Zhuang Wan looked up at the man sitting across from her. He was frowning, his expression less than pleasant, as his slender fingers tapped rapidly across his phone screen.
She had been pursuing Gu Yi for three years.
Throughout those three years, he had always maintained a cold indifference toward her.
Not long ago was his birthday, and on that day, she confessed her feelings to him once again.
Back then, she had told herself it would be her very last time—that the moment he rejected her, she would stop entangling herself in his life once and for all.
He had rejected her that day, yet the very next day, he suddenly asked her out to dinner, presented her with flowers and gifts, and asked if she would be willing to date him.
She loved him far too much; she simply couldn’t bring herself to say no.
And just like that, they were together.
Earlier, her girlfriends had mentioned that a very pretty, non-blood-related younger sister lived at Gu Yi’s house, and that Gu Yi doted on her immensely.
However, since the period when she first started pursuing Gu Yi happened to coincide with Yun Qingwu holing herself up at home to draw without ever stepping outside, she had never actually laid eyes on Yun Qingwu.
Considering herself quite pretty, Zhuang Wan hadn’t paid it much mind at first.
That was until just moments ago, when she saw the photo of that girl.
It was a kind of beauty that made anyone look at themselves and feel a sense of inferiority. Whether it was the reddish tails of her eyes or the tear mole beneath them, everything was exquisitely proportioned.
She was genuinely gorgeous. Zhuang Wan felt no jealousy, though she did feel a touch of envy—after all, what girl doesn’t love a pretty face?
She walked around the table and hugged Gu Yi around the waist. “Gu Yi, your sister is so pretty!”
Gu Yi glanced up at her. “Jealous?”
Zhuang Wan stayed silent; her silence stood for an admission.
Gu Yi chuckled softly. “Don’t overthink it. She’s just my sister.”
Ever since they got together, Gu Yi had been very gentle with her, granting practically every request.
Emboldened by the alcohol, Zhuang Wan asked that somewhat idiotic question: “If your sister and I both fell into the water, who would you save first?”
Gu Yi cast a casual, indifferent glance at her, his tone light. “I’d save you.”
Yun Qingwu was a better swimmer than he was; she could jump into the river and swim back and forth several times over, so she didn’t need rescuing at all.
Even after getting the answer she wanted, Zhuang Wan still didn’t feel entirely happy.
After all, she was a non-blood-related sister, and the two of them had grown up together as childhood sweethearts—situations like that were far too prone to complications.
Yet, not wanting to annoy Gu Yi, she ultimately changed the subject.
Later on, Yun Qingwu drank quite a bit of alcohol, and by the time she stepped outside, her head was spinning.
She called her driver and then headed outside clutching her jacket.
“Babe, don’t wander off, it’s not safe outside. Sansan and I are just going to the restroom; we’ll be right out to find you!”
“Okay.”
She stood there for a bit, feeling a bit stifled, and wobbled her way outside, messaging Wu Yuxuan to let her know she was waiting by the entrance.
Snow was falling heavily, and the steps were covered in a thick blanket of white.
She walked over to a patch of snow that hadn’t been stepped on yet and plopped right down onto the steps, tilting her head back to watch the swirling snow in the sky.
Her already stunning face was flushed crimson from the alcohol, and her lovely eyes were laced with an alluring, hazy charm—much like a captivated little fox, bewitching others without even realizing it.
Many of the men at the entrance noticed her and started heading her way, only to turn around and scurry off as fast as if they’d seen a ghost after taking just a few steps.
Watching their reactions, Yun Qingwu cupped her flushed face in bewilderment. What?
Had she drank so much she transformed into a monster?
Could she really scare people away like that?
Her mind was far too muddled to notice that the snow had stopped falling on top of her head.
Stepping out of the bar, Wu Yuxuan’s eyes immediately landed on Yun Qingwu sitting on the steps, while a tall man stood right behind her holding a large umbrella.
“Babe!”
Startled by the shout, the man turned his head back.
“Holy cow!”
Caught off guard, Wu Yuxuan slipped on the slick pavement and took a glorious face-plant!
“Pro-, pro-, professor, hello!”
“Hello to you both.” The man’s pleasant voice drifted down from above, and Yun Qingwu tilted her head back to catch a view of his superior profile.
Who said people weren’t allowed to become immortal spirits after the founding of the nation?
Wasn’t her 2D paper cutout of a man turning into a spirit right before her eyes?
Ji Siming was actually a person of very stable emotions who rarely lost his temper.
Yet his inherent aura wrapped him in an invisible barrier; that deeply rooted cold detachment and aloofness made the vast majority of people too intimidated to approach him.
Of course, female students with alternative designs on him were another story entirely.
Since he was standing right there, none of the other students from their class dared to linger. After offering a quick greeting, they bolted, leaving only Wu Yuxuan stranded in place.
Her driver hadn’t arrived yet, and Wu Yuxuan couldn’t bring herself to leave her alone.
Even if this guy was Ji Siming, she still didn’t feel safe—after all, her best friend was drop-dead gorgeous, and Professor Ji suddenly catching feelings wasn’t entirely out of the question!
