After the Online Romance with the Campus Beauty Roommate Went Wrong - Chapter 2
Since their reunion, Sang Shi’an had rarely seen Jian Chenyu smile, let alone joke with her like this. She had even begun to suspect that Jian Chenyu’s four years of studying abroad had been so traumatic that she had lost the ability to express basic emotions.
But judging by this moment, Jian Chenyu was still, at least marginally, a normal person.
Sang Shi’an returned to the open study in the living room to check her water-damaged laptop, only to find it completely unresponsive.
A headache immediately began to throb.
Her thesis was due this afternoon. If she went to buy a new one now… She had just splurged on a newly released handbag and a pile of useless accessories for her childhood friend’s birthday celebration last night, draining her allowance. She was now waiting to go home on the weekend to ask for more money.
A laptop costing nearly five figures was simply beyond her means right now.
As she frantically searched for ways to salvage a water-damaged laptop on her phone, Jian Chenyu emerged from the bathroom with her hair dry and went straight to the pantry, standing by the coffee machine and turning it on.
She had changed into a crisp white blouse paired with a black Hepburn skirt, accentuating her perfect proportions. The soft white light bathed her figure, adding a subtle layer of aloofness.
Still looking quite presentable, Sang Shi’an thought.
Sang Shi’an pursed her lips and lowered her head to continue fiddling with her computer. When she pressed the power button, the screen lit up for five seconds before going dark again.
Looks like it’s not working.
She decided to contact Su Ningyue to borrow a computer. As soon as she got through, Sang Shi’an stood up abruptly. The sudden movement tugged at the bruise on her lower back from last night’s collision, causing her to hiss through gritted teeth.
Jian Chenyu, who was carrying a cup of coffee, overheard. “Did you hurt yourself?”
Sang Shi’an’s hand twitched, and she awkwardly tried to cover her right side with her sleeve. “No.”
Jian Chenyu’s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze scrutinizing. Three years older than Sang Shi’an, she always carried an air of authority since their reunion.
It hadn’t been like this when they were children. Jian Chenyu, despite attending a rigorous foreign university with strict admission and graduation requirements, had still found time to pass the entrance exam for Yanjing University’s graduate program in a different field. Perhaps this long-standing habit had shaped her personality.
“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Jian Chenyu pressed again.
Sang Shi’an remained stubborn. “It was just a minor bump on my back. Why are you making such a fuss? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Jian Chenyu’s brow furrowed, as if annoyed or simply tired of Sang Shi’an’s chatter.
In the two months they’d been living together, Sang Shi’an had never once heard Jian Chenyu play music out loud, just like her own cold and aloof demeanor.
Jian Chenyu was currently her roommate, and their families insisted on occasional gatherings. Sang Shi’an couldn’t afford to let their relationship become too strained.
So, Sang Shi’an spoke again, “Yesterday, I saw a perfume that I thought would suit you perfectly, so I bought it. I’ll go to my room and…”
…pick one out for you right away.
“Thank you,” Jian Chenyu said politely, finally shifting her gaze from Sang Shi’an’s waist and changing the subject. “Do you have class later?”
Sang Shi’an answered weakly, “No.”
She was supposed to have a Marxist Theory class, but after drinking heavily the night before, she knew she wouldn’t be able to wake up in time and had arranged for a substitute to cover for her.
But Jian Chenyu wasn’t the type to care about her class schedule.
After a moment’s thought, Sang Shi’an sensed she understood Jian Chenyu’s intention from her gaze. Feeling uncharacteristically confident, she replied, “No class, and no plans either. I’m going to school later to pick up my laptop from a friend, then I’ll spend the whole day working on my thesis.”
Jian Chenyu seemed dissatisfied with her answer, remaining motionless in front of her. Sang Shi’an softened her tone slightly. “I really do need to work on my thesis. The deadline is today.”
Jian Chenyu pondered for a moment, then asked, “Is this the assignment Professor Xu gave us about the gambling industry?”
Sang Shi’an was surprised Jian Chenyu knew about it. “Yes, that’s the one.”
Undergraduate students at Yanjing University were also assigned faculty advisors, but their relationships with these advisors were far less close than those of graduate students. Assignments were typically given only once a month.
Unfortunately, Jian Chenyu and Sang Shi’an shared the same advisor.
Perhaps convinced that Sang Shi’an was genuinely focused on her studies, Jian Chenyu’s gaze softened, becoming more approachable.
“This is an analysis I did earlier when researching related companies,” Jian Chenyu said, tapping a few times on her phone. The screen in Sang Shi’an’s hand lit up. “You can use it as a reference.”
Sang Shi’an studied the case analysis on her phone. Although her brother had done similar work at her age, Jian Chenyu’s mastery of the subject, despite being a recent transfer to the major, left her deeply impressed.
Jian Chenyu then asked about the direction of Sang Shi’an’s thesis, and Sang Shi’an answered each question in detail.
Her responses sounded nothing like someone cramming at the last minute. Finally satisfied, Jian Chenyu said, “Weren’t you going to meet your classmates? Go ahead.”
Sang Shi’an grabbed her coat and hurried out the door. The moment it closed behind her, she exhaled deeply, as if she had finally escaped the teacher’s office.
