"Well... okay." Zhang Xuanhua seemed to be convinced and gave Ning Xiuyan a smile that was slightly grateful and relaxed.
"Excuse me, Mr. Ning."
The smile on Ning Xiuyan's lips deepened.
The prey seemed simpler than he expected.
The cafe called "Oak" is located in a quiet corner of the back street of the college. The warm yellow light shines through the huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows, casting a warm halo on the wet street.
The room is filled with the rich aroma of coffee and soothing jazz music.
Ning Xiuyan chose a quiet booth by the window. Across from him sat Zhang Xuanhua, stripped of his bomber jacket and wearing only a black hooded sweatshirt underneath. His figure looked even thinner, and he exuded a defensive, student-like air.
He held the warm coffee cup in both hands and sipped it. His long eyelashes drooped, casting a small shadow under his eyes. He looked quiet and well-behaved.
Chen Mo sat a little further away, looking down at his phone, consciously playing the role of a background figure.
"Mr. Zhang is studying abroad. Are you used to drinking coffee?" Ning Xiuyan leaned back in a comfortable sofa with a relaxed posture, his eyes gently falling on Zhang Xuanhua's face, with the intention of guiding the topic.
"It's okay," Zhang Xuanhua raised his head, his light blue eyes curved with a hint of embarrassment.
"I actually prefer tea. But the coffee here is really good."
"As long as you like it." Ning Xiuyan chuckled, his fingertips gently stroking the rim of the cup.
"Is the Guanghua curriculum intense? Are you adapting well after just coming back?" He spoke like an older brother who cares about his juniors, and his tone was perfectly controlled.
"The courses are okay, and the professors are great." Zhang Xuanhua put down the cup, his fingers unconsciously picking at the drawstring on his sweatshirt, looking a little childish.
"It's just... I'm a little uncomfortable."
He frowned slightly, and that melancholy look fell just right into Ning Xiuyan's eyes, arousing a hint of protective desire.
"Oh? What's wrong with you?" Ning Xiuyan leaned forward slightly, as if listening, his eyes focused.
"Hmm..." Zhang Xuanhua seemed to be having trouble speaking. He hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice and said, "It's just... I feel like some people look at me... weirdly."
He lowered his eyes slightly, and his thick eyelashes trembled like the wings of a frightened butterfly.
"It seems like they think I got in thanks to my family... or... they want to get something from me."
Ning Xiuyan understood, and at the same time, a hint of secret pride arose in his heart.
Isn't this his chance?
He gave an understanding and somewhat soothing smile: "It's human nature, Young Master Zhang, don't worry about it. A place like Guanghua is full of good and bad people, so it's inevitable that there are some people with impure intentions. The important thing is to have a sense of justice in your heart."
He paused, his tone becoming gentler. "If you run into any trouble or feel unhappy in the future, you can always come and talk to me. I've been in this industry for a few years, so I can help you avoid some unnecessary trouble."
He extended an olive branch, his gesture sounding like that of a protector, yet also with a subtle ambiguity.
He knew that for this seemingly innocent young master, moderate displays of kindness and protectiveness were the easiest way to open his heart.
Sure enough, Zhang Xuanhua raised his head, and his light blue eyes sparkled with surprise and trust, like a dusty gem being polished.
"Really? Second Brother Ning?" He blurted out the name with a sense of intimacy and dependence.
"Thank you!"
"Of course it's true."
Ning Xiuyan's smile deepened, with a subtle sense of control, "It's just a piece of cake."
The following conversation became relaxed and "pleasant".
Ning Xiuyan deliberately guided the topic, telling some insignificant and interesting stories in the circle, occasionally with some self-deprecating anecdotes, packaging himself as a humorous, knowledgeable and "helpful" brother.
Zhang Xuanhua played the role of a perfect listener, sometimes exclaiming in surprise, sometimes showing a shy smile, his eyes full of "admiration" and trust for Ning Xiuyan.
He occasionally mentioned fragments of his life abroad, which seemed simple and pure, nothing more than studying, painting, and occasional travel, depicting a clean and dust-free world.
The more Ning Xiuyan talked, the more he felt itchy.
Zhang Xuanhua's "simplicity" and "dependence" greatly satisfied his frustration after being suppressed by Ning Xiwan for a long time. His exquisite face was even more breathtakingly beautiful under the warm yellow light.
A strong urge to possess this beauty was growing wildly in his heart.
He could almost foresee that this young master, who was ignorant of the ways of the world, would soon become an ignorant prey in the love web he had carefully woven, at his mercy.
After their first "chance encounter" and "pleasant conversation" in the coffee shop, Ning Xiuyan began to appear frequently near Guanghua.
He always "happened" to meet Zhang Xuanhua after class or reading alone in the library.
Sometimes he would give him a cup of milk tea that he had bought "on the way" and that Zhang Xuanhua had "casually" mentioned as liking, and sometimes he would invite him to try a newly opened restaurant that was said to have high reviews.
Every time Zhang Xuanhua saw him, she would reveal a clean smile filled with surprise and dependence, and her light blue eyes would sparkle as if filled with stars.
He never refused Ning Xiuyan's invitation, and occasionally took the initiative to share some of the little troubles he encountered at school - such as a partner in a group assignment was not very reliable, or being "scared" by a passionate senior schoolmate.
Whenever this happened, Ning Xiuyan would play the role of a reliable brother, giving some "pertinent" advice, or simply using the Ning family's name to help him "solve" those "troubles" without making a fuss.
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