After saying these words, Sang Yu tossed the tray to Huo Yan, shot him a glare that was both annoyed and embarrassed, then turned and left.
Huo Yan was momentarily stunned. Her eyes had been glistening, the corners tinged with red. Just one glance from her seemed enough to captivate one’s soul.
It wasn’t until Sang Yu was out of sight that Huo Yan looked down at the tray in his hands. Recalling their earlier conversation, he let out an almost imperceptible chuckle and casually carried the items into the private room.
Returning to her seat, Sang Yu felt her cheeks flush uncontrollably as she thought about what had just happened. She bit her lip lightly, trying to push that figure out of her mind, and switched to the coding interface to continue her work.
Once Sang Yu focused on her tasks, she easily lost track of time. It was only when the sun began to set that she realized how late it was. After saving the partially written code and packing her things, she prepared to leave.
As she was about to go, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the private room where Huo Yan was. In the end, she said nothing and turned to leave.
After work, Sang Yu returned home. While showering, hot water streamed over her skin, and a slight but unmistakable sting emanated from her waist.
Checking in the mirror, she noticed bruises had formed.
Her mind drifted back to everything that had happened that day in the small woods—the distinct, bony hands gripping her waist tightly, and the blush-inducing, heart-pounding intimacy.
Madman!
Couldn’t he have been gentler? Every time in her past life, it was always like this!
Sang Yu wasn’t sure whether she was more angry or embarrassed. The only thing she was certain of was that she didn’t dislike it and, strangely, it felt all too familiar.
After finishing her shower quickly, Sang Yu lay down in bed, placing her phone on the nightstand as she prepared to sleep. Just as she closed her eyes, her phone began to vibrate. Seeing that it was Jiang Yi calling, a cold glint flashed in her moist eyes. She ignored it and rolled over.
The ringing soon stopped, but it started up again almost immediately. This time, it was calls from the Shen family—some from Shen Yanyan, others from Father Shen.
Eventually, irritated by the incessant noise, Sang Yu set her phone to silent, paying no mind to how many calls were coming through, and fell into a deep sleep.
Sang Yu dreamed again.
In her dream, she relived the day of her death, once again feeling the sensation of her heart being torn from her body. She struggled desperately to escape, but those people gave her no chance.
The scene shifted abruptly to Huo Yan holding her lifeless body—his demeanor frantic yet tender, obsessive and heart-wrenching.
Sang Yu opened her eyes to find it was already daylight outside. After taking a moment to collect herself, she reached for her phone and saw countless missed calls. A trace of mockery flickered in her eyes.
Then, as if she hadn’t seen them, she went about her morning routine—washing up and heading downstairs for breakfast.
When she arrived at school, Huo Yan hadn’t come yet. Sang Yu didn’t ask around and quietly took out her book to read.
Not long after, the previously quiet classroom began to fill with murmurs. The noise grew louder, making it impossible for Sang Yu to ignore.
“That’s Jiang Yi! Why is Jiang Yi here?”
“He must be looking for someone!”
“Jiang Yi is so handsome! In all of Huaqing, only Huo Yan could possibly compare to him.”
“How can they even be compared? Someone like Huo Yan isn’t fit to stand next to Jiang Yi.”
“…”
The chatter around her forced Sang Yu to look up, and she saw the figure approaching against the light.
Jiang Yi’s current appearance lacked the maturity he would later possess. Dressed in a white shirt tucked into suit pants, his legs appeared long and straight. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses framed his face, and when his gaze fell upon you, it seemed to carry a hint of tenderness. His thin lips pressed together slightly, forming a subtle curve.
He offered a perfectly measured smile to those around him, his sharply defined features appearing somewhat hazy under the sunlight.
He truly embodied the image of a campus heartthrob from university days—someone who commanded admiration and attention wherever he went.
Sang Yu’s eyes grew distant as she suddenly recalled her past life.
In her previous existence, she had been utterly captivated by this version of Jiang Yi.
Excellent grades, prestigious family background, polite and gentle demeanor—in young Sang Yu’s eyes back then, he had been nothing short of radiant.
Yet who could have known that this seemingly luminous person would reveal such disgust and contempt when facing her, even uttering so many heartless words?
And in her past life, she had foolishly believed it was all her fault.
Her reminiscence was interrupted when Jiang Yi, unnoticed by her, had already approached Sang Yu’s desk. He tapped lightly on its surface, his tone gentle yet carrying a barely detectable disdain: “Sang Yu, I need to speak with you.”
The moment these words were spoken, the surrounding classmates’ attention shifted to Sang Yu—some gazes held surprise, others envy or jealousy, a mixture of various emotions.
Sang Yu blinked, tilting her head with an innocent expression: “Can’t we talk here?”