Chapter 1747: Coconut Grove, Head Pat, Try Chasing Me
Chapter 1747: Coconut Grove, Head Pat, Try Chasing Me
In class, the teacher was diligently lecturing, and Jiang Ruan was completely out of it, staring out the window.
Seriously, it’s like she saw a ghost.
Dreaming about him at night was already driving her mad, how could she be seeing illusions in broad daylight?
Just then, her phone vibrated. She checked it and saw that Yan Chi had messaged:
[Is it really okay not to pay attention in class?]
Her heart skipped a beat, and right then the professor said, "The girl in the fifth row wearing blue, stand up and answer my question."
Jiang Ruan hadn’t snapped back to reality yet, and her desk mate nudged her with an elbow, saying, "The professor called on you."
It was the first time this semester that she was asked to answer a question, and she flunked it...
And Yan Chi saw it happen.
Jiang Ruan felt terrible at that moment.
"Alright, have a seat. This question is indeed difficult, it’s normal not to know." The professor didn’t give her a hard time and continued earnestly with the lecture.
Meanwhile, many in the classroom had noticed Yan Chi standing outside. With five to six minutes to go before class ends, everyone seemed excited.
"Is that Senior Yan? Am I seeing things? What’s he doing here? I didn’t see him around when he was in school, and now he’s graduated, I get to see him in person."
"He’s so tall and handsome, he looks good in anything he wears."
"Why is he here? Waiting for someone after class? Which girl?"
...
Jiang Ruan kept her head down, her face blushing to her ears; not answering the question was one thing, but losing face in front of Yan Chi was just too embarrassing.
But everyone was mistaken, Yan Chi wasn’t there to wait for any girl; he was there to deliver Mid-Autumn gifts to the professor, but since the professor hadn’t come out yet, a brave girl walked over.
"Hello, Senior."
Yan Chi usually had no particular expression, he just responded lightly, a polite greeting.
"Hey, Ruan Ruan, that person isn’t from class 5, she’s going to Senior Yan. She’s really bold..." Her roommate was already discussing it, and many in the classroom were jeering. Jiang Ruan looked up a couple of times, but being far away, she couldn’t tell what they were saying.
"Senior... is it convenient to add you on WeChat?" The girl summoned all her courage to approach.
It’s often said that a woman’s pursuit of a man is like piercing a thin layer of gauze, usually if a girl is proactive, it’s rare for a guy to refuse exchanging contacts. Yan Chi merely glanced at a certain person in the classroom...
Packing up her things, her little demeanor seemed extremely aggrieved.
"Sorry, it’s not convenient." Yan Chi replied frankly.
"It’s okay, I just really like you, Senior, and want to be friends." Her expression was like that of a little fan girl as she smiled and returned to her seat.
After the professor went out, Yan Chi followed him, while the girl was surrounded.
"What did you say to Senior?"
"Did you get his number?"
"Up close, isn’t he even more handsome?"
...
Everyone was discussing Yan Chi, but Jiang Ruan wasn’t in the mood. Her roommate noticed she was off, thinking it was because she didn’t answer the professor’s question.
"Ruan Ruan, it’s just one question, it’s okay, nobody knew it, you were just the one chosen."
"Exactly, don’t be upset. How about I buy you a soda later?"
Jiang Ruan was not the kind to share her emotions with others. Her roommate’s kind consolations were met with her trying not to make the dorm atmosphere awkward, so when they arrived at the small store, she treated by buying soda, and the four of them headed back to the dorm, chatting about Mid-Autumn and National Day plans, everyone seemed quite excited.
Especially one of the roommates who had recently gotten a boyfriend, and was planning to go out, which led to everyone teasing her a bit.
Back in the dorm, Jiang Ruan checked her phone, and Qi Lie had left some messages complaining about the crowds at the duty-free shops. She bit her straw, idly ignoring him, yet unexpectedly Yan Chi sent her a message:
[Back at the dorm?]
Jiang Ruan instantly sat upright, [Yes.]
[Can you come out? I have something for you, I’ll wait under your dorm building.]
[Don’t come under my dorm, go... go behind the dorm, where we walked that night.]
Yan Chi saw the reply and just chuckled:
She’s acting like it’s a secret rendezvous, is he really so shady?
**
Once Jiang Ruan agreed, she kind of regretted it, recalling not answering the question in class and him seeing it, inevitably blushing, she hesitated a moment but still grabbed her phone and went downstairs.
The back was a woodland area with quite a few coconut trees, it was reasonably cool.
"Ruan Ruan, where are you going?" Her roommate asked.
"Meeting someone."
The roommates all knew Qi Lie was recently in Nanjiang, they had even had a meal together, they presumed Jiang Ruan was going to see him and didn’t think much of it.
