With the April festival approaching, the student council office is piled high with all sorts of planning proposals.
Yu Jiuyuan sat at the head of the long table, tapping her fingertips on the surface as she listened to the progress reports from various departments. When her gaze swept over Lin Yanran in the corner, she noticed that he was frowning at a hand-drawn poster.
It was a promotional poster for a festival party, and the signature in the lower right corner was crooked and obviously not the work of a professional graphic designer.
Lin Yanran tightened his grip on the marker, seemingly wanting to make corrections but not knowing where to start; he had never been good at such delicate work.
"The lighting and shadows here are too harsh."
Yu Jiuyuan walked over, bent down and picked up another marker. "Look, if you blend some pale yellow along the curve of the moon, it will be much softer."
Her breath brushed against his earlobe, and Lin Yanran instantly tensed up.
Watching her hand, holding the pen, move smoothly across the paper, the originally stiff lines gradually becoming lively, he suddenly felt that his pride, which he was so proud of, was really insignificant in front of her.
"You've learned it?" Yu Jiuyuan straightened up and handed him the pen.
Lin Yanran took the pen and imitated her technique to add a few strokes next to it. Although it was still clumsy, it looked much better than before.
He didn't look up, and said in a low voice, "Thanks."
“No need.” Yu Jiuyuan smiled. “After all, this is a matter for the student council, and we can’t let outsiders laugh at us.”
She deliberately emphasized the words "student council," as if to remind him of his identity, and also as if to subtly close the distance between them.
Lin Yanran's fingers, which were holding the pen, twitched slightly, but she didn't argue further.
The day before the festival, the exhibits from the joint exhibition of student organizations need to be moved to the auditorium for display.
Lin Yanran was in charge of moving the astronomy club's telescopes. The thing was very heavy, and he carried it all by himself along the corridor, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
"Do you need any help?"
Yu Jiuyuan's voice came from behind. Lin Yanran turned around and saw her standing not far away, holding a stack of sheet music. Sunlight shone through the carved window lattice and fell on her, as if she were gilded.
He instinctively wanted to refuse, but then he saw her put down the sheet music and walk over, reaching out to hold the other end of the binoculars.
"Place it gently," she instructed, her tone as natural as if the two of them often worked together like this.
Lin Yanran hummed in agreement and, following her force, slowly placed the binoculars on the ground.
When they both let go at the same time, their fingertips accidentally touched. He pulled his hand back as if he had been burned, but the tips of his ears turned red.
"Why are you here moving things too?" he asked, trying to make conversation.
"The music club doesn't have enough music stands, so I'm here to get some spares."
Yu Jiuyuan wiped her hands. "But you, why didn't you let the club members do this kind of heavy work?"
"They're all busy setting up the equipment," Lin Yanran said, turning her face away. "I'm just idling around anyway."
Looking at his tense profile, Yu Jiuyuan suddenly smiled: "When did Young Master Lin become so diligent?"
These words were somewhat teasing, but Lin Yanran didn't get angry as usual. She just said in a low voice, "I can't keep letting you call me stupid."
The sound was as soft as a sigh, yet it reached Yu Jiuyuan's ears clearly.
She raised an eyebrow, said nothing more, turned around and picked up the sheet music: "I'm going to the auditorium first, be careful."
Watching her figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Lin Yanran suddenly felt that the spring sunshine seemed particularly warm, so warm that it made his heart itch.
On the night of the ceremony, the hall was brightly lit.
As the student council president, Yu Jiuyuan stood at the entrance, dressed in a moon-white dress, greeting guests with a perfectly timed smile as she greeted the teachers, students, and parents coming and going.
Lin Yanran, dressed in a sharp suit, stood not far from her, guiding the guests, but his gaze kept unconsciously drifting towards her.
Watching her effortlessly chat with celebrities from all walks of life, exuding elegance and composure in every gesture, he suddenly realized how shallow his previous understanding of her had been.
She was never just a pampered young lady who manipulated people's hearts; her radiance was enough to illuminate the entire auditorium.
During halftime, Yu Jiuyuan took a glass of champagne and went to the terrace for some fresh air.
A gentle evening breeze, carrying the fragrance of flowers, swept away some of the noise. Lin Yanran hesitated for a moment, then followed her out.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.
"I was thinking, the moon is so round tonight." Yu Jiuyuan looked up at the night sky, "Perfect for making a wish."
Lin Yanran followed her gaze and saw a full moon hanging in the dark blue sky, its clear light spilling across the terrace.
He suddenly remembered his grandmother saying when he was a child that wishes made at the full moon are especially easy to come true.
"What is your wish?" he blurted out.
Yu Jiuyuan turned to look at him, her eyes filled with moonlight, and smiled slyly: "Wishes won't come true if you say them out loud."
She paused, then suddenly leaned closer to him. "However, I can guess what your wish is."
Lin Yanran's heart skipped a beat: "You'd never guess."
“I guess…” Yu Jiuyuan’s fingertip gently tapped his chest, “You want me to look at you more, right?”
The warm touch came through her shirt, and Lin Yanran clenched her fists tightly, her face instantly turning red.
He wanted to argue, but the seriousness in her eyes rendered him speechless; she always seemed to be able to easily see through his thoughts.
"Lin Yanran." Yu Jiuyuan withdrew her hand, her tone suddenly becoming very soft, "Don't always keep yourself so tightly wrapped up, sometimes... you can rely on me a little."
As the words fell, the music of a party drifted from afar, its gentle melody washing over the terrace and falling between the two of them, bathed in moonlight.
Looking into her eyes, Lin Yanran suddenly felt as if a crack had truly appeared in the hard barrier in her heart, and something was quietly seeping out through the crack.
The villa was exceptionally quiet late at night.
When Yu Jiuyuan came out after taking a shower, she saw Rong Shenghan sitting on the edge of the bed flipping through documents. Moonlight shone through the French windows and fell on him, outlining his slender figure.
She walked over and gently hugged him from behind: "What are you busy with?"
"The student council report is due tomorrow." Rong Shenghan took her hand in return. "Did you have fun at the festival?"
"It's alright." Yu Jiuyuan lowered her head and kissed the nape of his neck. "But it's still most comfortable at home."
Rong Shenghan put down the documents, turned around and pulled her into his arms, his nose brushing against the top of her head: "Any progress with Lin Yanran?"
"Yes." Yu Jiuyuan smiled. "It'll be soon."
She didn't say much, but simply tilted her head back and kissed his lips.
The moonlight flowed quietly outside the window, illuminating the two people embracing, and also the figure tossing and turning at the other end of the villa, unable to sleep.
Lin Yanran sat by the window, looking at the light in the master bedroom that had been on for a long time, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the spot she had touched during the day.
He remembered her gaze on the terrace, and her words, "You can rely on me a little," and his heart began to race uncontrollably again.
Perhaps, she really is different from others.
He sighed softly, turned off the bedside lamp, and let himself immerse himself in this inexplicable emotion.
The spring night breeze blew through the corridor, carrying a subtle sweetness that quietly seeped into someone's heart.
A faint blue light flashed on Yu Jiuyuan's pinky ring, and at the same time, a system notification sounded.
Lin Yanran's favorability rating: 86
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