On an April afternoon, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the sycamore leaves of St. Cherry Blossom Academy, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

As soon as the school bell rang, Yu Jiuyuan packed her schoolbag, ignoring Lin Yanran's reminder behind her that "there are still things to deal with in the student council," and walked straight towards Rong Shenghan, who was standing at the entrance of the teaching building.

He was wearing a light gray trench coat and carrying a backpack today, looking like an ordinary student. But when his smiling eyes fell on her, they always held a focus that no one else could match.

"Have you been waiting long?" Yu Jiuyuan walked to his side and naturally took his arm.

"Not long." Rong Shenghan tidied her bangs that had been ruffled by the wind, his fingertips brushing against her cheek. "The movie tickets are for the four o'clock showing, so it's perfect to go now."

The two walked out side by side, their school uniform skirts brushing against the stone steps, making a soft rustling sound.

As Xie Zhecheng passed by the club activity center, he saw Xie standing at the entrance explaining things to the club members. When his gaze swept over their clasped arms, his eyes darkened, but he ultimately just coldly looked away.

At the window of the laboratory building not far away, Yuan Xu was holding a glass jar containing specimens, staring blankly at their departing figures until her assistant reminded her that "the culture medium needs to be changed," which brought her back to her senses.

Soft music played in the car. Yu Jiuyuan turned her head to look at Rong Shenghan's profile as he drove, and suddenly said, "When we get back tonight, we might have to face some 'storms'."

Rong Shenghan paused on the steering wheel, then chuckled softly: "Scared?"

"What do I have to be afraid of?"

Yu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow, her fingertips tracing circles on the back of his hand. "I just feel that it's time to give you a legitimate identity. Always hiding it isn't like me."

He turned to look at her, the smile in his eyes deepening: "What's your style?"

“My people should naturally stand by my side openly and honestly.”

Yu Jiuyuan spoke frankly, her tone carrying the arrogance of a young lady, yet strangely, it didn't feel offensive.

The movie theater wasn't crowded, so they chose the last row of seats for couples.

The screen flickered with light and shadow, depicting a clichéd love story, but Yu Jiuyuan didn't watch much. She simply leaned on Rong Shenghan's shoulder, listening to his steady breathing.

In the darkness, he suddenly grasped her hand, their fingers intertwined, his palm warm.

"What are you thinking about?" His voice was low, mixed with lines from a movie, like a private love confession.

“I’m thinking,” Yu Jiuyuan looked up at him, the light from the screen flickering in her eyes, “whether we should go to that dessert shop in the south of the city for cherry blossom mousse later.”

Rong Shenghan chuckled: "Is that all you want?"

"Otherwise what?"

She leaned closer, her nose almost touching his chin, "Why is our Shenghan being so well-behaved today? He didn't even ask me why I made Lin Yanran go to the student council warehouse to move documents this morning."

He ran his fingertips along her knuckles, his tone flat: "If you want him to go, you must have your reasons."

Yu Jiuyuan felt a warmth in her heart.

Rong Shenghan was never the type to pry into things. His "indifference" concealed an almost indulgent trust in her.

She suddenly leaned in and planted a light kiss on his lips, the scent of popcorn lingering in the air: "Because the old files in the warehouse contain evidence of his father's collusion with the Su family. Keeping him around will be useful sooner or later."

Rong Shenghan's eyelashes trembled, but he didn't say anything. He just hugged her tighter.

As the movie ended, the sun was setting.

As soon as the two stepped out of the movie theater, they bumped into Ji Nianqin, who was walking towards them.

He was wearing Saint Sakura's school uniform, his posture upright. When he saw their hands clasped together, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, which were almost identical to Ji Luoqin's, before he regained his gentle smile: "What a coincidence, Jiu Yuan, Rong Tongxue."

“It’s quite a coincidence.” Yu Jiuyuan smiled and shook her hand, which was tightly clasped with Rong Shenghan’s. Her tone was as natural as if she were talking about the weather. “Shenghan and I are on a date.”

The word "date" was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing Ji Nianqin's smile to freeze for a moment.

He quickly covered it up, nodding, "Then I won't bother you any longer." As he turned to leave, his steps seemed a little faster than when he arrived.

Rong Shenghan watched his retreating figure, then looked down at Yu Jiuyuan and asked, "Is this alright?"

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” Yu Jiuyuan looked up at him, the sunlight shining brightly in her eyes. “Why should I hide my boyfriend?”

She deliberately emphasized the word "boyfriend," her voice not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of several Saint Sakura students who were secretly watching nearby.

Those eyes that were already gossiping about the relationship between the student council president and vice president were now shining on them like spotlights.

Rong Shenghan's heart skipped a beat.

Looking at Yu Jiuyuan's composed profile and the unwavering certainty in her eyes, he suddenly felt that all his previous unease and anxiety had vanished in that moment.

It was already dark when we returned to the villa.

The living room lights were on, and Xie Zhecheng, Yuan Xu, and Lin Yanran were all there, clearly waiting for them.

"You're back." Xie Zhecheng spoke first, his gaze falling on their still clasped hands, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Lin Yanran snorted coldly and turned his face away, but his ears were a little red. He had spent the afternoon rummaging through files in the student union warehouse, and his back ached from exhaustion. Meanwhile, the other person was having a sweet date. Just thinking about it made him furious.

Yuan Xu pushed up her glasses and asked softly, "Was the movie good?"

Yu Jiuyuan changed her shoes, walked straight to the center of the sofa and sat down, patting the seat next to her to signal Rong Shenghan to sit down. "It looks pretty good."

She spoke casually, as if she were talking about something perfectly ordinary, "By the way, I have something to tell you."

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