He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

Even so, Su Qingyan couldn't help but picture Wen Zhaoci standing downstairs.

His hair was gently lifted by the wind, and the sunlight fell on his sharply defined profile, making even his usually aloof eyes seem a little softer.

She knew she shouldn't be like this; Wen Zhaoci was Sang Jiuning's boyfriend. But the unruly throbbing in her heart was like a pebble thrown into a lake, rippling outwards in circles.

Qin Ying joked from the side, "Friends? Weng Zhicheng brings you breakfast and dinner three days a week, saves you a seat at the library, and brings you an umbrella when it rains. If that's what ordinary friends are, then we're just fake besties!"

Tang Tongtong nodded in agreement: "That's right, Yan Yan, Senior Weng is handsome, his family is well-off, and he cares about you so much. What are you hesitating about?"

Su Qingyan lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath her eyes, and whispered, "Feelings can't be forced."

Ever since she saw Sang Jiuning and Wen Zhaoci together in the cafeteria, she couldn't help but think of Wen Zhaoci.

That aloof, moon-like boy was like an unattainable dream.

She had always thought that someone like Wen Zhaoci would never fall in love with anyone, but the way he looked at Sang Jiuning was so tender it could melt your heart.

"What's this about forcing or not forcing? If you like someone, be together. If you don't, just say so. Don't hold them back," Tang Tongtong said casually.

Su Qingyan didn't reply, but silently turned her gaze to the window. The figure downstairs had long since disappeared, but she couldn't suppress the inexplicable emotions in her heart.

On the other side, as soon as Sang Jiuning stepped out of the dormitory building, she looked around and sure enough saw Wen Zhaoci leaning against a camphor tree not far away, carrying a black laptop bag in her hand.

He was wearing a simple white T-shirt and black sweatpants, with one hand in his pocket, standing quietly beside the camphor tree.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on him. His profile was clean and sharp, with a high nose and thin, tightly pursed lips. Even just standing there casually, he exuded a cool yet captivating aura.

There were indeed quite a few girls around who pretended to pass by and secretly took pictures of him with their phones, and some were whispering among themselves.

When he saw her come out, a glimmer of light flashed across his previously calm eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

Sang Jiuning felt a little guilty, took a deep breath, and tried to appear calm: "Have you been waiting long? Where's my food?"

She tried to keep her tone flat.

Hurry up and say you've been waiting a long time, complain a bit. Your time is so precious, you're always in the lab, waiting for her is a complete waste of time.

Wen Zhaoci looked up at her, his gaze falling on her slightly flushed cheeks. His eyes lingered for a second on her carefully touched-up lipstick, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes, but his gaze quickly became deep and unreadable.

He shook his head: "It didn't take long. Your food wasn't good, so I gave it to someone else. I'll take you to eat something else."

After all, there were other guys waiting for their girlfriends. Based on his observation, it seemed that all the guys waited for their girlfriends for about 20 to 30 minutes. So, he waited for 26 minutes, which was within the normal range and he didn't think it was too long.

The guilt that Sang Jiuning felt for making him wait for almost half an hour instantly subsided.

Instead, it was replaced by the determination to "do it again".

She walked up to him, tilted her head slightly, and said calmly, "Don't wait for me anymore, I'm very busy lately."

Wen Zhaoci raised an eyebrow, looked up at her with deep eyes, and did not expose her little thoughts. He simply reached out and naturally took the bag from her shoulder, and said lightly, "It's okay."

Then, with a hint of doting in her voice, she said, "It won't be long. It's worth waiting for you no matter how long it takes. Let's go to the bubble tea shop."

Sang Jiuning obediently followed him to Cafeteria No. 2, where the dishes were a bit more expensive than those in Cafeteria No. 1.

The milk tea shop is located on the food street outside the school. It was opened by a third-year graduate student and has been open for three years. Usually, students from University A work part-time there.

The two walked there, and Sang Jiuning felt like she was being watched the whole way.

Especially those seemingly casual glances, like tiny needles pricking her skin, made her feel somewhat uneasy.

She secretly glanced at Wen Zhaoci beside her, but he seemed completely unaware of the stares around him, walking with composure, his profile still showing the same calm and undisturbed expression, as if all the noise around him had nothing to do with him.

Sang Jiuning was a little annoyed. Couldn't this guy show even a little bit of concern?

Even just frowning would be better! That would give her more confidence to act up.

"Hey, Wen Zhaoci," Sang Jiuning couldn't help but speak, her voice muffled, "Don't you think... us walking together like this is attracting a lot of attention?"

Wen Zhaoci paused slightly, turned his head to look at her, and the sunlight shining through the leaves into his eyes looked like shattered stars.

"Hmm?" he uttered a single syllable, sounding slightly doubtful. "Really?"

Sang Jiuning was so taken aback by his question that she almost choked on her breath.

No? Are they all treated like monkeys in a zoo?

She pouted and muttered softly, "Why not? I feel uncomfortable all over."

Seeing her pouty expression, Wen Zhaoci's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. He slowed his pace to walk beside her, lowering his voice to a reassuring tone: "You'll get used to it. Or, what would you like me to do?"

Sang Jiuning was taken aback by his gentle tone, and her heart skipped a beat.

She quickly turned her face away, pretending to look at the scenery by the roadside, but in her heart she was thinking: Here we go again, he always does this, speaking in this tone that makes it impossible to refuse.

No, Sang Jiuning, you have to be firm! Break up! Yes, break up!

She took a deep breath, turned her head, and forced a cold expression: "I hope you won't do this again in the future, and keep your distance from me. We...we've only just started dating, it's not good to be too clingy."

Wen Zhaoci looked at her feigned indifference on her face, his smile deepening, but he didn't call her out on it. He simply nodded and said seriously, "Okay, whatever you say. How far apart should we keep? One meter? Or two meters?"

Sang Jiuning was almost amused by his serious manner, but she suppressed her laughter and said with a straight face, "At most... at most we can only see each other once a week!"

"Okay." Wen Zhaoci agreed without hesitation, and then naturally took Sang Jiuning's hand and walked forward.

Sang Jiuning was still dizzy when she agreed, unaware that her hand was being held in Wen Zhaoci's palm.