HRMCF Chappter 21

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🍋‍🟩 Completed Chapter

【sy: The counselor needs to see me, I'm going to school first. Won't need a ride today.】

Shen Yan sent the WeChat message and got on the subway.

It had been a long time since he had taken public transportation. Just in case, he wore a thin hoodie, put the hood up, and kept his head down almost the entire time.

Of course, it was still impossible to completely avoid eye contact, and different names continued to pop up in his vision like playing a game.

Celebrities, athletes, characters from adult animation, adult film actresses… appeared above faces that were completely normal, even a bit indifferent.

Actually, most of the time it was just ordinary names.

Who could these ordinary names belong to?

Their lovers? Partners? Or… friends…

Shen Yan shook his head vigorously.

Don't pry into other people's privacy!

When Zhu Ningbo arrived at the classroom, he was surprised to find that Shen Yan was actually sitting by the wall. He walked over with his bag, then stood there awkwardly for a while.

"Sit down."

Shen Yan pointed to the seat beside him.

Zhu Ningbo was completely confused. "Am I sitting in the middle again today?"

"Isn't that okay?"

Zhu Ningbo honestly shook his head. "Not really."

"What's wrong with it?"

"You always sit between us."

"Gotta change it up sometimes. Besides, what difference does it make where you sit?" Shen Yan directly pulled him down to sit. "You're sitting here today."

Zhu Ningbo sighed and put down his bag. "So you guys did fight after all."

"No," Shen Yan said with a headache, "I swear, okay? Really didn't."

It was just that he suddenly felt that Zhao Linsu's actions the day before yesterday were correct.

Since he couldn't figure out why this situation was happening, it was better to try adjusting the distance appropriately first.

Shen Yan held his pen and clicked it unconsciously, his eyes occasionally drifting towards the classroom door.

When Zhao Linsu's figure appeared, Shen Yan stiffened for a moment. He lowered his head and pretended to flip through his book.

"Zhao Linsu's here."

Zhu Ningbo reminded him.

Shen Yan gave an "oh" and didn't dare to look up.

Zhao Linsu stood at the door for half a minute. Zhu Ningbo, looking completely unsure of what to do, waved at him.

"Morning."

Zhao Linsu walked over and sat down in the empty seat that was left.

"Morning," Zhu Ningbo said.

Shen Yan clutched his pen, feeling that not saying anything would be deliberately awkward. He leaned forward slightly, across Zhu Ningbo, and said a somewhat forced "morning."

The moment their eyes met, Shen Yan saw his own name again.

Compared to yesterday's terrifying appearance, today his name was slightly closer to its previous "normal" state.

Zhao Linsu didn't comment on the seating arrangement, which made Shen Yan feel a lot more relaxed.

Right, they weren't elementary school students anymore. There was really no need to sit right next to each other.

Shen Yan focused on listening to the lecture. When he heard the professor say, "For this group assignment, form groups of four yourselves," his thoughts stirred slightly again.

When class ended and the classroom became noisy, Shen Yan announced his idea, "Let's do this group assignment separately."

"Huh?"

Zhu Ningbo's eyes almost popped out in surprise.

Zhao Linsu didn't react much.

Shen Yan braced himself and continued, "We always do group assignments together, and I feel like our thinking has become fixed. We're already in our third year, so why not try teaming up with other classmates? Maybe we can spark some new ideas. Zhao Linsu, what do you think?"

"Not a bad idea," Zhao Linsu said, looking down as he put his notebook back in his bag. "I agree."

"Bo'er, if you have trouble, you can still team up with me or Zhao Linsu, it's up to you."

Zhu Ningbo was stunned, feeling as if he had returned to the summer when his parents divorced. His parents had also asked him who he wanted to live with.

"I…"

Zhu Ningbo hesitated for a moment. "I'll also try to find people to team up with myself," he said, his expression slightly more determined. "I can't always rely on you guys."

