Old Rivals, New Sparks

Qin Huairen pulled out her chair, the corners of her lips lifting into a smile that looked warm on the surface, yet cold to the bone underneath.

She smiled without quite smiling and said, “Has it really been that long.

I don’t think it’s been long at all.”

What kind of relationship did they have.

The moment they met, they were at odds again.

Honestly, it would have been better if they had never met for the rest of their lives.

Besides, they had clearly already seen each other in the restroom earlier.

After several years apart, some people watched them with a “melon-eating” curiosity.

Were they still as incompatible as before.

Now it seemed—

Yes, they were.

Chen Mingsheng, once their department class monitor, took the initiative to smooth things over and chimed in, “Isn’t that right.

It really has been a long time.

Not just you two—actually, everyone here hasn’t seen each other in ages.”

“Yeah, neither of you ever came,” someone else added.

“Today must be the sun rising in the north—our whole department actually showed up.”

Only then did Qin Huairen realize that Wen Yuzhi hadn’t attended class reunions either.

Which, honestly, was perfectly normal.

Wen Yuzhi had always been aloof.

Back when they were students, she often didn’t even come to school.

People said she was hard to approach, and she couldn’t have cared less.

Wen Yuzhi was the textbook definition of a good student.

In both high school and university, she had been a teacher’s favorite.

Qin Huairen didn’t respond.

She poured water for Professor Chen.

An extra cup appeared beside her.

Its owner—Wen Yuzhi—held it with both hands, her expression calm, her tone gentle.

“Could you pour me a cup as well.

Thank you.”

Qin Huairen wasn’t thrilled, but she still poured her a cup.

She then placed the teapot beside Wen Yuzhi, clearly meaning: if you want more, pour it yourself.

Wen Yuzhi picked up the teapot and tilted the spout toward Qin Huairen’s cup.

Qin Huairen raised a hand to block it and replied coolly, “No need.”

Since it had been so long, reminiscing was inevitable.

The married ones talked about family and children.

The career-driven ones talked about work.

And a very small number barely spoke at all—like her and Wen Yuzhi.

Qin Huairen mainly listened to Professor Chen talk about the university’s development over the past few years.

Especially the medical research results announced during this centennial celebration.

They might cure an extremely complex and rare disease.

She didn’t understand the medical terminology.

But hearing that it was already moving through procedures and about to enter the clinical stage, and that success would shake the medical world, she praised her fellow alumni again and again.

Wen Yuzhi’s phone never stopped vibrating.

Because they were sitting close together, every vibration made her arm tremble slightly.

Qin Huairen deliberately shifted closer to Professor Chen several times.

But space was limited.

Their arms still brushed against each other from time to time.

At first, she frowned in annoyance.

Later, once she became absorbed in conversation, she stopped paying attention.

Professor Chen suddenly mentioned Xu Jianing.

“The cost of this medical research was very high.

Luckily, Jianing has strong connections and brought in well-known institutions and enterprises to invest.

We invited her today as well, but she didn’t have time.

Later, take that souvenir gift for her—consider it a small token of the university’s gratitude.”

Everyone knew Xu Jianing and Qin Huairen were close.

Xu Jianing hadn’t mentioned the invitation before, which surprised Qin Huairen a little.

Professor Chen smiled as if recalling something.

She talked about how, back then, Xu Jianing had gone from floor to floor just to try and switch dorms so she could room with Qin Huairen.

“In the end, she even came to me.

She cried so hard she looked like a tear-soaked doll.”

At Jing University, students from the same department usually shared dorms.

Xu Jianing and Qin Huairen weren’t in the same major.

Even after Qin Huairen later pursued a double degree, their majors still didn’t overlap.

It was the first time Qin Huairen had heard this.

She laughed and said, “That can’t be true, right.

She never mentioned it to me.”

“That girl has a lot of pride,” Professor Chen sighed.

“If the dorm change failed, how could she let you know.

It’s not that I didn’t want to approve it—her reason was that you two shared a dorm in high school and were used to it, and that she wouldn’t be able to sleep if you were separated.”

Qin Huairen found it amusing.

Xu Jianing really dared to make things up.

They hadn’t shared a dorm in high school at all.

Qin Huairen commuted from home—she only occasionally stayed over in Xu Jianing’s dorm.

Buzz—

Wen Yuzhi’s phone vibrated again.

Qin Huairen turned around and nearly collided with Wen Yuzhi’s chest.

