After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

The granddaughter of the deputy commander of the Tianjin Military Region.

After those words were spoken, the entire second canteen fell silent for a full three seconds.

Then things exploded.

"Deputy Commander of the Military Region? Did I hear that right?"

"Shen Tianxi? That Shen? The Shen family of Tianjin?"

"No wonder she looks like that; her genes and temperament are something that ordinary people can't have."

"That Wang guy's family isn't simple either, is it? He's been pursuing me for two years, even chasing me from Tianjin to Kyoto..."

"The key is Zhu Xun Chuan! He was just telling everyone he was drinking ginger tea behind someone's aunt's back, and now look what's happened—she's the daughter of a military officer!"

Whispers surged in from all directions like a rising tide.

Shen Tianxi's expression changed.

It wasn't fear, it was anger.

She released Zhu Xun Chuan's hand, turned her head to stare at Wang Kai, and her tone was icy cold.

"Wang Kai, who gave you the right to speak up here?"

Wang Kai didn't take it seriously, even smiled, put his hands in his pockets, leaned back, and adopted a posture of watching a good show.

"Let me filter out the unsuitable ones for you, what's wrong?"

His gaze returned to Zhu Xunchuan, filled with a condescending pity.

"Brother, you get it now? We're not from the same world. Get out of here now, and I won't make things difficult for you."

Shen Tianxi subconsciously turned her head to look at Zhu Xunchuan.

Her hands, gripping the hem of her skirt, were tightening.

From childhood to adulthood, every boy who got close to her reacted in one of two ways after learning about her family background.

Either be like Wang Kai and use her as a stepping stone to climb up the social ladder.

Or... retreat.

They left politely.

Knowing when to retreat.

He laughed and said, "Haha, I'm not good enough for you," and then walked away without looking back.

She's used to it.

That's why she was nervous.

She looked at Zhu Xun Chuan's profile, waiting for that familiar, polite, and dignified retreat.

Zhu Xun Chuan chuckled.

It's very light.

Then he reached out with his right hand, grabbed Shen Tianxi's waist, pressed his palm against her, closed his fingers, and pulled her into his arms.

Shen Tianxi let out an "Ah".

Extremely light, trapped in his chest.

Her back bumped against his chest; the thin fabric of her floral dress offered little protection. His hand rested on the narrowest curve of her waist, his fingers sinking into her soft flesh through the fabric, tightening slightly.

Her waist is very thin.

But it's not the kind of bland, subtle flavor.

It was elastic, full, and delicate. The touch of it under his palm was warm and soft, and the waistline was curved by the rounded shape created by the floral dress, clinging to his side hip.

Shen Tianxi froze.

My heart was pounding so fast that I could hear my own pulse in my ears.

More than thirty pairs of eyes in the cafeteria were staring at this side.

Wang Kai's smile froze.

He pursued Shen Tianxi for two years. He sent her flowers, bags, and jewelry, pulled strings and used connections to get her to do things for him, and even drank half a case of Moutai with the Shen family patriarch.

He didn't even touch Shen Tianxi's fingertips.

Now, this freshman wearing canvas shoes is putting his arm around her waist in front of the entire cafeteria, his posture so casual that it's as if he's hugging his own belongings.

"you......"

Wang Kai hadn't even finished speaking.

Zhu Xunchuan spoke.

He looked at Wang Kai.

He spoke slowly and softly, but everyone in the cafeteria could hear him clearly.

"What happened to the granddaughter of the deputy commander of the military region?"

His hand tightened around Shen Tianxi's waist.

"As long as I, Zhu Xun Chuan, like her, I don't care what her identity or background is."

He paused for a moment.

"Even if the Heavenly King himself comes, she's still mine."

The cafeteria is dead.

He's completely dead.

I could even clearly hear the whirring sound from the air conditioner vents.

Three seconds later, a boy's voice broke the silence from the corner...

"Holy shit."

Then the whole cafeteria erupted.

"Is that something a human being should say?"

"Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he'd still be one of his men? Does this guy not know what a military compound is, or does he just not care at all?"

"Never mind, just for those words alone, I'm willing to kowtow to him."

"Why does it sound so cool when a handsome guy says it, but when I say it, it sounds like I'm crazy?"

Several girls had tears in their eyes and were recording with their phones.

The color drained from Wang Kai's face inch by inch.

It wasn't that I was scared by Zhu Xun Chuan's words.

It was his attitude that made me feel this way.

He had seen arrogant people before. The Wang family was no small family in Tianjin, and they had seen all sorts of people since childhood.

But no one could smile and hug the man's granddaughter after hearing the words "Deputy Commander of the Military Region".

This certainty is not feigned.

It can't be faked.

"Do you...do you know what you're saying?" Wang Kai's voice was strained.

"I know." Zhu Xun Chuan's expression was excessively calm. "Anything else? If not, you've dirtied her ribs, so you need to make her a new serving."

Wang Kai's lips trembled twice.

His three henchmen looked at each other, none of them daring to move.

