Shen An was thoroughly satisfied with the seafood feast. Its flavor was no worse than what you’d get at the Azure Sea Grand Hotel, and the price was far cheaper.
But compared to the meal itself, Wang Yuqiong undoubtedly enjoyed her time chatting with Shen An even more.
Especially after those words “love at first sight” slipped from his lips, all her earlier dissatisfaction vanished into thin air. During dinner, she didn’t throw any tantrums at him—instead, they chatted animatedly.
She had repeatedly made it clear that she didn’t like the phrase, but a girl’s heart often said one thing while meaning another.
After all, she was a bit thin-skinned about these things, and Shen An understood completely.
They ate and talked until it was past nine in the evening. It was only when the restaurant was about to close and the boss came over to remind them that their conversation was interrupted.
“How much do we owe you, boss?”
Shen An pulled out his phone, ready to pay.
The boss glanced at Wang Yuqiong. She didn’t bat an eye, merely blinking innocently.
The boss got the message right away and gave Shen An half off the bill.
They left the restaurant just in time to catch the last bus.
“Driver, drop me off at the North District later,” Shen An said once he was settled in his seat.
Wang Yuqiong raised an eyebrow. “I don’t live in the North District.”
“I know you live in the East District, but I live in the North District,” Shen An said with a grin. “Hey, you got any tissues?”
Wang Yuqiong rolled her eyes and pulled some tissues from her pocket to hand them over.
“What, you still expecting me to walk you back to your dorm?” Shen An wiped his mouth with exaggerated seriousness. “No need to stand on ceremony between bros. Don’t act like some delicate little lady. Security around here’s great these days—no thieves, lights everywhere, and you won’t trip into a ditch.”
Wang Yuqiong’s mouth twitched. She sneered, “I never said I wanted you to walk me.”
“Then what’s with that look of disgust on your face?”
“Who told you not to wipe your mouth in the restaurant? You had to wait till we got out here and waste my tissues!” Wang Yuqiong shot back without missing a beat.
“Ahem, I got caught up in the moment. Wasn’t trying to miss the bus.”
Shen An handed the tissues back to Wang Yuqiong. “See, if I’d wiped up in there, we might’ve ended up walking the whole way.”
Wang Yuqiong pressed his hand down and scoffed. “Keep ’em. Just buy me a new pack next time.”
“No need for that…”
“It’s totally necessary!” With that, Wang Yuqiong turned away, her back to Shen An as her bright eyes gazed out the window at the campus nightscape.
They’d been chatting so amiably in the restaurant, but the moment they stepped out and boarded the bus, her expression flipped.
Shen An knew why, but he preferred this playful teasing dynamic between them.
With the cool evening breeze blowing through, Shen An felt a touch of contentment too. He leaned back in his seat, chuckling to himself as he took in the night view.
The driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror and thought to himself, Young couples these days just love their little spats~
Tch.
The bus rolled along until they reached the North District.
The driver turned back. “North District.”
Only then did Wang Yuqiong look over, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Not getting off?”
Shen An narrowed his eyes. “I’ll get off at the East District.”
Wang Yuqiong’s lips curved slightly, but she didn’t let up. “Hey, I’m not forcing you. You’re the one sticking your nose in.”
“Heh, I’ve got business in the East District. Don’t flatter yourself.”
Shen An shot her a glare.
Wang Yuqiong suddenly felt in the wrong. She puffed out her cheeks, a bubble of anger simmering in her belly!
Bastard!
She should’ve told the restaurant boss not to give him that discount—charge him double!
The bus reached the East District, and the two of them got off one after the other.
Wang Yuqiong clearly wanted to put some distance between them. She strode ahead on her long legs, not waiting for Shen An at all.
Shen An didn’t chase after her to make a fool of himself, but he didn’t abandon her either. He strolled along casually at her side.
No matter how fast Wang Yuqiong walked, Shen An stayed right there beside her—not quite shoulder-to-shoulder, but keeping pace a body length away.
Taking the opportunity, Shen An sized up the East District, which was dominated by the girls’ dormitory.
He’d barely seen any guys back in the West District, but here in the East District, girls were everywhere.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that even the breeze carried the faint fragrance of young women.