Forming groups for assignments was all about speed. Since it was decided, Zhu Ningbo immediately stood up to find people to team up with.

He had been depressed for several days, but he had finally perked up and seemed even more proactive than before. Shen Yan was relieved.

Zhao Linsu packed his bag and then left directly.

Shen Yan watched Zhao Linsu walk out of the classroom, a bit stunned.

Could Zhao Linsu… be angry?

Shen Yan took out his phone and sent him a WeChat message.

【sy: Aren't you finding people to team up with?】

【Son: Looking online】

Zhao Linsu replied quickly, and his attitude was also normal.

Shen Yan sent another WeChat message.

【sy: The counselor's matter isn't finished yet, I might have to stay on campus this afternoon too. Go back yourself, no need to wait for me.】

【Son: 1】

Tapping the screen, Shen Yan sighed slightly.

"Shen Yan."

Shen Yan looked up. The person greeting him was a boy from the neighboring class.

This class was a large lecture, with three classes combined.

When Shen Yan was a freshman, he helped the counselor a lot and knew almost everyone in their major. He knew this person was called Zhang Qian.

"Zhu Ningbo is looking for people to team up with. Do you have a group yet?" Zhang Qian asked him.

"Not yet."

"Then join our group."

"Your group?"

"Me, Liao Jing, and Huang Mengxuan."

Shen Yan didn't care who he teamed up with. Among his university classmates, besides Zhao Linsu and Zhu Ningbo, everyone else was pretty much the same to him.

"Okay."

"Then let's add each other on WeChat. I'll pull you into our group chat."

Shen Yan added his WeChat. "Are you guys a fixed group?" he asked.

"Recently, yes," Zhang Qian smiled at him a little smugly, as if showing off. "I'm dating Liao Jing."

Shen Yan silently glanced at the three words "Huang Mengxuan" above his head, his feelings complicated.

"Alright, then I'll go first. The group meeting time will be announced in the chat later."

Shen Yan nodded and let out another long breath.

Humans were truly complex.

Some fantasized about their best friends, while others, even with girlfriends, would fantasize about other girls.

Shen Yan hated this superpower for the hundred and first time in his heart.

It was not only useless but also added to his troubles.

After the elective class in the afternoon, Shen Yan went to the school's coffee shop for the group meeting as scheduled.

Zhang Qian and Liao Jing had already arrived. When Shen Yan came, Zhang Qian was in line to buy coffee, while Liao Jing was sitting at the table typing.

University classmates were different from high school classmates. Even if they were in the same class, there was a high probability that they wouldn't be very familiar. Shen Yan and Liao Jing weren't very close. Actually, he was a bit shy around girls. He politely greeted Liao Jing first, "Hello."

"Hello, do you want coffee?"

"I'll go order," Shen Yan took a step forward and then came back. "Is Huang Mengxuan coming today?"

Liao Jing's expression was a bit indifferent. "She said she's feeling a bit unwell and will be a little late."

Shen Yan nodded and went to join the line.

After he joined the line, Zhang Qian noticed him. "You're here?"

Shen Yan nodded.

He thought that since they were a couple, Zhang Qian would probably buy coffee for Liao Jing. As for Huang Mengxuan, he, as another male group member, should also buy a cup for her, otherwise it might be a bit awkward if Huang Mengxuan came later and had to queue up to buy coffee herself.

Zhang Qian indeed bought two cups.

Shen Yan ordered an iced Americano. Thinking that girls might prefer something sweet, he also ordered a hot chocolate hazelnut latte.

Shen Yan went back with two cups of coffee. Zhang Qian said, "You're drinking two cups?"

"No."

Shen Yan put down the coffee and smiled. "Saving a seat."

"This isn't the classroom, no need to save seats," Zhang Qian gave Liao Jing a fawning smile. "Right?"