"For Shen Tianxi's sake, I'll let you go today! Let's go." Wang Kai turned around, his steps quick yet stiff.

The three henchmen followed and left.

From entering to leaving, the entire process takes no more than five minutes.

A cheer erupted in the cafeteria.

"Awesome! That's fucking awesome!"

"The most explosive moment since the start of the semester at Peking University! Who recorded it? Share it in the group chat!"

"Zhu Xunchuan, right? Remember that! He'll be my idol from now on!"

"Being handsome is one thing, but he's also so outspoken, and the best part is he can still stand up after saying it—that's truly impressive!"

Zhu Xun Chuan ignored the surrounding discussions.

He looked down at the person in his arms.

Shen Tianxi buried her face in his chest, remaining motionless.

Her hands were gripping the fabric of his T-shirt so tightly that all ten fingers turned white. Her shoulders were trembling.

"Sweetie?"

No response.

"Were you scared?"

Shen Tianxi shook her head.

She lifted her face.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, her nose was pink, tears clung to her eyelashes, and a few strands of her long hair were disheveled and stuck to her cheeks.

she cried.

It wasn't a cry of grievance, nor a cry of fear.

It's the kind of crying where you feel like you've been hit hard by something, your whole body shatters and then you're put back together.

"Brother Chuan".

Her voice was nasal and trembling.

"What you just said... is it true?"

Which sentence?

"Every single sentence."

Zhu Xun Chuan reached out and wiped the tear stains off her cheek with his thumb.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Shen Tianxi stared at him for three seconds.

Then she lunged forward, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face in his chest again.

"From childhood to adulthood..." Her voice was muffled inside his clothes, broken and intermittent, "Everyone was either afraid of my grandfather, or they wanted to use me to get close to my family. Not a single person... not a single person said they didn't care about my background..."

Her shoulders trembled even more violently.

Zhu Xun Chuan placed his palm on her back and slowly stroked it downwards.

The onlookers in the cafeteria began to disperse on their own.

But everyone who left was talking about the same name.

"Just who exactly is Zhu Xunchuan?"

"Who cares about his background? With that guts and that mouth, he's set for life."

"Did you guys notice? Shen Tianxi cried. That Shen Tianxi. The Shen Tianxi who smiles like a little sun, he made her cry."

"This isn't called making people cry, this is called being moved to tears."

The crowd had mostly dispersed.

Shen Tianxi lifted her head from his embrace and rubbed her eyes vigorously with the back of her hand.

"You're so ugly, don't look at me."

"You don't look very good when you cry."

"You!" Shen Tianxi punched him in the chest.

It has little strength and feels weak and limp.

After she finished massaging him, she was reluctant to let go, her fingers clutching his shirt, her cheek pressed against his chest, her voice so soft that only the two of them could hear it.

"Brother Chuan".

"Um."

"You're so domineering."

She buried her face even deeper, her lips almost touching the fabric of his chest.

"Sweetie likes it so much."

Zhu Xun Chuan's fingers unconsciously tightened slightly.

Her waist is so flexible.

"You're not allowed to say things like that to other girls in the future," Shen Tianxi added, her voice both sweet and husky.

"What did you say?"

"Those kinds of words, 'She's mine,' are only meant for me."

Zhu Xun Chuan looked down at the top of her head.

The neckline of her floral dress was slightly open, and from his angle, he could see the small mole below her collarbone and a large expanse of white skin extending downwards.

He looked away.

"The ribs are cold, I'll make you a fresh one."

"I don't want the ribs anymore."

"What do you want?"

Shen Tianxi raised her head, a sweet yet sly smile appearing on her tear-streaked face.

"I want you."

Zhu Xun Chuan ruffled her hair.

"Be mindful of your behavior in the cafeteria."

"So what? I'm not afraid." Shen Tianxi stood on tiptoe, brought her lips close to his ear, and said in a voice as sweet as honey, "I will definitely marry you in the future, Zhu Xunchuan."

As soon as she finished speaking, her face flushed red, and she let go of her hand and ran towards the door.

Her floral dress swayed behind her.

He ran two steps and then turned back.

"Keep up!"

Zhu Xun Chuan looked at her standing at the entrance of the cafeteria, waiting for him.

The afternoon sun shone on her, and the wind lifted a corner of her floral dress, revealing a small section of her fair legs.

Her eyes were still red, and her nose was still pink.

But when he smiles, he seems to glow.

He walked over.

When he got closer, Shen Tianxi reached out and intertwined her fingers with his.

The two walked out of the cafeteria.

The sun was shining warmly.

A breeze wafted along the tree-lined path, carrying the sweet scent of osmanthus blossoms.

Shen Tianxi leaned on his shoulder, wiping away her tears with her free hand as they walked.

"Your clothes got wet from me."

"fine."

"And snot."

"...Can you please stop talking?"

Shen Tianxi stuck out her tongue and pressed her face back against his upper arm.

Zhu Xunchuan's phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out with one hand and glanced at it.

A WeChat message.

The sender was Gu Qinghan.

"Come to my office. Now. Don't make me say it twice."