What did that mean?
Why was Si Yiheng asking which seat she was in? Could it be that Si Yiheng was actually in their classroom too?
Shu Yu’s heart was pounding with panic.
She lifted her head and scanned the room. Seeing her gaze sweeping across the classroom, Shen Qinghan leaned over and followed her line of sight, looking around as well.
But after watching for a while, he still couldn’t figure out what she was looking for.
Curious, Shen Qinghan spoke up, “What are you looking at?”
Shu Yu replied absently, “Si Yiheng.”
Shen Qinghan let out a cold snort, his tone icy. “Si Yiheng isn’t here. He’s far too busy.”
Shu Yu’s eyelashes fluttered rapidly a few times. “Oh… that’s good then.”
The tight tension in her body melted instantly. As long as Si Yiheng wasn’t here, everything was fine.
But even so, this place was still too risky to stay in. The longer she lingered, the greater the chance of trouble.
For all she knew, Gu Yunjing might show up any minute to pick a fight. She had to skip class and get out of this hot spot.
Shu Yu lowered her head and typed a reply to Si Yiheng.
Little Fish Swimming Around: I’m not in class! I don’t even have any classes today.
Shen Qinghan leaned over again. “Well, look at you—playing on your phone during class, and chatting with Si Yiheng again no less.”
That Si Yiheng was such a scoundrel. He claimed he didn’t like her, yet he kept trying to lead her on every single day. Even while she was supposed to be in class, he was still out there tempting her.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the campus…
Si Yiheng stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, watching the heavy, unrelenting rain pour down outside. Sheets of water merged into a single curtain, as if the whole world was being battered by the storm.
His phone buzzed once. He picked it up and read Shu Yu’s reply.
A faint frown creased his brow. But he’d clearly heard her get up this morning, grumbling and complaining about having to drag herself to that early 8 a.m. class.
He grabbed his black umbrella and headed out.
When Si Yiheng arrived at the school, he spotted a tiny orange kitten huddled under a lush green tree, seeking shelter from the rain. It looked as though it had only just been separated from its mother; its eyes were still damp and wide, and it had curled itself into a small, trembling ball.
At first, Si Yiheng had no intention of stopping.
But the moment his eyes landed on the little creature, he suddenly thought of Shu Yu.
If she’d forgotten her umbrella, she would probably be stuck shivering under the overhang of the teaching building, staring miserably up at the dark clouds and the pouring rain.
She might even start crying.
Her eyes would glisten with tears, looking wronged and pitiful, as if the storm itself had done her an injustice.
Si Yiheng first carried the kitten to the nearest sheltered cat house, then turned and walked toward the academic building.
What he didn’t know was that no sooner had he left than the playful little orange kitten wandered right back out of its bed. It crouched down on the soft grass, began licking its fur, and gazed up curiously at the passersby, tilting its fluffy little head from time to time.
Back in the classroom, Shu Yu felt a twinge of guilt, but she was sitting in the very last row. In a room where most students were already glued to their phones anyway, she didn’t stand out much.
Waiting for the right moment, she watched as Teacher Zhang walked past the aisle and turned his back to the class to head toward the podium. That was her chance. She grabbed her books, snatched up her umbrella, and slipped out the door in one smooth motion.
She moved so quickly and quietly—clearly a seasoned pro at skipping class—that hardly anyone noticed her departure.
Shen Qinghan saw her bolt and immediately tried to follow, only to be caught red-handed the second Teacher Zhang turned around.
Teacher Zhang raised an eyebrow. “Why are you standing up?”
Shen Qinghan stretched lazily, feigning nonchalance. “Got tired of sitting. Just wanted to stand for a bit and look around.”
Teacher Zhang saw right through his act but didn’t bother calling him out. Glancing over, he also noticed that the girl sitting next to Shen Qinghan was no longer there.
He didn’t think much of it, though, assuming she was just a visitor auditing the lecture and had stepped out for an emergency.