Years of habitual “standoffs” made her freeze instead of dodging.

She said in a low voice, “Why are you sitting so close to me.”

“Listening to you talk,” Wen Yuzhi replied, looking innocent.

“If you’re going to take that call, then take it.

If not, hang up.

Keep buzzing against me like this—believe it or not, I’ll throw it out the window,” Qin Huairen warned, still relatively restrained.

Wen Yuzhi hummed, ended the call, and said, “If you throw it out, it might hit someone.

Even hitting flowers or grass wouldn’t be good.”

Was that really the point.

Qin Huairen was speechless.

Still, she hadn’t expected Wen Yuzhi to actually hang up so obediently.

She caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar number on Wen Yuzhi’s screen.

The location was Jinchuan.

Then a text message popped up—from the same number.

Qin Huairen immediately looked away out of propriety.

But she noticed Gu Tianyu beside her craning his neck, sneaking glances.

Qin Huairen frowned and stared straight at him.

After a few seconds, their eyes met.

She smiled and said, “If it’s inconvenient over there, switch seats with me.

Wouldn’t it be better to sit next to her.”

Gu Tianyu didn’t seem to catch the sarcasm.

He joked, “You’re really good to me.

But I wasn’t looking at her phone.”

“I never said you were,” Qin Huairen replied lightly.

Gu Tianyu had exposed himself.

Instead of feeling embarrassed, he leaned closer, his expression turning oddly affectionate.

Softly, he said, “Actually, I was looking at you.

I—”

He suddenly met Wen Yuzhi’s cold, sharp gaze and forgot what he was going to say next.

Just then, someone came over to propose a toast, and the topic shifted.

Professor Chen took a sip.

Everyone else downed their glasses in one go.

After several rounds of drinks, Qin Huairen also stood to toast.

The guys from the table behind them all stood up at once.

They first drank with Professor Chen, then came over to her.

Leading them was Gu Tianyu.

Back then, he had been the student council president of their cohort.

His family had some background, had made a lot of money from redevelopment.

On top of that, he was good-looking.

He’d been quite popular.

Now, leaning against her chair, slightly drunk, he asked, “Hey, Huairen.

Where did you go all these years.

You disappeared for so long.

Never answered calls.

You broke my heart.”

Someone jeered, asking why he had been calling her.

Gu Tianyu used what he thought was a deep, affectionate tone.

“We were close back then.

Just now, Huairen and I were chatting too…”

A few girls crowded over, asking bluntly if he liked Qin Huairen.

Qin Huairen’s cheeks were slightly flushed from drinking.

They took it as shyness and teased her.

“Seriously, Huairen, do you have someone now.

What do you think of Tianyu.

Almost everyone in our department is married now.

You girls are just missing you and that one…”

They didn’t dare say Wen Yuzhi’s name out loud.

Gu Tianyu tugged at his tie, brushed aside the others, and braced himself against Wen Yuzhi’s chair.

Riding the alcohol, he said, “It’s you and Wen Yuzhi left.

And of course, me, hehe.”

Laughter filled the room.

Professor Chen’s phone rang.

She had to leave for something urgent.

She reminded everyone to drink less as she headed out.

Several professors followed her.

Gu Tianyu took the opportunity to sit in Professor Chen’s seat.

He patted Qin Huairen’s shoulder.

“Let’s continue what we were talking about.

Go on—what kind of person do you like.”

It looked like a confession was coming next.

Especially with everyone egging him on while drunk.

Qin Huairen looked up at him.

A layer of frost had settled between her brows.

Her tone was still polite.

“Today is a class reunion held for the centennial celebration.

Not a matchmaking event.

I’m happy to drink.

Anything else—go find someone else to talk to.”

“Don’t be shy,” Gu Tianyu grinned.

Half joking, half serious, he said, “You vanished for years.

People said you went into a secret marriage and had a kid?”

Bang—

Qin Huairen slammed her glass onto the table.

Her face turned cold.

She said flatly, “For the sake of old classmates, I’ve been giving you face.

Don’t push your luck.”

The room fell silent.

Those who were rowdy from drink still wanted to speak.

But Chen Mingsheng dragged Gu Tianyu toward the restroom, muttering, “Tianyu, go wash your face.

Sober up.”

Qin Huairen tipped her head back and finished another glass.

As she poured the second, Wen Yuzhi stood up and headed toward the restroom.