When Yan Chi arrived, he saw Jiang Ruan from a distance. She wore a blue dress, her long hair gently draping over both sides. As the wind blew, her hair fluttered slightly, making her appear particularly docile and cute.
Upon hearing footsteps and seeing Yan Chi approach, holding a gift-like package in his hand, she could probably guess what he was intending to give her.
It was likely for Mid-Autumn, giving mooncakes in advance.
"Have you been waiting long? I chatted a bit with the professor," Yan Chi walked over, shielding her from the wind.
Although it’s already September, it’s still very hot in Nanjiang. If there’s no wind, all that remains is a stifling heat.
"No, I just came down."
"I’ll be going to Beijing tomorrow, there’s a Mid-Autumn jewelry exhibit I need to oversee." He also planned to check on his sister’s manuscript. Yan Chi’s sister, though they had different fathers and many years apart, shared a close relationship.
After graduation, she joined Yan’s branch in Beijing, handling the design side. No one dared rush her manuscripts, so the task fell onto Yan Chi.
Jiang Ruan nodded in response, keeping her head lowered, not daring to look directly at him.
Although Yan Chi wasn’t as oblivious as his father, he wasn’t an expert in understanding all girls’ thoughts either. Seeing her a bit downcast, he assumed it was because she couldn’t answer the professor’s question in class...
Jiang Ruan thought about the embarrassment in class earlier that he possibly saw, so she wanted to get it over with quickly and return to the dormitory.
She raised her head, "Senior, you said..."
Where’s my gift?
Before she could finish speaking, Yan Chi suddenly reached out his hand...
He originally just wanted to pat her on the head to comfort her, not expecting the girl with her head constantly down to suddenly look up. Thus, his hand lightly landed on her forehead, casting a shadow, partially obscuring her view.
It felt as if...
Her entire being was enveloped beneath him.
His palm was broad, dry, and warm, and Jiang Ruan’s nose seemed to catch a faint scent from his hand.
Indescribable, perhaps like the sea or the sun.
Yan Chi didn’t withdraw his hand, and Jiang Ruan didn’t move either. They maintained this posture; the surroundings weren’t entirely silent. Faint chatter from students could be heard, yet Jiang Ruan felt her breathing becoming more and more emotionally laden, heavier with each breath.
Along with the heartbeat, pounding like drums, causing a burning sensation in her chest that was hard to handle.
"It’s normal not to answer a question; there’s no need to be upset," Yan Chi smiled, brushing her forehead gently, then softly ruffled the top of her head.
"Mmm." She responded in kind.
"This is for you." Yan Chi handed her the gift bag.
"Thank you." Jiang Ruan accepted the bag, sensing a bit of awkwardness, she smiled and changed the topic, "Is this mooncakes inside?"
"You’ll know once you open it at home."
"When you were waiting for the professor in the classroom today, the students were quite excited. I guess you didn’t expect, after all this time since graduation, to still have such influence at school, with even girls approaching you."
"She asked for my contact information."
"Really?" Jiang Ruan twisted the handle of the bag absentmindedly, but inside her heart was thumping wildly.
"I didn’t give it to her," Yan Chi stated frankly.
Jiang Ruan was amused internally, yet outwardly she remarked, "Being rejected so directly, that student must feel bad. No wonder the seniors always say you’ve turned down many, and recommend we keep our distance, saying you’re too hard to pursue."
"Which senior told you that?"
No one would say such things where Yan Chi could hear.
"The whole school says it, claiming you ignore the countless who chase you, making you hard to pursue."
"You’ve never tried, so how do you know it’s hard..." Yan Chi laughed lowly.
Jiang Ruan wasn’t even sure how she made it back to her dorm; her mind was a blur. All she remembered was Yan Chi standing very close, she could see clearly his long eyelashes and the warm breeze in his eyes.
He was laughing...
His breath, mingled with his laughter, fell lightly and heavily on her face.
Nimbly crept into her skin, as if setting a fire in her veins, causing her entire bloodstream to boil and flow against the current.
His voice was deep, as if tempting her, and he said:
"Ruan Ruan, how about..."
"You try pursuing me?"
Qi Lie returned from the duty-free shop, having spent quite a lot lately, intending to get a free meal from Jiang Ruan, letting her treat him to the cafeteria. However, once at the cafeteria, finished with ordering and paying,
she actually swiped her bank card twice at the reader...
No response at all!
"Huh? Is my card broken?" Jiang Ruan looked confused.
Qi Lie had a headache, "Sister, that doesn’t seem to be a meal card."
Who was this girl trying to fool?
As it turned out, Jiang Ruan left without bringing her meal card or any money. Qi Lie, seeing her so dazed, sighed helplessly. Originally, he came for a free meal but ended up paying for himself and even treating Jiang Ruan to lunch.