Chapter 75 Part 2

She glanced at her phone. Self-study had already been going for ten minutes. She slid to unlock the screen, about to message Sang Wan.

Just as she opened their chat, someone knocked on the classroom door. The Student Council members entered with their standard line: “Sorry to interrupt, but the Student Council is here to check attendance.”

Yue Bai eagerly waited for Sang Wan behind them, but Sang Wan’s gaze lingered on her for only a moment before moving away.

“!!” What did that mean? Senior Sister wouldn’t even spare her a proper glance.

Yue Bai huffed and dropped her head, refusing to look at Sang Wan.

After counting everyone, Sang Wan made a few marks on the class roster in her hand.

Yue Bai was even more speechless now. She wasn’t even calling her up to confirm if everyone was present.

Sang Wan caught sight of the resentful expression from the corner of her eye and couldn’t help but curve her lips. She murmured something to the person beside her, then strode straight to Yue Bai’s seat under everyone’s watchful eyes.

The girl who had been sulking noticed the shadow falling over her head. She looked up halfway, and a face filled her vision entirely.

“Mind if I sit next to you?” Sang Wan’s voice was soft and smiling.

Under the gaze of the entire class, Yue Bai scooted over to make room.

Senior Sister had come straight over!

She hadn’t considered Senior Sister’s notoriety in their class. She wasn’t supposed to just let her come keep her company like this.

“Tch.” Xu Nuo tsked softly from behind her.

Yue Bai’s ears turned even redder.

“Senior Sister, maybe you should head back,” Yue Bai whispered, just loud enough for the two of them to hear.

Sang Wan raised an eyebrow. “But I begged you to let me come keep you company. Can’t have that go to waste, right?”

Yue Bai wanted to cry but had no tears.

Sang Wan smiled faintly, habitually brushing her hair back as she leaned sideways. Her gaze passed over Yue Bai to land on the girl diagonally across from her.

“Senior Sister,” the girl said. She was from the School Student Union.

Yue Bai followed her gaze. It was a girl from their class.

Did she know Senior Sister?

Sang Wan nodded slightly, her swan-like neck tilting forward a bit. Her hand, hidden under the desk, rested lightly in Yue Bai’s palm.

Seeing this, the girl walked to the podium and pulled a USB drive from her shirt pocket, plugging it into the computer. The projector hummed to life, and the screen rolled down slowly.

Yue Bai whispered in confusion, “Senior Sister, what’s she doing?”

Sang Wan kept her eyes forward. “I needed a reason to come to your class.”

The classroom lights switched off, plunging the room into darkness in an instant.

“What’s this for?”

“What’s going on?”

“…”

Murmurs filled the air around them.

“Everyone, quiet down. The Student Council made a promotional video and wants our class to take a look and suggest any changes.” The girl clicked open the USB drive, and the screen filled with folders densely packed with names. She scrolled through them.

“Sigh, why our class?” someone asked, puzzled.

Yue Bai glanced sideways at Sang Wan.

“Maybe they think our class has great taste,” the girl at the podium replied with a beaming smile.

“Well said,” someone chimed in.

Laughter erupted in the classroom.

The folders were too numerous; after a minute of searching, the girl still hadn’t found it. Sang Wan patted the back of Yue Bai’s hand and stood, walking to the podium.

The girl stepped aside automatically.

Sang Wan faced the screen, the computer’s cold light casting a pale glow on her face. Once she found the folder, she yielded the spot back to the girl.

“Please take a look and give us your feedback,” Sang Wan’s smiling voice echoed through the room.

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister Sang. We’ll make sure it’s all sorted properly,” another Student Council member assured her.

Sang Wan smiled and said nothing more, returning to her seat.

Yue Bai seized the chance to drape one leg over Sang Wan’s. Both had long legs, and when stacked, Yue Bai’s thigh pressed against the underside of the desk.

