The gathering was set for eight in the evening—karaoke and fun at a KTV.
At seven, Du Weiwei was still in the dorm touching up her makeup.
Halfway through, she glanced at Lin Wutong, who was bare-faced, and on a whim said, "Tongtong, let me do your makeup."
The girl's skin was soft, tender, and fair. Her features weren't the delicate, exquisite kind, but she had a gentle, graceful charm reminiscent of the Jiangnan water towns.
It was just that she was still young, the baby fat on her cheeks not yet fully gone, lending her a touch of childishness.
And because of that touch of childishness, she actually seemed very well-behaved.
Lin Wutong was used to going bare-faced. While she hesitated, Du Weiwei had already gotten up and walked over.
She shook Lin Wutong's arm, acting coquettish. "Come on, let me do it, let me do it."
She really didn't want to waste that pretty face.
Lin Wutong couldn't withstand her persistent pestering and soon gave in. "Alright, but keep it light."
Having gotten permission, Du Weiwei immediately promised, "Don't worry, it'll be so light it can't get any lighter."
She brought over her precious cosmetics, moved the books on Lin Wutong's desk aside, and prepared to work her magic.
But the girl's natural foundation was so good that it only took her about ten minutes to finish a simple makeup look.
Du Weiwei, full of pride, brought the mirror over for her to see. "How is it? Satisfied?"
Lin Wutong looked into the mirror. The reflection showed a version of herself with some of the rawness faded away.
Despite the makeup, she still had nothing to do with being delicate and glamorous.
Zhou Xuyan called, saying he was already downstairs. Du Weiwei suddenly realized her own makeup was only half done.
"Okay, give us a few minutes, we'll be right out."
She couldn't be bothered with careful detailing, quickly swiped on some lipstick, and pulled Lin Wutong along. "Tongtong, let's go, let's go."
At 7:50, their car arrived downstairs at the KTV.
Not early, not late.
Before entering the private room, Lin Wutong said she'd go to the restroom first.
Du Weiwei: "Then I'll come with you."
Lin Wutong smiled. "No need, you guys go in first."
"I'll be over in a bit."
"Alright then." Du Weiwei let go of her arm and reminded her of the room number once more.
After they parted, Lin Wutong followed the signs toward the restroom.
The KTV had a complicated layout, with corridors twisting and turning.
Just as she rounded a corner, she heard a female voice.
"Senior, what type of girl do you like?"
It was a tall, pretty girl confessing to Ji Ciye.
Lin Wutong instinctively wanted to turn and leave, but the two not far away had already looked over at the sound of footsteps.
Because of her abrupt intrusion, the air suddenly felt a bit awkward.
Caught between advancing and retreating, the girl seemed to realize she was heading to the restroom and voluntarily stepped aside, gesturing for her to pass first.
Lin Wutong had no choice but to steel herself and walk past the two of them.
Just as she was about to step into the next corner, she heard a lazy voice. "What did you just say?"
The girl's voice was sweet, her tone carrying hidden anticipation as she repeated, "Senior, what type of girl do you like?"
After a moment of silence, Lin Wutong heard two words, faint beyond faint. "Well-behaved ones."
As if said offhandedly.
"Huh?" The girl thought she'd misheard and couldn't help feeling a bit confused.
Rumor had it that he liked delicate and glamorous types, and she happened to be exactly that type.
She was even among the best of the girls.
She somewhat suspected Ji Ciye was deliberately using that answer to reject her, so she'd back off.
The girl wasn't willing to let it go just like that. A confident, bright smile curved her lips. "Senior, don't joke around."
Ji Ciye's patience had clearly run out. "It's been five minutes."
The girl's face paled slightly.
She had learned from a male friend that there was a celebration dinner for today's basketball game. After specifically asking for the location, she had come here early to wait.
She wanted to seize a chance to confess.
At the time, Ji Ciye had been walking with his teammates, so she asked, "Senior, I have something to tell you. Could you spare me five minutes?"
Now the five minutes were up.
The girl knew she truly had no hope. Her smile faded, and her voice was a little downcast. "I understand."
With that, she ran off with reddened eyes.
In the restroom, the faucet gurgled as cool water slid over soft, slender fingers, washing away the thin layer of sweat that had seeped from her palms due to nervousness.
Obedient?
Lin Wutong looked at herself in the mirror, momentarily dazed.
To avoid running into another awkward scene, she deliberately lingered in the restroom a while longer.
A few minutes later, when she came out, the person who should have left was still there.
Except two had become one.
The young man stood tall, leaning lazily against the wall and looking at his phone.
Hearing footsteps, he unhurriedly glanced over.
Their eyes met, and the air froze for a moment.
What followed a beat later was Lin Wutong's heartbeat.
Why… was he still here?
The girl's eyes were impossibly clear, and the bright confusion in them was impossible to hide.
Ji Ciye's lips curved slightly. He put his phone back in his pocket and answered her unspoken question. "Classmate, could you show me the way?"
"Huh?" Lin Wutong's pretty eyelashes blinked, even more confused.
Ji Ciye straightened up. Facing her, a faint smile rippled across his brows and eyes. "I don't know the private room number."
Now Lin Wutong understood.
Looking into his eyes, she said softly, "Okay, then come with me."
She walked ahead to lead the way, and Ji Ciye leisurely followed behind her.
He was tall with long legs, but he deliberately slowed his pace, always following at an unhurried rhythm.
Under the lights, their shadows pressed close together, looking intimately inseparable.
Lin Wutong walked on, forcing herself to stay calm. She wasn't good at socializing and didn't know what to say.
Her heart was tense the whole way.
Finally reaching the private room door, she stopped in her tracks.
Were they going to walk in together under everyone's gaze?
That didn't seem quite appropriate.
Ji Ciye asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
Lin Wutong turned to look at him. "How about you go in first?"
Guessing what she was worried about, Ji Ciye smiled but said nothing.
His arm reached past her and he opened the door for her himself.
The moment the door pushed open, the music from inside the private room spilled out.
Someone noticed the doorway and called out, "Boss, you're back."
That one call made everyone's eyes turn toward them.
Someone else shouted, "Junior, come in and sit!"
They had all seen Lin Wutong that afternoon and knew she was Du Weiwei's friend, so they were exceptionally enthusiastic now.
Lin Wutong smiled and gave a soft "Mm," then walked inside.
Du Weiwei got up and came over to pull her along, and the two sat together.
Ji Ciye followed right after and walked in.
A teammate offered him a seat. "Boss, sit here."
Ji Ciye ignored it and strolled over to a single sofa off to the side, sitting down.
They were all used to his casual, carefree manner.
At first, when they weren't familiar with him, they always thought he was just acting cocky because of his good looks and privileged family background.
After spending time together, they realized he really was arrogant—but also genuinely loyal.
After a few games, everyone was thoroughly convinced.
Not to mention, a free carry—might as well take advantage of it.
Another teammate tossed him a can of beer and teased with a grin, "Boss, did the junior schoolgirl confess to you?"
"Junior schoolgirl?" Ji Ciye drawled in reply.
That term "junior schoolgirl" was highly ambiguous.
When Lin Wutong had just walked in earlier, that was exactly what they had called her.