After the Online Romance with the Campus Beauty Roommate Went Wrong - Chapter 31

Sang Shi’an flipped her phone face down, took a deep breath, and said to the psychologist across from her, “I did something incredibly reckless again yesterday, even worse than my rebellious phase back then…”

“Yes, it’s still because of the same person.”

“……”

With no other appointments scheduled, Sang Shi’an stayed at the hospital for a full two hours before leaving.

Instead of taking a taxi back to school, she walked slowly along the street alone. December in Yan City was bitterly cold, the wind piercing to the bone. The bare tree trunks lining the streets were still frosted with ice that hadn’t melted even in the afternoon.

When a little girl bumped into her, Sang Shi’an bent down to help her up. The girl’s older sister, hurrying to catch up, apologized profusely: “I’m so sorry, Miss! My sister was chasing that Samoyed and didn’t see where she was going. Are you alright?”

Sang Shi’an shook her head, pulled down her mask, and smiled. “It’s fine. The ground’s just slippery in winter.”

The girl offered a few more apologies before leading her sister away.

As Sang Shi’an readjusted her mask and turned to leave, she lingered for a few seconds, watching the sisters’ retreating figures.

When she was younger, Jian Chenyu had often held her hand like that.

Jian Chenyu’s parents were always busy with work, and his mother’s health had never been good, so she was rarely home. It wasn’t a serious illness, but her immune system was much weaker than average. Even though the Jian family owned a pharmaceutical company and knew many top experts in the field, nothing seemed to help.

When Sang Shiyue went abroad for school, leaving Sang Shi’an alone at home, Jian Chenyu often stayed at their house. At first, they would sneak out to buy forbidden sweets and ice cream. Later, he patiently tutored her in her studies, guiding her through difficult problems step by step.

Eventually, those memories faded into the past.

Sang Shi’an’s fingers clenched and relaxed as she recalled the psychologist’s final words: Don’t let the unknown become fear, clouding your judgment.

It was only a little past four in the afternoon, but the sky had already darkened. Streetlights flickered to life, casting a warm glow on Sang Shi’an’s shoulders as she walked through the bustling streets, her shadow stretching long behind her.

She hadn’t cut her hair in ages; her waist-length locks billowed in the wind. Even with a mask covering her face, her exposed eyes and eyebrows remained strikingly beautiful.

Nothing about her seemed to fit the word “fear.”

Fear.

Sang Shi’an had wanted to argue with the doctor, but the lingering anxiety after each incident and her repeated visits to the clinic left her without a rebuttal.

She felt herself becoming increasingly strange.

Last night, crammed into that small bed with Jian Chenyu, Sang Shi’an woke up once in the middle of the night. Jian Chenyu’s arm was still wrapped around her, as if afraid she might fall off the bed. The fresh, calming scent emanating from her body completely masked the antiseptic smell, its delicate tendrils drifting into Sang Shi’an’s nostrils.

In the dead of night, she began to think about her confrontation with Jian Zhenyang.

If Jian Chenyu hadn’t been among the injured, Sang Shi’an asked herself honestly, would she have gone to trouble Jian Zhenyang over the ICU seniors she had mentioned?

That incident had jeopardized the long-standing relationship and reputation of both families, as well as their future collaborations. After last night’s uproar, Jian Zhenyang was not only injured but also highly likely to be removed from the Sang Family’s list of business partners.

Even though she had been the one who provoked the conflict.

Sang Shi’an was acutely aware that she had sought out trouble solely for Jian Chenyu’s sake. She had even confessed this to her psychiatrist.

This time, Sang Shi’an didn’t feel like her personality or sanity was fracturing. Perhaps she had finally accepted this impulsive side of herself. She sought professional help merely to understand the reason behind her uncharacteristic behavior.

But the doctor couldn’t provide answers, instead urging her to seek them herself—specifically, from Jian Chenyu.

Sang Shi’an felt bewildered.

Her phone rang. Su Ningyue asked if she was at school, mentioning she had bought a gift for her while shopping with Su Ning Shang.

