After the Online Romance with the Campus Beauty Roommate Went Wrong - Chapter 8

The air seemed to freeze in that moment.

Sang Shi’an looked up at Jian Chenyu, whose expression and gaze remained calm and composed, showing no trace of evasion or panic.

Sang Shi’an let out a long “Ah,” and just before the sound faded, she thoughtfully rationalized Jian Chenyu’s words: It must be because I just suspected Jian Chenyu disapproved of Jiang Xinqi and her girlfriend kissing, so she added that clarification.

At that moment, a server stopped beside them, smiling. “Ladies, your private room is ready.”

Sang Shi’an led Jian Chenyu inside, where they indeed found Jiang Xinqi and her new girlfriend. After introducing Jian Chenyu, she turned the conversation to Jiang Xinqi. “Jiang Jiang, I’ve never seen this friend of yours before.”

As soon as the words left her lips, a chorus of teasing “Awws” erupted.

“Yeah, how come we’ve never met your close friend before?”

“Oh, maybe this friend is just extra special?”

“So, exactly how special is she?”

Jiang Xinqi’s face flushed crimson under the teasing.

Clearly, Jiang Xinqi had already been teased before Sang Shi’an arrived, and the others knew about their relationship. Jiang Xinqi pulled the girl beside her closer and said shyly, “This is my new girlfriend… um, my girlfriend.”

“What’s her name?” Su Ningyue chimed in, eager to join the fun.

“Fang Han.”

Xu Taotao added, “What’s your major? Are you at our school too?”

“…Art Academy.”

Sang Shi’an concluded, “So you’re an art student! That self-portrait by an unknown artist you had pinned up in your dorm—was that yours?”

Fang Han looked surprised. “Didn’t you tear that one down?”

Sang Shi’an shook her head dramatically. “Ah, maybe I’m talking about the one you had specially framed and hung above your desk.”

Jiang Xinqi’s face flushed even deeper. It was clear her friends had accepted her new girlfriend warmly, without asking any questions that made her uneasy.

But even the warmest acceptance couldn’t withstand the relentless teasing. Fortunately, a waiter arrived with several bottles of wine to ask about their preferences, diverting the conversation. They ended up keeping the sake and fruit juice.

The sake was naturally the unanimous choice of Sang Shi’an and her roommates. The four girls had low alcohol tolerances but a fierce craving for it, while the freshly squeezed fruit juice held no appeal for them.

After selecting their drinks, the meal officially began. The chef stood before them, preparing each dish with meticulous care. Before serving each course, he would introduce it in detail, as if eager to recount the deep-sea fish’s entire life story, from hatching to harvest, to justify its exorbitant price.

Sang Shi’an had initially assumed that her usually boisterous roommates were behaving themselves today because of the delicious food. However, midway through the meal, Jian Chenyu excused herself to take a phone call.

The other three girls immediately abandoned the freshly prepared sea urchin hot dogs and swiveled their heads toward Sang Shi’an.

“I can’t believe you actually got Senior Jian to come! Oh my god, the living ice queen! She even smiled at me just now—am I dreaming?” Xu Taotao’s reaction was even more fervent than when she’d received an autographed magazine from her idol, and she immediately latched onto Sang Shi’an.

“Are you really just roommates? Look, Jiang Jiang’s already got a girlfriend. The rumors at school have been sounding more and more convincing lately. Our dorm doesn’t have any prejudices about that kind of thing, you know. Just tell me the truth!”

Sang Shi’an stiffened. “Are you having a seafood allergy?”

Xu Taotao retorted, “You’re the one who’s allergic! I’m just looking out for you! Weren’t you worried about people misunderstanding your orientation before?”

Sang Shi’an wasn’t afraid of being labeled a lesbian; she simply had no interest in either men or women. Being suddenly branded with this label felt unfair.

The private room door opened again, and Sang Shi’an turned to see Jian Chenyu walking toward her, settling into the seat beside her.

Sensing the room’s attention, Jian Chenyu’s gaze turned direct and assessing. “What are you all talking about?”

“This matter concerns Senior Jian as well,” Xu Taotao said, her demeanor instantly becoming more demure as she straightened her posture slightly. “It’s about the recent rumors circulating at our school. Have you heard anything about them, Senior Sister?”

Jian Chenyu nodded. “The rumors about An’an and me living together?”

“Ahem, ahem, ahem…” Xu Taotao choked, reacting exactly as Su Ningyue had when she first heard Jian Chenyu use that nickname.

Though they knew Jian Chenyu and Sang Shi’an had known each other before, and a slightly affectionate nickname wasn’t unusual, Jian Chenyu’s image since entering the school had been so pure and ethereal. Did it make sense for such an emotionally charged term to come from the mouth of a fairy?

Of course not.

Su Ningyue clung to Sang Shi’an’s arm, desperately suppressing her laughter.

Sang Shi’an shifted her shoulder, trying to shrug off Su Ningyue. “We’re not living together. They just think we’re dating.”

She turned to her other friends. “Just tell me how to fix this.”

Su Ningyue: “The best way is for one of you to get a boyfriend immediately.”

Sang Shi’an immediately rejected the idea. “Impossible.”

Su Ningyue gave her an “I knew you’d say that” look. “Then there’s only one other option.”

She cleared her throat. “You know my older sister owns a lot of entertainment industry assets.”

