Tang Rui dragged her suitcase down the dimly lit corridor of Phoenix Hall, her fingers brushing over the brass plates until she stopped at 306. Her heart thudded. Taking a steady breath, she unlocked the door.
The room was modest yet welcoming—the faint scent of lavender drifted through the air, and the desk by the window was neatly arranged, save for a few open textbooks.
Before she could step in, a bright voice greeted her.
"Finally! You're here," the girl at the desk exclaimed, swiveling around in her chair. Her smile lit up her pale face, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of loneliness. "I've been waiting since morning. Mr. Liang—the dorm guardian—told me my roommate would come today. You're on scholarship too, right? That means… you won't leave me halfway like the others?"
Her words wavered at the end, hope laced with quiet sadness.
Tang Rui blinked, then softened, offering a gentle smile. "Hi, I'm Tang Rui. Your new roommate."
The girl flushed, clapping her hands together. "Ah! How silly of me. The moment I saw you, I just started blurting nonsense. I didn't even introduce myself." She jumped up, bowing quickly. "I'm Lin Xiaoya. And… I'm really glad you're here."
Tang Rui's chest warmed at her sincerity. Setting her suitcase by the bed, she nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Xiaoya."
But Xiaoya was already tugging at her sleeve, her energy bubbling. "Don't unpack now—it's already half past eight. I'm starving! Let's eat first, then I'll help you organize everything. I saved half the cupboard space just for you."
Tang Rui chuckled. "Alright. Lead the way."
The two stepped into the bustling corridors, voices echoing from other rooms, and soon the sound of chatter and clinking trays surrounded them.
The canteen was alive with noise, the air rich with the scent of spices and steam. Tang Rui and Xiaoya joined the queue, trays in hand. Together they chose:
Mapo tofu steaming over white rice
Kung pao chicken garnished with roasted peanuts
Stir-fried bok choy in garlic oil
Sesame balls filled with sweet red bean paste
And warm cups of soy milk
Balancing their trays, they scanned the hall for a place to sit—when a familiar voice called out.
"Tang Rui! Over here!"
They turned. At a table near the center, Chen Yuhan waved energetically, his smile broad.
Xiaoya blinked in surprise, leaning closer. "You… know him?"
Tang Rui's tone was calm. "Not much. We just bumped into each other earlier."
Before she could say more, Yuhan called again, louder this time, his arm stretched in invitation."Tang Rui! Come join us!"
Tang Rui glanced at Xiaoya, offering reassurance with a small smile. "It's alright. Let's go."
Xiaoya hesitated, clutching her tray a little tighter, but she followed Tang Rui's steady steps toward the table.
Yuhan stood the moment they arrived, ever the gentleman, pulling out a chair for Tang Rui. But as he did, a sudden chill pricked his skin—an instinctive warning. He felt it.
Eyes. Cold, sharp, unrelenting.
He turned his head.
Across the table sat Lu Jiannian, posture relaxed, legs crossed, chopsticks paused mid-air. His gaze, however, was anything but relaxed. It cut across the space like a blade, directed squarely at Yuhan.
For a beat, Yuhan faltered. His smile wavered. Then, with practiced ease, he slipped back into charm, shooting his best friend a sheepish grin. He mouthed silently: Don't make a scene… please.
Jiannian looked away, but the air around him stayed frigid, as if daring Yuhan to push any further.
Tang Rui, noticing the sudden heaviness, chose not to acknowledge it. She sat gracefully, Xiaoya sliding in beside her, her head bowed low.
Yuhan barely gave Xiaoya a glance. Everyone at Hua Ming knew her—Lin Xiaoya, the scholarship girl. Once, she had been brilliant, confident, standing tall despite her modest background. But endless whispers, mocking laughter, and cruel pranks from her wealthy classmates had chipped at her spirit. Now, she hid in plain sight, too timid to raise her voice, her grades slipping as shadows replaced her light.
Chen Yuhan had never joined in her ridicule. But he had never stopped it either. In his eyes, if a person couldn't fight for themselves, no one else's shield could save them.
To him, Lin Xiaoya wasn't poor. She was simply cowardly.
And cowardice, he believed, was unforgivable.
Which was why his attention, his focus, his smile—all of it—was fixed on Tang Rui. The new girl with clear eyes and unshaken confidence.
