The apartment lights were a bit glaring. Liu Mengran sat at her desk, her fingers slowly scrolling the mouse wheel, the image of the boy named Han Feng lingering in her mind.
"What's wrong with me..." she murmured to herself, her fingertips hovering over the keyboard for a moment before finally opening the Kyoto University campus forum.
The homepage prominently displayed the tag "[Freshman Campus Beauty Contest]", and her name was listed, accompanied by a candid side profile photo taken on the day of the report. Liu Mengran frowned—she had always disdained such pointless contests. Just as she was about to close the page, a newly popped-up pinned post made her finger tremble.
Breaking News! Economics Department Freshman Beauty and Mysterious Sports Car Man Share a Deep Gaze (High-Resolution Photos)
The main image below the title captures the scene from this afternoon: at the entrance of the reporting office, she stands blankly, clutching her books, while Han Feng, a few steps away, gazes at her. It's unclear who took this photo, but it captures the boy's gaze so vividly—those eyes are filled with more than just deep affection; they seem to reflect the trembling and cherished feeling of finally reuniting after a long journey through time.
Liu Mengran's heart suddenly raced. She clicked on the post; it already had hundreds of replies.
"I'm totally shipping them! This is such a love story from the first glance!"
"The way the male lead looks at the female lead is absolutely stunning! I declare this the most beautiful gaze of the year!"
"Does anyone know which department this handsome guy is in? I need all his information in three minutes!"
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she continued scrolling down, and a reply suddenly caught her eye:
"The mysterious Bugatti owner is actually a freshman majoring in Business Administration! [Photo taken secretly in the parking lot]"
In the photo, Han Feng is leaning against a matte black Bugatti, talking on the phone, his profile sharp and clean. Liu Mengran blinked—so the sports car freshman who caused a stir at the beginning of the semester was him.
"I wonder which rich kid this is. That's a Bugatti! His family must be super wealthy!"
"You're so out of touch! The latest news is he's dating the most beautiful freshman in the computer science department..."
"Ahhh, what kind of Mary Sue male lead setup is this! School beauty x rich second-generation genius, I'm in!"
Liu Mengran closed the page and rubbed her temples. The noise in the forum made her uncomfortable, but what bothered her even more was her unusual reaction. If Han Feng was really a flamboyant and ostentatious rich second-generation as the posts described, why did she feel that inexplicable familiarity with him?
Outside the window, the chirping of crickets in early autumn rose and fell. Liu Mengran went to the balcony and took a deep breath. The night breeze brushed her cheeks, but it couldn't dispel the tangled mess in her heart.
(Jiang City, huh...)
She was certain she had never been to that city, nor did she remember ever seeing Han Feng in any social setting. Yet, when he looked at her, the chilling feeling that his very soul seemed to be seen through her made it seem as if they had known each other for countless lifetimes.
She turned off the screen, lay down on the bed, and stared blankly at the ceiling. That look... it was so strange. It wasn't the initial amazement, nor the frivolousness of a casual flirtation, but... what was it?
She closed her eyes, trying to capture that fleeting feeling. Like a desert traveler seeing an oasis, like a drowning person grabbing onto driftwood, even more like... lovers who missed each other in a past life reuniting in this one.
"Absurd." Liu Mengran rolled over with a self-deprecating laugh.
Sleepiness crept in, and in her hazy state, she seemed to return to that scene: the bustling newsroom, sunlight filtering through the sycamore leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. When she looked up, she pierced through all the noise and distance, her gaze meeting directly into those eyes brimming with starlight...
In her dream, a matte black sports car sped along an endless highway. She, in the passenger seat, turned to look at the driver's seat; Han Feng's profile was gilded by the setting sun. He suddenly turned his head, his lips parted to say something, but it was drowned out by a piercing horn blare—
Liu Mengran suddenly opened her eyes and found someone honking their horn downstairs. Outside the window, it was just getting light.
She reached for her phone; it was 5:15 AM. The post had already become a trending topic, and her private message bar was overflowing with inquiries from strangers. Liu Mengran marked them all as read, then opened the search bar, hesitated for a moment, and typed in "Han Feng, Department of Economics and Management".
The search results were scarce, with only a few old news articles about the Department of Economics and Management's sports meet mentioning the name. Liu Mengran tossed her phone onto the pillow, stared at the ceiling, and sighed. Morning light filtering through the curtains drew a pale line on the floor, and dust particles floated slowly in the light.
Sleepiness had long since vanished. She threw back the covers and got up, pulling a gray tracksuit from the closet. As she changed, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror—her eyes had noticeable pale blue under them, and her hair was a mess from tossing and turning.
She was wide awake. She went to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and the stinging sensation of the cold water on her face slightly dispelled those chaotic thoughts.
The streets were almost deserted at 5:30. Liu Mengran adjusted her breathing rhythm and jogged across the empty road. The only accompaniment was the rustling sound of sanitation workers sweeping the streets, with the occasional early morning bus whizzing by, bringing a gust of wind carrying the smell of gasoline.
As she crossed an intersection, Liu Mengran nearly tripped. She forced herself to quicken her pace, as if she could use her physical strength to exhaust any remaining mental space. By the time she reached the third intersection, her back was soaked with sweat, and her breathing had become rapid.
"Girl, watch out for cars!"
The sanitation worker's shout made her stop abruptly. A delivery tricycle nearly grazed her nose, and the driver glared at her, cursing.
"I'm sorry..." Liu Mengran apologized subconsciously, only then realizing that she had run into the traffic lane. Her heart was pounding in her chest, whether from shock or the sudden strenuous exercise, she didn't know.
The aroma of fried dough sticks wafted from a roadside breakfast stall. After hesitating for a moment, she bought a breakfast and went home.
Back in her apartment, the hot water washed away the stickiness. Liu Mengran stood under the showerhead, water droplets dripping from her hair. The condensation on the mirror blurred her reflection, just like her chaotic thoughts.
After drying my hair and changing into a long dress, I noticed a blurry coffee cup mark on the title page of my book, "Advanced Macroeconomics." I wondered when I had become so careless.
The city outside the taxi window was awakening. The morning rush hour traffic was beginning to converge, and students in school uniforms were playing around at the traffic lights. Liu Mengran rested her head against the glass, feeling the slight vibration of the engine travel to her temples.
"We've arrived at the School of Economics and Management," the driver announced.
Liu Mengran walked along the tree-lined path toward the teaching building. Along the way, she saw freshmen excitedly taking photos, and couples cuddling on benches. She quickened her pace toward her classroom.
Quite a few people had already arrived at the classroom. Liu Mengran stood at the door, her gaze unconsciously sweeping over every corner, but she didn't see Han Feng. This made her breathe a sigh of relief, but at the same time, she felt a little disappointed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com