After the Online Romance with the Campus Beauty Roommate Went Wrong - Chapter 5
A few minutes later, the class bell rang. The professor walked in with the lesson plan, took out the attendance roster, and began recording participation points.
He then started lecturing on the specialized course material, deviating from the textbook by interweaving real-world case studies from his consulting work outside the university. Sang Shi’an barely paid attention to the lecture, her mind consumed with how to get Jian Chenyu to come out for a meal with them.
Xu Taotao and Jiang Xinqi had often helped her and Su Ningyue in the past, and it felt inappropriate to refuse their rare request.
But…
Jian Chenyu always maintained a frosty demeanor at school, clearly not one for socializing. What if she refused? Wouldn’t that be incredibly embarrassing for Sang Shi’an?
Su Ningyue noticed Sang Shi’an’s distracted expression and whispered, “Are you two really on bad terms? Maybe you should explain things to them?”
Sang Shi’an glanced at Xu Taotao and Jiang Xinqi, who were diligently taking notes. She tilted her head, bit down on her mask, and mumbled, “We’re not on bad terms at all. Actually, we’ve been secretly meeting every night.”
Then, seeing Su Ningyue’s momentary look of shock, she grinned. “Just kidding.”
Su Ningyue elbowed her playfully. “Yesterday you were insisting you and Senior Jian were on bad terms. What, did you suddenly change your mind? If you really want to change, why not satisfy the masses’ curiosity?”
After speaking, she glanced around the lecture hall. Sang Shi’an immediately backed down. “No, no, no! I’m really not close to her. Inviting her to dinner would be too much trouble. Let me think about it properly.”
For the rest of the class, the professor called on students to answer questions, forcing Sang Shi’an to focus intently and temporarily put Jian Chenyu out of her mind.
After two consecutive class periods, Sang Shi’an was ambushed by Senior Sister Gu Yao, who had been lying in wait near the Faculty Dining Hall entrance.
It was currently recruitment season for campus clubs and organizations, and Gu Yao, with her exceptional interpersonal skills, had been promoted to Secretary of the Student Union.
Sang Shi’an, always quick with flattery, charmed Gu Yao with compliments like, “Senior Sister, you look stunning today! The Student Union has snagged all the freshmen again this year—the Student Council must be green with envy!”
“As if you could compare to me?” Gu Yao teased back. “Those posts on the school forum still haven’t been completely deleted.”
Sang Shi’an raised her hands in mock surrender. “Senior Sister, please don’t tease me like everyone else. I’m too embarrassed to even take off my mask today!”
Gu Yao playfully slapped her arm. “Stop acting so modest, Sister. Come on, I’ll introduce you to some professors. It’ll help you save face.”
Before Sang Shi’an could refuse, Gu Yao pulled her toward the Faculty Dining Hall. The Student Union had school-related tasks every semester, inevitably requiring interaction with faculty members. Gu Yao led Sang Shi’an to a table where three teachers were seated, greeting them warmly and politely.
The ingrained fear of teachers was a habit etched into the bones of nearly every student. No matter how effortlessly Sang Shi’an navigated social situations with elders during holidays, facing teachers always felt different.
Once seated, Gu Yao handled the conversation with the teachers while Sang Shi’an took notes in her memo. Fortunately, Gu Yao was well-regarded by the faculty, who treated her like a beloved daughter, their warm smiles extending to Sang Shi’an, the “little assistant” in tow.
“This is Sang Shi’an, a sophomore in Finance,” Gu Yao introduced her smoothly. “She’s currently working in External Relations for the Student Union. She’s a diligent junior, and the events she’s managed have been executed flawlessly.”
Gu Yao shot Sang Shi’an a meaningful glance. Caught off guard, Sang Shi’an froze for a moment before quickly recovering and greeting the teachers.
The teachers had nearly finished their meals when the two arrived. After discussing the main business, they excused themselves. Gu Yao then led Sang Shi’an to the counter to order food.
The menu at the Faculty Dining Hall was similar to the student cafeteria, but without the long lines, making it much more convenient.
