The wind at the end of December carried fine snowflakes, which tapped softly against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Saint Sakura Academy student council office.
A thin layer of white has accumulated on the branches of the evergreen trees outside the window, and the clock tower in the distance casts a silent shadow under the leaden sky, reminding everyone that there are only three days left until the winter vacation.
Yu Jiuyuan sat behind the president's desk, her fingertips casually tracing the edge of the open student handbook.
The warm yellow light fell on her slightly lowered eyelashes, casting a small shadow on her fair cheeks, making the very faint beauty mark under her eye appear even softer.
She appeared to be carefully reviewing the activity plan for the next semester, with only the occasional slight sway of her pen revealing a hint of nonchalance—at least that's how Lin Yanran perceived her as she pushed open the door.
"President, here is the summary table of club activities you requested."
Lin Yanran placed the folder on the table, the clinking of metal hinges ringing out clearly in the quiet office.
Today he was wearing a dark gray turtleneck sweater with a winter uniform coat from Saint Sakura Academy over it, but the zipper was only half-zipped up, revealing his sharp collarbone.
His few days as a student council member had clearly not worn away his inherent arrogance; his brows and eyes still betrayed his impatience, though he had toned it down considerably compared to when he first arrived, when he practically wore the word "perfunctory" on his face.
When Yu Jiuyuan looked up, the corners of her mouth curved into a gentle smile, like a spring breeze brushing across a frozen lake, instantly melting away the aloofness in her eyes: "Thank you for your trouble, Yanran."
She deliberately slowed down her speech, her tone softening slightly at the end.
The way he addressed Yanran was natural and intimate, unlike his use of "President Xie" for Xie Zhecheng or "Yuanxu" for Yuanxu. It carried a unique and irresistible familiarity.
Lin Yanran's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and the tips of her ears turned a faint red under the cover of her turtleneck sweater.
He looked away, his gaze falling on the snowflakes drifting outside the window, and said in a curt tone, "...It was nothing."
The system panel flashed across Yu Jiuyuan's retina:
Lin Yanran: Favorability rating 47, Emotional fluctuations (Negative 0/Neutral 9/Positive 21)
A mere change in the name has triggered a shift in the numerical values.
Yu Jiuyuan silently curled the corners of her lips in her heart, but on her face, she showed just the right amount of concern: "What happened to your hand?"
Lin Yanran subconsciously hid her right hand behind her back, where a white gauze was wrapped around it, and a faint pink hue could be seen seeping out.
He got a cut on a metal frame while helping the club move equipment yesterday. He didn't want to make a fuss, but Yu Jiuyuan saw it.
"It's nothing, just a minor injury." His voice was deeper, carrying a hint of unease at being seen through. "I accidentally scraped myself while moving things yesterday."
Yu Jiuyuan had already taken the first-aid kit out of the drawer.
She stood up very quietly, her white pleated skirt sweeping across the table, carrying a faint scent of gardenias, the smell of her usual hand cream.
She walked up to Lin Yanran, tilted her head slightly to look at him, her eyes filled with genuine worry: "Why didn't you say so earlier? Come and sit down, let me treat you again, so you don't get infected."
She was only up to his shoulder, and her warm breath brushed against his neck as she spoke, like a feather gently tickling him, making Lin Yanran tense up instantly.
He wanted to say "no need," but when he met her clear, watery eyes, the words of refusal stuck in his throat, and in the end he could only sit stiffly on the chair next to her.
Yu Jiuyuan removed the old gauze very gently, her fingertips occasionally touching his skin. The slightly cool touch made Lin Yanran involuntarily pull his hand away.
She looked up at him, her eyes slightly upturned, a mischievous smile playing on her lips: "Does it hurt a lot?"
"...It doesn't hurt." His voice was a little muffled, his gaze fixed on her serious profile.
Her eyelashes were long and trembled gently with each blink. The curve of her nose was soft and delicate, and even the lines of her neck when she lowered her head were so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
Lin Yanran suddenly recalled that at the welcome banquet last week, when Tang Nianzhi was talking to Rong Shenghan, Yu Jiuyuan was sitting quietly beside her, holding a glass of champagne. She seemed to be listening, but her eyes were drifting to the night view outside the window. The sense of estrangement at that moment was completely different from the gentleness at this moment.
He asked, almost as if possessed, "You seem... nice to everyone."
Yu Jiuyuan paused in applying iodine to his hand, then chuckled softly, her voice like sunlight falling on snow, clear and warm: "We're all classmates, it's only right that we take care of each other."
Her answer was impeccable, but Lin Yanran inexplicably felt that she wasn't telling the truth.
Just like his father always said, "We need to pay more attention to the Su family," the calculation hidden in his words, like the smile in Yu Jiuyuan's eyes at this moment, was all wrapped in a layer of sugar that was impossible to see through.
After treating the wound, she carefully wrapped it with new gauze and tied it into a pretty bow. She gently patted the back of his hand with her fingertips, as if to soothe him: "It's alright, don't get it wet for the next few days."
Lin Yanran: Favorability rating 49, Emotional fluctuations (Negative 0/Neutral 8/Positive 22)
Yu Jiuyuan withdrew her hand with satisfaction and was about to turn around and return to her seat when the office door was pushed open again.
Rong Shenghan walked in, exuding a chill, his black coat stained with snowflakes.
When he took off his scarf, revealing his well-defined jawline, a fleeting smile crossed his eyes when he saw the two people in the office, which quickly turned into his usual gentle smile: "It's so cold, are you two still working overtime?"
His gaze fell on Lin Yanran's bandaged hand, and he raised an eyebrow slightly: "Injured?"
"It was just a minor accident." Lin Yanran stood up, her tone returning to its usual indifference, a stark contrast to her earlier unease in front of Yu Jiuyuan. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
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