The kind of presence that turned heads, even at a table where Hua Ming's brightest stars already sat.
Chen Yuhan leaned back in his chair, a grin tugging at his lips."I didn't know my luck was so good today," he said lightly. "Met you twice in less than an hour, Ms. Beauty. Now, as promised, time to answer my questions."
Tang Rui set down her chopsticks with a polite smile."A promise is a promise," she replied.
The two of them slipped into conversation, laughter spilling easily across the table. Lin Xiaoya sat opposite them, quiet and withdrawn, absentmindedly pushing her rice around her bowl. Beside her, Lu Jiannian appeared wholly absorbed in his dinner, head slightly bowed, every movement measured. Yet, behind his lowered lashes, his gaze flickered often toward Tang Rui—listening to each word with unnerving intensity.
"I'm a new student here," Tang Rui began. "Just transferred from Country A. I'm on scholarship, and I'll be finishing my final year with finance as my major."
Chen Yuhan studied her face carefully. Her tone was steady, her posture poised. Confidence could be armor—but in their university, it could just as easily become a target. A flicker of unease passed through him, and he cleared his throat, determined to guide the conversation.
"What a coincidence," he said smoothly. "We're also final-year finance students. Want me to introduce you to the class? Trust me, it'll help you survive the jungle."
Tang Rui shook her head. "No need. I already did my research."
Chen Yuhan's brows arched. Even Lin Xiaoya glanced up, faint admiration in her eyes.
Tang Rui ticked off her fingers as she spoke. "For example - You, Chen Yuhan, son of Mr. Chen Mingyu, business partner of Everbright Capital Holdings. Then there's Zhang Yueling, daughter of Party Leader Zhang Wei of the New Horizons Party in Shanghai.
She looks down on most people, especially scholarship students. Oh, and she claims to be Lu Jiannian's girlfriend."
The words dropped like a stone into still water. Across the table, Lu Jiannian's chopsticks stilled in midair.
Tang Rui continued, unaware of the taut silence. "As for Lu Jiannian… I heard a story about him. A girl confessed a few months ago, but he turned her down so harshly she was humiliated in front of everyone. She ended up expelled. Honestly, what an egoistic person—"
Her voice faltered as her eyes lifted, colliding with his.
Lu Jiannian's gaze was calm yet cutting, sharp enough to steal the breath from her lungs. He didn't speak, but the weight of his silence pressed down like the steady watch of a predator on its prey.
Chen Yuhan felt his stomach tighten. That look—he'd seen it before. A warning. Lu Jiannian never needed words to make his meaning clear.
Without breaking his calm façade, Lu Jiannian resumed eating, lifting his chopsticks with practiced ease. But beneath the table, his foot nudged Chen Yuhan's. It wasn't playful. It was a command.
Stop her. Or explain.
Chen Yuhan let out a laugh, too loud, too forced. "Hahaha, Tang Rui, you really did your homework. No one's ever walked into this school so prepared before. Impressive."
Tang Rui's lips curved faintly. "Of course. One can't walk blindly into a new battlefield. I like to know what kind of people I'll be surrounded by."
Her words struck deeper than she realized. Chen Yuhan's pulse skipped. She really doesn't know who she's talking about…
He dared a glance at Lu Jiannian, who remained utterly composed, expression unreadable, though the air around him was sharp with unspoken warning. Chen Yuhan's throat felt dry as he scrambled to redirect the mood.
"Well, since you already know about Yueling and her… habits," he said quickly, "you won't be surprised by her attitude. But don't worry—she talks more than she acts. As for—" He coughed, deliberately skipping over Lu Jiannian's name. "—the rest, you'll figure it out soon enough. And if things get tricky, I'll help you out."
Tang Rui arched a brow but nodded. "Fair enough. Experience is the best teacher."
Beside her, Lin Xiaoya remained tense, shoulders slightly hunched. She didn't dare raise her eyes, not with the invisible current that pulsed across the table between the two boys.
Chen Yuhan, desperate to thin the heavy air, launched into a casual story about their finance class—half jokes, half nonsense. Tang Rui smiled politely, her laughter soft, while Lu Jiannian ate in silence. His presence lingered, unspoken and heavy, shadowing every word at the table.