“The posts on the forum are partly my fault. The Student Union guys have been gunning for me for ages. When they couldn’t beat me in recruitment, they resorted to spreading rumors on the forum. Knowing you’re the Student Union’s star, they fabricated that dating scandal. Shameless.”
Sang Shi’an was stunned. She hadn’t realized the forum drama was connected to the Student Union.
While waiting for their food, Gu Yao continued to chatter: “I heard they approached you again last week, promising you a position? The president and all the department heads are men, and they act like they’re still living in the Qing Dynasty. Don’t worry, Senior Sister Jian has already introduced you to the teachers. They won’t let you down.”
Sang Shi’an blinked slowly. Though she knew university was a microcosm of society, she hadn’t expected such political maneuvering between organizations.
Unwilling to directly reject Gu Yao’s kindness, she casually glanced around and spotted a dessert shop. “Let’s get milk tea,” she suggested.
“Auntie, two brown sugar pearl milk teas, half-sweet, no ice, please.”
“Sure thing! I just made a fresh batch of milk foam—want some?” the shop owner asked warmly. “The teachers here don’t like sweet stuff, so I’ll add it for free if you want.”
Sang Shi’an smiled. “Sure, thank you, Auntie.”
The owner turned to grab a fresh milk tea from the sealing machine. Sang Shi’an, distracted by scrolling through the school forum, didn’t notice someone approaching.
The newcomer took the milk tea the owner had prepared and placed another order: “Auntie, could I get an original egg waffle, please?”
Sang Shi’an turned her head and was surprised to see Jian Chenyu.
Jian Chenyu was inserting a straw into her drink when she sensed Sang Shi’an’s gaze and looked up, their eyes meeting.
It was Jian Chenyu.
Sang Shi’an didn’t know what to say, so she looked away, intending to find a chair and wait.
The television facing her was playing a cheesy idol drama about a hero saving a damsel in distress. The scene had reached its climax: after rescuing the woman from the sea, the man was struck by her beauty.
The woman asked, “Thank you for saving me. My family has plenty of money. How can I repay you?”
The man shook his head firmly. “This isn’t about money.”
The woman looked puzzled. “Then what is it?”
The man gazed at her with deep affection. “I have enough money. This entire island is my property. I want you to marry me.”
Sang Shi’an’s eyes immediately hurt, and she looked away.
When she glanced back, Jian Chenyu was still standing there.
Their eyes met, and Jian Chenyu called out, “Sang Shi’an.”
“What?” Sang Shi’an replied.
“I ran into your friend earlier. She said you had something to tell me?”
Sang Shi’an’s grip on her phone tightened abruptly. Her first thought was of Su Ningyue’s suggestion to invite Jian Chenyu to dinner.
Just to be sure, Sang Shi’an asked, “Su Ningyue?”
Jian Chenyu nodded. “Yes.”
Sang Shi’an closed her eyes briefly, mentally cursing Su Ningyue. But after last night, she realized Jian Chenyu wasn’t as unpleasant as she’d imagined. Improving their relationship might not be a bad idea.
So she started with casual conversation. “Do you remember the school forum page I showed you?”
Jian Chenyu thought for a moment and replied, “Their imaginations are quite vivid.”
She seemed completely unfazed by the rumors, her inner strength remarkable.
To avoid any misunderstandings, Sang Shi’an quickly added, “Back in freshman year, people used to ship me and Su Ningyue together. It blew over eventually. They’re just bored and looking for trouble.”
Jian Chenyu looked thoughtful. “So you didn’t date at all during your freshman year?”
Sang Shi’an hadn’t expected Jian Chenyu to focus on this. She froze, stammering, “I…”
Jian Chenyu watched her darting eyes and suddenly chuckled.
Remembering Jian Chenyu’s comment about her ‘special preferences’ during orientation, Sang Shi’an wondered how many relationships Jian Chenyu had been in. She felt like Jian Chenyu was mocking her and mentally added another strike against her.
Dodging, she casually grabbed the milk tea in front of her and took a sip. “Don’t laugh!”
Jian Chenyu didn’t laugh, but her gaze held a mischievous glint.
