The sycamore leaves at St. Cherry Academy have long since fallen, leaving bare branches laden with a thin layer of snow, resembling a minimalist sketch.
With only three days left until the trip to Changbai Mountain, the air in the student union office, besides the usual discussions, was always filled with a faint sense of anticipation, and even more subtly, individual calculations.
Yu Jiuyuan had just finished signing the last activity approval form when she looked up and saw Yuan Xu carrying a thermostat box that was half her height. The box was covered with dense labels, ranging from "Changbai Mountain permafrost sample" to "alpine meadow insect dormant bodies," with the classifications as detailed as a miniature scientific research report.
"Is the temperature control system working properly?" She put down her pen, her tone carrying just the right amount of concern.
Yuan Xu's obsession with biology borders on piety. At times like these, accurately capturing his area of expertise is far more effective than offering some irrelevant words of concern.
Sure enough, Yuan Xu's eyes lit up, and she pushed up her glasses: "Yes, it's adjustable from -5℃ to 15℃, so even in extreme weather, the sample activity can be guaranteed."
He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and took out a small glass jar from his pocket containing a few crystal-clear seeds. "This is a cold-resistant variety I cultivated. Maybe I can find symbiotic fungi in Changbai Mountain. Could you keep an eye out for it for me?"
Yu Jiuyuan took the glass jar, her fingertips gently tracing the cool surface. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, illuminating the back of her hand and outlining delicate lines, making her look both gentle and focused.
“Of course,” she smiled, her eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyes, “but don’t overwork yourself. The observation schedule is very full. If you stay up all night processing samples, Xie Zhecheng will start nagging you.”
Yuan Xu's ears turned slightly red, and she replied softly, "I understand."
As he turned to set up the incubator in the corner, his steps became lighter. His favorability rating of 66 had already made him completely believe Yu Jiuyuan's words. He never thought that this perfectly timed attention was just a routine operation in her strategy manual.
The office door was pushed open, and a cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed in. Lin Yanran walked in, stepping on the shards of light on the floor, clutching a crumpled inventory list in her hand.
He was wearing a black leather jacket today, the zipper undone, revealing a T-shirt with the band's logo printed on it, which was out of place with the usual sophistication of Saint Sakura Academy.
"All done." He tossed the list onto the table, his voice laced with dismissive arrogance. "Two windproof hats are missing. The astronomy club lost them themselves; it has nothing to do with me."
Yu Jiuyuan didn't look at the list, but instead scrutinized his open jacket, raising an eyebrow slightly: "The temperature in Changbai Mountain can drop to minus thirty degrees Celsius at night, are you planning to wear this?"
Lin Yanran bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "What I wear is none of your business!" He retorted, his eyes almost overflowing with resistance. "President Yu should worry more about himself, lest he end up crying and begging to go home in the snow."
The moment those words left his mouth, the air in the office instantly turned cold.
Xie Zhecheng happened to come in from outside and heard this, his brows furrowed instantly.
He walked to the table and placed a printed equipment list in front of Lin Yanran. His handwriting was still meticulous to the point of being demanding: "Windproof hat, snow boots, thermal underwear. Prepare according to this standard. If you're missing even one item, don't go."
Lin Yanran's expression changed.
He knew Xie Zhecheng's personality; he seemed cold, but in reality, he was a man of his word, especially when it came to the astronomy club, where his perfectionism bordered on obsession.
He gritted his teeth, stopped arguing, grabbed the list, turned and left, his boots stomping heavily on the floor as if venting his dissatisfaction.
Yu Jiuyuan watched his retreating figure, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.
Lin Yanran's arrogance was like a fragile shell, easily punctured, and Xie Zhecheng's "protection" gave her the opportunity to go with the flow.
She turned to Xie Zhecheng, her tone light: "You're the one who comes up with the solution."
Xie Zhecheng didn't respond, but instead pushed another list to her, which contained detailed parameters of the astronomy club's observation equipment.
“I’ve recalculated the generator’s power, and with the backup power Rong Shenghan brought, it should be enough.” He paused, his gaze falling on her. “Your windbreaker…you tried it on?”
Yu Jiuyuan nodded, tapping the table lightly with her fingertips: "I tried it on last week, and it fits perfectly. By the way, I asked the housekeeper to prepare an extra set of that brand you recommended. The size was based on Lin Yanran's, so it will be useful if he doesn't have one."
Xie Zhecheng tightened his grip on the pen.
He certainly remembered mentioning that brand, and he knew that given Yu Jiuyuan's status, there was no need for her to prepare clothes specifically for Lin Yanran.
She clearly knew Lin Yanran's temperament and deliberately did this favor so as not to offend the Lin family and to curry favor with him.
He looked up at her, and for the first time, his eyes, which were always covered with a thin layer of ice, were filled with a clear inquiry: "You seem... to care about him a lot?"
Yu Jiuyuan smiled, her eyes sparkling like shattered starlight: "He's a member of the student council, so of course I, as the president, should take good care of him." Her tone was frank and without a trace of weakness. "Besides, Changbai Mountain is so big, it would be so boring if there were fewer people."
Xie Zhecheng didn't ask any further questions, but when he bent down to organize the documents, the pressure on his fingertips increased a little.
At this moment, Rong Shenghan walked in with two cups of hot coffee, handing one to Yu Jiuyuan and placing the other next to Xie Zhecheng, his smile as gentle as the warm spring sun: "Talking about equipment? I just borrowed a dryer from the logistics department, in case our clothes get wet, it'll be useful in an emergency."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Yu Jiuyuan's hand holding the coffee cup, his eyes filled with natural concern: "Your hands seem to get cold easily. I prepared some hand warmers, I'll get you two later."
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