ORCBRB – Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Since they had taken the subway home in the afternoon, Ren Li arranged for a driver to take the two of them back to school the next day.
With a driver present, many things naturally couldn't be discussed.
Sang Shi'an rested one hand on the car window, her gaze wandering aimlessly over the fleeting streetlights.
Her mouth was still sore, and her limbs felt weak and tingly.
She felt like she was covered in Jian Cenyu's scent.
Although nearly an hour had passed, the last words Jian Cenyu had said were replaying in her mind thousands upon thousands of times.
Sang Shi'an tried hard to recall all her sad memories, but she still couldn't quite suppress the damn, disobedient corners of her mouth.
Jian Cenyu didn't see her as a substitute for Kitty.
Jian Cenyu rejected her brother's marriage proposal because of her.
Jian Cenyu kissed her because she couldn't hold back any longer and crossed the line.
Jian Cenyu had confessed to her tonight.
How could she have ever thought that Jian Cenyu liked Kitty and not her?
She was the only one who had ever received such a gentle Jian Cenyu, one with more warmth than the Jian Cenyu that Kitty got.
She suddenly felt she wasn't jealous of Kitty at all. What possessiveness? It was clearly just a case of a lonely young person in need of affection.
Sang Shi'an successfully convinced herself, and the more she thought about it, the more incredible it seemed that Jian Cenyu had been secretly in love with her.
She had even faked spraining her ankle so many times just to fall into her arms, and she had made up a "brother" she liked to Jian Cenyu. Could it be that Jian Cenyu had known who the "brother" was all along?
Thankfully, Jian Cenyu hadn't called her out on it.
Sang Shi'an shrank back, burying her face in her sweater collar, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.
Jian Cenyu had hidden it so well. How had she not noticed before?
With one question after another swirling in her mind, it wasn't until the driver stopped the car downstairs in the community that Sang Shi'an grabbed her coat and bolted out as if escaping.
Jian Cenyu's footsteps behind her were unhurried. Just as the elevator doors closed, Sang Shi'an beat her to it and said bluntly, “You said you’d give me time to think.”
Jian Cenyu said softly, “I haven’t said anything yet.”
Sang Shi'an covered her ears. “I’m deaf, I can’t hear you.”
Jian Cenyu took one of her hands. “Then should I call a doctor to come and take a look at you?”
Afraid that Jian Cenyu would feel her scorching body temperature, Sang Shi'an immediately shook her hand off. “No, no.”
The elevator chimed with a ‘ding’. As if a wolf were chasing her, Sang Shi'an quickly opened the door, only to be caught by Jian Cenyu as she was changing into her slippers. “Are you going to review your lessons tonight?”
Sang Shi'an nodded. “Yes.”
Jian Cenyu bent down to get her slippers for her. “Then later, after you’re done reviewing, would I have the honor of inviting you for a late-night snack?”
Sang Shi'an let out an “ah” and said dryly, “I… I don’t feel like studying anymore.”
Jian Cenyu was speechless.
Jian Cenyu couldn't help but let out a couple of low laughs. “I have to review too. I just wanted to have a late-night snack with you. Give me a chance to win some points.”
What more points did she need to win? Sang Shi'an thought. She was already head over heels for her.
She turned her face away and said, “You’re the one who begged me to eat, okay? It wasn’t my idea. It has nothing to do with… that thing.”
Jian Cenyu found this version of Sang Shi'an incredibly cute. She went along with her words, saying, “It’s just that eating a late-night snack alone is too lonely, so I begged you to eat with me. It has nothing to do with me pursuing you.”
Sang Shi'an’s palms, hidden behind her back, were sweaty, but she managed to keep her expression composed. “Hmph, as long as you know.”
“I’m so honored.” Jian Cenyu took out her phone, found a few of Sang Shi'an's favorite restaurants, and handed it over. “I’m not familiar with the portion sizes for late-night snacks. Could I trouble An'an to teach me and help me order a little?”
Sang Shi'an hesitated. “If you have no one to eat with, you just don’t eat? Then how did you survive those four years in Europe?”
“I barely managed not to starve.” Jian Cenyu changed her shoes and straightened up. She took a long stride closer to Sang Shi'an, handed her the phone, and began to take off her coat.
Sang Shi'an stood there, staring straight at her. When her gaze fell on the unusually wrinkled front of Jian Cenyu's shirt, she quickly looked down in a panic.
Oh, she had probably been the one to wrinkle it when they were kissing at her house.
No one noticed when they left, right?
Considering Jian Cenyu's preference for lighter flavors, Sang Shi'an chose coconut chicken, then stopped at the payment page and stuffed the phone back into her hands. “I’m going to study. Don’t disturb me.”
With a smile in her eyes, Jian Cenyu tapped on her phone and suggested, “Why don’t you study in the study? It’s more spacious there.”
There were so many seats in the study. What if Jian Cenyu decided to squeeze in next to her? Sang Shi'an righteously refused, “No need. My back is sore today. I’ll just lie in bed and memorize my notes.”