Sang Shi’an thanked Su Ning Shang over the phone, and Su Ningyue casually brought up Jian Chenyu: “The school has issued a notice about the laboratory explosion, attributing it to an accident caused by a falling light fixture reacting with chemicals. I heard…”

“I did it,” Sang Shi’an interrupted. “So what? Jian Zhenyang injured so many people and faced no consequences. I couldn’t stand his arrogance, so I taught him a lesson. He deserved to have his head cracked open.”

Su Ningyue on the other end of the line: ……

Su Ningyue awkwardly replied, “I was just wondering… I heard the seniors have returned to school. Has Senior Jian been discharged from the hospital too?”

Sang Shi’an: ……

Oh.

“Ahem, well, she has been discharged,” Sang Shi’an said, feeling deeply guilty. She hastily made up an excuse to end the call: “The waiter’s asking me to pay. I’ll talk to you later.”

Sang Shi’an shoved her phone into her purse, turned, and hopped into a taxi, directing the driver to Yan City’s most luxurious shopping mall.

It was all that incompetent psychologist’s fault. If he didn’t know, he should have just admitted it instead of dragging Sang Shi’an through two hours of increasingly confusing explanations. As a result, she spent the next few hours distracted, maxing out her credit cards at the mall.

When she tried to pay for her final pair of shoes, the card was declined due to insufficient funds. As Sang Shi’an hesitated between calling Sang Shiyue or her parents, Jian Chenyu’s call flashed across her screen.

For the past two hours at the mall, Jian Chenyu had been constantly on her mind. Seeing her call pop up now, Sang Shi’an gestured to the saleswoman to wait, then answered the phone with a blank expression, ready to pick a fight.

She had already prepared herself to overreact to Jian Chenyu’s first words, even if it was just a tentative “Hello?”

“An’an, I’ve been waiting for you at home for so long.”

The sweet voice came through the phone, almost excessively gentle.

“Aren’t we having dinner together?”

Sang Shi’an: ……

After a long pause, Sang Shi’an leaned against the railing, awkwardly saying, “I’m at Huan Sheng right now.”

Jian Chenyu was silent for a moment before asking softly, “Are you out with friends? Go ahead and enjoy your time. I can teach you parallel parking another day.”

Sang Shi’an was about to agree when the saleswoman behind her thoughtfully offered a cup of warm milk tea. Remembering she still had a bill to settle, Sang Shi’an hesitated. “Um—”

Jian Chenyu remained patient. “What is it?”

“Could you come over now?” Sang Shi’an mumbled, feeling the warmth of the milk tea. “There’s a problem with my bank card. Could you help me pay the bill?”

Jian Chenyu asked gently, “But I’m still at home. Driving to you during rush hour might take an hour. How much is it? I can transfer the money to you first, if you like.”

Sang Shi’an had already made one purchase at the store, and even after the embarrassing card issue, the saleswoman’s gaze remained warm and enthusiastic.

“One hundred thirty-six thousand yuan.” It was a significant sum, and Sang Shi’an felt compelled to explain. “They said it’s a newly arrived limited edition, and it’s the only one in my size. It’s practically fate! It…”

“Just copy your bank card number for me. Since it’ll take me a while to get there, why don’t you browse other stores in the meantime? I’ll transfer extra so you can treat yourself, okay?”

The sound of a door closing came from the other end of the line. Jian Chenyu seemed to have left the house and hung up immediately, likely entering the elevator where the signal was poor.

Sang Shi’an sent her bank account number to Jian Chenyu via WeChat. Two minutes later, she received a transfer notification.

Six zeros before the decimal point—far exceeding the amount she needed. Sang Shi’an froze in shock.

Could one hour really cost this much?

At Huan Sheng, it might not be too difficult to spend that much, but…

Just as she was feeling overwhelmed by the money, the saleswoman eagerly presented two more glittering anklets. “These anklets are designed to complement the shoes. Your slender ankles would look stunning with them. Do you see any you like?”

After a long hesitation, Sang Shi’an pointed to the one on the right. “This one, please. Could you update the bill? I’ll head to the checkout.”

The saleswoman beamed. “Of course! Please relax in the lounge while I arrange everything.”

Settling into the sofa, Sang Shi’an stared blankly at the extra money in her account. After a dazed moment, she rubbed her flushed ears, her long legs kicking idly against the leather. When the saleswoman returned, she quickly resumed her elegant posture, feigning composure as she took a sip of her milk tea.

Hmm, it’s really sweet.