The excitement of the welcome party faded with the end of September, and the “October Holiday” arrived soon after. The vast campus instantly became much emptier.
Lu Yao’s home was in a neighboring province, so she packed her bags early. Before leaving, she reluctantly bid farewell to Ruan Chaoxi: “Chaoxi, are you really not coming home with me for a few days? My mom’s cooking is amazing!”
Ruan Chaoxi smiled and shook her head: “Thanks, but I want to take this holiday to explore the capital properly. Have a safe trip and enjoy your break.”
After seeing Lu Yao off, Ruan Chaoxi didn’t feel lonely. She changed into comfortable casual clothes and began her solo “exploration.”
No bodyguards clearing the way, no VIP access—just bustling crowds and noisy chaos, yet she reveled in it.
She enjoyed the freedom of blending into the lively atmosphere as an “ordinary person,” observing the ancient city’s unique vitality during the holiday.
Every time she queued up, every simple exchange with a street vendor, every moment she got lost in the maze-like hutongs and found her way back by instinct—all of it gave her a more tangible touch of what “ordinary life” felt like.
At nine in the evening, the video call connected on time.
“Where did you go today?” Samia asked, his gaze gently sweeping over her eyes and brows, as if trying to read the traces of her day on her face.
“I went to Nanluoguxiang,” Ruan Chaoxi replied, holding a cup of water as she sat in her chair. “It was so crowded. I also tried douzhir… such a strange taste.” She wrinkled her nose, looking rather adorable.
Samia chuckled softly, his eyes affectionate. “Don’t force yourself if you don’t like it.”
“Mhm…” She nodded, unconsciously rubbing the rim of her cup with her fingertips. Suddenly, she remembered seeing a couple holding hands in the hutong during the day, and her face inexplicably grew warm, her words faltering.
“What’s wrong?” Samia keenly noticed her momentary pause and the blush that spread across her cheeks.
“N-nothing.” Ruan Chaoxi shook her head, averting her gaze, though her heartbeat quickened.
Ever since Lu Yao’s joke about a “boyfriend,” her feelings when facing Samia on video had quietly changed. What was once pure dependence and closeness now carried a hint of shyness.
She didn’t quite understand why this change was happening, only vaguely sensing that the flutter she felt around Miya-gege was becoming clearer—tinged with sweetness, yet also a little unsettling.
Seeing her like this, Samia felt a gentle tug at his heartstrings.
His Xixi seemed… a little different.
That shy, evasive demeanor, reminiscent of a young girl harboring budding feelings, was something he had never seen in her before—at least, not the kind of expression one would have toward a “brother.”
This change filled him with a surge of wild joy, yet it was also gripped by panic.
He was overjoyed because she might be awakening, perhaps shifting him away from the “brother” role. But he was panicked because he feared misjudging the situation, and even more afraid that any rash move might disturb the tender sprout of newfound emotions. Moreover, she was thousands of miles away, completely beyond his control.
All he could do was respond to her through a small screen, with more gentleness and patience than before, indulging in this gradually emerging difference, while being gnawed at by an even more overwhelming possessiveness and unease.However, the tranquility and beauty of the holiday did not last long. The excitement from the freshman welcome party and the “gap” brought by the holiday made Jiang Yaoci feel he could wait no longer.
On the morning of the third day of the holiday, as Ruan Chaoxi had just stepped out of the dormitory area to head to the cafeteria, she was taken aback by the scene before her.
In the small square at the exit of the dormitory area, a heart-shaped archway had been decorated with countless pink and white balloons and delicate roses at some point. Beneath the archway sat a Lamborghini Revuelto, its hood also piled high with roses.
Beside the car stood Jiang Yaoci, dressed in a well-tailored casual suit, holding an extravagant bouquet of Rhodes roses. He was surrounded by a few friends egging him on, as well as many students who had stayed on campus during the holiday, stopping to watch and filming with their phones.
Seeing her appear, Jiang Yaoci’s eyes lit up. He immediately strode forward with the bouquet, his face still wearing that confident, triumphant smile. His voice was loud, ensuring everyone around could hear clearly:
“Ruan Chaoxi! Happy holiday!”
