Jiang Si was standing at the doorway.
He was wearing the standard black-and-blue uniform of Shengtian International Academy.
His short black hair was neatly styled, with a few carefully dyed icy-blue highlights.
His features were sharp and sculpted, his jawline defined, his lips pale.
One hand rested casually in his pocket as his gaze swept over the slightly messy dorm room before finally landing on Xu Jingran.
“Are you done packing?”
He hadn’t expected the scholarship students’ dorm to be this small.
This entire room wasn’t even as big as his gaming room.
Hu Yunyun and Zhou Lin were completely stunned, their eyes wide, their breathing almost halted.
Jiang… Jiang Si?
One of the F5? The Jiang family’s young master who was said to be extremely arrogant, who almost never initiated contact with scholarship students, and who had even won an F1 racing championship?
Why was he here? And why was he speaking to Xu Jingran so casually?
Xu Jingran nodded and picked up her packed belongings. “Almost.”
“Mm.”
Jiang Si walked over and naturally extended his hand. “Give it to me.”
He took the box—which wasn’t exactly light—with ease.
He didn’t spare the two petrified girls a single glance. In fact, he felt slightly annoyed.
He had heard their earlier conversation.
Xu Jingran’s situation seemed even more difficult than he had imagined.
What on earth was Lu Ran doing?
Letting his girlfriend endure gossip like that.
“Let’s go. The car’s downstairs.”
Jiang Si curled his lips into a faint smile.
Xu Jingran nodded to her two roommates as a form of farewell, then followed Jiang Si out of the dorm.
Only after the door closed softly behind them did Hu Yunyun and Zhou Lin snap back to reality.
They stared at each other, shock and disbelief written all over their faces.
“That was Jiang Si? It really was him?”
Zhou Lin’s voice trembled.
Hu Yunyun rushed to the window and pulled the curtain aside.
Sure enough, downstairs was a sleek black sedan with an elegant silhouette. The logo was one they had only ever seen in financial magazines—clearly luxurious and expensive.
They didn’t even know the brand, but it looked costly.
Jiang Si placed Xu Jingran’s suitcase into the trunk and then opened the back door for her.
Xu Jingran got in. Jiang Si closed the door, walked around to the other side, and got into the driver’s seat.
The car started silently and drove smoothly toward S District.
“She wasn’t dumped…”
Hu Yunyun muttered, gripping the window frame so tightly her fingertips turned white. “She’s moving to S District. Jiang Si personally came to pick her up…”
Zhou Lin sank into her chair, staring at Xu Jingran’s now-empty bed and desk, bitterness rising in her chest.
Their earlier secret hopes and fleeting sense of superiority now seemed utterly ridiculous.
Xu Jingran hadn’t been expelled—she was being favored by another young master.
Xu Jingran watched the scenery blur past outside the window and spoke softly, “Thank you for coming, Jiang Si.”
Jiang Si glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her pink lips.
She had only applied a thin layer of light pink gloss. They looked like jelly.
The same shade as the lipstick mark on that milk tea straw.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he smiled. “It’s nothing. I have an obligation to help fellow students move dorms.”
Of course, if any other student dared to ask him for help, they’d be asking for trouble.
Jiang Si recalled how light her suitcase had been and looked at the uniform she was wearing.
It seemed that every time he saw her, she was wearing this same uniform.
It was indeed pretty—the girls’ version came in white with sky blue or white with pink.
Delicate and beautiful.
But wearing the same thing all the time would get boring.
Their academy only required uniforms on Mondays; other days, students could wear their own clothes.
Jiang Si suddenly changed direction.
Xu Jingran pressed her lips together. “This isn’t the way to S District.”
Jiang Si abruptly stopped the car.
Xu Jingran turned to him in confusion.
He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned toward her.
He could smell her fragrance, see her soft pink lips up close.
His slender, elegant fingers brushed through her hair—almost as if he were caressing her cheek.
Soft. Tender.
Exactly as he had imagined.
He leaned closer, his lips grazing her earlobe, his breathing low and slightly hoarse.
“Your seatbelt isn’t fastened properly.”
Xu Jingran instinctively looked down.
It was clearly already buckled.
But Jiang Si’s hand had already reached over.
His long fingers brushed against the fabric at her waist, as if unintentionally grazing her slim figure.
Instead of actually touching the buckle, his hand hovered there, effectively half-trapping her against the seat in a loose embrace.
Too close.
Xu Jingran shrank helplessly in his arms.
Jiang Si’s eyes were fixed on her lips.
[So I wasn’t seeing things. This is what you were waiting for, huh? Jiang Si, you’re straight-up lying — the seatbelt wasn’t even unbuckled!]