As they passed the East District’s sports field, the floodlights blazed like daylight. The field buzzed with activity—various clubs had set up stalls to recruit freshmen, while others strolled, jogged for exercise, or sat on the steps chatting.
Wang Yuqiong was still fuming and only glanced around before looking away. She snuck a peek back at Shen An.
He was completely absorbed, showing no sign of greeting her.
Hmph!
Wang Yuqiong bit her lip, her anger flaring even more. Her steps quickened unconsciously.
“Hey, slow down. You just ate—don’t want a stomachache.”
Shen An finally caught up, concern in his voice.
Wang Yuqiong sneered inwardly and turned her head. “Mind your own business. Didn’t you say you had something to do in the East District? Stop following me.”
“I’m not following you. We’re just going the same way.”
Shen An’s tone softened.
“Fine!” Wang Yuqiong shot him a fierce glare and broke into long strides, deliberately taking a detour.
Her dorm building was clearly to the left, but she veered right.
Shen An spotted the brightly lit “East 7” on the building and called out to her. “Your dorm’s this way.”
Wang Yuqiong didn’t even turn around. “None of your business.”
Ah…
He hadn’t realized her little temper was this stubborn. What clever little fox? She was just a tsundere kitten.
Shen An chuckled to himself but kept pace beside her.
After looping around several buildings, even Wang Yuqiong started feeling dizzy from the detours.
She glanced back—Shen An was still right there.
Whew…
Wang Yuqiong felt a bit relieved deep down. She turned around, a smug smile tugging at her lips. “Don’t you have business to take care of? Why are you still following me?”
“The business I have is walking you back to your dorm.”
Shen An stood under the streetlamp, his voice gentle.
The light illuminated his handsome features, the tenderness in his eyes seeping into the air and straight into Wang Yuqiong’s gaze and heart.
With that said, Wang Yuqiong couldn’t bring herself to make things harder for him. She huffed reluctantly. “Getting a straight answer out of you is like pulling teeth. Do you just love beating around the bush?”
Shen An chuckled lightly. “You’re the one who loves detours. We’ve circled a few buildings already.”
“You’re really set on pissing me off, huh.” Wang Yuqiong sighed and walked up beside him. “Do you think I’m a pushover or something? Is that why you keep picking on me?”
Shen An shook his head. “Nothing like that.”
“Pfft, as if. ‘Nothing like that,’ my foot.” Wang Yuqiong huffed cutely. “Half the tricks you pull on me—if you tried them in front of Senior Sister Zhao, I wouldn’t even be saying this!”
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she got.
The guy was always so obedient around Zhao Qingyu, hanging on her every word.
But with her, he was all “rebellious.” Wasn’t that just bullying?
Shen An, of course, wasn’t about to admit he was teasing her on purpose. He said softly, “Senior Sister Zhao is a senior no matter how you slice it. Once we’re in the Art Troupe, we’ll still have to watch our step around her.”
“Pfft, bottom line is you’re just chicken! Bullying the weak!” Wang Yuqiong wasn’t buying it.
Shen An smiled and spoke gently. “Alright, straight from the heart: a senior is a senior, and respect is due—not obedience, just not worth kicking up a fuss over.”
“But you’re different.”
“How am I different?” Wang Yuqiong planted her hands on her hips. “Easy pickings, huh?”
“No, you’re my friend. Friends don’t need to stand on ceremony—they can be casual, no holding back.”
“If you think I’m bullying you, then that’s unfair. I just feel close to you, so I can’t help teasing a little.”
“Of course, if you don’t like it—if it feels like bullying—then I’ll tone it down from now on. Sound good?”
The core of Shen An’s words was simple: He respected Senior Sister Zhao out of courtesy and hierarchy.
He might seem to pick on her, but that was because they were close—like real friends.
Wang Yuqiong’s anger faded as she listened.
Shen An pressed his advantage. “Makes sense, right?”
“Hmph, silver-tongued devil.” Wang Yuqiong pursed her lips. “Fine, your logic’s got some merit. I’ll reluctantly buy it.”
“But watch yourself from now on—no more constant teasing. I do get mad, you know!”
Wang Yuqiong puffed her cheeks. She didn’t look fierce at all—just adorably cute. Damn cute.