He presented the enormous bouquet of roses to her. “This holiday, let me show you the most exciting side of the capital! I’ve also arranged lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant, as a celebration of us getting to know each other… well, a celebration of the holiday!”
He was brimming with confidence, convinced that no girl could refuse such a grand public gesture, especially under the watchful eyes of so many.
The onlookers gasped and whispered among themselves, with many raising their phones to film even more eagerly. This kind of high-profile romantic gesture, reminiscent of an idol drama, was truly eye-catching in the relatively reserved university campus.
Ruan Chaoxi looked at the bouquet practically being shoved into her arms, then at Jiang Yaoci’s face, which was clearly saying, “Look how romantic and thoughtful I am,” before glancing over the surrounding gazes filled with either envy or curiosity. Her first reaction was not touched or shyness, but… absurdity.
Utterly absurd.
This was very different from the ways she had been pursued in Southeast Asia, where things were more discreet, more direct, and more dangerous.
There, it was either serious negotiations for a marriage of convenience or the more blatant plunder and possession of the underworld. It would never be like this—a performance for others to watch in broad daylight.
She suddenly felt that this new move by the peacock, her “specimen” for observation, was truly too “interesting”!
His current behavior patterns, underlying motives, and psychological state were all worth an in-depth “study.” Observing how he would advance step by step, how he would handle setbacks, how he would adjust his strategies… perhaps this could help her better understand the thought processes of men in this particular social circle.
So, unlike her previous cold refusals, she didn’t even push the bouquet away immediately. Instead, she took a slight step back, creating some distance.
“Senior Jiang,” her voice was calm, showing no trace of being frightened or moved by the scene. “Thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful. But I already have plans with someone.” She casually made up an excuse, her gaze sweeping over the filming phones. “And this… might not be very appropriate. Please put everything away and avoid disturbing the other students.”
She didn’t accept, didn’t explicitly reject, didn’t scold him harshly to embarrass him, and her tone was even quite gentle.
This gave Jiang Yaoci a misconception—
Did this mean she was actually somewhat swayed by this? Was she just too shy?He immediately seized the opportunity, pushing the bouquet closer to her and softening his tone. “It’s fine, you can keep the flowers. How about we meet tomorrow? Or whenever you’re free—I’ll be waiting.”
Ruan Chaoxi looked into his eyes, brimming with anticipation and self-satisfaction, and her curiosity grew even stronger. She shook her head, said nothing more, and stepped past him and the extravagant heart-shaped archway.
After walking a few steps, she turned back and added to Jiang Yaoci, her tone carrying a faint hint of sarcasm. “Senior, if you want to express your feelings next time, perhaps… you could choose a more… environmentally friendly approach.”
With that, she left without another glance, heading straight toward the cafeteria, leaving behind the expensive bouquet, the flashy sports car, and all the stares and whispers.
Jiang Yaoci watched her retreating figure, his smile fading slightly but not disappearing entirely. She hadn’t outright rejected him—that was already a huge step forward!
His high-profile confession strategy was showing initial results!
He turned around and gave his friends a meaningful look. Immediately, someone stepped forward to dismantle the balloon archway and clean up the scene with remarkable efficiency.
“Yaoci, is there a chance?” a follower whispered, leaning in.
Jiang Yaoci smirked, his gaze fixed in the direction where Ruan Chaoxi had disappeared, burning with intensity. “Of course. Even the most stubborn woman can’t resist persistence. Besides, I’m offering her nothing but the best.”
He believed no girl could resist such an approach for long—even someone as unique as Ruan Chaoxi was no exception.
Meanwhile, Ruan Chaoxi, now seated quietly in a corner of the cafeteria eating breakfast, took small sips of her porridge while analyzing the earlier scene in her mind.
“Sample behavior: High-profile public confession, using material displays and grand gestures to create pressure and romantic expectations. Inferred motive: Demonstrating capability, generating public opinion, testing reactions. Response strategy: Maintain distance, politely decline, observe follow-up actions…”
She gently stirred her spoon, a playful smile curling at the corner of her lips.
The days ahead probably wouldn’t be too boring.