[Excuses! All excuses! This is just your way of getting close to her.]
[You saw your brother kiss her and now you’re jealous, aren’t you? Lu Ran treats you like a brother, and you’re playing tricks behind his back?]
[Hmm… I was excited about the female lead at first, but now I’m more excited about the second female lead. This plot is insane.]
[Nooo! I still want to see the male leads spoil the female lead!]
[Spoil the second female lead instead, I don’t care. I’m eating this drama up — it’s delicious!]
His lips stopped just a hair’s breadth away from Xu Jingran’s. Their breaths intertwined.
Xu Jingran trembled slightly; his hand on her waist tickled.
Her lips shifted slightly and brushed against Jiang Si’s for just a fleeting second.
Jiang Si licked his lips thoughtfully. When he looked down, he saw Xu Jingran covering her face.
Knowing she was shy, he leaned toward her ear. His voice was low, carrying a lazy smile.
“I’ll take you somewhere.”
“You didn’t bring enough clothes. I’ll take you shopping.”
With that, he smoothly returned to the driver’s seat and restarted the car.
Xu Jingran… so pure.
Just one touch, and she shrinks away shyly.
If they really did anything…
She probably wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Like a mimosa plant.
Curling tightly inward.
Jiang Si took a deep breath and touched her cheek with cool fingers.
“Don’t be scared. I won’t touch you. That was an accident.”
What he wanted was for Xu Jingran to willingly sit in his arms.
Xu Jingran nodded obediently, gripping her seatbelt tightly. She trusted him completely.
“Jiang Si, thank you.”
Her beautiful eyes were full of dependence.
Jiang Si pressed the accelerator harder.
[She’s way too obedient. Can’t you tell this bad guy wants to devour you whole?]
[Jiang Si is such a fake gentleman…]
[Just like his brother. Sneaks a kiss and then acts all serious.]
The car eventually stopped in front of a low-key but luxurious boutique.
The display window didn’t showcase flashy gowns, but impeccably tailored everyday clothing. Every piece looked expensive.
“Get out,” Jiang Si said, stepping out first.
Top-tier wealthy families usually wear custom-made clothing — perfectly fitted to ensure comfort.
The store lighting was soft, and the air carried a faint scent of iris.
The staff clearly recognized Jiang Si and greeted him respectfully.
“Young Master Jiang.”
After speaking, the sales associate curiously glanced at Xu Jingran. It was the first time Young Master Jiang had brought a girl shopping.
Jiang Si sat directly on a black leather sofa and pulled out a black card.
“Pick out a few outfits for her. Ready-to-wear.”
Xu Jingran hesitated. “Why are you suddenly buying me clothes? I already have—”
“I’m tired of seeing you in your uniform,” he interrupted casually. “If I’m buying them, just accept them.”
Xu Jingran didn’t belong in their world.
She was poor, with a tragic background.
Jiang Si normally wouldn’t spare someone like that a second glance.
There were countless miserable people in the world.
Yet none of their suffering moved him the way Xu Jingran’s lowered eyes had.
He didn’t know what that feeling meant.
He only knew he wanted to treat her well.
It was Xu Jingran’s first time in a place like this. The sales associate helped her try on more than ten outfits.
Every piece felt incredibly comfortable and looked beautiful.
The sales associate kept bringing more clothes.
What a beautiful girl.
Long legs, a slim waist, and an absolutely stunning face.
That red tear-shaped beauty mark beneath her eye was breathtaking.
Even more beautiful than current top celebrities.
The sales associate wished she had eight hands just to style this gorgeous girl.
Xu Jingran looked at herself in the mirror, feeling unfamiliar with the reflection.
When she stepped out from behind the curtain, Jiang Si — who had been looking at his phone — raised his head.
His gaze froze.
Xu Jingran was wearing a crescent-white silk slip dress. Thin white ribbons wrapped around her slender neck and delicate collarbones, tying into a bow at the back — one that could easily be undone.
Her smooth shoulders and back glowed under the store lights like polished pearls.
She really looked like a cute little kitten.
“It suits you,” he said, walking over naturally and adjusting the hem of her dress.
The sales associate smiled warmly at the sight.
“Young Master Jiang, your girlfriend looks beautiful in this.”
“You two look perfect together.”
She looked completely thrilled to be witnessing such a sweet couple.
Xu Jingran let out a small sound, embarrassed and about to explain.
But Jiang Si slightly lifted his chin and gently grasped her wrist.
“Wrap up everything she tried on. And order some seasonal bags and accessories. Deliver them to this address. Take ten thousand as your tip.”
The sales associate’s eyes lit up.