Sang Shi’an realized something, her eyes freezing on the milk tea cup. The honey-yuzu flavor reminded her—Jian Chenyu had just been drinking from it.
Jian Chenyu took the cup back and nonchalantly put the straw in her mouth.
“Hey! I was feeding you!” Sang Shi’an kicked Jian Chenyu’s shoe, her gaze returning to the milk tea cup, utterly horrified. “I just drank from that! You’re drinking after me like that?”
The barista finished Sang Shi’an’s milk tea, and Jian Chenyu, standing closer, reached out to hand it to her. “What’s wrong with that? You used to sneak sips of my drinks all the time when we were kids.”
Sang Shi’an felt guilty at the mention of this. “You’re so annoying.”
Seeing Jian Chenyu still staring at her, Sang Shi’an’s expression hardened. “Jian Chenyu, can you please learn some boundaries in your relationships?”
Jian Chenyu’s gaze lingered on her eyes for two seconds before shifting away. “Aren’t we friends?”
Sang Shi’an forced a smile. “Anyone who wants to be my friend needs to bathe and burn incense first, then write a sincere application letter of at least a thousand words. Stop taking advantage of me.”
Jian Chenyu’s tone turned subtly teasing. “Is that what it takes to be your friend?”
Sang Shi’an nodded proudly. “There’s a long line of people who want to be my friend—if not ten thousand, then at least a thousand. But, well…”
She drew out her words, then abruptly changed her tone. “Considering we’ve known each other for so many years, I might be able to cut you some slack.”
“Cut me some slack?” Jian Chenyu asked.
Sang Shi’an finally brought up the meal. “I’m treating my classmates to dinner this week. You should come too.”
Jian Chenyu didn’t answer immediately. She stared at Sang Shi’an for several seconds before asking, her tone ambiguous, “After seeing the forum post, your friends want to meet me?”
Though framed as a question, her tone was assertive.
Before Sang Shi’an could reply, Jian Chenyu suddenly reached out and ruffled Sang Shi’an’s hair, as if scolding a child. “Is this how you’ve been asking people for favors all these years?”
Sang Shi’an’s eyes widened in shock. She instinctively raised her hand to swat Jian Chenyu’s away, but Jian Chenyu seized her wrist, preventing her from breaking free.
“L-l-let go!” Sang Shi’an’s voice was fierce, her anger causing her already thin cheeks to flush crimson.
Jian Chenyu released her wrist. “I’m busy every weekend. I have to go to the company on Saturdays and I’m in the lab on Sundays.”
She paused, as if weighing her options.
The slight curve at the corners of her lips gradually flattened, a silent rejection.
Sang Shi’an refused to accept defeat. “Hey, this is the first time I’m treating you to dinner since school started, and it’s at a really expensive Japanese restaurant!”
Jian Chenyu shook her head. “It’s not about the money.”
Sang Shi’an’s heart skipped a beat, instinctively sensing there was more to Jian Chenyu’s words. The hero-saves-damsel scene from the drama they’d just watched flashed through her mind, and, compelled by some inexplicable impulse, she blurted out, “Then what’s the problem? Are you expecting me to offer myself in return?”
A clear look of surprise crossed Jian Chenyu’s face. Her grip tightened slightly on the egg waffle as she asked in a low voice, “Do you come that cheap?”
Offering yourself for just one meal?
Sang Shi’an had initially regretted her impulsive words, but Jian Chenyu’s question only made her double down on the joke. “You don’t even like girls,” she retorted. “So offering myself would be pointless—no loss at all.”
“So, are you going or not?” Sang Shi’an asked, her voice softening unconsciously as she relaxed.
“Alright,” Jian Chenyu nodded. “But I can’t guarantee I’ll be on time.”
The moment Jian Chenyu agreed, Sang Shi’an’s heart raced for a few frantic seconds. She averted her gaze, grabbed her milk tea, and turned to leave. “Come if you want.”
Jian Chenyu nodded in understanding. “Of course. After all, there are thousands waiting to be your friend.”
Sang Shi’an’s steps faltered. She turned back. “…Don’t mention breaking up again.”
Jian Chenyu chuckled softly. “Alright, I won’t.”