Ugh, what a day. Everything seems to be going wrong.
On the way, Sang Shi’an called Su Ningyue and vented about everything that had just happened.
After listening, Su Ningyue clicked her tongue in amazement and started referring to Jian Chenyu as “Senior Sister”: “Senior Sister Jian actually cared enough to give you guidance on your thesis?”
Sang Shi’an was puzzled. “What’s so strange about that?”
Su Ningyue’s tone was ambiguous. “It sounds like your relationship isn’t as bad as you make it out to be.”
Sang Shi’an corrected her sharply. “It is bad. Don’t contradict me.”
Nearly ten minutes later, Sang Shi’an waited at Yanjing University’s west gate for Su Ningyue, who arrived with her laptop.
Su Ningyue handed her a cup of milk tea and leaned in close with a mischievous grin. “If you two hate each other so much, why don’t you tell your parents? The Jian Family is rich enough to buy a house. Wouldn’t it be better to keep that 300-square-meter apartment all to yourself?”
Sang Shi’an paused her lazy stirring of the straw, shaking her head. “My parents would never believe me. They’d think I’m just throwing a tantrum. Is there anything private on your laptop? I won’t be responsible if I accidentally see something I shouldn’t.”
Su Ningyue waved off her concern. “There are two usernames. Log in to the one without a password. The desktop will be empty—just download the documents you need.”
Sang Shi’an felt relieved. “Okay, I’ll treat you to dinner later.”
When she returned home, Jian Chenyu was sitting on the sofa, talking on the phone. Several medical terms drifted through the air.
Having heard that Jian Chenyu had already begun managing some of the Jian Family’s projects, Sang Shi’an couldn’t tell if this was a work call or something related to school.
Seeing Jian Chenyu’s effortless composure, she couldn’t help but glare at her through gritted teeth.
As if sensing her gaze, Jian Chenyu slowly looked up before Sang Shi’an could withdraw her glare.
Their eyes met squarely.
“Too much squinting will make you habitually roll your eyes,” Jian Chenyu said, hanging up the phone with a lecturing tone.
Sang Shi’an loathed this tone of Jian Chenyu’s. She refused to look away, continuing to glare openly.
Her beautiful eyes, reddened by the wind, held Jian Chenyu’s gaze for a moment before she asked, “Aren’t you in a hurry to write your thesis?”
“Yeah, I’m going to work on it now,” Sang Shi’an replied, kicking off her shoes and trudging weakly toward her room, her slippers clacking noisily against the floor.
“Wait, did you really just go out to borrow a computer?” Jian Chenyu’s footsteps followed her.
“What else would I…?”
The voice cut off abruptly.
Jian Chenyu’s hand rested on Sang Shi’an’s lower right back, her eyes filled with undisguised scrutiny. Sang Shi’an could even feel the heat radiating through the thin jacket from each of Jian Chenyu’s fingers pressing against her waist.
“I thought you went out to buy ointment,” Jian Chenyu said. “So you really just wanted to borrow a computer.”
Sang Shi’an froze, blurting out, “You knew I hurt myself? Then why did you ask if I was injured?”
“I assumed you wanted to apply the ointment yourself, but it seems you have no intention of doing so.” Jian Chenyu released her and turned to grab her coat. “The injury is in a difficult spot to reach. I’ll go buy some ointment.”
Jian Chenyu was going to apply the ointment for her? Skin-to-skin?
Sang Shi’an recoiled, her expression shifting rapidly through a spectrum of emotions. “You’re going to apply the ointment for me?”
Just as she had for the past two months, Sang Shi’an became acutely wary of Jian Chenyu’s touch whenever she approached.
“Why else?” Jian Chenyu seemed genuinely puzzled by Sang Shi’an’s repeated question.
“I can do it myself,” Sang Shi’an insisted.
Jian Chenyu shook her head. “I have time. It’s no trouble.”
Sang Shi’an: ……
Why is Jian Chenyu pulling this act again?
It’s as if she’s the only one who dislikes Jian Chenyu. Doesn’t Jian Chenyu also look down on her? When she first moved in, Jian Chenyu wouldn’t even let her touch her suitcase and rarely gave her a pleasant look.
Sang Shi’an gripped her laptop tightly, her knuckles white, and shot Jian Chenyu an angry glare, only to have it deflected by Jian Chenyu’s icy aura.
Since Jian Chenyu wants to play the role of devoted sisters so badly…
An idea sparked in Sang Shi’an’s mind. She took two steps toward Jian Chenyu and asked casually, “Can I borrow your laptop?”
Her tone was nonchalant, bordering on flippant. “Su Ningyue said her laptop is completely empty—everything needs to be downloaded again. Since you’re heading out anyway, why not let me use yours?”
After making the request for the private laptop, Sang Shi’an smiled expectantly, waiting for Jian Chenyu’s face to show discomfort. To her surprise, Jian Chenyu simply hummed in acknowledgment. “It’s on the desk in my room. Go get it yourself.”
It felt like kicking cotton.
Jian Chenyu watched Sang Shi’an’s retreating figure disappear through the doorway. The carefully maintained indifference in her eyes finally cracked, revealing a faint smile.