After returning to her room, Sang Shi'an turned down the heat by a few degrees, threw herself onto the bed, and rolled around several times before she could finally calm herself down.
Jian Cenyu had confessed to her.
It felt absolutely amazing.
People new to love have a terrible habit: no matter what they do, they think of the other person. After studying for half an hour, she found that her scratch paper was covered with Jian Cenyu's name, and when she looked at the technical terms she was supposed to be memorizing—she was still on the very first line.
After midnight, Jian Cenyu knocked on her door.
The coconut chicken came with a small stove. After being brought to a boil again, its sweet and fresh aroma spread from the dining room. Across the boiling pot of soup, Jian Cenyu handed her a bowl of hot broth.
The flavor was very authentic, and Sang Shi'an squinted her eyes in comfort.
It wasn't until she had drunk half the bowl that she realized Jian Cenyu hadn't touched her chopsticks at all; she was just sitting opposite her, watching her quietly.
Her low ponytail made her look exceptionally gentle, and her light-colored eyes were so tender they could drown a person. Sang Shi'an was slightly taken aback, remembering what Su Ningyue had said when she urged her to pursue an online romance with Jian Cenyu.
‘Someone like Senior Jian, who seems to have no worldly desires, would be like an old house catching fire once she falls in love—the absolute pinnacle of being love-struck.’
At the time, Sang Shi'an thought Su Ningyue was exaggerating. Now that the phrase suddenly popped into her head, Sang Shi'an felt a rare sense of confusion.
Jian Cenyu's fire was indeed burning a little too brightly. Their kisses were more erotic than the lesbian adult films she had secretly watched, so much so that she had to change her inner clothes right after getting back.
Could Su Ningyue have actually been right?
She should observe a little more.
Jian Cenyu opened the other containers. “I also added some side dishes. See if there’s anything you like.”
Sang Shi'an was too lazy to look. “I’m fine with anything. I’m not picky.”
Jian Cenyu picked up the top box. “Black tiger shrimp, banana prawns? They’re both fresh.”
Sang Shi'an frowned at the words. “Spitting out shrimp shells is so troublesome.”
Jian Cenyu was speechless.
Jian Cenyu picked up another box. “What about small abalones and scallops? They’ve already been cleaned, so you can just remove the shells.”
Sang Shi'an shook her head again. “Huh? I heard that shellfish from coastal waters have been found to have excessive levels of heavy metals.”
Jian Cenyu was speechless.
Jian Cenyu had deliberately avoided the vegetables Sang Shi'an disliked, but she hadn't expected that Sang Shi'an's “not picky” came with so many rules.
Jian Cenyu went through all the side dishes and gradually discovered that tonight, Sang Shi'an only liked food that could be eaten directly. She put on gloves and prepared all the ingredients, finally getting a nod from Miss Sang.
If she were dealing with a relative's child during the New Year, Jian Cenyu would have probably lost her patience long ago. But now, with Sang Shi'an sitting obediently in front of her, all those picky little habits seemed to have become a vivid sort of enjoyment.
Sang Shi'an had been raised well since childhood. She ate in small, delicate bites, looking particularly refined.
Just as Jian Cenyu finished peeling a shrimp, she heard the very proper Sang Shi'an ask, “Did you learn how to kiss from those foreign videos online? That’s not how people in relationships kiss. You should watch more domestic idol dramas that can be shown on TV. You kiss so fiercely, my tongue is still sore.”
Jian Cenyu paused in the middle of placing the ingredients.
Fortunately, she had seen her fair share of storms. She glanced nonchalantly at Sang Shi'an and said, “I’ve never tried it with anyone before. What kind do you like? You can teach me next time.”
Sang Shi'an was speechless.
She couldn't afford to teach her.
Sang Shi'an had just said it casually while eating, but now she belatedly realized she had dug a pit for herself. Her face, which had finally returned to its normal color, turned red again. “I haven't agreed to be with you yet. You're not allowed to talk nonsense.”
Jian Cenyu nodded. “I will learn well from my future girlfriend.”
Sang Shi'an shot her a fierce glare and stopped talking to her. After eating and drinking her fill for free, Sang Shi'an stood up. “This coconut chicken isn't as good as the one I had last time. I'll send you the link to another restaurant later. You can save it.”
Jian Cenyu propped her chin on her hand and asked with a smile, “So when do you want to eat coconut chicken next time?”
Sang Shi'an replied, “Not anytime soon.”
Jian Cenyu's smile deepened as she squinted. “Alright, then we can eat something else tomorrow night.”
The next day was Monday. Sang Shi'an brought Su Ningyue to the library early. As expected, Su Ningyue's textbook was still pristine. She took out milk tea and a few boxes of light-flavored desserts from her bag, looking at her ingratiatingly.
Sang Shi'an dutifully helped Su Ningyue highlight the key points and typed on her phone: [It’s not too late for you to switch majors.]
Su Ningyue immediately refused: [Don’t you have to memorize a bunch of books for any major? I’d rather go into journalism. There’s so much gossip related to the entertainment industry. I’d definitely have no trouble with my performance as a paparazzi.]
