After the Online Romance with the Campus Beauty Roommate Went Wrong - Chapter 39

As the end of the semester approached, professional courses began to wrap up, and the library’s foot traffic visibly increased.

Sang Shi’an emerged from the library to find that a light snow had fallen. The warm orange glow of the streetlights reflected off the ice crystals on the stone-paved road.

Walking beside her was Du Wen, a senior two years ahead of her. He was the son of her parents’ friends, and she had recently learned he was also an undergraduate student under Professor Xu’s supervision.

Du Wen walked beside Sang Shi’an, maintaining a slight distance. “When I was helping Professor Xu organize his materials, I saw the sophomore exam schedule. I remember you have two finals next week, right? Sophomore year has the most specialized courses. How are you keeping up?”

Sang Shi’an replied simply, “Not bad.”

Du Wen seized the opportunity to suggest, “I’ve already been accepted into the graduate program and recently reviewed all the professional courses. How about we grab dinner this weekend? We could go over the key points together while we eat.”

Recognizing his intentions, Sang Shi’an politely declined, “Senior, I have an internship at the company this weekend.”

Du Wen forced a regretful smile. “Then let me walk you home. I live in the Left Bank neighborhood too, so it’s on the way.”

Under the streetlights in the dark night, Sang Shi’an’s eyes were particularly striking, yet they carried a faint air of detachment. As Du Wen turned away, he thought to himself, No wonder so many people are falling over themselves for her.

He took another half-step back, creating a more appropriate social distance. This time, Sang Shi’an didn’t object.

The square heels of her sheepskin boots clicked steadily against the pavement, yet her steps remained remarkably steady. Du Wen tried several times to close the gap, but could only watch helplessly as she maintained her distance.

“Senior, you don’t need to be so careful,” Sang Shi’an said, turning to smile at him, as if sensing his thoughts. “I used to fall quite often in winter, especially after it snowed.”

Du Wen was clearly surprised by her initiative, his eyes lighting up with delight. “Really? That must have been awful.”

Sang Shi’an nodded in agreement, lowering her gaze with a soft laugh. “But I was lucky. Every time I was about to fall, someone would catch me.”

Du Wen ventured, “Like me watching out for you now?”

Sang Shi’an shook her head politely but distantly. “No.”

She lifted her gaze to meet his. “It was the person I like.”

Du Wen choked back a sob, forcing an awkward laugh. After a moment, he sighed, “So it wasn’t that we weren’t trying hard enough. You already have someone you like.”

Sang Shi’an chuckled. “Senior, you’re joking.”

The ten-minute walk didn’t allow for much conversation, especially after Sang Shi’an’s clear rejection. For the rest of the way, their conversation remained strictly professional, focusing entirely on their academic subjects.

As they approached the residential complex gate, Du Wen was about to ask Sang Shi’an which building she lived in when she suddenly quickened her pace.

Following her gaze, he saw a car that had just pulled up. A woman in a white coat leaned out, tilting her head slightly and nodding in their direction.

Remembering the rumors circulating at school, Du Wen caught up with Sang Shi’an, surprised. “You and Jian Chenyu really live together?”

“Yes, my family thought it would be convenient for us to look after each other,” Sang Shi’an replied, her smile still present but now tinged with a greater sense of distance.

Du Wen bid her a regretful farewell. As he rounded the flowerbed, he saw the two women sharing an umbrella. He watched Sang Shi’an’s retreating figure with a pang of envy, wondering who could be so fortunate.

The newly fallen rain was icy cold. A stray drop that landed on his arm stung like an ice needle.

As she was about to wipe away the raindrops, Jian Chenyu’s voice sounded in her ear: “Why didn’t you let me pick you up? The roads are so slippery, and you could have avoided the wind.”

Sang Shi’an replied casually, “It would have been too much trouble for you to make a special trip back to school. But what are you doing in the car?”

Her voice softened. “Were you waiting for me?”

Jian Chenyu naturally wouldn’t admit she’d been waiting since nine o’clock, nearly an hour already, but she had no intention of revealing that.

“Just a coincidence.”

Sang Shi’an vaguely sensed that Jian Chenyu might have been waiting for her for a long time. The numbness from a night of studying suddenly lifted, replaced by a surge of joy.

As they entered the apartment building, Jian Chenyu folded her umbrella and asked, “Was that guy just now… the ‘Brother’ you like?”

Sang Shi’an paused, then burst into laughter. “Him? Oh…”

She feigned an air of mystery, teasingly withholding the truth. “Senior Du Wen’s family owns Jin Xin Electronics. He lives here too, and we just happened to be going the same way tonight.”

As for that so-called ‘Brother’… wasn’t he right in front of her?

Sang Shi’an followed Jian Chenyu into the elevator, the warmth seeping into her bones. Her voice grew languid. “I thought you were deliberately catching me at the neighborhood gate to prevent me from staying out all night.”

Jian Chenyu paused her hand on the elevator button, slowly turning her head. “Do you?”

Sang Shi’an warmed her hands by the air vent, replying casually, “Maybe not.”

Jian Chenyu chuckled softly. “You don’t.”

Sang Shi’an was about to ask “Why not?” when the elevator doors opened. Jian Chenyu stepped out, entered her apartment, and went straight to the bathroom.

Two minutes later, the sound of running water filled the air.

Sang Shi’an lingered at the door for a moment, then dejectedly returned to her own room. She pulled out her textbooks for next week’s exams, habitually switched her WeChat account to her Cat Cat Account, and began memorizing the dry, specialized terms.

Then Jian Chenyu’s message arrived.

Cat Cat?