“And you only know how to tease. Never see you sweet-talking me.”
“Hey, between bros, it’s all roasting—no coddling!” Shen An waved his hand grandly. Wang Yuqiong’s mouth twitched in disdain. “You really see me as one of the guys?”
“You don’t wanna be bros? Girlfriends work too.”
Shen An retreated a step, looking ever so aggrieved.
“You really can’t spit out anything nice, can you—a dog like you!” Wang Yuqiong stomped her foot in frustration, but she was helpless against him.
“Ahem, no more fighting. Head back, take a shower. Classes tomorrow.”
“Heh, I won’t be late, but you better not be—or I’ll make sure the Discipline Committee Member jots your name down!”
Wang Yuqiong warned him with a grudge.
Then it hit her. “The Discipline Committee Member is Shen Lianyao. Did you vote her in as Class President on purpose, so she’d go easy on you later?”
“What ‘thinking of me’? You’re a sly one.”
Shen An shook his head hurriedly. “Pure coincidence. How was I supposed to know Shen Lianyao would run for Discipline Committee Member?”
“Hmm, fair enough.”
Shen Lianyao had first run for class president, only adding her name to the discipline committee slot afterward.
But why had Shen Lianyao suddenly changed her mind and decided to run for discipline committee member?
Wang Yuqiong pondered the question, her gaze drifting back to Shen An almost involuntarily.
Could it be…
The thought had barely formed when Wang Yuqiong shook her head inwardly, dismissing it.
She had been sitting right in front of him at the time, and he hadn’t said a word to Shen Lianyao about the discipline committee.
Well… he might have.
Whether he had mentioned it or not, Wang Yuqiong couldn’t quite remember.
Shen An endured her stare for a good long while before saying helplessly, “My dear auntie, aren’t you heading back yet?”
“Who’s your auntie? You’re making me sound ancient.”
Wang Yuqiong brandished her little fist. “I’m your class president, you know. Show some respect!”
“Yes, yes, Class President. Hurry back now. I’ve still got to trek back to the North District on my own later.”
Shen An stepped behind Wang Yuqiong and gently pushed her shoulders to urge her forward.
Wang Yuqiong covered her mouth and chuckled softly. “Oh right, the buses have stopped running.”
“What choice do I have? Walking from the East District all the way to the North District—man, it’ll wear me out.”
Shen An played up his misery, and as Wang Yuqiong listened, a wave of satisfaction eased the tension in her chest.
In this stumbling, stop-start fashion, Shen An finally escorted Wang Yuqiong back to East 7.
Then he set off alone, trudging silently back to the North District.
It was a long walk—far too tiring to do with nothing to occupy his mind. He needed something to pass the time.
Shen An mulled it over for a moment, then pulled out his phone and sent a message to Chen Nannan.
“Senior Sister, Senior Sister! Have you finished your meeting yet?”
In North District Building C, Chen Nannan’s apartment.
She had just wrapped up the meeting. Weariness plain on her face, she unlocked the door, flicked on the light, and flopped unceremoniously onto the sofa.
The sessions had dragged on for hours—one in the afternoon, another in the evening—finally grinding to a reluctant close.
She had been stuck sitting through it all, her mind so foggy with exhaustion that she was on the verge of nodding off.
Yet as Club Federation President, she had no choice but to stay fully focused.
By the end of it, Chen Nannan was completely spent.
She had barely settled in when her phone chimed.
Listlessly, she fished it out of her pocket, wondering who on earth would message her so late.
She glanced at the screen.
Shen An: “Senior Sister, Senior Sister! Have you finished your meeting yet?”
Chen Nannan stared at the message, at the name glowing on the screen. A strange smile curved her lips—not quite a smile, but one laced with chill.
It lingered for a moment before vanishing in an instant.
She hurled the phone to the far end of the sofa and spat through a cold sneer, “Ungrateful bastard!”
She rolled over, curling up with a throw pillow clutched to her chest. Her lips pressed into a tight line, her chin digging into the soft fabric, and she murmured in deep resentment, “Bastard…”
Two identical utterances of “bastard,” yet the emotions they carried could not have been more different.
Today, Chen Nannan was a little heartbroken.
