“I’m not.”
Just as Shen Junxi was about to take her to the infirmary, Su Niansheng pulled his hand away. “I don’t have a fever, and my mental state is fine. I know you might not believe me now, but later…”
Later, he didn’t hear a single word she said.
His gaze and attention were entirely focused on the small hand holding his.
“Su Niansheng! Su Niansheng!”
Suddenly, a voice called from the doorway—her deskmate.
Su Niansheng turned around.
“Finally found you! The homeroom teacher wants you in his office right now!”
“I’ll just…”
“No ‘just’—it’s urgent!”
“Alright.” She nodded, letting go of Shen Junxi’s hand. “Then… can you wait for me? I’ll talk to you when I get back.”
Only then did the boy’s wandering thoughts slowly return.
“Wait.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Your hair is wet.”
Shen Junxi took off his jacket and draped it over her. As he put the hood on her, his thumb gently wiped away the raindrops clinging to the ends of her hair. “It’s raining outside. Be careful.”
The familiar tone of concern, the gesture, and the jacket still carrying the warmth of his body—all of it reminded Su Niansheng of the scene just before her death. Her nose tingled with emotion, and a misty sheen of tears welled up in her eyes.
To the boy, her eyes sparkled, glistening and flickering like those of a beautiful ragdoll cat caught in the rain—pitiful and adorable, stunning him so much he forgot to breathe, even to think.
“Shen Junxi, please don’t leave, okay?”
Zhong Zhe watched the scene, a suspicion stirring in his heart.
Did they know each other?
This behavior from the Eldest Young Master Shen was unusual, far too unusual. A person so fastidious he couldn’t even be bothered to accept love letters from girls—lending out his own jacket and even helping to dry her hair?
It seemed their relationship was anything but ordinary, far from it.
“What a joke?”
Duan Chengyu, on the other hand, noticed nothing at all.
Not only did he notice nothing, he even found Su Niansheng laughable.
Trying to flirt in such a simple, straightforward way? Just calling him “Brother” and acting pitiful would work? Did she think Jun-ge was as easy to chase as Shi Yubai? He was the Crown Prince of the prestigious Shen family, the top young master of the capital’s elite circles—what kind of beauties hadn’t he seen? Even if she was the school belle, it made no difference.
“Jun-ge, it’s almost time. Let me take you to the airport!”
He slung his backpack over his shoulder and was about to leave when he barged between the two, only to receive a solid punch on the shoulder.
“Ouch, what was that for?”
“Where are you going?”
“To… to abroad. Aren’t you going to study overseas?”
Duan Chengyu looked at him, utterly bewildered.
Shen Junxi: “If you’re so obsessed with foreign things, go yourself.”
Duan Chengyu: “??”
Him, obsessed with foreign things?
Him, go?
Was he hearing this right? Who was it that kept saying he was going to study in the U.S., might even settle there, and never come back?
He’d begged and pleaded for half the day, crying and carrying on, but Shen Junxi remained unmoved. And now?
Wait, could it really be because of a single sentence from the school belle?
What top young master of the capital’s elite circles—this was way too cheap!
Hearing these words, Su Niansheng knew he wouldn’t leave. The tears at the corners of her eyes immediately turned into a joyful smile, and she left with her deskmate, reassured.
“Wait for me!”
At the entrance of the boxing room, a group of people watched in stunned silence, murmuring among themselves.
“Seriously, why is Shen Shao so obedient to her? He’s even giving up studying abroad for her!”
“Ahhh, so jealous! He even draped his jacket over her. I’ve been watching him practice boxing and play basketball for so long, and I’ve never even managed to give him a bottle of water!”
“Aren’t they supposed to be strangers?”
“Being pretty really is an advantage. Is there any way to win without relying on looks?”
“Hmm.”
As if responding to her, the young man let out an almost imperceptible hum from his throat. Slowly, he raised his hand, his fingertips lingering as he rubbed them together before bringing them to the tip of his nose.
How long had it been since she last held his hand?
The sensation had changed—it wasn’t quite the same as when they were children…
Zhong Zhe noticed the delight in his eyes as he stared fixedly at the girl’s retreating figure, seemingly lost in thought. Unable to hold back, he took out his phone and reminded him, “Junxi, are you sure she’s not just using you? There’s a new post on the campus forum that’s already climbed to the top of the trending list.”
Shen Junxi glanced sideways and saw the glaringly eye-catching title of the post—#Shocking! School Belle Spends a Fortune to Chase the School Hunk—Su Niansheng, You’re Too Much!#
His gaze suddenly darkened. In the damp, gloomy rain, it felt like a spider’s web—intricate and suffocating—tightly wrapping around the girl’s figure, trapping her within it.
Using him?
Whether she was using him or not…
Sheng Sheng, this time it was you who held onto me. From now on, no matter what happens, I will never let go.
“…I just received a call from the hospital. Thanks to the timely payment of the surgery fees, Shi Yubai’s mother received effective treatment. This is the certificate of commendation the school awarded you, praising your spirit of solidarity, friendship, and selfless dedication toward your classmates. Niansheng, take it.”
The homeroom teacher had called her to the office specifically to discuss Shi Yubai’s situation. Su Niansheng had no interest in listening and didn’t accept the certificate.
“No need, teacher. Shi Yubai said he’ll repay the money, so it’s not exactly selfless dedication.”
She walked out of the office.
The rain had stopped.
The world seemed cleansed of dust, exuding a fresh and tranquil atmosphere. She tilted her face slightly upward, feeling the sunlight wash over her as the faint fragrance of flowers filled her lungs.
Only now did she truly feel reborn.
Nineteen years old—an age as vibrant as flowers, the starting point of life. Every part of her body was healthy, brimming with vitality and energy.
Heaven had truly given her another chance.
This time, she would seize it, cherish her career and the people who loved her, and no longer foolishly allow herself to be used by Shi Yubai and Lin Yixuan.
She would no longer love Shi Yubai.
“President, here are the materials submitted by the English club. Please take a look.”
“Alright.”
Shi Yubai took the materials and, as he lowered his head, inadvertently caught sight of a girl’s figure.
She stood in the garden, slightly rising on her tiptoes to sniff a flower. Her smooth, long, straight black hair was gently lifted by the evening breeze, revealing half of her delicate and radiant face.
Beneath her white dress, her slender shoulder blades tensed, like a butterfly sprouting wings in the air filled with fine raindrops, ready to take flight. It was a sight that left one momentarily entranced.
Lin Yixuan had just stepped out of the restroom when she saw the scene.
Shi Yubai stood in the corridor, a half-opened file in his hand, seemingly captivated by something below, lost in thought.
Curious, she walked over and followed his gaze downward… It was Su Niansheng!
What kind of act was she putting on this time?
She had even managed to distract Yubai.
He was someone with such intense focus, never wasting time on irrelevant people or matters. Yet today, he had been watching her for so long. Could it be because…
“Yubai, you’re not moved just because she donated money for your aunt, are you?”
She suddenly spoke up, interrupting the boy’s train of thought.
“Don’t forget, she’s the one who caused…”
“Of course not.”
Shi Yubai frowned deeply, withdrew his gaze, closed the documents, and headed toward the teaching building.