Sang Shi’an had only a few more terms to annotate and had planned to finish them, but her eyes involuntarily glued themselves to the screen.

She folded a corner of the page, rummaged through her bedside table for a capybara-shaped lollipop, tore open the wrapper, and replied to Jian Chenyu while sucking on the candy and cradling her phone.

I’m here, Older Sister!

The moment you thought of me, I sensed it telepathically!

Checking the time, Jian Chenyu should have finished showering. Her reply came quickly: There’s something I need to tell you first.

Cat Cat: [Cat Cat scratches her head.jpg]

Why are you suddenly so serious? Did something happen?

Jian Chenyu: You asked me before if I might face an arranged marriage. My family is indeed considering it now.

Sang Shi’an was stunned. She hadn’t expected Jian Chenyu to be so candid with Cat Cat.

Licking her lollipop, she mulled over the words before typing a reply:

So, is Older Sister going to break up with me tonight?

[Cat Cat cries loudly.jpg]

After a moment of silence, Jian Chenyu replied: No, it’s just that our parents have expressed interest. We didn’t tell you at first because they said it was just about making friends, and we could date freely during that time without any pressure.

Sang Shi’an had heard this before: as long as either Jian Chenyu or her brother refused, there would be no arranged marriage.

But…

Has that changed now?

Jian Chenyu: This weekend is my grandfather’s birthday, and he specifically mentioned inviting the other family. I need to go home to find out the final decision.

Sang Shi’an was completely dazed. As Jian Chenyu explained more about the Jian family’s situation, Sang Shi’an mechanically replied until Jian Chenyu said she was going to dry her hair. Only then did Sang Shi’an seem to snap out of her stupor.

Older Sister, wait!

You’re not lying to me, are you?

If it’s just your family’s wishes, you could secretly refuse without telling me, right? Is this really a marriage alliance with no room for negotiation?

Jian Chenyu: I’m not lying to you.

But I’ll try my best.

This time, Sang Shi’an fell completely silent. Ignoring whether Jian Chenyu would send more messages, she immediately called Sang Shiyue.

Sang Shiyue was at some social gathering, the background noise loud. “What’s up? Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow for the weekend?”

“No need. I just wanted to ask you something.” Sang Shi’an suppressed her breathing and softly called out, “Brother.”

Sang Shiyue, true to his gentle nature, gradually quieted the background noise, as if he had stepped outside. “What is it?”

Chewing on a piece of candy, Sang Shi’an carefully phrased her words. “Grandpa Jian’s birthday is tomorrow, and Sister Chenyu invited me. She said you’d be there too. Can you pick me up tomorrow?”

“You want to go? Are you sure?” Sang Shiyue sounded like he’d found a savior, afraid Sang Shi’an might change her mind. “It’s just Old Master Jian’s birthday. Wouldn’t it be awkward for both of us to crash the party? You can just go with Jian Chenyu.”

“Ah.” Having achieved her goal, Sang Shi’an feigned hesitation. “They want to meet their future grandson-in-law. It’d be so awkward for me to go.”

Sang Shiyue chuckled, a helpless sound rumbling from his chest. “Stop spreading rumors about my relationship with Jian Chenyu. I don’t care, but she’s a girl—it’s different for her.”

The words “I wouldn’t” hovered on Sang Shi’an’s tongue as she rolled over in bed, regaining her composure. “Fine, I’ll run the errand for you tomorrow.”

Jian Chenyu was washing two bowls of cherries in the kitchen when she heard the news, her expression slightly surprised. “Your brother said he doesn’t have time?”

Sang Shi’an snatched one of the bowls, her tone exasperated. “What, you think I forced him not to go?”

Jian Chenyu gestured to the nearby chair, inviting her to sit.

“But Grandpa Jian seemed to want to discuss something with him,” Jian Chenyu said, her voice hesitant.

“Discuss what? My brother beat up his precious grandson last time. If they bring that up, it’ll be so awkward.” Sang Shi’an plopped down, pouting. “Besides, I don’t understand any of your project talk anyway. I’m the perfect person to go.”

“That works too.” Noticing Sang Shi’an pop a cherry into her mouth, Jian Chenyu thoughtfully brought over the trash bin. “Actually, you don’t need to worry so much about that incident. Family matters shouldn’t be aired publicly. Ultimately, Grandpa Jian was in the wrong. He won’t make things difficult for your brother. The company’s facing a cash crunch right now, with several bank bonds expiring soon. This means we can’t support Huaxing’s IPO project anymore.”

So they’re thinking of bringing up the marriage alliance again, using Jian Chenyu’s marriage to secure funding for Jian Zhenyang’s project?

Sang Shi’an: “Oh.”

Jian Chenyu pinched her cheek. “What’s with the ‘oh’? This has nothing to do with you. Why are you upset?”

Sang Shi’an, who had been gnawing on a cherry, dropped it when Jian Chenyu pinched her. “What? Can’t I be upset?”

She stood up abruptly.

Jian Chenyu watched her movements calmly.

“I-I-I…” Sang Shi’an stammered, finally concocting a reason. “You’re plotting to take my family’s money right in front of me! How could I be happy? Jian Chenyu, haven’t I warned you before?”

Jian Chenyu watched Cat Cat’s fur gradually bristle, her lips flattening into a straight line as she said evenly, “You have.”

Finally finding a legitimate reason to express her dissatisfaction with the marriage alliance, Sang Shi’an grabbed Jian Chenyu’s shoulders with both hands and shook her back and forth. “I don’t believe a word you say anymore, so—”

Jian Chenyu: “So what?”

Sang Shi’an huffed, her voice haughty. “So you and your family had better drop those marriage alliance schemes. I won’t let you succeed.”