly helpless against him.
She said listlessly, “I know the boss. No need to hunt for a seat.”
“A private room?”
“Yeah, a private room.” Wang Yuqiong replied flatly. “I booked it ahead of time. Don’t worry.”
Shen An looked a little embarrassed. “This is too much trouble for you. I feel bad.”
Wang Yuqiong shot back sarcastically, “I just booked the room. I didn’t say I’d treat you to dinner. This meal—we’re splitting the bill!”
