"It's alright," Yu Jiuyuan stuck out her tongue, revealing a playful look. "It's just that I'm a little rusty, since I rarely do these things." As she spoke, she secretly glanced up to observe Rong Shenghan's reaction.
His smile remained gentle, as if it were simply out of concern: "If you need help, you can ask Yuan Xu; he's very good at this."
He paused, then changed the subject, "By the way, the student council is having a small tea party tonight, mainly to discuss next week's campus arts festival. Are you interested in coming? Xie Zhecheng will also be attending."
Yu Jiuyuan's heart stirred.
Was Rong Shenghan's mention of Xie Zhecheng a coincidence or intentional? She looked up at Rong Shenghan, whose gaze was frank and gentle, revealing no flaws.
"An arts festival?" She looked interested, her fingers gently twisting the cuff of her school uniform. "But I don't know much about these things... Will I cause trouble for everyone?"
“How could that be?” Rong Shenghan chuckled, his voice pleasant. “We’re just chatting casually. It’s more lively with more people. Besides, haven’t you always wanted to participate in club activities? The student council is recruiting new members this time, so maybe you’ll be interested.”
His words were perfectly tactful, giving her a way out while also clearly stating the purpose of the invitation, making it difficult for her to refuse.
"Then...can I go take a look?" Yu Jiuyuan finally nodded, her tone hesitant, as if she had been persuaded.
“Of course,” Rong Shenghan’s smile deepened. “Seven o’clock tonight, student council office. I’ll be waiting for you.”
After saying goodbye to the professor, he turned and left. His steps were unhurried, his back straight, as if he had only come to deliver an insignificant message.
When Yu Jiuyuan returned to the lab bench, Yuan Xu was intently observing the cell morphology under the microscope, her brows furrowed slightly, as if she had discovered something unusual.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly, leaning closer to take a look.
“This sample is a bit strange,” Yuan Xu said, pointing to the cells in his field of vision. “The morphology after staining is not as expected, it seems to have undergone a distortion.” His tone was filled with confusion, but also a hint of excitement, excitement for the unknown phenomenon.
Looking at the distorted cells, Yu Jiuyuan suddenly remembered that Xie Zhecheng seemed to have lingered near this sample for a moment before leaving. Was it a coincidence, or...? She asked calmly, "Do we need to do it again?"
“Hmm,” Yuan Xu nodded immediately, picked up a new sample and began to work on it. “It could be a problem with the staining agent, or it could be a problem with the sample itself. We need to eliminate variables.”
He was completely absorbed in the experiment, as if the brief visit by Rong Shenghan had never happened. Looking at his focused profile, Yu Jiuyuan suddenly felt that perhaps people like Yuan Xu were the simplest of all.
His world consists only of experiments, data, and the mysteries of the microscopic world; all his emotions are clearly written on his face, requiring no guesswork.
As evening fell, St. Ying College was bathed in a warm orange glow from the setting sun.
Yu Jiuyuan carried her books and walked slowly back to her dormitory. As she passed the student council office building, she looked up at the lit window and could vaguely see figures moving inside.
The tea party is at 7 p.m. She needs to make some preparations before then.
Back in her dorm, she first opened her wardrobe and picked out a light blue dress.
The dress has a simple and elegant design, with a few small pearls adorning the neckline, which is neither too formal nor too informal, but rather complements her gentle and graceful temperament.
After changing her clothes, she put on light makeup in front of the mirror, making her already fair skin look even more translucent and her eyes appear even clearer.
With everything ready, she sat down at her desk and opened the system panel.
[Targets for romance: Xie Zhecheng (Affection 0), Rong Shenghan (Affection not displayed), Yuan Xu (Affection 25)]
Rong Shenghan's favorability rating remains grayed out, undetectable by the system. This makes him seem like a hidden bomb, capable of unleashing unexpected changes at any moment.
Xie Zhecheng's favorability rating remained stubbornly at 0, like a block of ice that could never be warmed.
She needed a breakthrough, an opportunity to trigger an emotional response in Xie Zhecheng. And tonight's tea party might just be that opportunity.
At 7 p.m., the student council office was already quite full. The air was filled with the faint aroma of tea and the sweet scent of pastries, while the background music was soothing classical music, creating a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere.
Rong Shenghan, the newly appointed vice president of the student council, was discussing something with several department heads, a gentle smile on his face, handling various questions with ease.
Upon seeing Yu Jiuyuan enter, he immediately waved to her, his tone familiar: "Jiuyuan, over here."
His sudden change in address drew several stares from those around them. Yu Jiuyuan blushed slightly, as if embarrassed, and walked over with her head down.
As the student council president, Yu Jiuyuan greeted each of the ministers in a soft voice and with proper posture, neither appearing overly enthusiastic nor arrogant, perfectly embodying the etiquette expected of a noble young lady.
"Where is Xie Zhecheng?" Rong Shenghan asked casually.
"I just went to get some documents, I should be back soon," the head of the Arts and Literature Department replied.
The words had barely left his mouth when the office door was pushed open. Xie Zhecheng walked in, now dressed in a black casual suit, his formality from his school uniform replaced by a cool, aristocratic air. Seeing everyone in the room, his face remained expressionless; he merely nodded slightly as a greeting.
When his gaze swept over Yu Jiuyuan, he paused for a moment, then looked away, as if he had only seen an insignificant stranger.
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