Once the lights went out, it was pitch black.
Occasional car noises passed by outside, but inside, it was quiet.
They lay on the same bed, each sticking to their side.
After a while, Chu Yuwei turned to look at him.
The dim light from outside lit up his profile.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking about whatever you’re thinking about.”
Chu Yuwei jumped and pulled the blanket tight.
Jiang Zhou smirked. “If you weren’t thinking anything, how would you know what I was thinking?”
“I… I wasn’t thinking anything…” Chu Yuwei peeked her head out from under the blanket, revealing only her bright, dazzling eyes.
This was her first time lying in bed with a guy.
She didn’t know why, but her heart kept pounding.
Her feet, tucked beneath the covers, wanted to move yet didn’t dare to.
She was afraid they might touch him… but part of her also wanted to know what it would feel like if they did.
At that moment, Jiang Zhou suddenly pulled out his phone.
He’d felt it buzzing the whole time while lying down, tickling his nerves.
Sure enough, there were several messages:
Even before finishing the texts, Jiang Zhou already knew that it had to be Yin Shuya.
He typed three characters: “Are you insane?”
Chu Yuwei blinked. “Who messaged you?”
“A rich woman. Wanted to keep me for 500,000. I turned her down.”
“500,000?! That’s a lot… and you rejected it?”
Jiang Zhou suddenly flipped over and faced her.
“Someone like me? How am I not worth a million per month?”
Chu Yuwei jumped, flustered. “You… you narcissist!”
“Why are you blushing?”
“You’re too close… It’s scary…”
Looking at his face so close to hers, Chu Yuwei became increasingly nervous.
She shrank back beneath the blanket, her eyes glowing like stars.
“Chu Yuwei, I think… you might be expecting something?”
“Nonsense! I-I-I’m not expecting anything!”
“I don’t have many strengths, but I can read people.”
“No, I wasn’t thinking anything! You… just stay back, okay?”
Hearing her nervous, trembling voice, Jiang Zhou moved even closer.
But his shift was a bit too much. His leg suddenly brushed against her cold little feet under the covers.
In that moment, Chu Yuwei nearly squealed.
She had never even held hands before, so how could she be ready for this kind of contact?
But the, unexpectedly, Jiang Zhou rolled back over to the edge of the bed.
“It’s late. Time to sleep.”
He turned his back to her, sneering quietly to himself.
You think I’m easy? That I’d give up my principles just like that?
I haven’t even agreed to be your boyfriend yet. I’m not selling myself out for one little moment of weakness!
Guo Wei walked out of the room, bleary-eyed.
He remembered coming back with Jiang Zhou the night before.
But waking up, Jiang Zhou was nowhere to be found.
He opened the door and wandered out to look for him.
At that moment, Chu Yuwei’s door burst open, and Jiang Zhou was kicked into the hallway, barefoot.
“You liar! You snore like crazy! It was unbearable!” With an angry huff, Chu Yuwei slammed the door shut.
Jiang Zhou clicked his tongue. “So violent. Who’s gonna marry you at this rate?”
Did he just see what he thinks he saw?
Did he just hear what he thinks he heard?
Jiang Zhou… came out of Chu Yuwei’s room?
And she’s complaining he snores?!
“Jiang Zhou… you… you slept with the campus belle?!”
Jiang Zhou looked up. “So what? Never seen it before?”
Guo Wei was shell-shocked. “I just… can’t believe my eyes…”
“Don’t overthink it. I was just crashing for the night.”
“Oh sure. Just like how Ning Caichen ‘just stayed the night’ in that ruined temple, except he did way more!”
Jiang Zhou frowned. “You snored like a jackhammer. What else was I supposed to do but go to Chu Yuwei’s?”
Guo Wei yelled, “Bullsh*t! I never snore! Don’t use me as an excuse!”
“Says me! I can feel it. I sleep like a baby.”
Jiang Zhou couldn’t be bothered to argue. He went back in to change.
Today was the big meeting with Director Chen.
He had to be sharp. This meeting could secure their expansion into the University of Technology.
This campus was a key piece on his map.
Meanwhile, Su Nan and Mu Xiaoxiao were also up.
After getting ready, they knocked on Jiang Zhou’s door.
“Yeah, just grab your things and let’s move.”
Su Nan looked around. “Chu Yuwei’s not here. Should I go get her?”
Jiang Zhou waved his hand. “No need. Let her sleep in. She didn’t sleep well last night.”
Su Nan and Mu Xiaoxiao exchanged a look, eyes full of shock.
Something definitely happened last night that they shouldn’t hear about!
He couldn’t get his way in our room, so he went and bullied Chu Yuwei instead!
Guo Wei just stood to the side with a smug “I knew it” expression.
The girls could only imagine what happened.
He, on the other hand, witnessed it with his own eyes!
Around 7 AM, the group left the hotel and headed for University of Technology.
Morning sunlight blanketed the streets in gold.
Autumn winds rustled the trees and scattered leaves.
But most students wouldn’t wake up this early just to enjoy the scenery.
The group pushed through the cool breeze and entered the administration building. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
Guo Wei split off and headed to class, while the others made their way to the academic affairs office.
Jiang Zhou straightened his collar and cuffs, then knocked and entered.
They had arrived thirty minutes early.
Director Chen wasn’t there yet, only a girl tidying up newspapers inside.
“Hello, we have an appointment with Director Chen. Is she in?”
The girl turned around slightly. “Jiang… Jiang Zhou?”
Jiang Zhou, Su Nan, and Mu Xiaoxiao were all stunned.
“Yang Xin? What are you doing here?”
Yang Xin was also surprised. “I’m on rotation today, helping Director Chen organize her office. What about you guys?”
Jiang Zhou nodded. “We’ve got a project. Hoping to collaborate with U Tech.”
“But… you’re still students, right?”
“Yep. A student-run startup project.”