College

As he strolled through the college corridors, he was taken by surprise by a girl with vivid blue hair and captivating blue eyes. Her body was flawless, every curve perfectly proportionate. 

She waved at him with a warm, inviting smile, effortlessly drawing attention. 

He smiled upon recognizing her—his childhood friend, Qing Lian. 

"Hey, Wuhen! I was waiting for you!" she greeted cheerfully.

Wuhen laughed and shook his head. "Qing Lian, do you say that as if we don't meet every day?"

He walked up to her like he owned her, his hands in his pockets. "What's up? Something important?" he said, accustomed to her energetic greetings but still curious.

Qing Lian pouted playfully. "I can't just be glad to see you?"

Wuhen smirked. "Sure, but waiting for me specifically? Sounds suspicious."

She rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright. It was just that I did not want to walk to class by myself. Happy?"

He laughed and fell in step next to her. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go."

Qing Lian followed Wuhen closely as they strode down the corridor, her steps almost soundless. Her long blue hair sparkled in the sunlight coming through the windows, making her appear almost otherworldly.

"You know," she said, turning her head toward him, "you could act at least somewhat excited to see me."

Wuhen smirked, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I see you every day. Should I spread a red carpet next time?"

She placed a hand on her chest and gasped dramatically. "Wow, that would be amazing! You know, with a pinch of fireworks."

He chuckled. "You honestly think you're that special?"

Qing Lian briefed forward a little, her sea blue eyes piercing his. "Aren't I?"

For a split second, Wuhen paused. There was something about how she looked at him—teasing, playful, but with a flicker of something also. But something he just couldn't place.

Just as he was about to reply, a recognizable voice broke in.

"Oi, Wuhen! What's this? Leaving me behind already?"

Then a girl with flowing black hair and a confident smirk approached them—Zhen Meiyu.

Qing Lian folded her arms and sighed. "Oh great, trouble is here."

Meiyu quirked an eyebrow and looked between the two. "Wait, did I catch you in the middle of something?"

Wuhen shook his head. "No, just Qing Lian attempting to persuade me that she should be received as if she were royalty any time she comes to see me."

Meiyu smirked. "I mean… she's not wrong. She is kinda hard to ignore."

Qing Lian beamed. "See? Someone appreciates me."

Wuhen rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile.

As they continued walking, the energy between them settled into a familiar rhythm. The usual banter, the teasing—it was all part of their daily routine. 

Meiyu walked beside Wuhen, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "So, are we heading to class, or do you two plan to stand here flirting all day?" 

Qing Lian scoffed. "Flirting? Please. If I were flirting, he'd be speechless by now."

Wuhen chuckled. "Bold claim."

Meiyu smirked. "I'd pay to see that happen."

Qing Lian tossed her hair dramatically. "Just wait. One day, Wuhen will chase after me."

He simply shook his head. "Sure, sure. Keep dreaming."

The three of them made their way through the bustling college hallways, dodging students in a rush and greeting a few familiar faces along the way. The campus was alive with energy—laughter, conversations, and the occasional sound of someone running late for class. 

As they reached the entrance to their lecture hall, Meiyu glanced at Wuhen and Qing Lian with a smirk. "Alright, you two, I'll see you at lunch. Try not to miss me too much." 

Qing Lian rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Go before you're late."

Meiyu laughed and waved, then left.

Following closely behind was Qing Lian while Wuhen pushed the door open lightly and stepped in. The classroom was half full already, students talking in clusters as they awaited the professor.

Qing Lian stretched her arms lazily, then turned to Wuhen with a playful smile. "Alright, Mr. Too-Cool-To-Be-Impressed, I guess this is where we part ways." 

Wuhen smirked. "For now. Try not to miss me too much."

She rolled her eyes, but her expression betrayed its amusement. "Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that."

She waved a little, then turned and walked toward her usual seat by the window, where she liked to look outside when lectures started getting dull. Wuhen, however, navigated himself deep into the center of the room, where he usually sat.

Just as Wuhen was settling into his seat, a boy with golden hair and striking golden eyes walked into the classroom. His good looks caught the attention of many, and it was clear that most of the girls in the room were fans of his appearance.

His name was Ye Chen.

Coming from one of the wealthiest families in the country—ranking among the top three—his fortune was well-known, and their influence extended far beyond just financial circles.

As Ye Chen approached, Qing Lian's expression shifted to one of clear disgust.

"Lian, you look beautiful as always," Ye Chen said smoothly, stopping in front of her with a confident smile.

Qing Lian didn't even look up. She simply ignored him, her focus elsewhere, not bothering to respond to his attempt at flattery.

Seeing her not respond, Ye Chen's face flushed with irritation, but he didn't back down.

"Lian, if you're free tomorrow, I'd like to invite you to lunch," he said, his tone still smooth. "I've booked the most expensive restaurant, you know."

He tried to smile, hoping the offer would catch her attention.

"Sorry, I'm not interested," Qing Lian replied flatly, not even glancing up from what she was doing.

The smile on Ye Chen's face faded, replaced with a tight expression. "You know, I already asked your father, and he said he was fine with it, so don't even think about backing out," he said, his voice sharp.

With that, Ye Chen turned and walked back to his seat, leaving a tense silence hanging in the air.

Wuhen, who had been listening to Ye Chen's nonsense, felt a surge of irritation. He knew Ye Chen had feelings for Lian, but it was clear to him that he didn't understand what love truly meant.

The way he interacted with her, his constant showoff—it all revealed his arrogance and pride. Wuhen couldn't understand why Ye Chen acted the way he did, flaunting his wealth as if he had worked tirelessly to earn it. It wasn't genuine; it was all just an empty display.

In his previous life, Wuhen had seen men like Ye Chen, who flaunted their family wealth as if they had earned it themselves. He had also seen women who pretended to love them, but Wuhen knew they were just after their money.

Girls like Qing Lian were rare. She was the type of person who admired genuine qualities, not material things.

Lost in his thoughts, Wuhen didn't notice the door opening again. A woman stepped in—around her early 30s, with striking purple hair and eyes, and a figure that seemed almost divine.

Wuhen instantly recognized her—Ming Yue, their English lecturer.