As night fell, a few lights were still on in the club activity center of St. Sakura Academy.
Xie Zhecheng stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, a freshly printed event schedule between his fingers, his cold, hard profile reflected in the glass.
When Yu Jiuyuan pushed open the door, she smelled a faint scent of ink, the kind of ink Xie Zhecheng usually used in his fountain pen—clear and refreshing, yet with a touch of aloofness.
"Still busy?" She walked over and naturally took the schedule from his hand. "Didn't we agree to have Japanese food at seven?"
Xie Zhecheng turned around, his gaze falling on her wind-blown hair, and reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
His movements were gentle, with an unusual tenderness. When his fingertips touched her earlobe, she recoiled as if burned. "There are still some details to finalize," he said softly. "Wait another ten minutes."
Yu Jiuyuan didn't urge him; she just leaned against the table and watched him revise the flowchart.
His profile looked exceptionally focused under the desk lamp; even his handwriting, used for corrections, was as neat as printed text, and he repeatedly checked every punctuation mark.
This almost obsessive perfectionism might be unbearable to others, but Yu Jiuyuan knew that it was his way of expressing his care.
"Let's add Ji Nianqin to the guest list here," she suddenly said, pointing to a blank space on the schedule. "He just transferred here, it'll be good for him to get to know more people."
Xie Zhecheng paused, then looked up at her: "You want him to come?"
“After all, they are representatives of the visiting students, it wouldn’t be good if they didn’t come.” Yu Jiuyuan smiled and said casually, “Besides… it’s more lively with more people.”
What she didn't say was that bringing Ji Nianqin into Xie Zhecheng's field of vision might provoke a different reaction.
Perfectionists can't stand things getting out of control, and Ji Nianqin is precisely the best piece to break the balance.
Xie Zhecheng remained silent for a moment, then added Ji Nianqin's name to the list. His handwriting was heavier than before, the ink so dark it seemed to see through the paper.
"Alright." He closed his pen cap. "We can go now."
The private rooms in the Japanese restaurant are quiet and elegant, with soft cushions on the tatami mats.
As soon as Yu Jiuyuan sat down, she saw Xie Zhecheng take a small velvet box out of his bag and push it in front of her. "For you."
Upon opening the box, a fountain pen lay inside. Its body was a cool, silvery-gray, and the cap was engraved with tiny patterns, making it as exquisite as a work of art.
“Your pen broke last time I saw it,” Xie Zhecheng said softly. “This brand of pen has a very smooth nib, which is perfect for you.”
He remembered the last time she signed documents at the student council, her pen leaked ink and smudged the paper. She frowned and said, "It's time to get a new one." He actually remembered such a trivial matter.
Yu Jiuyuan picked up the pen, her fingertips tracing the cool barrel: "Thank you, I like it very much."
Xie Zhecheng's ears turned slightly red. He didn't say anything more, but simply lowered his head and poured her a glass of sake.
The two ate their meal quietly, occasionally exchanging a few words about club activities; the atmosphere was as peaceful as still water. Then the door to the private room was opened, and Ji Nianqin's voice came in: "Jiuyuan, what a coincidence, I'm eating here too."
He was followed by two people who looked like subordinates of the Ji family, who had obviously just finished socializing.
Xie Zhecheng's brows furrowed instantly, and the temperature in his eyes dropped a few degrees.
"What a coincidence." Yu Jiuyuan looked up and smiled. "This is Xie Zhecheng, the president of our school's club alliance."
"President Xie, it's an honor to meet you." Ji Nianqin extended her hand with a warm smile. "I am Ji Nianqin, Jiu Yuan's... friend."
Xie Zhecheng did not shake hands, but simply nodded slightly, his tone indifferent: "Student Ji."
The temperature in the air seemed to drop several degrees instantly.
Ji Nianqin wasn't embarrassed and sat down at the table: "You don't mind if I sit for a while, do you? I happen to have some questions about club activities that I'd like to ask Jiu Yuan."
Just as Yu Jiuyuan was about to say "I mind", her phone suddenly vibrated.
It was a message from Rong Shenghan, containing only three words: 【Where are you?】
She twitched her fingertips slightly, sent a location, and then looked up at Ji Nianqin and said, "Sorry, I have something to attend to and must leave first. Thank you, President Xie, see you tomorrow."
Xie Zhecheng stood up: "I'll see you out."
"No need, someone's coming to pick me up." Yu Jiuyuan picked up her bag, smiled at the two of them, and turned to leave the private room.
As soon as I arrived at the entrance of the Japanese restaurant, I saw Rong Shenghan leaning against his black Bentley, a cigarette between his fingers, the embers flickering in the night.
Seeing her come out, he stubbed out his cigarette, walked over and opened the car door for her: "Having a good chat?"
"It's alright." Yu Jiuyuan got into the car and watched him walk around to the driver's seat. "Why are you here?"
"Worried that someone might be lured away by their 'fiancé'." Rong Shenghan started the car, his tone tinged with a barely perceptible sourness. "Didn't Xie Zhecheng make things difficult for you?"
"Why did he make things difficult for me?" Yu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow. "We had a good chat, and he even gave me a fountain pen."
Rong Shenghan tightened his grip on the steering wheel, but said nothing.
Halfway through the drive, Yu Jiuyuan suddenly said, "Yuanxu's fluorescent bacteria will start glowing tomorrow. Shall we go take a look?"
"No." Rong Shenghan refused without even thinking. "What's so interesting about that sticky stuff?"
“But Yuanxu is really looking forward to it.” Yu Jiuyuan turned her head to look at him, a hint of slyness in her eyes. “If you’re not going, I’ll go by myself.”
Rong Shenghan's breathing became heavy.
He knew, of course, that she was doing it on purpose, using Yuan Xu to force him to compromise.
But seeing the defiant smile in her eyes, he couldn't bring himself to be angry. "...Go," he said sullenly, "but don't get too close to Yuan Xu."
Yu Jiuyuan laughed and patted his arm: "I know, you jealous bastard."
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