How come you're also my ex-girlfriend?

The continuous rain had not stopped by noon.

"It's almost October 1st, finally we're going to release something big."

Qin Yifan, who was eating across from him in the cafeteria, remarked with emotion.

Sitting next to Xu Yan was Liu Shusheng, whose plate was stuffed full. His appetite was astonishing, especially in the South.

No wonder he has such a physique. Putting everything else aside, he feels as at ease eating next to me as if he has a bodyguard.

"Brother Fan, what are you going to do on your vacation? Go out and have fun?"

Xie Fei asked indistinctly while eating.

Qin Yifan frowned and said irritably, "Can you fucking swallow your food before you talk? You're about to spit it all over my plate."

Xie Fei chuckled, "Doesn't it make the food look delicious? My mom says I make people feel especially hungry when I eat."

Xu Yan nodded. "Your mother really loves you."

"Brother Xu really knows how to talk."

"Could you share one of your chicken legs with me?"

"That won't do!"

"Ha ha ha ha."

After chatting for a while, they finished eating and prepared to leave. Qin Yifan and the others were staying at the dormitory, so they naturally prepared to go back to their rooms to rest.

So Xu Yan was left all alone, wandering around the rainy campus with an umbrella.

With nothing else to do, going back to the classroom seemed to be the only option.

As I walked to the entrance of the building with my umbrella, a figure came from the other side. Because of the umbrella, I couldn't see who it was at first glance.

But even when wearing school uniforms, they seem to reveal something different about each other. What exactly is the difference? It's the sense of familiarity that strangers don't possess.

Xu Yan paused for a moment, but the other person walked directly up to him without any hesitation.

As she closed her umbrella, the rainwater that had accumulated on it cascaded down one side, forming a small waterfall along with her thick, loose hair that fell over her shoulders and neck.

When she revealed her exquisite and beautiful face, it instantly overshadowed the gray, rainy daylight.

"Ye Shutong?"

Xu Yan looked at the tall girl who had just appeared with surprise.

Her dark, smooth hair seemed to still carry a slight dampness, so she raised her smooth, fair arm and gently combed the hair behind her neck.

What would be a simple action for other girls, when she does it, looks like a scene or a masterpiece meticulously designed by a director.

"Um."

She nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised that Xu Yan would appear here and that they would happen to meet.

"What a coincidence."

Xu Yan sighed.

Ye Shutong looked up at the tall, upright but languid-looking young man.

Have you eaten yet?

She suddenly asked that question.

This topic seems somewhat sluggish and jumps around a bit.

Xu Yan should reply at this point: "I just came from the cafeteria. Have you eaten yet?"

But upon seeing Ye Shutong's deep, unfathomable eyes, his thoughts immediately changed: "If you haven't eaten, are you going to treat me?"

When faced with an iceberg, you want to break it; when faced with a flame, you want to extinguish it—a strange and instinctive destructive urge.

So it's impossible to speak politely, just like you can't win over your dream girl by being moved.

Ye Shutong didn't seem surprised at all; instead, she answered softly, "Okay."

Xu Yan thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Then next time, I've already eaten today, you owe me a meal."

After saying that, he walked up the stairs.

Ye Shutong paused for a moment before catching up with the boy. The dim light and shadows mingled with the steps, and the quiet lunch break seemed to be filled only with the sound of two footsteps, one light and one heavy.

"You've got a lot of bad intentions lately."

Xu Yan heard the voice behind him and turned around in surprise to look at Ye Shutong, who had a calm expression.

"Is it that bad?"

"No, you're a good person," she said.

Xu Yan thought for a moment, then opened his arms and said, "Let's give each other a hug. After all, good people deserve a good hug."

Speaking seemingly haphazardly at this time is not a sign of self-abandonment. It's not the kind of situation where you're faced with a woman you like, but you can't sense how much love she has for you, and you feel trapped, so you finally confess your feelings, only to be rejected and finally feel relieved.

If Ye Shutong were a normal person, she would have refused outright.

If she were a saint, then perhaps I could really receive a hug.

Either way, you won't lose out.

The girl's emotions were always wave-particle duality; she walked towards Xu Yan without stopping.

He simply said, "Not yet."

Then, he casually walked past Xu Yan and headed towards the higher steps.

