Dimples
Su Yuning craned her neck curiously to get a better look, only to see a golden-haired foreigner walk in. He had deep-set eyes, and according to Chu Shuangshuang, he was Italian and had given himself the Chinese name Sang Wen.
The first impression was indeed stunning. Even across ethnic lines, Su Yuning could appreciate the professor’s beauty. His voice was pleasant too, and he spoke fluent Chinese.
Su Yuning wanted to take a closer look when a hand turned her head back.
“Why are you looking at him?” Zuo Xingyan grumbled. “Look at your boyfriend. Isn’t your boyfriend handsomer than him?”
Su Yuning wanted to call him narcissistic, but after glancing at his face, she had to admit he had the capital for it.
In the art classroom, aside from those watching Professor Sang, most of the girls were also frequently glancing back at him.
Su Yuning recalled a topic she’d seen while browsing the forum: “On the Big Shots You Absolutely Shouldn’t Mess With at School.”
Of course, no names were directly mentioned, but there were only a few in each class, so it was easy to match them up.
The topic had been around for a long time, and Su Yuning had even stumbled upon Meng Zhizhuo’s initials in it. She also remembered Quan Ling’s words: “You’re not part of this circle, so you don’t know what they represent behind the scenes.” Now, facing the meaningful expressions of the girls around her, she felt a subtle unease.
It felt like… she had snatched away everyone’s resource.
“What are you thinking about?” Her cheek was gently pinched again. Su Yuning shook off those messy thoughts, shook her head, and casually said, “Thinking about what to eat for lunch.”
“What do you want to eat? I’ll take you out?”
After impulsively agreeing to be with Zuo Xingyan last night, Su Yuning had regretted it as soon as she returned to her dorm. Today was the first day, and she felt restless and uneasy.
They hadn’t been close before, and now they had no common topics. She didn’t know what to say to Zuo Xingyan, and it felt awkward.
When the class ended, she stubbornly stayed in her seat until everyone else had left. Since she didn’t move, Zuo Xingyan naturally didn’t leave either.
Throughout the class, he had mostly been watching Su Yuning, his gaze as bold and unrestrained as a wild beast’s. It wasn’t just Su Yuning who felt it—even the nearby students felt their hair stand on end and hurriedly slipped away after class.
Chu Shuangshuang followed closely behind Professor Sang, who was surrounded by many others. With deep, lingering eyes, his gaze swept over Su Yuning and Zuo Xingyan, who remained unmoving in the back, before he was whisked away by the chattering crowd.
Everyone was gone. Su Yuning let out a sigh of relief.
What she didn’t see was that Zuo Xingyan’s group of friends had originally stayed behind to watch the commotion, but after one sharp glance from him, they jostled each other and left.
Now, the entire art classroom was empty except for the two of them. Su Yuning mustered her courage and asked, “Um, how do you understand the three idioms ‘acting on impulse,’ ‘thinking things through carefully,’ and ‘going back on your word’?”
“Hmm…” Zuo Xingyan pretended to ponder, then flashed a row of gleaming white teeth under Su Yuning’s expectant gaze. “I’m not quite sure about that yet, since no one has dared to mess with me. Ningning, you wouldn’t want to find out either.”
Su Yuning shrank back. “…Sorry, but—”
Before she could finish, there was a sharp crack. Zuo Xingyan snapped an easel with his bare hands, then used the same hand to pat Su Yuning’s head, his gaze tender. “Ningning, how sturdy do you think this little head of yours is?”
Su Yuning: “But!!! I really want to eat at the cafeteria at noon! I don’t want to go out to eat!”
Zuo Xingyan laughed, “Ningning is so well-behaved. We’ll go wherever you say.” He pulled Su Yuning closer, kissed her forehead, and said, “My sweetheart.”
Su Yuning: Trembling with fear.
Looking at the tragically destroyed easel and then at the small dimple that curved on Zuo Xingyan’s face, Su Yuning felt as if she had fallen into a deep pit.
Liar!!! Dimples aren’t sweet at all!!
Holding hands with Zuo Xingyan as they headed to the cafeteria, the moment they appeared, the entire cafeteria seemed to fall silent for an instant. The forum was definitely buzzing with topics about her again, huh.
Su Yuning didn’t need to think to know what they would say.
“Sweetheart, want to go eat on the second floor with me?”
The large cafeteria had two floors, but Su Yuning had never been to the second floor, and neither had Quan Ling. She shook her head in refusal, and Zuo Xingyan didn’t push it.
“Alright, then we’ll stay on the first floor.”
Following Zuo Xingyan, she didn’t even have to serve herself. Zuo Xingyan had somehow already figured out all her preferences, serving only what Su Yuning liked, and the portion size was exactly what she usually ate.
Su Yuning was a bit puzzled. Seeing her expression, Zuo Xingyan couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her, quickly soothing her before she could get angry: “Sweetheart, look over there, there’s crab roe. It was air-shipped this morning, very fresh, and already prepared. Do you want some?”
Su Yuning’s eyes shifted over, and she swallowed her saliva, firmly saying, “Yes!”
Being with her made Zuo Xingyan easily happy. He smiled again, “Alright, I’ll go get it. You go sit and wait for me.”
The generous serving of crab roe and crab meat soothed Su Yuning’s frightened little heart. She ate with immense happiness and satisfaction, feeling as if the world had brightened.
Thank you, crabs.
After lunch, they returned to the dormitory for a nap. Quan Ling had also returned, and she was in a good mood, smiling as she said to Su Yuning, “Ningning, I applied to join the Arts Department of the Student Council. If nothing unexpected happens, the review should pass by Wednesday.”
Su Yuning was happy for her: “That’s great!”
Quan Ling had always wanted to join the Student Council. Perhaps the Student Council at the Aristocratic Academy was different from those at ordinary academies, offering access to a broader network of connections?
Su Yuning wasn’t too sure. She only knew that she definitely couldn’t get in and had never thought about it.
“Oh, by the way, Quan Yi came back yesterday. He said he wants to have dinner with us tonight. Ningning, can you postpone your part-time job for now? You should take a break too.”
Quan Yi was Quan Ling’s younger brother. Su Yuning had heard his name and seen his photo.
However, since he was from the Quan family, his intention to meet her was obvious. Su Yuning grew a bit nervous and called her former boss to ask for leave. The boss didn’t dare to approve it, chuckling as he said, “Well, Xiao Su, this shop doesn’t belong to me anymore. You’ll have to ask the current boss for leave.”
Su Yuning: “But aren’t you the manager? Last time, Shen Xiuhuai asked you for leave…” and you approved it.
“Well, your situation is different from others, isn’t it?”
Su Yuning understood.
The 980 yuan transfer hadn’t been accepted yet.
She sent a formal message: Hello, boss. I’d like to request leave tonight. There are some family matters I need to attend to.
Meng Zhizhuo was working at the time.
Although he appeared to be a frivolous playboy who only indulged in the neon-lit bars and nightlife, Meng Zhizhuo actually worked diligently every day.
It was just that recently, he had been feeling emotionally suppressed and downcast, often distracted and absent-minded during work, his eyes unconsciously drifting to the pinned chat message on his phone.
The contact was saved as “Su Su Baby,” and the conversation remained on his last message, with no response from the other side.
At the thought of Su Yuning, his fingers paused over the keyboard.
He had recently acquired an entertainment company.
The entertainment industry was never short of beautiful people.
Meng Zhizhuo had grown up surrounded by beauty, having tasted countless alluring red lips. Yet no one had ever haunted his thoughts and kept him tossing and turning like this.