“Miss, I’m here to pick you up!”
Uncle Zhang stepped forward and carefully helped Yun Qingwu to her feet. “Miss Wu, would you like a ride along the way?”
“No, no need, I’ve already called a cab.”
“Alright then.” Uncle Zhang nodded politely in their direction and, supporting Yun Qingwu, prepared to leave. Who could have anticipated that the next second, Yun Qingwu would suddenly reach out and grab a fistful of Ji Siming’s hand!
“Uncle Zhang, we’ve got to take this one with us!”
Knowing Yun Qingwu was just acting wild in her drunken state, Uncle Zhang coaxed her in a hushed voice, “Miss, this gentleman is a complete stranger to you. You can’t just take him with you.”
“Nonsense, he’s mine!”
Wu Yuxuan was so terrified by her bestie’s brazen, death-defying declaration that the alcohol instantly drained from her system!
Ji Siming hadn’t caught feelings, but her precious best friend had completely lost her mind!
“Babe, snap out of it, this is Professor Ji.”
Yun Qingwu: “Chicken foot skinny?”
“Chicken foot… is delicious…”
Wu Yuxuan: “…”
Ji Siming: “…”
Sensing that Ji Siming was clearly no ordinary person, Uncle Zhang grew worried that his young miss might have gravely offended him, and hastily apologized, “I’m so sorry, sir. My young miss has had too much to drink and didn’t mean to offend you.”
Ji Siming: “It’s fine.”
It’s fine?!
Wu Yuxuan was utterly dumbfounded!
Was this still the Ji Siming she thought she knew and understood?
Ji Siming had started participating in archaeological field expeditions back when he was still an undergraduate. At a very young age, he had already achieved remarkable success in the field of ancient site exploration, making him a well-known archaeologist in academic circles.
Three years ago, he became a specially appointed professor for Ling University’s School of Archaeology. While he taught very few classes each semester, every single lecture was packed to capacity.
That wasn’t even the main point. The real point was that in the past, an endless stream of female students had tried all sorts of schemes to get close to him during his classes, and none of them ever ended well!
He had once stated publicly: “If anyone attends my class with ulterior motives, please do not come again in the future. I ask everyone to conduct themselves with dignity; I do not wish for my students to cross any boundaries with me.”
“If anyone dares to leave a love letter on my desk again, I will invite them up to read it aloud in front of everyone so we can all appreciate it together.”
Some stubborn souls refused to believe he meant it, assuming it was just talk, only to genuinely be called up to the front later to read their own love letters aloud. And once they finished reading, he would deliver a completely emotionless critique—it was sheer, unadulterated ruthlessness.
Everyone eventually reached a consensus: Ji Siming was immune to women and most likely preferred men.
Cue a few brave souls who decided to throw caution to the wind and confess to him anyway, only for their fates to turn out even more harrowing.
Yet this very same high-and-cold, notoriously ill-tempered man was right here saying “it’s fine” after being harassed and grabbed by the hand by her best friend.
Wu Yuxuan figured she must have been drinking fake alcohol and was now hallucinating.
She tilted her head to look at Ji Siming. Had her brain short-circuited, or had her brain short-circuited? Why did Professor Ji actually look kind of happy?!
Ah???
She was on the verge of a mental breakdown when, the next second, the drunkard suddenly whirled around and launched herself straight into Ji Siming’s arms, wrapping her arms around his waist!
“Ah Ming, hug~”
The light, sweet fragrance of the young woman, mingled with the scent of alcohol, suddenly washed over him, causing Ji Siming’s body to stiffen abruptly.
Wu Yuxuan: “???”
Uncle Zhang: “???”
Wu Yuxuan felt like her soul was about to rocket straight out of her body as she frantically tried to figure out which direction she needed to dive to catch her bestie in case Ji Siming threw her out!
She braced herself for impact, but the next second, she watched as Ji Siming lowered his head and softly asked, “Do you really want a hug?”
Burying her head against his chest, Yun Qingwu mumbled “Mhm, mhm” in a hazy daze.
In the next moment, Ji Siming handed the umbrella over to Uncle Zhang, bent down, and carefully scooped Yun Qingwu up into his arms.
Wu Yuxuan was about to crack apart!
Damn it! Was that gentle, tender voice something Ji Siming was even capable of producing?
Was this still the same Ji Siming who would throw away an entire outfit if a girl so much as brushed against it?
If her best friend getting roaring drunk and throwing herself into Ji Siming’s arms was like a bomb going off!
Then Ji Siming not getting angry and actually picking her up with such careful tenderness was a full-blown nuclear explosion!
Holy cow!!!
Why did she suddenly feel like she didn’t recognize this world anymore?
Did her best friend just call Professor Ji Ah Ming?!
Professor Ji was holding her precious in his arms?!
“Uncle Zhang, what on earth is going on here?”
Clutching the umbrella, Uncle Zhang was so startled that he was marching with matching arms and legs. “How am I supposed to know?!”