’Last week, that girl was in class with Chen Yuan, and now it seems they’re in the same student council department?’ Jiangg Ning wondered, feeling quite puzzled.
She promptly booted up her computer, opened the list of student council members for Landa University College, and started searching through it.
"Liu Tingyue... That’s a pretty name," Jiangg Ning murmured to herself, her eyes on the clear ID photo on the screen. She mused for a moment. "The Head of the Arts Department."
She scrolled down the list and, not two pages later, saw Chen Yuan’s ID photo.
Position: Department Member.
’So they really are in the same department.’
Jiangg Ning’s hand tightened into a fist, which she raised to her lips. Her eyes filled with suspicion as her thoughts inevitably turned to the worst-case scenario... ’Don’t tell me Chen Yuan has started dating this Liu Tingyue?!’
’Why else would they be together every day!’
The very possibility made her feel breathless, an indescribable tightness gripping her heart.
She absolutely refused to believe it was true, so she quickly shook her head, trying to banish the thought from her mind.
’Chen Yuan can’t be *that* desperate. It hasn’t been long since our breakup, would he really find a new girlfriend immediately?’ If he truly did move on that seamlessly, Jiangg Ning felt like she would die from anger. She kept speculating, then denying it, then speculating again, unable to think straight.
The terrifying part was that even if Chen Yuan really was dating Liu Tingyue, Jiangg Ning knew that as his "ex-girlfriend"—an online one at that—she had no right to interfere.
All she could do was bottle it up and suffer in silence.
In the ten-odd minutes since she’d returned to her office, Jiangg Ning had been frowning one moment, pounding her desk the next, and then frantically running her hands through her hair. This was a far cry from her usual demeanor; even Jiangg Yao had rarely seen her like this.
She knew she liked Chen Yuan. It wasn’t something she could simply deny and make it go away. Words were useless; actions were what mattered.
If she could see Chen Yuan with another girl—not just Liu Tingyue, but even if he were dating eight or ten girls at once—and still be able to work, study, and prepare her lessons with ease, *that* would mean she didn’t like him.
At that moment, a rather petty thought entered Jiangg Ning’s mind. Full of resentment, she felt that Chen Yuan should at least have the decency to mourn their breakup for a few months before diving into a new romance.
But as soon as the thought surfaced, she deflated. It was completely unreasonable!
KNOCK KNOCK—
The sudden knock came from the door.
Jiangg Ning instantly lifted her head and glanced toward the door.
She quickly smoothed her hair, closed the file on her screen, and composed herself, slipping back into her usual calm demeanor.
"Come in."
The door swung open, and the person who walked in left Jiangg Ning utterly stunned.
"Jiangg."
Chen Yuan had to ask several people before finding the office of the Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee, and he had hurried over.
Jiangg Ning stared at him, taking a full half-minute to recover from her shock.
Words couldn’t describe the complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.
"What is it...?" she asked, lowering her gaze. Her expression was unreadable.
"I’m here to pick up the files for the Arts Department’s performance."
"Oh. Wait a moment, then."
Jiangg Ning picked up a freshly brewed cup of tea. Her long, soft hair, still slightly disheveled, fell on either side of her face. Steam curled up from the cup, and her slender hand seemed to hold the handle with perfect steadiness.
But what no one could see was the surface of the tea, which rippled so violently that another tremor would have sent it spilling over the rim!
With extreme difficulty, she took a tiny sip, then set the cup down and stood up. The CLACK-CLACK of her high heels echoed in the room, sounding particularly strange in the silence.
Opening the file cabinet, Jiangg Ning forced herself to look calm as she began to search.
Chen Yuan’s gaze lingered for a few seconds on Jiangg Ning’s stocking-clad legs before he casually sat down on the leather sofa, looking perfectly relaxed.
There was no one else in the office, so he naturally didn’t feel the need to maintain a formal distance. He made himself comfortable.
Jiangg Ning searched for a while but couldn’t find it.
’During the handover, I think I heard the previous Deputy Secretary mention the performance. The files should be right here in the cabinet! How strange.’
Puzzled, Jiangg Ning placed her hands on her hips and happened to turn her head.
She then saw Chen Yuan lounging comfortably on one side of the sofa, as if he were right at home. He didn’t look the least bit formal or constrained; he was completely at ease.
Jiangg Ning narrowed her eyes.
Her anger hadn’t subsided yet, and she had no intention of being pleasant to Chen Yuan.
’Besides, you can’t be so disrespectful to any teacher! Did I say you could sit down?’
"Is the sofa comfortable?" she asked, her red lips parting slightly.
"It’s alright, I guess," Chen Yuan replied. He didn’t seem very happy either, and his tone was rather cold. The office was much warmer and more comfortable than the biting wind outside, so he took off his down jacket, draped it over the side of the sofa, and pointed. "Turn the heat up a little more."
"?"
Jiangg Ning froze.
’Seriously, Chen Yuan, do you really think this is your house?’
She took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to explode. After all, she did owe him. Obediently, she turned up the temperature on the thermostat.
"Should I get you a cup of tea, too?"
"No need. Isn’t there some on your desk? Green tea is fine, but I’m not a fan of black tea."
"???"
Jiangg Ning clenched her fists. "You think it’s appropriate for me to pour you tea?"
"What’s inappropriate about it?" Chen Yuan beckoned to her. "I was cleaning all morning. My shoulders are killing me. Why don’t you come over and give them a massage?"
As he spoke, he actually turned his back to her.
It was as if he didn’t see anything wrong with it at all, ordering her around with practiced ease.
If Jiangg Yao were in the office right now, she would have undoubtedly scampered over, cooing sympathetically, "Oh, my little master, here I come."
Unfortunately for him, he was facing Jiangg Ning.
For a half-second, seeing him act like this, Jiangg Ning was dumbfounded with rage. Her eyes widened in disbelief. How dare he?