Gu Nianzhi smiled awkwardly.
Mei Xiawen was her class representative; he was always nice to everyone in her class.
The law students at their university were given the opportunity to intern at prominent law firms, starting from their junior year. At the time, she had only just transferred to the university; she therefore had not realized that Mei Xiawen had deliberately let her have the first pick. She had always assumed that it was customary for the student with the best grades to choose first – and that had been her, of course. How was she to know?
It was also true that Mei Xiawen had walked her back to the dormitories more than a few times, when it was dark out because she had lost track of time while buried in her books. But she had assumed this was only because Class Rep was just as passionate about his studies as she was.
And Mei Xiawen always knew exactly what to say. Everyone felt comfortable around him. He was a real people person, all right.
He had brought her milk and honey cakes between classes, yes, many times, in fact – but he had made sure everyone else in class got them, too!
And now he was saying all that had actually been just for her?
Class Rep, you’re just way too subtle. If you hadn’t told me, I would never have guessed you were trying to win my affections…
Gu Nianzhi was so moved by this she thought she would cry.
So he had been nice to her because he liked her, and not because that was just the way he was…
Then again, Class Rep had always been a loyal friend to everyone in class.
Gu Nianzhi’s feelings were complicated. Her first reaction was to ask the person she trusted most – her guardian, Huo Shao – what to do.
But the thought of Huo Shao immediately brought to mind the incident with her fingerprint. She took a couple of deep breaths, smiled, and said, “…Class Rep, um, please delete my fingerprint from your phone. My… my family isn’t happy about it…”
“Oh.” Mei Xiawen glanced at her; he, too, felt that he had been too hot-headed the day before, and had perhaps scared her with his rashness. “All right, I’ll delete it. But you have to promise me you’ll let me woo you, okay?” As he said that, Mei Xiawen unlocked his phone with a swipe, and navigated his way to the fingerprint storage folder – only to find that Gu Nianzhi’s fingerprint wasn’t even there.
Had he forgotten to save it?
Mei Xiawen showed his phone to Gu Nianzhi. “Here, have a look. I didn’t even save it, so there’s nothing to delete.”
Gu Nianzhi glanced at the phone, then put a hand over her chest in relief. She said, laughing, “Thanks, Class Rep.”
“Then you agree?” asked Mei Xiawen.
It was yet another bold confession from him.
Gu Nianzhi felt a strange feeling bubble from deep inside her. It made her heart race and tumble. She did not know how to respond.
She lowered her eyes. After a moment, she looked up and stole a peek at Mei Xiawen.
Mei Xiawen had turned back to the road, but he was looking sideways at her, a smile on his lips.
Gu Nianzhi’s heart gave another leap. She quickly turned her head and looked out the window, at the scenery that was flying past her.
Her heart was in complete turmoil…
Should she call Huo Shao and ask him?
He was her guardian, after all – but was this even something she ought to ask him about?
Gu Nianzhi’s heart lurched up and down like a rollercoaster. Mei Xiawen’s confession had sparked her curiosity; she wanted to know what it was like to date someone. But in the very next moment she thought of Huo Shaoheng’s serious, solemn face, and was afraid that he would scold her…
Still, it was only natural for a girl who was almost 18 to want to be in love.
Nowadays, most fourteen-year-olds had already experienced their first love. Surely, at the age of 17, she wasn’t too young to be in a relationship?
To be fair, her life so far had been out of the ordinary. She had followed Huo Shaoheng to a military camp at the age of 12 and simply had had no opportunity to fall in love with the right boy.
She had only come to C City for college at the age of 16.
She had heard her three roommates talk about their love life, and she could not deny that she was envious…
Why not give it a try?
Gu Nianzhi’s heart was in a flutter, but she did not dare say it.
She still had to inform Huo Shaoheng about it. If he did not agree, she would turn Mei Xiawen down.
“Do you agree?” Mei Xiawen glanced at Gu Nianzhi; he smiled as he added, “I’m not asking you to agree to be my girlfriend, right away. I’m just asking you to let me woo you.”
He was graduating soon; in a few months, everyone would be going their own way, scattered to the four winds. He did not want to miss this opportunity.
There were plenty of beautiful, talented girls in their law department, but they were all sly, calculating foxes, capable of seeing through anyone with just a single glance.
In the end, a lovely, lively, intelligent, yet sweet and innocent young lass like Gu Nianzhi was still the most popular.
For example, most of the boys in their class were dating freshmen and sophomores; it was rare for them to date their own classmates, because of the reasons stated above.
Although Gu Nianzhi was his classmate, she was a lot younger, about the same age as a matriculating student. She had been his classmate for two years now, and they knew each other well. There would be fewer uncertainties in their relationship if they started dating; compared to her, his underclassmen were practically strangers to him.
Mei Xiawen leisurely looked at the road ahead. It seemed to be a metaphor for his life: a straight, open road, leading directly to a brilliant future.
Gu Nianzhi’s gaze snapped back from the view outside the window. She lowered her head, flustered, her fingers playing with the fabric of her light gray woolen jumper skirt. She mumbled, “… Class Rep, what do you expect me to say to that?”
“Can’t think of an answer? In that case I’ll just assume you agree,” said Mei Xiawen, smiling. “Now the first thing you have to do is to stop calling me Class Rep, we’re closer than that. Call me Xiawen. That’s what my family calls me.”
Calling him by his first name was a big step in closing the distance between them.
And it wasn’t too intimate.
Gu Nianzhi replied in a small voice, “…Okay.”
There was a hint of trepidation in her soft voice. Although her voice had not been loud, it seemed to echo in Mei Xiawen’s ears, over and over again.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. He did not expect a simple “Okay” from Gu Nianzhi to send his heart racing.
Maybe his feelings for her were stronger than he realized?
The two of them stayed silent for the remainder of the car ride, as though by tacit agreement.
When they arrived at the university, Mei Xiawen drove up to the entrance to the female dormitory.
He got out of the car first, and helped her get her suitcase out. He carried her backpack with his other hand and escorted her upstairs.
Normally, men were prohibited from entering the female dormitory.
However, Mei Xiawen had been a class representative for the last 4 years. The Resident Advisor for the female dormitory was therefore well-acquainted with him. When she saw him enter, she merely waved at him and let him in.
Mei Xiawen politely greeted the Resident Advisor, who was a middle-aged woman. He said, “My classmate has just returned to school after recovering from an illness.”
The Resident Advisor recognized Gu Nianzhi.
She was the youngest student in the Faculty of Law, and the top student. Of course she would recognize her.
“Nianzhi, you’re all recovered now?” The Resident Advisor smiled as she greeted her. “Your class rep is so responsible. He comes by three times a day to ask if you’re back.”
Gu Nianzhi nodded, smiling. She produced a packet of snacks and handed it to her. “Thank you. Here’s a small token of my appreciation.”
The Resident Advisor accepted her gift with an easy heart. It was just a packet of snacks, after all, not a bribe.
Gu Nianzhi and Mei Xiawen went upstairs. A soon as they opened the door to her room, her three roommates were there, screaming in their faces.
“Nianzhi, you’re back!”
“Lil Sis, are you all better now?!”
“Class Rep personally picked you up and sent you back here? Ooh, you have to repay him!”