The Uncanny Coincidence and a Public Declaration

The mocking expression on the girl’s face froze instantly the moment she clearly saw Jiang Chen’s full profile. The arrogant demeanor she had displayed just moments ago vanished without a trace as she quickly released the arm of the guy she was clinging to, her voice softening considerably.

“Jiang… Senior Jiang Chen?”

Upon hearing this address, Zhou Yi curiously turned around. When she recognized the girl’s face, she nearly cried out in surprise. ‘Isn’t this Li Yanze’s “Cilantro Sister,” Xiao Su?’

‘What an uncanny coincidence!’

Jiang Chen observed the girl who had instantly changed her expression, then frowned and asked, “Do we know each other?”

Su Xiao remained completely unfazed by Jiang Chen’s distant demeanor. It was as if she hadn’t been the one speaking so sarcastically moments ago.

In the blink of an eye, she switched to the innocent junior sister mode, a shy blush blooming on her cheeks. “Hello, Senior. I’m Su Xiao, a freshman from the School of Economics and Management. I often hear professors praise your excellence, and I’ve always admired you.”

As she spoke, her eyes fluttered, and her gaze, directed at Jiang Chen, was filled with undisguised admiration.

As she lowered her head, her gaze subtly swept over Zhou Yi, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

‘Who is this woman? She’s nothing special to look at. And her outfit… it’s so tacky, like something from ten years ago.’

‘The most ridiculous thing is, she’s carrying a doggy bag? Seriously? Eating at a restaurant like this and still taking leftovers? How provincial!’

Little did she know, her male companion was staring intently at Zhou Yi. Her simple white T-shirt and jeans perfectly accentuated her graceful figure, and her bare face was fresh and ethereal. Even the casual gesture of running her hand through her hair captivated the young man.

“Senior!” With a graceful side-step, Su Xiao smoothly inserted herself between Jiang Chen and Zhou Yi. “Since we met by such a coincidence, it must be fate. Let’s exchange WeChat IDs! It’ll be convenient for me to cheer you on at the basketball court later, and I can ask you any study questions anytime!”

Zhou Yi watched this series of maneuvers with utter astonishment. ‘Good heavens, that seamless footwork, that effortlessly controlled acting, that mental fortitude to completely disregard her male companion… She’s truly a talent!’

‘She’s no less impressive than Lin Yating; no wonder she managed to utterly captivate Li Yanze.’

Jiang Chen’s face, however, showed undisguised helplessness and annoyance. After a moment of thought, he suddenly chuckled softly. “So it was you after all…”

‘Finally, the pieces click into place. This person in front of him… wasn’t she “Goddess Xiao Su,” the one Li Yanze kept pestering him about on WeChat, even going so far as to stake out the basketball court, insisting he add her?’

‘A pleasure, a true pleasure… my apologies for the oversight…’

In the moment of his realization, Jiang Chen’s peripheral vision caught sight of the slick-haired guy beside Su Xiao subtly inching closer to Zhou Yi. He subtly shifted his body, blocking the path. The guy retreated awkwardly, yet his gaze remained fixed on Zhou Yi.

These subtle actions, however, were completely misinterpreted by Su Xiao. Seeing that Jiang Chen not only recognized her but also deliberately shifted his position, she immediately became convinced that he was captivated by her, even choosing a stance that allowed him to get a better view!

‘What “aloof senior”? He was clearly just playing hard to get! Instead of relying on that good-for-nothing Li Yanze to get Jiang Chen’s WeChat, it was better to take matters into her own hands.’

She immediately launched her attack, her voice saccharine. “Senior! Microeconomics is really so difficult. Your grades are so good, could you teach me? I’m a very quick learner…”

Watching Su Xiao’s performance, Zhou Yi nearly burst out laughing, but managed to suppress it. A sudden idea struck her, reminding her of the top student identity the system had assigned her.

Without waiting for Jiang Chen to respond, she calmly interjected, “Classmate, I am this semester’s teaching assistant for the Business School. I hold office hours every Tuesday and Thursday in the Academic Affairs building. You’re welcome to consult me anytime for academic questions.”

Then she added, “For such minor matters, there’s no need to trouble Jiang Chen.”

‘After all, spinning a tale cost nothing, and she was certain Su Xiao wouldn’t actually come looking for her.’

