Smile

“So, this concept and the previous one are largely interconnected; they just explain different facets. They are easy to confuse during exams, so pay close attention.”

“Mhm, okay…”

Buzz— Buzz—

As Jiang Li was providing Ning Rou with her theoretical remedial lesson, the phone on the desk suddenly vibrated.

He caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye. In the next instant, his expression shifted slightly, and he quickly snatched up the device.

Beside him, Ning Rou looked up with curiosity. The Professor was a man of habit; he was always focused during her tutoring sessions and usually disabled all notifications to help her maintain concentration. This was the first time an outside message had interrupted them.

Stranger still was the Professor’s expression. Though he appeared largely the same on the surface, Ning Rou could clearly sense a faint trace of… panic.

Panic? What kind of message would make the Professor panic?

She weighed it in her mind, and after a moment’s hesitation, she couldn’t help but speak up. “Professor, who is that from?”

“Huh?” Hearing her voice, the Professor, who was mid-sentence in a reply, froze unnaturally. He immediately clicked the screen off. “No, it’s nothing. Just a faculty meeting arranged by the academy…”

“A faculty meeting?” An inexplicable sense of unease rose in Ning Rou’s heart. She asked cautiously, “Then… when is it?”

“Uh, it’s today, right after lunch. Don’t worry, it won’t conflict with our dinner plans tomorrow.”

“Oh… I see.” Ning Rou let out a breath of relief, but was immediately washed over by a wave of embarrassment. “But… Professor… why would you say something so unnecessary…”

Her cheeks burned, and her earlobes turned a deep crimson. “I… I wasn’t worried about that…”

“Is that so? Did I misinterpret you then?” The Professor seemed to notice her awkwardness; he gave a small smile and didn’t press further.

Perhaps the sudden interlude had disrupted the flow. After that, Ning Rou found it difficult to get back into the study mindset. The Professor’s theoretical explanations started going in one ear and out the other. In her mind, she couldn’t stop imagining their meeting tomorrow.

Strolling down the street with the Professor, picking out a meal together, talking softly face-to-face—not as teacher and student.

No! What on earth am I thinking!

When Ning Rou realized the direction of her wandering thoughts, she buried her face in her hands again. This is just anticipation for good food! Absolutely nothing else!

She tried her best to convince herself, failing to notice the Professor beside her casting a restless glance toward the window.

“Professor, don’t you dare be late tomorrow!”

The moment the lesson ended, Ning Rou shot out of her seat like an arrow from a bow.

“Remember to review your notes when you get back. Your performance today wasn’t exactly stellar, Student Ning Rou.”

“Got it, Professor!” By the time she responded, the little girl’s figure was already far off. Given her excitement, her promise to review was likely a lost cause.

However, Jiang Li had no time to worry about her theoretical review. He looked down and took out his phone. The messages on the screen made him knit his brows tightly.

Xiao Yuehua: Does the Professor remember his promise from yesterday?

Xiao Yuehua: Is the Professor very busy this morning? Why haven’t you replied? (Angry.jpg)

Xiao Yuehua: But at least you should leave your afternoon for me, right? (Smiling Doll.jpg)

Me: Student Yuehua, you should really think this over more carefully…

Xiao Yuehua: ?

Xiao Yuehua: What do you mean?

Xiao Yuehua: Is the Professor trying to go back on his word?

Xiao Yuehua: …

Xiao Yuehua: Professor, stop teasing me. I’m a normal girl too; I get sad, and I get angry.

Xiao Yuehua: Remember to wait for me in the Interpretation Room at noon. I’ve prepared a bento for you. (Heart)

The messages ended there. Though they were simple words, Jiang Li felt an immense, inexplicable pressure radiating from them.

“Ning Rou? What’s happened to make you so happy?”

As Ning Rou was skipping back to the dormitory, the figure approaching her acted like a bucket of ice water, completely dousing her excitement. She stopped awkwardly.

“Yue… Yuehua. We meet again…”

“What a thing to say…” Faced with Ning Rou’s discomfort, Xiao Yuehua merely smiled. “Didn’t we just part ways this morning? Come to think of it, I’ve been seeing you around here quite a lot lately.”

“Ah… yes, I, I just like walking around here. Hehe…” Ning Rou instinctively took a step back, waving her hands.

Even though they were childhood friends who spent every day together, Ning Rou felt increasingly uneasy and guilty when facing Xiao Yuehua lately. Part of it was the guilt of seeing the Professor behind her back, but more importantly, it was because Xiao Yuehua’s aura had become increasingly dominant.

“I see. Another walk.” Xiao Yuehua nodded. “Then why were you so happy just now?”

“Because…” Sweat broke out on Ning Rou’s forehead. Her eyes suddenly caught sight of a bulging bag in Xiao Yuehua’s hand, and she pivoted the topic. “Right, Yuehua, what are you carrying there?”

“Oh, this? Are you curious?” Xiao Yuehua stared at Ning Rou with an eerie intensity, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

“Y-yeah…”

“It’s a bento I made.”

“A bento?” Ning Rou’s eyes widened in shock. “Yuehua, you… you made it for someone else?”

The cold-as-ice Xiao Yuehua, who usually ignored all her classmates, had actually taken the initiative to cook for someone. This was huge news to Ning Rou. Did she have someone she liked? And more importantly, as her best friend and roommate, how had Ning Rou not noticed? It seemed impossible!

Fortunately, Xiao Yuehua’s answer quickly dispelled her doubts.

“I’ve encountered a very cute stray cat in the academy recently. I prepared something special to feed it, hoping I can take it away with me.”

“A bento specifically for a stray cat? Yuehua, do you like it that much? They sell cat treats at the convenience store, you know.”

As Ning Rou spoke, she glanced curiously into the bag and caught a glimpse of several vegetables through the translucent lid of the bento box. A flicker of confusion crossed her mind. A bento for a stray cat… is it supposed to look like that?

Xiao Yuehua merely shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I have no choice. After all, I’m not the only one who has their eye on it. I simply cannot accept an ending where it is stolen by someone else.”

“I… I see.” Ning Rou felt that her friend’s wording was a bit off, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Driven by her own guilt, she nodded and hurried away.

She looked back once, only to see Xiao Yuehua wearing a smile that looked strangely like a victory. Seeing that smile made Ning Rou feel a sudden, visceral discomfort. The excitement she had felt about the Professor’s dinner invitation began to sink into a vague, low dread.

Am I… missing something?