CH 7

“Can I take this seat?”

Two seconds later.

Ruan An’an heard herself saying “yes” and gaped as his long legs stepped into the seat. His shirt was bodyfit to reveal his beautiful waistline.

“Thank you for helping me the day before yesterday.” Perky Butt interrupted her thoughts, his head turned, “I am an exchange student and I just arrived here so I am not familiar with the place.”

“……”

He was thankful because she gave him directions the day before yesterday.

Ruan An’an was taken back that he would start a conversation so casually and said subconsciously, “I am also an exchange student.”

He was obviously surprised, “You as well?”

Ruan An’an nodded.

She had unspeakable reasons, so she had no choice but to give such an answer.

Their eyes met. He fixed his shiny gaze on her for a while, and suddenly laughed, and paused at every word, “What a coincidence.”

She was not sure if it was just an illusion, but it felt like those words meant something more.

Ruan An’an feigned calmness, “Um…yes, what a coincidence.”

Her inner monologue was retorting angrily.

——A coincidence?

No.

You and I are strangers, we’re only here because of my tactics.

Not! A! Coincidence! At! All!

……

After he was seated, Ruan An’an noticed that Perky Butt seemed to be busy replying to a message. His eyes were fixated on the screen, swiping the screen occasionally.

Ruan An’an pretended to be occupied by sending a message in the group chat, but could not help but glance to her side repeatedly.

The inexplicable awkwardness lasted until the attendance record book was passed down to them from the front, and he seemed to be finally finished.

Ruan An’an recognized the University C attendance book. Some professors found it cumbersome to call out their names one by one, so they simply passed the attendance record book around in class to let students sign their own attendance. Back then, Ruan An’an and Yin Yuan had made a deal to sign on behalf of the other when either one could not get up for the morning class.

The girl in front handed Perky Butt the book with a black pen pinned to it. Ruan An’an watched her stunned face the moment she saw him.

As if he had not taken any notice of it, he received the attendance record book and nodded very politely, “Thank you.”

“…”

The girl’s face was almost completely flushed at those two words and she stammered “You’re, you’re welcome.” She turned around and began to violently shake the arm of her friend next to her. Although Ruan An’an could not hear their discussion, she could more or less guess it.

Ruan An’an sighed inwardly.

In ancient times, such an enchanting handsome lad could destroy a country.

Ruan An’an turned her head, and saw the enchanting handsome lad writing down his name so fast that she almost never saw him writing at all. She had only recognized what he wrote when he pushed the book in front of her.

Gu, Jue?

It may be that she was frozen at the sight of his name when he asked with a smile, “What’s wrong, are my words hard to read?”

“Huh?” Ruan An’an regained consciousness and immediately shook her head, “No, I saw—” Her voice was a little uncertain “Is the second word in your name Jue meaning, decision (Jue)?”

“No, it is the Jue meaning, formula (Jue).”

Ruan An’an had thought she read his name wrongly. She said “Oh”, and picked up the pen to write down her own name.

Gu Jue seemed to imitate her behavior toward him earlier, staring at her as she continued to write down her name. Ruan An’an didn’t look up but she could feel his gaze.

Ruan Anan passed the book to the people on the next row. It was a row of boys and girls engaged in a conversation. She faced them when passing the book over, and the heated conversation suddenly stopped as if someone pressed the pause button.

She did not notice.

Ruan An’an turned around and met Gu Jue’s eyes, “My name is Ruan An’an, Ruan for–“