Sang Wan extended her leg forward a bit, easing the angle.

Yue Bai was utterly satisfied.

The video began playing. The first shot was the school gate, and as time passed, the camera pushed forward, gradually entering the campus interior.

“Are they starting on promo videos this early?” Yue Bai asked.

Sang Wan replied, “Not really. Gaokao is just over a month away. Post-production editing, subtitles, and reviews all take time.”

Yue Bai nodded as if she understood. When she’d filled out her college applications, she’d watched A University’s promo video too. It had a great atmosphere, especially the sweeping aerial shots of the campus, which were truly stunning.

But Yue Bai barely watched the video.

The classroom was silent except for the sound from the screen. No other noises could be heard.

Even whispering now would be crystal clear to everyone around.

So Yue Bai didn’t dare keep chatting with Sang Wan.

In the darkness, she played with Sang Wan’s fingers, pinching from thumb to pinky and back again, over and over. She never tired of it, as if Sang Wan’s hand were the most fascinating toy.

The video was short, just over ten minutes. When it ended, the girl flipped on the lights.

The sudden brightness made many squint uncomfortably.

Yue Bai quickly pulled her leg back.

Sang Wan’s lips curved up.

“Alright, the video’s done. Feel free to point out any shortcomings,” the girl said.

“I think the shots are solid overall. No real flaws, but nothing that really grabs you either. Pretty standard stuff,” Fang Zhou spoke first.

“I say it’s fine as is. A University’s name alone makes it a perfect recruitment brochure,” someone joked.

Sang Wan smiled softly. She turned her head slightly, her voice not loud but clear enough for the whole class. “What do you think, Yue Bai?”

The gentle question made Yue Bai feel like they were dating in front of everyone.

She held back her burning embarrassment and spoke slowly. “I actually agree with that classmate earlier. A University’s name is the brochure. Everything else is standard—no mistakes is best.”

Sang Wan noted the curve of Yue Bai’s eyes, realizing her junior hadn’t watched a single bit of the video and had just echoed the previous comment without knowing the content.

“Thank you all for your help,” Sang Wan said with a smile, standing to take the USB drive from the girl.

She showed no sign of leaving.

Though Yue Bai’s classmates were curious, no one could ask her to go without seeming rude.

Gradually, chatter filled the room, the usual daily topics.

Sang Wan looked down at her phone.

Yue Bai did the same.

No one knew that these two, sitting so close yet silent, were eagerly typing away on their little screens.

“Senior Sister, did you really need our class to review the promo video?” Yue Bai messaged.

“I told you, I needed an excuse. Sorry for wasting ten minutes of your classmates’ time,” Sang Wan replied.

Yue Bai looked up happily. She knew Senior Sister had done it for her.

From the corner of her eye, Sang Wan still appeared absorbed in her phone, like she was checking something important.

Yue Bai’s fingers flew across the screen. “Senior Sister, maybe you should go back. Self-study doesn’t end for over an hour. You’ll get bored.”

Sang Wan’s fingertip hovered over the screen. She glanced at Yue Bai imperceptibly before typing. “But I begged you for this. It’s not counting anymore?”

Yue Bai’s heart felt like it was coated in honey. She pretended to hesitate with a couple of coughs. “Fine then.”

To keep Sang Wan from getting bored, Yue Bai opened her tablet, selected a movie, and slid it over.

Sang Wan blinked.

Yue Bai nodded at the tablet, indicating Sang Wan could watch to pass the time.

Sang Wan looked at her for a long moment before pushing the tablet back, her voice light and clear. “No need.”

“Looking at you keeps me entertained,” she typed and sent.

Yue Bai’s phone buzzed. She instinctively glanced over. Before the screen fully dimmed, she vaguely made out those words.

Instantly, the blush at her earlobes spread across her entire ears and reached both cheeks.

Senior Sister was too good at this. Shyly, she lit up the screen and stared at it over and over before long-pressing to save it.

