Senior Chen Shuyang was the first to react—he had a strong impression of Li Wu’s “sister.” Primarily because of her looks and figure, but also because they rarely saw women like her at school. Her style was simple yet bold, with a small chin and red lips hidden beneath a distinctive white French beret, like a luxury fashion model with an unapproachable air of sophistication.
If he encountered such a woman on the street, he would likely stare but want no interaction. In short, one word: trouble; or more colloquially, she was out of his league.
Back then, Chen Shuyang thought she was Li Wu’s blood-related sister and didn’t ask further. Today, struck by this bombshell news, he laughed in disbelief: “You said she was your sister—I thought you meant your actual sister.”
Li Wu showed slight embarrassment: “No, she’s the sister I like.”
The senior sister who hadn’t been present that day was quite curious: “Is she beautiful?”
Chen Shuyang summarized it in one word: “Stunning.”
The senior sister’s tone turned slightly sour: “Li Wu, you’ve been keeping quite a secret—”
“Yeah,” Chen Shuyang punched his shoulder. “How did you manage to get her? Didn’t know you had it in you.”
Li Wu leaned forward slightly, suppressing a smile without speaking, but his eyes shone like mirrors, unable to hide his feelings. The love and pride were about to overflow, and everyone present could sense it.
After more teasing back and forth, they all went out to eat. Li Wu locked up the lab and hurried to the school gate to wait for Cen Jin.
In the ninety-eight-degree weather, the young man felt neither heat nor the passage of time. Standing there, just thinking about seeing Cen Jin soon made him smile to himself.
Worried about keeping Li Wu waiting, Cen Jin seized every opportunity to speed up along the way, arriving at F University’s gate in less than half an hour.
The first thing she saw was her boy, clean and handsome, standing out from the crowd, though a bit foolish—standing in the blazing noon sun instead of finding shade, as if afraid she wouldn’t spot him immediately.
Seeing her car, he squinted, then jogged over.
Cen Jin lowered the window, beckoning: “Get in quick, aren’t you afraid of heatstroke?”
“Not hot,” the young man said seriously, opening the passenger door and getting in.
Had his senses been robbed by love-brain? Fortunately, Cen Jin came prepared. Silently laughing, she pulled out an ice-cold mineral water she’d brought from home and handed it to him.
Li Wu twisted it open and, head tilted back, drank half the bottle in one go. His Adam’s apple moved distinctly, bobbing several times.
Cen Jin stared, slightly dazed. When he finished, exhaled, and twisted the cap back on to return it, she finally shifted her gaze to his slightly flushed face, cupping it in both hands: “Look how sunburned you are.”
Li Wu’s eyes sparkled: “Did I get darker?”
Cen Jin shook her head, gaze fixed on him: “You look so cute when you’re sunburned.”
Li Wu felt restless under her stare, his recently moistened throat going dry again. Without hesitation, he leaned forward to kiss her.
In broad daylight, he dared not be too bold, so it was just a brief touch.
Her lips warmed briefly, then her hands fell empty. Cen Jin held them in place, asking softly: “So now you’re taking every chance to sneak-attack me, huh?”
Li Wu recreated her earlier gesture, pressing her hands back to his cheeks. Lowering his eyes, a lazy smile playing on his lips, he looked somewhat pleased with himself.
So obedient—
Cen Jin couldn’t resist. She pouted slightly and rewarded him: “Okay, one more kiss then.”
After kissing and stopping, cuddling, and lingering in the car for nearly half an hour, Cen Jin finally shifted gears, roaring onto the road in search of a nearby restaurant.
After driving for a while, Cen Jin looked left and right, sighing in bewilderment: “I’ve forgotten what good places there are to eat around our school.”
Li Wu glanced at her, pondered briefly, then recommended: “There’s a decent noodle shop. Have you been there before?”
Cen Jin’s hands paused on the steering wheel: “What’s it called?”
Li Wu gave the name.
Cen Jin’s eyes lit up, “Oh, I’ve eaten there! They’re still open?”
Li Wu made an affirmative sound: “Just that the environment is basic. I’m worried you’ll find it unsanitary.”
Cen Jin laughed: “I know what their environment is like, little junior.”
Li Wu also smiled: “Oh.”
Having gotten her approval, Li Wu tentatively asked: “Can I treat you?”
Cen Jin gave him a sidelong glance, granting him this opportunity: “Sure.”
Being summer vacation and not meal time, the restaurant wasn’t very crowded. They found a clean table, and Li Wu immediately started rinsing the cups and chopsticks for Cen Jin, then asked what she wanted to drink.
Cen Jin propped up her chin, looking around like a rotating periscope, her gaze finally landing on the ice chest in the corner.
She pointed one finger at it, “I want soda, Sprite.”
Then she winked at the young man across the table.
Their private memories flooded back, and Li Wu shared a smile with her before immediately getting up to order food and drinks at the counter.
After getting her soda, Cen Jin took a few sips, checked her phone, and then looked at Li Wu: “It’s almost one o’clock, are you hungry?”
“Not hungry.” Li Wu hadn’t touched his soda at all, just kept watching her, as if he could never look enough.
Cen Jin stared right back, even with some “glaring” intensity as if competing. Ginger is spicier as it ages—the young man eventually became shy under her gaze and lowered his eyes to drink his soda.
Only then did Cen Jin call his name contentedly: “Li Wu, do you know what principle you must follow when dating?”
Li Wu put on a face of eager attention: “Hmm?”
Cen Jin pulled up the straw, then pushed it back in: “No lying, be honest.”
Li Wu looked innocent: “But I’m not hungry.” He’d just realized that happiness not only makes one breathless but also satisfied.