Sang Shi'an was utterly speechless: [Just wait until you get chased down by people.]
Su Ningyue made a face at her, completely unafraid.
Su Ningyue managed to resist playing on her phone in the library. On the way to the cafeteria for lunch, her head was down the entire time, her newly done, beautiful nails making pleasant tapping sounds on the screen.
Sang Shi'an glanced over casually and saw that the contact name was ‘Jiejie’.
She asked with a smile, “Which good jiejie are you chatting with?”
“What other jiejie is there that doesn’t need a prefix? It’s my sister, Su Ningshang.” Su Ningyue was very frank. “She said she wants to take me on vacation for the winter break. I told her Yancheng is too cold and that she should find a warm little island.”
Sang Shi'an said nonchalantly, “The seaside is nice. It’s sunny and lively, and it’ll put you in a better mood.”
Su Ningyue put down her phone and smiled casually. “Little Sangsang, is there any need for you to be so roundabout with me? The two of us are going on a secret date, of course we have to choose a place with fewer people.”
Sang Shi'an had indeed sensed this relationship for a while. Anyone else might have asked directly, but she had stubbornly held back and never brought it up, pretending she knew nothing.
Su Ningyue was much more direct than her. “I think you’re becoming more and more like Senior Jian. Sometimes you don’t have to be so well-mannered. Isn’t it tiring to hold it all in?”
Ever since that night when Su Ningyue noticed Sang Shi'an's lip was bitten, she had tacitly assumed her relationship with Jian Cenyu. She listed a bunch of examples where she had long suspected something was going on between them, spending the entire meal on this topic. Her words made Sang Shi'an's heart feel light and floaty, yet she still had to go against her feelings and say that Su Ningyue was overthinking things.
After their meal, while walking on the sports field to aid digestion, they unexpectedly ran into Jian Cenyu.
A welcome sign for visiting professors had been placed at the school gate early in the morning for a seminar hosted by the Chemistry College professors. A group of people was just coming out of the laboratory building. Jian Cenyu had likely been pulled along to be shown off as a star pupil because of her recently published paper.
When Sang Shi'an woke up that morning, Jian Cenyu was already gone. A hot breakfast was left in the microwave, a gesture so thoughtful that Sang Shi'an had to stand by the window in the cold wind for a long time to calm down.
Today, Jian Cenyu was wearing a Hepburn-style black coat, looking elegant and intellectual. Her half-up, shoulder-length hair made her appear exceptionally calm and reserved; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a newly-promoted researcher. Among a group of elderly professors, she stood out at a glance.
As they passed a notice board detailing research achievements, Jian Cenyu explained and introduced Yanjing University's prominent figures to them, exuding a mature sense of control over the situation.
Many students were coming and going at lunchtime, prompting quite a few to whisper among themselves.
Su Ningyue let out an exaggerated “Aiyoh.” “Isn’t that the art department heartthrob? Is he planning to switch majors for grad school and waiting for a chance to get to know the professors?”
Sang Shi'an was confused.
Fair-skinned and slender, with an estimated height of 185 cm, he had a sunny smile—an appearance that perfectly matched mainstream aesthetic standards. Sang Shi'an paused in her steps and deliberately took a couple of extra glances.
Su Ningyue wrapped an arm around her shoulders from behind, resting her chin on her to watch the show. “No, no, it doesn’t look like he’s watching the professors. Could it be Senior Jian? I heard that boys these days also have a thing for older women. Senior Jian is practically the ideal type.”
Sure enough, as the professors walked ahead, the department heartthrob seized the opportunity and called out to Jian Cenyu.
Sang Shi'an's heart immediately leaped into her throat.
But she was still on the sports field, and the nearest exit was fifty meters away. She could only walk to the green fence and watch from afar. To her surprise, while talking to the male student, Jian Cenyu suddenly glanced in her direction.
It was an extremely light and faint glance, gone in an instant, but only Sang Shi'an saw the smile in Jian Cenyu's eyes, as if to say, “You're peeking at me, aren't you?”
Sang Shi'an turned her back, leaning against the green fence and taking deep breaths for a long time, still unable to suppress her racing heart.
It wasn't until the group of professors had gradually walked away and Jian Cenyu was out of sight that Sang Shi'an dared to turn back around. The art department heartthrob had gone to the basketball court with his friends, and he seemed to be in a pretty good mood.
So, why was he in a good mood?
Sang Shi'an shook her head, feeling that she was being utterly pathetic. She hadn't even started dating yet, but she had already experienced every symptom of love sickness.
When she returned to the library, Sang Shi'an received a WeChat message from Jian Cenyu, telling her to wait at the lab.
Sang Shi'an didn't even ask why she had to go to the lab. She just took her makeup bag from her purse and went to the restroom to touch up her makeup.
She was in a flurry. After checking herself a million times, she ran back to ask Su Ningyue if there was anything that didn't look good.
Su Ningyue was baffled. After a careful scan, she painstakingly pointed out a flaw: “Your collar is a little crooked.”
Sang Shi'an had her help adjust it, then used the excuse of forgetting a textbook to sneak out of the library.
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