Jiang Tang pulled Shen Xiunian along as they ran for a while, and it truly felt as if they had left the world behind.
She noticed a beautiful café up ahead, its extended eaves providing shelter from the rain. Wind chimes hung from the eaves, tinkling softly in the rainy night.
Jiang Tang tugged Shen Xiunian toward it, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous smile. “Shen Xiunian, so you’ve never been cornered by a female classmate either?”
“No,” Shen Xiunian answered quickly.
He would never allow Jiang Tang to harbor even the slightest misunderstanding about him.
Jiang Tang’s smile widened. She reached out and gave Shen Xiunian a gentle push. Despite his tall stature—187 centimeters with long legs, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist—he actually took a step back under her slight force.
System: …Shen Xiunian, you’re really spoiling her to death.
Jiang Tang stepped forward, and Shen Xiunian willingly retreated.
Soon, he had nowhere left to go. His back pressed against the wall, the cold, damp sensation making him shiver slightly.
Jiang Tang stopped.
The next moment, Shen Xiunian pulled her forcefully with his arm.
Jiang Tang stumbled forward two steps and crashed directly into Shen Xiunian’s embrace!
The overwhelming scent of cedar momentarily stunned her.
Jiang Tang: !!
Her hands instinctively pressed against Shen Xiunian’s chest, but her fingers involuntarily curled slightly.
Shen Xiunian’s body was so warm.
Flustered, she looked up and met his gaze through his frameless glasses.
Shen Xiunian wrapped an arm around her waist. “Wasn’t the junior planning to corner me against the wall?”
He tilted the umbrella, instantly enclosing the two of them in the small space between the wall and the umbrella.
He looked down at Jiang Tang with a low chuckle. “Junior, I’m so scared.”
Jiang Tang’s heartbeat quickened uncontrollably. Shen Xiunian’s smile was far too captivating!
She shifted slightly, wanting to step back, but Shen Xiunian’s arm around her waist held firm.
Embarrassed and annoyed, she lightly punched his chest.
Shen Xiunian shushed her softly. “Be careful not to let the dean catch us.”
Jiang Tang: …Shen Xiunian is really getting into this role.
After a moment’s thought, she realized Shen Xiunian probably had never experienced hiding from a dean before. She decided to play along.
She obediently stayed still.
A clear smile spread across Shen Xiunian’s usually distant features.
Neither spoke, holding their breath as they waited for the “dean” to leave.
They could clearly hear each other’s heartbeats.
Thump-thump.
Their heartbeats seemed to synchronize.
Fast and urgent.
Jiang Tang’s fingers twitched, and she felt a little dizzy.
Behind her was the tilted umbrella; in front of her was Shen Xiunian’s warmth.
She was completely enveloped in Shen Xiunian’s space.
Jiang Tang felt like she was running out of air.
She whispered, “Shen Xiunian, has the dean left yet?”
Shen Xiunian chuckled softly. “The dean has already left.”
Jiang Tang sighed in relief. She really needed to step away from Shen Xiunian to catch her breath.
But then Shen Xiunian added, “But I’m not sure if the classmates who were filming us have left.”
Jiang Tang’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Tangtang, some classmates saw you two just now!” the System kindly explained. “They even recorded a video of you.”
Jiang Tang suddenly understood. So that was why Shen Xiunian had tilted the umbrella—he was trying to block the classmates’ cameras.
Jiang Tang’s eyes sparkled. “Shen Xiunian, you’re so thoughtful.”
Shen Xiunian raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Shen Xiunian, didn’t you tilt the umbrella to block the camera? If that’s not considerate, then what is?”
Shen Xiunian’s lips curved slightly. Well, whatever Jiang Tang said, it was.
He hummed in agreement.
Jiang Tang asked the System in her mind: “Tongtong, have those classmates left?”
System: “They’re gone, they’re gone.”
Jiang Tang reached out and pushed Shen Xiunian: “Shen Xiunian, those classmates must have left by now.”
“How does my junior know?” Shen Xiunian’s clear voice was lowered: “What if they haven’t?”
Jiang Tang couldn’t answer. She couldn’t exactly say she had a System giving her a bird’s-eye view, could she?
Shen Xiunian chuckled softly: “Junior, you still haven’t said—what do you intend to do, cornering me against the wall like this?”
Jiang Tang looked at him, blinking gently, her voice soft: “Shen Xiunian, close your eyes.”
Shen Xiunian raised an eyebrow slightly, a flicker of anticipation in his narrow eyes.
Was Tangtang going to kiss him?
He obediently closed his eyes and waited.
Jiang Tang took out a small cloud-shaped keychain from her little bag and said softly: “Shen Xiunian, open your eyes.”
Shen Xiunian: ?
The kiss he had imagined did not come.
He opened his eyes with regret.
“Ta-da!” Jiang Tang waved the little cloud keychain in front of Shen Xiunian: “A gift!”
Shen Xiunian looked at the little cloud keychain in surprise—a fluffy, soft, white puff with two beady eyes, a cute little mouth, and two tiny feet, swaying adorably.
He reached out to take it, giving it a gentle squeeze. The texture was wonderful.
Shen Xiunian felt pleasantly surprised: “This is a gift from you?”
“Yes, I made it myself.” Jiang Tang stared at him: “Shen Xiunian, do you like it?”
If Shen Xiunian dared to say he didn’t like it, he’d be in big trouble.
Shen Xiunian looked at the little cloud keychain, then at Jiang Tang, deliberately putting on a thoughtful expression: “Do I like it?”
Jiang Tang puffed out her cheeks, glaring at him indignantly.
Shen Xiunian’s fingers twitched slightly. He really wanted to pinch her cheeks, but he restrained himself.
Looking at Jiang Tang, he said seriously: “I like it very much.”
“Really?” Jiang Tang was delighted.
“Really, especially since it’s a gift you made with your own hands. I like it very, very much.”
Shen Xiunian spoke earnestly.
Jiang Tang couldn’t help but feel happy. She smiled and said: “I’m glad you like it.”
Shen Xiunian pinched the little cloud’s feet. The thread used was very fine, the stitches tight and meticulous—it must have taken a lot of effort to make.
He looked at Jiang Tang: “How long did it take you to make this? It must have been quite time-consuming, right?”
“It was okay.” Jiang Tang said softly: “It didn’t take long, and it wasn’t too much trouble.”
“Why did you think of making a little cloud for me?” Shen Xiunian was genuinely curious. He wanted to know what Jiang Tang was thinking.
“Because you’re in the lab all day, and you probably haven’t looked up at the sky in a long time.
So I made this little cloud for you, hoping it can keep you company. Every time you see it, remember to take some time to look up at the sky.”
Shen Xiunian’s heart softened completely.
What came when he closed his eyes wasn’t a kiss, but a carefully prepared surprise from Jiang Tang.
That faint sense of regret faded away.
He gazed tenderly at Jiang Tang without saying a word.
Jiang Tang’s cheeks flushed under his gaze. She couldn’t help but push him: “Shen Xiunian, did you hear me?”
“I heard.” Shen Xiunian held the little cloud close to his heart: “I’ll remember.”
Jiang Tang was very satisfied.
Shen Xiunian’s tone shifted: “So my junior cornered me against the wall just to give me a gift.”
“Then I have a gift for you too.”
“Please close your eyes, junior.”
Jiang Tang glanced at him in surprise, then obediently closed her eyes.
Shen Xiunian handed her the umbrella handle.
Jiang Tang grasped it. Huh? Was Shen Xiunian giving her an umbrella?
She wanted to open her eyes.
Shen Xiunian covered her eyes with one hand: “Why are you so impatient, junior?”