So Rui Li poured a cup of tea for Nan Fengyan and took out some fruits from the fridge. Then she went into the kitchen to wash them.
Nan Fengyan was visiting Rui Li's place for the first time.
While sipping his tea, he sized up the layout of the whole room. There was nothing superfluous in it, just the essentials for daily life: a tea table, a desk, some chairs, and tea sets. It was simple and straightforward. There wasn't even a designer handbag.
Just then, Rui Li's phone on the sofa buzzed. Nan Fengyan glanced over and saw a new text message on the screen: "I had a great time today. I hope we'll have another chance to hang out. Are you asleep now? I..."
He couldn't see the rest of the message.
Nan Fengyan's heart sank. He immediately sent someone to dig out all the information about this man.
The man was Wang Peng, a recent recruit at a small jewelry store under the Xia family. He graduated from high school, owned a house and a car, and was a sycophant.
Such a man dared to have ideas about Rui Li. It was sheer audacity.
While Nan Fengyan was looking through the information, Rui Li walked out of the kitchen. He quickly put down the phone and stared at her meaningfully.
The light shone on Rui Li's face, making her cold expression clearly visible.
She was wearing a white dress with floral patterns at the bottom.
She would never have worn such a dress before.
It seemed that Xia Weilan had influenced her quite a bit, and she was starting to have a more feminine touch.
"I didn't expect a guest. I don't usually prepare much. You'll have to make do," Rui Li said as she placed the fruit plate in front of him. There were apples and grapes on it.
As soon as Rui Li came out, she noticed that Nan Fengyan didn't look happy. She thought maybe her humble abode made him uncomfortable.
"Don't contact that guy anymore," Nan Fengyan suddenly said.
Rui Li looked at him, confused.
"Wang Peng from the KTV just now. He's not right for you," Nan Fengyan continued. He thought Rui Li deserved the best, not someone like Wang Peng who had no merits and was a sycophant.
"I can make my own judgments," Rui Li said indifferently. "Wait for a moment. I'll go get something."
Rui Li didn't sit down. She quickly went into the room and came out with a card. She handed it to Nan Fengyan. "This is the money from the auction. It's only half. I'll need some time to get the other half."
"Do you have to be so particular with me?" Nan Fengyan threw the card on the table.
"Even brothers should keep their accounts clear. Besides, we're just friends. I know this amount of money means nothing to you, but I can't take it for free," Rui Li insisted and stuffed the card back into his pocket.
This time, Nan Fengyan didn't refuse. He just said in a deep voice, "Even if you want to push me away, don't just accept anyone."
Rui Li instinctively looked at her phone. She picked it up and saw the text message from Wang Peng.
She didn't reply. She put the phone back in her pocket. She had no feelings for Wang Peng at all, but she didn't want to explain anything to Nan Fengyan either, for fear of making him misunderstand that she cared about his opinion.
Just as both of them were silent, a loud thunderclap suddenly boomed outside. A blinding bolt of lightning split the night sky, and then the rain came down in torrents.
Rui Li realized that the window in her room was still open. She rushed into the room.
The cold rain splashed on her face. She squinted her eyes and finally managed to shut out the wind and rain. When she turned around, she bumped into a solid chest.
Nan Fengyan had somehow gotten very close to her. As soon as she moved, he pulled her into his arms.
Rui Li looked up and saw his deep gaze fixed on her, like a spotlight trying to pierce through her soul.
She stared into his deep, unfathomable eyes and was momentarily stunned, forgetting to breathe. A hint of softness flashed across her eyes, a softness she herself didn't even notice, and it vanished in an instant.
But Nan Fengyan caught that softness. He thought that maybe Rui Li didn't hate him as much as he thought. Maybe he still had a chance.
After what seemed like an eternity, Rui Li came to her senses and gently pushed him away. "Why are you so close?"
"You were the one who bumped into me. I just wanted to help you," Nan Fengyan made up an excuse.
After that, neither of them said a word.
She checked the time. It was already midnight, and with the rain outside, it wasn't appropriate to ask him to leave.
"I'd like to stay the night here. It's raining heavily outside," Nan Fengyan said with a faint smile.
Rui Li's eyes flickered. Finally, she nodded and went into the guest room to prepare the quilt.
Nan Fengyan stood at the door, watching Rui Li bustling around. He raised his long eyebrows slightly, and a smile played on his lips. He looked as elegant as ever.
The next day.
Xia Weilan realized she had forgotten to take her materials just as she was about to reach the school. She rushed back to the Jinxiu Yuting to get them. When she got back to University A, classes had already started, and the tree - lined path on campus was empty.
Xia Weilan rushed in a hurry and saw the new design teacher already on the podium, giving a lecture.
"May I come in?" Xia Weilan said to the teacher.
The design teacher frowned and turned to look at Xia Weilan. It was her first class on the first day of school, and she didn't expect anyone to be late.
"Being late on the first day of class. What's the matter with you? Stand there and be punished!" the design teacher said seriously with a straight face.
Xia Weilan's heart skipped a beat. She didn't expect the teacher to be so strict. "Teacher, I forgot to bring my materials, so I went back to get them. I won't do it again."
As she spoke, Xia Weilan showed her innocent and pitiful eyes at the right time.
"Humph, if all the students were like you, what would they learn in the future? So careless," the design teacher grumbled, but her tone softened a bit. "Come in. If you're late again, stand outside."
Xia Weilan heaved a sigh of relief and quickly sat down next to Rui Li.
At first, Xia Weilan didn't notice. But after a while, she saw that Rui Li had obvious dark circles under her eyes and was sitting there listlessly.
"What's wrong with you? Didn't you sleep well?" Xia Weilan whispered in Rui Li's ear when the teacher wasn't looking.
"Don't even mention it. I was awake all night," Rui Li said expressionlessly.
The two of them were whispering to each other when the design teacher glanced at Xia Weilan several times.
Xia Weilan was about to ask Rui Li why she couldn't sleep when Rui Li noticed the teacher's strange look and immediately kicked Xia Weilan.
Xia Weilan looked back and saw the design teacher's ashen face. She thought to herself that she was really having bad luck today and had messed up again.
Sure enough, the design teacher on the podium pointed at Xia Weilan and declared, "This is a typical example of a student who doesn't strive for progress. If students like this don't correct themselves, they'll never achieve much in the future."