Huh? They actually forbid it.

It was still an unpredictable emotion. Xu Yan was essentially just joking and hadn't made any expectations or anticipations. But Ye Shutong's move had him completely bewildered. How should he put it... that damned competitiveness of men?

As Ye Shutong rounded the corner, apart from the dim light outside, a petite figure burst into her view, as if she had been caught off guard and bumped into her head.

"No, I'm sorry..."

The girl apologized, slightly nervously. She hadn't actually bumped into Ye Shutong; they had just gotten a little too close.

"fine."

Ye Shutong simply answered softly and walked into the classroom.

Standing outside the door, Shen Yourong turned to look at the girl's tall figure and aloof back, when suddenly—

"Smack."

"Eh...!"

Covering her head and blushing, she turned around and saw Xu Yan standing behind her with a nonchalant smile, withdrawing the hand that had just patted her head.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

Xu Yan spoke directly, silencing the other party's attempt to complain.

There's no way around it; despicable people are best at accusing others first.

"N-nothing..."

Shen Yourong blushed and lowered her head slightly in denial. Xu Yan chuckled, then narrowed his eyes and lowered his head to examine this girl who liked to play the ostrich.

"Could it be that you...?"

"Me...what?"

She retreated slightly nervously, but there was a wall behind her, leaving her nowhere to go.

Xu Yan suddenly wondered if bracing her hand against the wall would make for a perfect wall slam? But then she thought, "Never mind, that's easy to misunderstand. Maybe this school is full of guys who fantasize about being the male lead in a novel, and they'll come up and give me a flying kick when they see me."

So he put one hand in his pocket and looked down at her.

Looking at the boy in front of her, who was like a tall tower, he could block most of the light in her vision.

Shen Yourong only dared to steal a glance before lowering her head, her hands clenching tightly together as if separating a finger from her own body structure.

Then Xu Yan whispered, "Do you have a crush on her?"

"what?"

Shen Yourong stared blankly at Xu Yan, seemingly not expecting him to make such an outrageous guess.

Xu Yan laughed out loud, "Just kidding, look how nervous you are, I didn't guess right, did I?"

"No way!"

For once, Shen Yourong showed a rare moment of anger, clenching her fists and blushing, but to be honest, her angry tone was... less loud than when Jiang Yiyao called her name.

Is impotent rage really that cute? Girls are truly amazing creatures.

"Okay, I'm not teasing you anymore, I'm going in now."

Xu Yan waved his hand, taking the initiative to create some distance, and suddenly fresh air seemed to rush into the girl's nostrils.

She just felt that it didn't smell as good as his.

Watching the boy walk towards the door, she suddenly spoke, "Hey, Xu Yan..."

Xu Yan stopped in his tracks, somewhat puzzled. This seemed to be the first time he had heard her call his name.

"What's wrong?"

Standing there, her cheeks still flushed, but the girl's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her arms strong enough to support a sizable chest, "Today... we're on duty together..."

"Oh, this... I know, what's wrong?"

It's written so obviously on the blackboard, who wouldn't see it? Besides, the so-called "duty" is just a cleaning task after school in the afternoon... it doesn't even count as a thorough cleaning, so what's the problem?

It's a bit hot.

Xu Yan tugged at his collar.

He didn't notice that the girl's gaze lingered on the area below his neck and collarbone for quite some time.

Xu Yan was quite tolerant of this girl. Shen Yourong wasn't exactly the type to be disliked; she just could be a bit annoying at times.

"...It's nothing, just reminding you."

"Okay, I got it."

Xu Yan waved and walked into the classroom.

Shen Yourong remained rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on the other person's back.

She recalled the scene from just now, the boy tugging at his collar, revealing his clearly defined collarbone.

Fair skin, clear bone structure, prominent Adam's apple... I can almost smell what kind of shower gel he's using.

Without realizing it, she swallowed.

When she realized what she was doing, before she could turn around and cover herself, she suddenly sensed something.

Her gaze swept across the countless empty seats in the classroom, and she spotted the aloof girl sitting sideways, drinking water from a bottle.

She was slowly drinking water, but why were her eyes looking in my direction?

That gaze was so tangible, it seemed to pierce right through you, its chilling intensity sending a shiver down your spine.

……