Ming Zhi was quite boring. Though they'd been nominal siblings for three years, she had always been timid around him, wishing she could be invisible in his presence.
When she spoke, her voice was like a mosquito's buzz. Seeing him from afar, she'd retreat three steps back.
Most of the time she maintained this tense demeanor, only occasionally showing a natural smile in front of He Zhi Che.
Especially the light in her eyes.
As soon as his dear younger brother appeared, it would light up with a "whoosh."
Puppy love?
A crush?
How boring.
He Jia Shu remained expressionless, too lazy to care.
In the time he'd been distracted, the red light's countdown had already passed.
Yet none of the cars behind dared honk, all very tactfully maintaining a far distance, afraid of scratching this luxury car whose paint job alone cost as much as gold leaf.
He Jia Shu started the vehicle without glancing at Ming Zhi even once.
But his acceleration was too sudden. The canvas bag on Ming Zhi's lap fell due to inertia.
The bag was open, and its contents scattered on the floor.
Ming Zhi held her breath but didn't dare bend down to pick them up. She sat on pins and needles, silently counting seconds in her mind, praying they'd reach the school quickly.
Fortunately, after passing several more blocks, they finally arrived at Nanda University City.
Through the car window, many schools that had appeared in college guidebooks came vividly to life before Ming Zhi's eyes.
It was freshman registration day, so the school allowed parents to drive into campus, though they couldn't stay too long.
Sitting in the car, Ming Zhi was drawn to the scenery passing by the window.
As one of the nation's top universities, Jingsheng University had over a century of history. The academic buildings were classically elegant with complementary landscaping.
She turned her face, curiously observing the plants and trees outside.
The campus was huge, and freshmen had many classes. She wondered if she needed to buy a bicycle for commuting between buildings.
The window lowered, and a breeze blew in. Imagining herself freely cycling between classroom buildings made Ming Zhi's expression finally relax and become content.
However, her happy fantasy was quickly punctured.
The car had stopped by the roadside at some point. He Jia Shu's elbow rested on the window edge, supporting his chin, his expression casual.
"Which building?" he asked.
Caught off guard by the question, Ming Zhi took a few seconds to realize he was asking about her dormitory location.
"Building 17."
After answering, she pulled out her phone to double-check, carefully confirming.
But He Jia Shu had an apartment off-campus and had never spent a single day in the dorms, so he wasn't very familiar with the campus apartment locations.
So after the sports car slowly circled a few times, they returned to the starting point.
They hadn't found the dorm building, but this flashy sports car cruising around campus had certainly attracted plenty of student attention.
Ming Zhi sat rigidly upright in the passenger seat. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Young Master He's fingers impatiently tapping the steering wheel. She quickly said: "Why don't I just take my luggage and go? You can attend to your business first."
Her tone was sincere and reasonable.
As usual, nothing to fault.
But He Jia Shu suddenly felt a surge of nameless anger.
He was very aware this anger wasn't directed at Ming Zhi, but at himself.
Look at that—now he was being urged to leave.
This is what came of meddling.
Ming Zhi watched his expression grow increasingly displeased and steeled herself to add: "Then how about I get out and ask for directions?"
He Jia Shu didn't respond, but the car locks clicked open with a "pa-da," which counted as consent.
Ming Zhi felt as if she'd been granted a reprieve. She pulled open the car door, flagged down a friendly-looking student to ask for directions, and once she knew the general location, hurried back.
What she didn't know was that in the brief moment the car door opened and closed, students who had been secretly observing saw He Jia Shu sitting in the driver's seat.
No wonder someone could drive so ostentatiously—only that person from the Business Administration School would dare.
Jingsheng University attracted top students from across the nation and had no shortage of exceptional talent.
Unfortunately, in places where talent gathered, even valedictorians became mediocre.
The Business Administration School was already filled with wealthy young masters and misses from Jingsheng City, and He Jia Shu's family background stood out even among them.
If it were just his exceptional appearance and family background, that would be one thing. But last year in the National Mathematical Modeling Competition, He Jia Shu—a non-major student who didn't even form a team—single-handedly completed all the modeling, analysis, and coding, winning a national first prize. He was still used as an example by Applied Mathematics professors to motivate their own students.
Some professors regretted that He Jia Shu had chosen Business Administration to inherit the family business instead of Applied Mathematics—a great loss for the field.
Now, seeing an unfamiliar girl emerge from He Jia Shu's car naturally sparked quiet discussion among the curious.
Ming Zhi vaguely sensed whispered conversations but assumed students were just discussing the sports car.
This time she found the door handle accurately. After getting in, she met He Jia Shu's indifferent eyes and involuntarily swallowed.
"That student said it's in the southeast corner behind Guanghua Building." Ming Zhi repeated what she'd just heard, but He Jia Shu made no move, still staring at her.
Ming Zhi's face began to burn.
"Seatbelt."
His voice was cold.
"I'm, I'm sorry." Ming Zhi's face turned even redder.
Finally, the vehicle slowly stopped not far from Dormitory Building 17.
Freshmen were hauling large and small packages into the dorm building. Because today was special, many male family members were also allowed inside to help.
He Zhi Che was abroad during this time, otherwise he would have enrolled together with Ming Zhi. Besides He Zhi Che, she held no expectations for the other He family members. Even Mrs. He asking her a question this morning had already made her feel flattered enough.
She couldn't rely on others, so she'd ordered bedding and daily necessities online early and had them shipped to the school's delivery station.
Moving things back to the dorm one by one—she could manage it alone eventually.
Ming Zhi didn't have the audacity to ask He Jia Shu to help carry her luggage upstairs. His bringing her here was already an unprecedented event.
Besides, he probably didn't want people at school to know about their relationship, right?
She thanked him repeatedly, then finally bent down to stuff the small items scattered at her feet into her canvas bag.
After getting out and moving her suitcase from the back seat, just as she closed the door firmly, the sleek sports car sped past her luggage.
Ming Zhi stood there, her expression still somewhat wooden.
Had her thanks not been sincere enough?
But He Jia Shu had never liked her much anyway. Ming Zhi didn't take it to heart.
Though his disgust for her was written all over his face, it usually stayed superficial—he'd never actually done anything to harm her or drive her from the He family.
This was already enough to satisfy Ming Zhi.
He Jia Shu unconsciously glanced toward the rearview mirror, watching her dazed figure grow smaller and smaller. A strange question suddenly floated into his mind.
If it were He Zhi Che dropping her at the dorm building, would she have asked He Zhi Che to help carry her luggage upstairs?
If He Zhi Che agreed, would this silly goose show that starry-eyed expression again?
The thought flashed by.
He Jia Shu turned the steering wheel with one hand and drove away from the dorm building, his eyes carrying a hint of indifferent disdain and coldness.
After all, she hadn't asked him.
After all, he hadn't planned to help her anyway.
_____
Author's Note:
The male lead is stubborn and acts like a dog in the early stages, waiting to be disciplined (just kidding)