"That's just gentlemanly manners," Liao Jing had a very delicate and calm face, waist-length hair, no makeup, and wore silver-rimmed glasses, looking a bit unapproachable. "Bought it for Huang Mengxuan, right?"

Shen Yan smiled and nodded. "I don't know if she's used to the taste."

"If the handsome guy bought it, she'd drink poison," Liao Jing's tone was a bit sarcastic. Shen Yan secretly glanced at the name above Zhang Qian's head, thinking he might have gotten involved in some melodramatic soap opera.

Please, he had his own pile of unresolved issues!

"Why hasn't Huang Mengxuan arrived yet?" Zhang Qian said. "You two live in the same dorm, didn't you ask her to come together when you left?"

"She needed to put on makeup and get dressed, I didn't have the leisure to wait for her," Liao Jing rolled her eyes. Zhang Qian smiled a little awkwardly.

Shen Yan felt that these two didn't seem like a couple, more like a queen and a servant? And Liao Jing and Huang Mengxuan lived in the same dorm? The relationship was really a bit complicated…

"So, do we wait, or start discussing?" Zhang Qian asked cautiously.

"Let's discuss first," Liao Jing snorted again. "Anyway, she won't be able to say anything useful even if she comes, she's just trying to get participation points."

It seemed their relationship wasn't just a little bad.

Shen Yan didn't want to get involved in some strange war, so he quickly opened his book to discuss, wanting to finish the task allocation quickly and leave.

"Shen Yan, you always used to be with Zhao Linsu and Zhu Ningbo, right?" Liao Jing said.

"Yes."

"You were usually the one speaking, right? Can we leave the presentation for our group to you this time?"

"No problem for me."

Liao Jing smiled. Shen Yan thought she looked quite gentle when she smiled, finally feeling a little relieved. Then, the smile on Liao Jing's face immediately disappeared, and she coldly shifted her gaze to the teddy bear toy in the coffee shop.

Zhang Qian waved at Shen Yan across the table.

Shen Yan thought Huang Mengxuan must have arrived, so he also turned his head to greet her.

The autumn weather wasn't too cold yet. The petite girl wore a sky-blue suit dress, white stockings, and high heels, carrying a pink bag. She was dressed very charmingly and cutely, with a light gray beret tilted on her head, and long brown curly hair falling beside her ears, looking completely like a campus goddess.

Shen Yan was stunned.

"Wow, so happy to be partners with the handsome guy this time."

Huang Mengxuan's voice was as cute as her appearance. She saw the coffee in the empty seat beside Shen Yan at a glance, picked it up and smelled it, exclaiming in surprise, "Is this for me? Oh my god, it's my favorite chocolate flavor, thank you, handsome."

Shen Yan nodded stiffly. Huang Mengxuan sat down beside him, and a scent of perfume wafted over, making Shen Yan subconsciously touch his nose.

"Please, we're here for a group meeting, not a matchmaking event. It's your freedom to dress however you want, but wearing so much perfume will affect others."

Liao Jing directly started criticizing rudely.

"I think this perfume smells very nice," Huang Mengxuan smiled sweetly without backing down. "If you don't like it, then just don't breathe."

"You—"

"Don't fight, don't fight…" Zhang Qian stepped in to smooth things over. "Let's continue discussing. Shen Yan, are you alright?"

"I'm fine…"

Shen Yan lowered his hand and quietly took a deep breath.

Calm down.

Calm down.

He had to calm down.

He was someone who had seen the world, he had to calm down.

"Who wants to argue with a pretty face?"

"What do you mean? Are you jealous of my beauty?"

"Ha, if that's what you think."

The two girls exchanged sharp words without giving in. Shen Yan quietly shielded his face with his hand, and Zhang Qian also copied him, propping up his arm and whispering, "They're always like this, they start arguing as soon as they meet."

Shen Yan's peripheral vision quietly swept over the words 【Liao Jing】 on the beret.

…Humans, they were truly complex.