Jiang Chen was amused by Zhou Yi’s sudden, official pronouncement. He nodded cooperatively and said, “Indeed, Senior Zhou consistently achieves perfect scores in her specialized courses.”

Su Xiao was instantly choked into silence. She couldn’t help but glare fiercely at the meddling woman. ‘What kind of lousy TA? Does being good at studying put food on the table?’

‘And why should this shabby, bookish girl be standing next to a prodigy like Jiang Chen? Jiang Chen, after all, was…’

Su Xiao forcibly suppressed her anger, mentally noting this suddenly appearing woman, but her words took a different turn. “But… Senior, won’t you be too busy? I’m afraid I’ll take up too much of your time.”

Zhou Yi’s smile remained unchanged as she continued to elaborate, “It’s fine, no matter how busy I am, it’s not as important as Senior Jiang Chen’s training. He practices 500 shots every day and has two hours of physical training. He truly has no time to tutor.”

Jiang Chen forcefully suppressed the upward curve of his lips. He nodded repeatedly beside her, cooperating with Zhou Yi seamlessly. “Indeed, indeed, my training schedule is packed.”

As if suddenly remembering something, he looked up at Su Xiao. “Oh, right, speaking of that. These past few days, some junior I don’t know has been cornering me at the basketball court, absolutely insisting I add his ‘goddess’ on WeChat. He said that girl seems to be…”

He paused deliberately. “…also named Su Xiao?”

The smile on Su Xiao’s face shattered instantly. ‘What a perfectly aimed jab from Jiang Chen!’

Zhou Yi was struggling to hold it in, quickly lowering her head to cover her laughter with a cough.

Su Xiao, exposed on the spot, forced a smile, but her voice couldn’t stop trembling. “Se-Senior, what are you saying… I, I don’t understand…”

Jiang Chen, however, couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on her. His lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. “Heh, it’s nothing. But if you truly have academic questions, you can always ask other seniors. Senior Zhou might not always be available either, as she’s usually busy with her studies. As for WeChat… my contact list is full; I can’t add anyone else.”

Zhou Yi watched Jiang Chen’s masterful performance, her eyes practically crescent moons from smiling.

Jiang Chen watched her, her face blooming with a smile. A gentle smile flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He naturally draped an arm around Zhou Yi’s shoulder, drawing her slightly closer to his side. He then calmly addressed Su Xiao, “Alright, if there’s nothing else, we’ll be leaving now.”

Su Xiao’s face immediately turned half green with shock. She had never expected that this seemingly ordinary senior actually had such a close relationship with Jiang Chen!

Zhou Yi, however, was stunned by the sudden proximity. The tips of her ears unexpectedly flushed hot. She subconsciously shifted sideways, wanting to create some distance.

Yet, this subtle gesture of resistance was noticed by the slick-haired guy. He suddenly stepped sideways, blocking their path. He deliberately raised his voice, pointing at the conspicuous doggy bag in Zhou Yi’s hand:

“You treat a girl to dinner and then make her carry out leftovers? That’s quite a loss of face.”

The attention of several surrounding tables immediately converged on them. Seeing that the situation had turned in her favor, Su Xiao cooperated by covering her mouth and chuckling softly. “That’s right, Senior. When you bring a girl to a place like this, you should pay attention to a bit of ceremony.”

Jiang Chen unhurriedly took the doggy bag from Zhou Yi’s hand. His right hand subtly shielded her back. “We’re simply supporting the ‘Clean Plate Campaign.’ Is there a problem with that?”

Su Xiao was momentarily speechless, cornered by his retort. The slick-haired guy shot her an annoyed glance. He then turned to Zhou Yi, plastering on an eager smile. “Senior Zhou, I’m quite familiar with the owner of this restaurant. If you like the food here, just call me anytime, and I’ll bring you. Why bother with takeout?”

“No trouble at all.” Jiang Chen’s arm tightened slightly. “She’s my girlfriend; I can take care of her myself.”

A smile played on his lips as he lowered his gaze to Zhou Yi. “Right?”

Under his smiling gaze, Zhou Yi, as if possessed, nodded. “Mm…”

A glint of triumph flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes at her unconscious response.

He calmly untied the doggy bag, revealing an exquisite dessert box inside. “What a coincidence… I also have a bit of a connection with the owner. Just now, he even secretly slipped me a portion of their hidden menu’s black rice pudding, saying it’s a daily limited special.”