The afternoon sun shone through the huge stained-glass windows of the St. Cherry Academy Library, casting dappled patterns of light on the floor. The air was filled with the quiet scent of old book pages. Yu Jiuyuan's fingertips traced the gilded spine of a book, but her gaze seemed to be fixed on a spot diagonally in front of her by the window.

Yuan Xu was sitting there.

The boy was wearing the school's uniform white shirt, with the cuffs neatly rolled up to his forearms, revealing his clean-lined wrists.

A thick foreign language journal lay open in front of him, its pages covered with dense annotations. A miniature magnifying glass sat beside him, a habit he maintained when studying biological samples, always approaching literature with a visceral, almost anatomical focus.

When Yu Jiuyuan walked to his side, he didn't even look up until she placed a glass of perfectly warm lemonade next to him. Only then did he seem to pull himself out of his own world and look up at her.

"Thank you." Yuan Xu's voice was soft, slightly hoarse from just regaining her senses. Her eyes behind her glasses were as clear as glass submerged in water. "Why are you here?"

“I just came from the student council,” Yu Jiuyuan said naturally, sitting down opposite him. Her tone was as light as the breeze outside the window. “You’ve been here all morning. Aren’t you hungry?”

Yuan Xu seemed to realize the time then, glanced down at his watch, and frowned almost imperceptibly: "It's already this late?" He closed the journal, his movements as gentle as if handling a fragile item. "I have an appointment with the lab, I have to go."

"Don't rush," Yu Jiuyuan called out to him, tapping her fingertips lightly on the table. "Have you heard about the Lin family in the west of the city?"

Yuan Xu stopped in his tracks. He had never been interested in the power struggles between these families, but when the Lin family was mentioned, he paused for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know. What's wrong?"

“They’re also vying for that piece of land in the east of the city,” Yu Jiuyuan said calmly, as if she were talking about something trivial. “The Su family is behind them.”

Yuan Xu pushed up her glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light: "The Su family? Su Jingshu's side?"

"Hmm." Yu Jiuyuan nodded, looking at the rare thoughtful expression on the boy's face, and gained a clearer understanding of the number "38" on the favorability panel. It wasn't that Yuan Xu didn't care, it's just that his concern always carried a somewhat academic detachment, requiring a specific trigger to activate.

“Lin Yanran will come to the academy in person to discuss further cooperation matters,” Yu Jiuyuan changed the subject, her smile as innocent as a harmless little animal, “I heard he’s coming this afternoon, would you like to go and meet him?”

Yuan Xu was silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing the priorities of the lab and this matter. In the end, he shook his head: "I need to observe the cell division of the samples this afternoon, I can't leave." He paused, then added, "Lin Yanran... her personality is a bit unstable, be careful."

This reminder came unexpectedly, yet a smile flickered in Yu Jiuyuan's eyes. She knew that Yuan Xu's favor was never gained through deliberate flattery, but rather through this kind of unintentional thoughtfulness, which was the most precious.

"Okay," she said, her eyes crinkling to reveal a pair of shallow dimples. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Yuan Xu didn't say anything more, picked up his things, and turned to leave. Watching his retreating figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Yu Jiuyuan's smile slowly faded. She picked up her phone; the screen showed a message Rong Shenghan had sent that morning, containing only a simple sentence: "[Lin Yanran will arrive at 3 PM this afternoon at the coffee shop near the school gate.]"

An unpredictable fellow.

Yu Jiuyuan put away her phone, got up and left the library. Sunlight fell on her, gilding her with a soft golden edge, making her look like an innocent young lady. But only she knew that beneath that soft exterior lay a carefully planned and meticulously executed scheme.

The risk assessment report Xie Zhecheng had given her was still in her bag. She spent an hour reading it that morning. The report was impeccable, logically sound, and rich in data. It even took into account the most minute weather factors. It was typical of Xie Zhecheng's style: cold, precise, and with an unquestionable perfectionism.

But the glaring "0" on the favorability panel was like a thorn stuck in her plans.

Negative 25, Neutral 8, Positive 15.

This man was like a block of ice that could never be warmed; no matter what she did, it wouldn't stir even the slightest ripple. Yu Jiuyuan's fingertips traced the strap of her bag, a cryptic smile playing on her lips. It didn't matter; perfectionists always had weaknesses, and she had plenty of patience.

It was three in the afternoon, and the café near the school gate wasn't crowded. Soft jazz music filled the air. Yu Jiuyuan chose a seat by the window and ordered a latte. She had just taken a sip when she saw a figure push open the door and enter.

Lin Yanran was not quite what she had imagined.

He wore a well-tailored black suit, standing out from the other students in uniform at the college, appearing mature and sharp. His features were distinct, with high brow bones, and his eyes carried a hint of nonchalant arrogance as he surveyed the café as if inspecting his own territory.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice sounded in my mind without warning: [System Notification: New romanceable character detected – Lin Yanran. Initial Affection: 0.]

When his gaze fell on Yu Jiuyuan, he paused noticeably for a moment, then strode over.

“Yu Jiuyuan?” Lin Yanran sat down opposite her, his voice low and scrutinizing. “I’ve long admired your name.”

"Mr. Lin, you're too kind," Yu Jiuyuan put down her coffee cup, her smile still innocent, but her eyes were like a precise radar, quickly scanning his micro-expressions. "I didn't expect you to come to the academy in person."

"How can we know if the eldest daughter of the Yu family is really as powerful as the legends say if we don't come and see for ourselves?" Lin Yanran smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes; instead, it revealed a hint of provocation. "After all, our Lin family is determined to get that piece of land in the east of the city."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!