He shot Shen Qinghan a sharp look. “If you don’t want to fail this course, sit back down and pay attention.”
Defeated, Shen Qinghan sank back into his seat.
He immediately fired off a text to Shu Yu.
Shen Qinghan: Nice move, skipping class! I’ve got proof now.
Shen Qinghan: I’m telling Si Yiheng you bailed.
Elsewhere in the building, Gu Yunjing had been searching everywhere for Shu Yu without success. The last time they’d met, Shu Yu had slapped her, and she’d moved out of their dorm room right after. Gu Yunjing still hadn’t gotten her revenge.
But after searching every corner, she still couldn’t find her.
Because of all the recent drama, Xie Mengying had been distracted during class. When she happened to glance over and see Gu Yunjing craning her neck and looking around, she asked casually, “What are you searching for?”
Gu Yunjing replied, “I’m looking for Shu Yu. She hit me last time, and I haven’t settled the score yet. Could she really be bold enough to skip even Old Man Zhang’s class?”
Xie Mengying was also curious to see what kind of girl could stay by Si Yiheng’s side for so long.
Xie Mengying herself was very beautiful and had always been surrounded by admirers. She’d never paid any attention to someone as unremarkable and invisible as Shu Yu.
Seeing Gu Yunjing come up empty-handed, Xie Mengying said with a hint of disappointment, “Maybe she showed up just to sign the attendance sheet and then left, or maybe she got someone else to take her place.”
“Besides, Si Yiheng probably gives her plenty of money anyway.”
Just thinking about Si Yiheng’s wealth made Xie Mengying feel a twinge of envy.
So even someone with ordinary looks could get lucky like that.
Unable to find Shu Yu and with no chance to get even, Gu Yunjing felt utterly frustrated. It seemed she was the only one who’d ended up humiliated.
Glancing again at the empty seat beside Shen Qinghan, where the little “cat” had slipped away, Gu Yunjing felt even more annoyed.
“Shen Qinghan is nothing but a scoundrel,” she huffed. “He used to pretend to be so crazy about you, but the moment he sees someone prettier, he runs off. And he even brought that girl to class today.”
Xie Mengying felt even more dejected. She’d caught a glimpse of the girl earlier, too—though she was wearing a mask, it was obvious she was stunning.
Her voice turned glum. “When did someone like that start attending our school? How come I’ve never heard of her before?”
Gu Yunjing suggested, “Maybe she doesn’t go here. She could be from the Film Academy in City A.”
Only students from that academy could be that good-looking. She’d definitely become famous someday.
Neither Gu Yunjing nor Xie Mengying ever guessed that the girl they were talking about was actually from their own school—let alone that it was Shu Yu herself.
Gu Yunjing quickly tried to cheer her up. “Mengying, you’re beautiful too. You’ll find someone who truly appreciates you. And one day, Si Yiheng will open his eyes and see how wonderful you are.”
Xie Mengying smiled gently. “I hope so.”
The academic building Shu Yu was in had twenty-two floors. Aside from the classrooms in use for lectures, the rest were open spaces where students often came to study or work on their own. Some would stay until it was time to head to the cafeteria for meals.
As Shu Yu walked out of the building, she blended into a crowd of other students—some leaving, others arriving. Everyone carried an umbrella, chatting in pairs or small groups as they hurried along.
Stepping outside, Shu Yu felt the wind carry damp, cool air that lifted the ends of her hair. The scent of wet earth and fresh grass filled the air, so invigorating that she couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
At that same moment, Si Yiheng walked past her. A soft, sweet fragrance—like citrus—drifted through the wind and brushed against his nose. A lock of her loosely curled hair fluttered right in front of his eyes.
The scent felt strangely familiar.
He slowed his steps.
But Shu Yu’s umbrella blocked most of her view, so she had no idea who had just walked by.
Suddenly, her system assistant, Iron Egg, screamed inside her head:
“AHHHHH, BABE! SI YIHENG IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!”