Sang Shi’an nodded, unfazed. “Mm.”

“In the entertainment world, the best way to avoid suspicion is to not avoid it at all.”

Xu Taotao chimed in, “My friend who studies journalism said the same thing.”

Sang Shi’an’s pupils dilated in shock. What?!

She stared at them for a long moment, unable to believe they were actually suggesting this.

Am I going crazy, or is the world going crazy?

“Wait, are you seriously treating school like the entertainment industry? The graduate and undergraduate buildings aren’t even in the same area! Isn’t it normal for Jian Chenyu and me to have little interaction? What, do you think we’re having a secret affair?”

Jian Chenyu responded with a laugh.

Su Ningyue continued to fan the flames: “Avoiding each other at school but living together in private? Doesn’t that just prove it’s true love? Especially since you’re both women, you might do something like that to hide your relationship. No wonder people at school think you’re dating.”

Sang Shi’an retorted, “So many girls share apartments. Does that mean they’re all dating their roommates?”

Su Ningyue cut to the chase: “But you two are good-looking.”

Xu Taotao chimed in, “Exactly! Weren’t you pretty accepting when people shipped you with Su Ningyue before? They only stopped because you two looked too much like friends. Just keep eating together and chatting normally, maintaining a regular friendship frequency.”

The logic was sound, but…

Sang Shi’an gave them a knowing smile. “Are you really trying to help me clear up the lesbian rumors, or do you just want to watch the drama unfold?”

Ever since dinner started, their eyes had practically been glued to her and Jian Chenyu.

The group lowered their heads to sip the seafood soup the chef had just served, suppressing their laughter and remaining silent.

Sang Shi’an was at her wit’s end. She brought up Jian Chenyu: “Even if I could, she can’t. She’s busy reviewing her family company’s reports every day.”

Jian Chenyu rarely participated in campus activities, so her admirers could only wait for her outside classrooms. This wasn’t a secret at Yanjing University. Everyone had assumed she was simply antisocial, but now they realized she had already begun taking over her family’s business at such a young age. The group, who had been so enthusiastic moments ago, now regarded her with solemn respect.

“Then… then we won’t force…”

Before the word “force” could be uttered, Jian Chenyu put down her spoon and calmly said, “It’s not like I don’t even have time to eat. It’s not a big deal. I can cooperate.”

Sang Shi’an: …?

Su Ningyue tugged at Sang Shi’an’s sleeve and whispered, “Have you forgotten what those sleazy guys at school have been saying about you? If this keeps up, all your future admirers will be girls. Do you want to explain yourself to each one? Senior Jian is finally willing to cooperate, and no one will suspect anything. Isn’t that the perfect way to clear things up?”

Hearing this, Sang Shi’an began to waver.

Knowing when to stop, Su Ningyue and the others quickly changed the subject to the chef’s newly arrived dishes. Sang Shi’an, however, mindlessly poked at the tuna on her plate, her thoughts racing.

Sang Shi’an understood why the rumors at school had spread so widely. First, there was the competitive dynamic between her and Jian Chenyu, the two School Belles. Second, ever since the start of the semester, she had deliberately avoided Jian Chenyu, giving others the impression that their relationship was strained. Now that people knew they were living together, they were naturally overthinking things.

The more Sang Shi’an pondered, the more frustrated she became. She drained one cup of sake after another until a hand stopped her.

She glanced at the hand and turned to stare directly at Jian Chenyu.

Jian Chenyu remained silent, patiently waiting for Sang Shi’an to release her grip. The longer she waited, the tighter her lips pressed together.

Sang Shi’an had already drunk more than half the bottle. Her alcohol tolerance was low, and the sake flushed her features, subtly reddening her cheeks and the corners of her eyes.

“Let go,” she slurred.

Jian Chenyu paused, her tone shifting subtly. “If you drink any more, you’ll get drunk.”

“That’s none of your business,” Sang Shi’an retorted.

“Are you upset about what your friend suggested? Drowning your sorrows?”

“Who’s drowning—”

“If you’re not, then what are you worried about?” Jian Chenyu pressed.

Sang Shi’an smiled, the wine stain on her lip bead glistening in the light. She picked up the cup of sake Jian Chenyu had poured but hadn’t yet drunk, and drained it in one gulp, her gaze daringly meeting Jian Chenyu’s.

“I’m worried you might have ulterior motives because I’m too attractive.”

Setting the cup down, Sang Shi’an turned back to Su Ningyue, laughing and chatting.

Jian Chenyu’s gaze lingered on the cup Sang Shi’an had just drunk from. Her eyes remained lowered until the chef brought over fresh sushi, then her gaze shifted slightly.

She picked up the juice bottle and gracefully poured it into the empty cup. The juice, now mixed with the lingering sake, carried a faint, mellow aroma that lingered on her lips.

After dinner, Su Ningyue suggested, “Shall we go to a bar later? There’s a new one nearby with a great atmosphere, I hear.”

As she spoke, she reached out to put her arm around Sang Shi’an’s shoulder.

Sang Shi’an, already tipsy from the sake, perked up at the mention of alcohol. “Sounds great—mmph!”

Before she could finish her sentence, someone grabbed her wrist from the other side and yanked her forcefully.

Sang Shi’an stumbled to the left, bracing for a fall, when her back collided with a warm embrace. Jian Chenyu’s voice sounded from behind her ear: “She’s already drunk.”