Qin Huairen frowned, filled the second glass, and lifted it.

“I won’t toast everyone one by one.

This glass is for our years of classmateship.

I can tell many of you are curious about what I was doing before.

I’ll explain it here today…”

While she spoke, Wen Yuzhi had already reached the restroom.

Inside, Gu Tianyu was cursing Qin Huairen—calling her pretentious, saying she was kept by someone and played with.

Vulgar beyond belief.

Chen Mingsheng kept splashing cold water on his face.

When he looked up and saw Wen Yuzhi’s cool expression in the mirror, his heart nearly stopped.

Wen Yuzhi walked to the sink.

She pressed the stopper and turned on the tap.

Chen Mingsheng hurriedly slapped Gu Tianyu’s face, telling him to shut up.

He forced an awkward smile at Wen Yuzhi and said loudly, “Wen—Wen President.

Tianyu’s had too much to drink.”

Wen Yuzhi’s face was expressionless, but her gaze was icy.

The pressure made Chen Mingsheng not dare call her by name.

Drunk, Gu Tianyu heard “Wen President” and turned to look.

Under the lights, Wen Yuzhi looked as though she’d been spotlighted—beautiful beyond reason.

“Wen—Wen Yuzhi, you…”

He leaned toward her.

“No wonder you look down on Qin.

She’s just a—eh—”

He was suddenly yanked forward.

The next second, his head was shoved straight into the sink already full of water.

He struggled but couldn’t move, bubbles rising as he gurgled.

Chen Mingsheng was stunned.

He hadn’t seen Wen Yuzhi often.

This was the first time he noticed something else in the lines of her arm muscles.

She must have trained.

Gu Tianyu choked and spluttered.

Chen Mingsheng quickly pleaded, “Wen President, his mouth deserves a beating.

But don’t drown him.”

Wen Yuzhi grabbed his hair and yanked back hard.

Gu Tianyu finally gulped air, coughing violently.

His face was flushed purple.

Furious, yet unable to form a complete sentence.

He could only stammer, “You—you—you…”

Chen Mingsheng pushed him from behind, signaling him to shut up.

Wen Yuzhi yanked him back again.

Gu Tianyu leaned backward, afraid of falling, and ended up kneeling on the floor, forced to look up at her.

Under the same lights.

The same beautiful face.

But now it was cold and ominous.

Fear crept in.

His shoulders shrank.

He couldn’t speak.

“Who hit you,” Wen Yuzhi asked calmly, her tone betraying no emotion.

“Did you see clearly.”

Chen Mingsheng kicked Gu Tianyu.

Gasping, he forced out two broken words.

“I saw.

Clearly.”

Wen Yuzhi suddenly let go.

He collapsed to the floor, legs weak, unable to stand.

“If you have something to say, say it to me,” Wen Yuzhi unplugged the sink and turned on the water again, washing her hands unhurriedly.

“I’ll see it through to the end.”

Chen Mingsheng helped Gu Tianyu up and propped him against the wall.

He was a mess but didn’t dare say a word.

When Wen Yuzhi walked out, hatred flickered in his eyes.

At the restroom door, Wen Yuzhi seemed to remember something and turned back.

Gu Tianyu unclenched his jaw, shrinking away.

She said coolly, “And one more thing.

Stay away from her.”

She finally left.

Her footsteps faded.

Chen Mingsheng muttered in lingering fear, “Holy shit.

I’ve got goosebumps.”

Gu Tianyu shoved him aside, fished out a cigarette, staggered forward a few steps, then turned back.

“Don’t tell anyone.”

Chen Mingsheng’s palms and forehead were slick with sweat.

When he returned to the dining hall, everyone was clustered together—strangely quiet.

When he squeezed in, he finally saw it.

Qin Huairen had Wen Yuzhi by the throat.

A large red stain spread across Wen Yuzhi’s long dress.

It was clearly red wine.

Qin Huairen’s face was flushed.

The red in her eyes was startling.

Wen Yuzhi was so capable at fighting.

Why wasn’t she fighting back.

Chen Mingsheng was stunned.

Could it be that Qin Huairen was also trained—and even better than Wen Yuzhi.

Someone shoved him urgently.

“Class monitor, do something.

Break it up.”

Coming back to his senses, Chen Mingsheng joined the others to separate them.

Qin Huairen said coldly, “Wen Yuzhi.

Tonight, you owe me an explanation.

Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.”