The students gathered around were fiercely debating how Zhong Yun and Xiao Fen had managed to hook up.

With a sharp crack, the door to Zhong Yun's room opened. The onlookers instantly fell silent and backed away. Out walked Xiao Fen, her eyes swollen and telling tracks of tears still visible.

Seeing over a dozen pairs of eyes fixed on her, she glared and snapped, "What are you looking at? Stare any longer and I'll gouge your eyes out." She then shoved past the people blocking her way and left.

The crowd couldn't help but gasp. A girl dumped by a man was truly terrifying; Xiao Fen, usually such a NICE person, had transformed into a shrewish tigress.

Next, Zhong Yun emerged from the doorway, his expression blank, not sparing the crowd a glance as he squeezed past them.

Seeing the show was over, the onlookers dispersed, naturally planning to embellish the juicy gossip and share it with their friends later. What excellent material for conversation.

Downstairs, Zhong Yun got some congee from the restaurant and bought a few rice cakes. Back upstairs, he stopped at Xiao Ruo's door, hesitating for a moment before tapping lightly.

The door opened silently. Seeing it was him, Xiao Fen's expression softened, and she ushered him in, stepping out herself and quietly closing the door behind her.

Setting the food down on the table, Zhong Yun took off his shoes and sat on the floor.

Not far from him, a mound of bedding showed a sweep of beautiful black hair at the top.

Zhong Yun sat there, unsure how to begin. He and Xiao Ruo had never had any prior connection; they’d exchanged few words in total. Now he had taken a huge advantage of her, and anything he said felt inappropriate.

Just as he was caught in this awkward stalemate, a melodious tune began to play. It was A Mu’s first song, "Blue Mingchuan River."

"Hello," Xiao Ruo's voice was slightly hoarse. It seemed she truly hadn't rested well these past few days.

A man's voice drifted from the other end of the phone. "Xiao Ruo, hurry down. The reception is about to start."

Xiao Ruo was silent for a moment before forcing out three difficult words: "I'm sorry..."

"Sorry?"

Even from that distance, Zhong Yun could hear the anger in the man's voice. "Sorry, sorry. You always say sorry. It's been six days. Every day I ask you out, you claim to feel unwell. What exactly do you want?"

"You said you liked me, is this how you like me?"

"I'm sorry..." Xiao Ruo's voice hitched into a sob. Zhong Yun watched the quilt covering her tremble slightly; she was clearly deeply upset.

"If you really feel sorry for me," the man's tone softened, "then come down and keep me company at the reception. Don't let me lose face in front of my friends."

"I'm sorry..."

"Is 'sorry' the only thing you know how to say?" The young man was getting irritated.

Zhong Yun could no longer stand it. He stepped forward and snatched the phone away. "Is that how you speak to a young woman?"

Xiao Ruo’s face changed drastically when she saw him, and she cried out in panic, "Why are you here?"

The voice on the other end suddenly switched to a male tone. The young man calling Xiao Ruo was stunned. "Who are you? Where's Xiao Ruo?"

Zhong Yun spoke slowly, word by word: "I am Xiao Ruo's boyfriend. If you dare harass my girlfriend again, watch your step." With that, he slammed the phone down hard.

Turning back, he saw Xiao Ruo staring at him blankly, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She sniffled, and two teardrops rolled down her cheeks, shattering on the floor.

She turned her head away, unwilling to show him her vulnerability. "What did you come here for?"

Zhong Yun didn't speak; he turned and walked toward the door.

Xiao Ruo looked up, watching him move step by step toward the exit. Is he leaving? In that instant, she felt an endless wave of sorrow crash over her, and the tears could no longer be restrained, spilling out.

She bit her lip hard, fighting desperately to keep from making a sound. I won't cry, I won't cry. Xiao Ruo, pull yourself together, don't cry.

But why did her mouth taste so bitter?

"Why are you always sniffing, like a child?" It was a tone reminiscent of a father spoiling his child in their youth; the voice was like a ray of warm sunlight, chasing away the gloom in her heart.

Xiao Ruo's eyes snapped open. Through her blurry vision, she saw a familiar face—one that evoked both hatred and anger—sporting an irritating smile as he looked at her.

"Didn't you leave?"

She asked dazedly, then suddenly shot out a hand and grabbed his sleeve, holding on tightly, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

"Didn't you leave? Why did you come back? Wuwu..."

She used the last of her strength to utter those words. Afterward, she collapsed onto Zhong Yun's lap, sobbing hysterically. As she cried, she even dug her fingers into his thigh, as if trying to vent all the grievances and bitterness of the past few days.

Zhong Yun hesitated for a moment, then finally placed his hand on her head, stroking it gently, letting her ruin his trousers with her tears and snot.

After a few minutes, Xiao Ruo's cries gradually subsided. She hadn't been eating or sleeping well lately, and her strength was failing her. Having vented, she remained motionless on Zhong Yun's lap.

Zhong Yun sensed something was wrong. He looked down and saw her eyes were closed, her breathing even; she had actually fallen asleep right there.

He remained kneeling, careful not to disturb her, while trying to figure out how to resolve the situation.

Before he could form a single coherent thought, his phone rang: "Ringing, ringing..."

Though he answered quickly, the sound woke Xiao Ruo. The moment she awoke, she realized she was draped across Zhong Yun's lap. Her face flushed instantly, and she scrambled to get up, accidentally pressing her hand directly onto Zhong Yun's sensitive area.

It felt as if her hand had been scalded by fire. Xiao Ruo quickly pulled it back, turned around, and pretended to comb her hair. Her fair face was already flushed a deep crimson.

Zhong Yun was mid-conversation and naturally reacted to the contact with her soft, young hand on a vital spot. But at this moment, he had to pretend not to notice.

"I'll be over in a bit," he said, ending the call.

"Who was that?" Xiao Ruo asked, seizing a topic to prevent the awkwardness from suffocating her.

"Tianhai. He said the reception is starting soon and is rushing me to get there."

The hand combing Xiao Ruo's hair paused slightly, and her voice dropped. "Then you should go quickly. Don't worry about me."

Zhong Yun lifted the lid off the container of congee. A thick, white steam rose, and a fragrant aroma filled the room. "I heard you hadn't eaten anything tonight, so I bought you some porridge."

Xiao Ruo's head hung low; she didn't turn around. "I'm not hungry." As soon as she finished speaking, her stomach let out a loud growl.

Zhong Yun smiled, reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder, and gently turned her upper body toward him. He used a spoon to scoop up a spoonful, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to her lips. "Here."

Xiao Ruo’s lips were tightly pursed. Zhong Yun tried a few times but couldn't manage to feed her. He put on a stern face. "I don't like willful girls."

Xiao Ruo's breath hitched, and her body stiffened abruptly.

"However, beautiful girls like you are an exception," Zhong Yun chuckled softly. "Stop being temperamental and open your mouth."

Two tears slipped from the corners of Xiao Ruo's eyes. Crying, she murmured, "You just like to bully me."