"Where does it say these are thermal pants?" Chen Yuan read the seller’s description aloud. "Slim-fit, ultra-thin, three-layer fleece for warmth, packed with high-tech features, specializing in women’s thermal wear for over thirty years... And they have a lot of good reviews."
Jiangg Ning’s expression was odd. After Chen Yuan finished, she still looked utterly disgusted.
"I don’t care if they’re thermal pants or not, they’re just too ugly. They look so baggy and shapeless, and you can forget about them being flattering for your legs," she said, turning to sit on a nearby sofa. She added haughtily, "Wearing something like that is an insult to my sense of style."
It did seem to be the case that most attractive girls also had a noteworthy sense of fashion.
They often had almost obsessive standards when it came to clothing.
On this point, whether it was Jiangg Ning or Jiangg Yao, their views were identical.
Jiangg Ning preferred a professional, solid-colored, and sensible style, while Jiangg Yao favored a youthful, lively look with a slight touch of anime-inspired elements.
The two of them wore a different outfit every day without repeats; a significant portion of their income was probably set aside as a fixed expense for buying clothes.
If anyone else had been present, they would have been completely dumbfounded.
In a setting as serious and proper as an office at Lanjing University, for Associate Professor Jiangg and a male student to actually be discussing "thermal pants" was simply mind-boggling!
Chen Yuan was getting a little impatient. What guy would like his own girlfriend dressing up so beautifully every day, looking absolutely captivating?
’In private, she can wear whatever she wants. Not wearing anything at all would be fine, too.’
’Call it possessiveness or call it being petty.’
His expression turned cold as he told Jiangg Ning, "From now on, dress more conservatively at school."
"..."
Jiangg Ning looked at his serious expression and wanted to argue, but she swallowed the words when they reached her throat.
’Why are you being so harsh...’
She grumbled to herself. ’If he’d just asked nicely, it’s not like I wouldn’t have agreed.’
’He made it sound like a command. Chen Yuan, what gives you the right to tell me what to do!’
’If anyone should be laying down the law, it ought to be the teacher with the student!’
But she knew she couldn’t say that out loud. By that logic, wouldn’t she also have no right to interfere if Chen Yuan got close to other girls? Besides, that would make her miserable.
’Chen Yuan probably feels the same way when he sees other guys talking about me.’
Jiangg Ning began to understand. She didn’t answer, instead getting up and walking over to the filing cabinet to continue her search.
"I’m getting you the documents. Since you said to act more naturally, I will. I won’t deliberately keep my distance anymore."
"Okay."
"Haven’t you been sitting long enough?" Jiangg Ning turned and shot him a look. "Get up, will you? What do you think this looks like?"
She muttered under her breath, tucking back a stray lock of long hair that had fallen across her forehead, and looked up helplessly at the very top shelf of the cabinet.
The documents for the show were probably in that stack.
Even though Jiangg Ning was wearing high heels, she still couldn’t quite reach. All she could do was stand on her tiptoes and stretch her arm out to grab at it.
The stack of documents wobbled slightly, then tipped to one side, sliding like a row of dominoes—WHOOSH—to lie flat at the very back of the shelf.
Now it was hopeless. At first, she might have reached it with some effort.
Now all Jiangg Ning could do was stare blankly.
Frowning in frustration, she wondered if she should find something to stand on, her eyes scanning the office.
Suddenly, a figure appeared by her feet, and a familiar, faint lemon scent wafted over. Two light-gray-cuffed sleeves reached past her, extending high above her head, and effortlessly grabbed the stack of documents, pulling it down.
Jiangg Ning felt completely enveloped by his presence. If she took even a small step back, she would touch Chen Yuan’s body.
Caught so off-guard, the temperature of her cheeks slowly began to rise, a blush creeping across her face.
Jiangg Ning’s eyelashes fluttered. She wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but her heart began to pound.
"Here you go."
"O-okay."
She took the documents from Chen Yuan and turned her body, bringing them even closer together. In the cramped, narrow space beside the cabinet, there was no room to spare.
His face, magnified, filled her vision.
In that instant, Jiangg Ning was reminded of that time in the restaurant. The situation had been almost identical, and then, for some inexplicable reason, she had ended up kissing Chen Yuan.
If her face had merely been flushed before, then in the moment she recalled that memory...
...Jiangg Ning’s cheeks turned crimson in a matter of seconds. It was so intense, she looked like she was on something; anyone could see it wasn’t normal.
Chen Yuan watched her, completely bewildered. ’She wasn’t this shy yesterday when we were cuddling on the sofa. Did one night apart make us strangers again?’
’We’re just standing close, it’s not like we’re doing anything intimate.’
"Are you okay? You don’t have a fever, do you?" he asked, reaching out to press his hand against Jiangg Ning’s forehead. "You’re so hot."
Jiangg Ning’s brain was already on the verge of short-circuiting, her eyes darting around frantically. The sudden touch of his hand on her forehead was like adding fuel to the fire, and she scrambled two steps back.
THUMP. She bumped into the cabinet.
"No, I’m fine. Perfectly fine... I can’t have a fever," she said, batting Chen Yuan’s hand away. After speaking, she nodded as if to confirm it to herself. "That’s right."
"Alright then. I’m leaving. It’s not right for me to keep hanging around in here."
Now that he had the documents, Chen Yuan had no reason to linger in the office, even though it was actually quite nice. The heating was warm, the atmosphere was quiet, and his girlfriend was there to keep him company.
"Go on, bye-bye," Jiangg Ning said, nodding and shaking her head frantically.
"Bye-bye," Chen Yuan said with a small smile. He casually ruffled her hair, and didn’t forget to pull the door shut on his way out.
CLICK—
Silence returned to the office.
Jiangg Ning stood there in a daze, not moving for a long time. She was posed as if being punished, her hands pressed flat against the cabinet behind her. She could have sworn she still felt the sensation of her hair being ruffled. Chen Yuan’s strange yet special gesture had left her completely stunned.
「A long while later.」