He Xiaohan didn’t recall seeing this girl on campus. Logically, a girl like her should be rare at their science-focused university. At least, he’d have spotted her a few times on the campus forum.
But he had zero memory of her…
He’d heard of girls like Ji Qingying, even if he’d never met her.
Xuye Cheng stood up. When she turned and saw He Xiaohan behind her, their eyes met. He froze for a moment, visibly startled, then looked away.
A trace of confusion flickered on He Xiaohan’s face.
He watched her step out of the grass. The stray kitten darted into nearby bushes.
He Xiaohan stared at her retreating back awhile, then lowered his head to fiddle with his camera.
Today’s photo outing yielded nothing…
He walked on, scrolling through his camera roll. His gaze lingered briefly on the girl’s picture.
An… unexpected find?
He Xiaohan himself wondered why she felt like she’d appeared out of thin air.
He strolled slowly through the grove toward the lab building.
Xuye Cheng’s mood twisted into complexity.
Why did he keep showing up whenever she grew more annoyed with him?
She took a deep breath. The lab building lay straight ahead past He Xiaohan—but she couldn’t face him directly.
She’d take the long way: detour to the playground first, grab her stuff, then head to the labs.
After climbing the stairs and changing in the restroom, Xuye Cheng stepped out. The lifted view and chest relief felt oddly strange.
She picked up her phone and accepted Doudou’s friend request.
Doudou instantly sent a pitiful meme.
“Ningning finally accepted! I thought you forgot.”
“Sorry, just opened my phone,” Xuye Cheng replied, walking slowly downstairs.
“Full classes tomorrow morning, work in the afternoon. So tired,” Doudou complained.
Xuye Cheng sighed helplessly. She was dog-tired too. One morning class with a weekly test, then a lecture after returning from outside.
She ate dinner and trudged back to her dorm, utterly drained.
…
He Xiaohan entered the bar and sat at the right-side stool of the counter. The lights were dazzling, but this spot glowed softly.
A woman smiled warmly, her gaze settling on He Xiaohan.
“How’ve the last few days been?” she asked, sliding him a drink.
“Not bad,” He Xiaohan replied, his expression turning slightly weary.
“What’s wrong? Xiao Han seems troubled?” Her face curved into a flirtatious smile. She lifted her glass. He Xiaohan watched her red lips take a delicate sip.
Vivid as a rose, her eyes shimmered with dark purple shadow. An off-shoulder top completed her alluring look.
“No real worries,” He Xiaohan said, sipping his drink.
Peng Xinhe chuckled, propping her chin on her hands and leaning closer.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t into Xiao Ying? Yet I heard you two are back together?”
He Xiaohan gave a bitter smile, shifting back slightly.
“There’s a sincere guy in my dorm. Qingying latched onto him first,” he said wearily. “Then she came to me.”
“Hm?” Peng Xinhe murmured. A hand entered He Xiaohan’s view. She smiled gracefully. “Sorry, sir—I’m exclusively this gentleman’s companion tonight~”
He Xiaohan followed her gaze: a young man with a wolf-tail haircut.
The guy shot He Xiaohan a dark look, glanced at Peng Xinhe, and walked off silently.
“What about that poor boy?”
He Xiaohan took another sip, his expression tangled.
“He hasn’t figured it out. Now he’s clearly annoyed with me,” he sighed. “She’s probably his first love. He can’t let go.”
“Oh, a fool,” Peng Xinhe snorted. “Just like you once were.”
He Xiaohan shrugged calmly. “Time passes. The player can’t see the game—you understand.”
“Since Xiao Ying adores you, did you take the chance to… act?” Peng Xinhe pressed, still smiling.
“No interest.”
“At twenty, Xiao Han, how have you never touched a woman?” Her tone held regret.
“Must you touch one to be a man at twenty?” He Xiaohan chuckled.
“Touching brings maturity.” Peng Xinhe extended her hand demandingly. “Hand it over already.”
He Xiaohan unhooked his camera and passed it to her.
Anticipation flashed across Peng Xinhe’s face. She opened the album, flipping through his photos.
“Your photography’s improved, Xiao Han,” she praised.
He Xiaohan pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket, voice flat. “Kind of you.” He lit one—but his lighter sputtered.
Seeing his frown, Peng Xinhe’s eyes gleamed with amusement. She grabbed a lighter from a nearby rack and lit his cigarette.
“Interesting method,” He Xiaohan murmured.
“Isn’t it? Lighting your smoke is my honor, right, promising student?”
Mockery flickered in He Xiaohan’s eyes. He inhaled deeply; the ember flared. White smoke curled from his lips.
His gaze drifted back to her face, slightly unfocused.
“I’m honored too, beautiful, dignified hostess.”
Peng Xinhe’s face twitched into a self-mocking smile. “Your words cut deeper lately.”
“Drop ‘dignified’ then.”
Peng Xinhe huffed, flipping to the next photo—a girl playing with a stray kitten.
“Oh? Rare for your shots to feature a girl, Xiao Han.”
“Liked the scene. Took it,” He Xiaohan replied flatly.
“She’s pretty.”
He Xiaohan stayed silent.
“So she’s your next target?”
He shook his head. “No interest.”
“Hm? Xiao Ying pushed aside again? Won’t you be lonely?”
He Xiaohan’s eyes grew hollow. He exhaled smoke, his expression easing.
“Isn’t solitude just fine?”