“I want to see Senior Sister too,” Yue Bai sent.

She glanced around and, seeing no one paying attention, sneaked over to Sang Wan’s seat. She slid onto half of the chair Sang Wan was occupying.

Yue Bai took a deep breath, shrugged off her jacket, and draped it behind her to block any sidelong glances.

Sang Wan’s brows furrowed slightly. The room wasn’t cold, but she still worried that Yue Bai might catch a chill.

“Put it on,” said Sang Wan.

Yue Bai glanced at the message on her phone. “Not wearing it.”

“You’ll catch a cold,” Sang Wan replied.

Yue Bai deliberately shivered in her hoodie and turned her head as if casually chatting with the person seated behind her. “The temperature’s so high today. I’m getting hot even with my jacket on.”

“It’s warming up,” the person behind her said. “I saw on my phone that it’ll rise a few more degrees over the next few days.”

Yue Bai nodded emphatically. “Looks like I need to check the weather before heading out next time. It’s too hot if you overdress.”

With that, she turned back around and propped her chin smugly on her hand as she gazed at the person beside her.

Sang Wan stared at her phone, her expression blank.

Yue Bai’s delight grew. Was this Senior Sister’s way of admitting she was helpless against her?

“I’m not wearing it,” Yue Bai messaged.

She watched as a small bulge flickered briefly across Sang Wan’s cheek when the message arrived—probably her tongue pressing against it from the inside.

Something occurred to Yue Bai, and she licked her lips with a lingering savor.

Her phone stayed silent. Sang Wan sent no reply.

“Can’t do anything about me, huh?” Yue Bai continued. “Tell you what—if you send a kissy-face emoji, I’ll put it on. Deal?”

Sang Wan didn’t budge. She switched off her phone, slipped it into her pocket, and walked out of the classroom, her face impassive the whole way.

Yue Bai’s eyes widened in alarm. Watching Sang Wan stride away without a hint of hesitation, she realized she’d gone too far. She snatched up her jacket and hurried after her.

“Senior Sister!” Yue Bai called out the moment they were past the classroom door.

Sang Wan didn’t break stride and turned the corner into the hallway.

Yue Bai quickened her pace to catch up.

“Senior Sister,” she called again.

Sang Wan kept walking.

“Senior Sister!” Yue Bai finally reached her and grabbed her wrist. “I was wrong. I’ll put it on right now.”

Sang Wan turned, her deep, dark eyes fixing on Yue Bai’s face. “Weren’t you not wearing it?”

“I’ll wear it,” Yue Bai said at once. She fumbled hurriedly with the jacket right there in front of Sang Wan, shrugging it on and even straightening the collar under her watchful gaze.

“The temperature’s rising?” Sang Wan asked coolly.

“Mm-hmm.” Yue Bai nodded on instinct, then caught herself and shook her head. “Even if it’s warming up, I still need to dress properly to avoid catching a cold.”

“Is that so?” A soft laugh escaped Sang Wan as she leaned back against the wall behind her. Her eyes drifted toward the dim light at the end of the corridor.

This spot was perfect.

“Mm-hmm!” Yue Bai nodded vigorously, desperate to make her case. “I was wrong—really wrong. Please don’t be mad, Senior Sister.”

Sang Wan crossed her arms. “Who said I was mad?”

“You…” Yue Bai hesitated.

“Didn’t you say you’d put it on if I sent a kissy-face emoji?” Sang Wan leaned in close, one hand pressing down on Yue Bai’s shoulder. She angled her body slightly, slipping them into a camera blind spot, and swiftly pressed a kiss to Yue Bai’s lips before she could react. “I’m right here in front of you. Why bother with an emoji?”

“The night’s getting cool,” Sang Wan added, the corners of her mouth curving faintly. “Wear your jacket properly. You’ve got half an hour until self-study ends. I’ll be waiting for you in the classroom downstairs.”