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Wu Zhengyuan smiled warmly, “My grandmother often mentions you all and wishes to see you, but there hasn’t been a chance. She’s at home these days, spending time maintaining order with the old ladies in the neighborhood.”
As Wang Qian adjusted her glasses back on the stone bench, Wu Zhengyuan noticed how the little elf before him instantly transformed into a charming young lady. Her small face was now partially obscured by the glasses, giving her a different, appealing look. He felt a sense of pride, knowing he was the only one to witness this side of the young girl, a side perhaps unseen by the boys at school.
“Zhengyuan, you haven’t explored our school yet, have you? As the host, let me show you around. It’s good to see it now; after graduation, you might not have the chance,” Wang Qian suggested.
Eager to spend more time with Wang Qian, Wu Zhengyuan found himself unexpectedly drawn to her. Although unsure of the reason, he enjoyed being in her company, feeling a sense of attraction towards the young girl.
“Well then, I am fortunate to have you as my guide and host,” Wu Zhengyuan said, making a gentlemanly gesture. Wang Qian led the way with a smile, and as they walked and talked, any initial feelings of unfamiliarity seemed to vanish. Wu Zhengyuan’s wit and humor made their conversation enjoyable, and Wang Qian found chatting with him quite pleasant.
After touring their campus, Wu Zhengyuan reluctantly bid farewell to Wang Qian, “Qianqian, next time you have time, visit our school. I’ll treat you to a meal in our cafeteria so you can it compare with yours. I need to head back now. I’ll come see you again soon.”
Not wanting to linger too long and risk coming off as overly talkative, Wu Zhengyuan took his leave in a timely manner, feeling they had conversed enough.
Wang Qian didn’t insist on him staying either. There would be more chances to meet in the future, and she had a positive impression of him, considering him a potential friend.
Seeing Wu Zhengyuan off, she returned to the dorm with her books, knowing it was almost time for dinner. Upon entering, Wei Yuanfang, being curious, greeted her with a smile.
“Qianqian, who was that guy you were with this afternoon? You two seemed to be having a lively chat,” Wei Yuanfang inquired, having noticed Wu Zhengyuan coming from the left side more than once. Despite not gathering any useful information, she found him attractive and suspected he had a notable background.
Wang Qian, with a smile, replied to Wei Yuanfang’s question, “Sister Wei, he’s a friend of my brother’s who came to see me at my brother’s request. As for anything else, I truly have no idea. I’ll find out and let you know later.”
She noticed that fleeting hint of calculation in the other’s eyes—boldly attempting to shift the focus onto herself. Whether she had the capability to carry out her intentions was another matter entirely. While she was well aware of Wu Zhengyuan’s relationship with the Zuo family, she chose to remain silent, leaving others to speculate. She didn’t want to be the subject of this girl’s attention, considering the unsavory nature of the person in question. While she wouldn’t mind introducing them if she were genuinely benevolent, she couldn’t vouch for this individual. Dong Xuan wasn’t suitable either, as both harbored ulterior motives that didn’t align with the boys around them.
Rebuffed by the dismissive response, Wei Yuanfang felt a bit embarrassed. She had prompted Wang Qian similarly before but couldn’t find fault with her answer. If someone claimed not to know, it wouldn’t be right to press further. Even if she persisted, she didn’t believe the young girl before her could provide a satisfactory response. After spending time together, Wei Yuanfang understood that this young girl was not as innocent as she appeared.
Glancing at Wei Yuanfang with a hint of schadenfreude, Dong Xuan suggested, “Well, it’s getting late. Let’s all go eat.”
Ignoring the situation, Li Tiange grabbed Wang Qian and left the room with the meal tray. “Qianqian, don’t mind her. She always has to interfere whenever someone new arrives. It’s annoying every time she asks. I get irritated just listening to her. Pay attention to those around you in the future and make sure this person doesn’t bother you. Once she latches on, it becomes a problem.”
Li Tiange understood the complexities within the minds of the two in the dorm. They were burdened with too much. Although Zuo He came to pick her up each time, the two individuals’ admiration for him only grew stronger. However, to Zuo He, they were just acquaintances with no real connection. Let them look all they want; he wouldn’t pay them any mind.
Dealing with issues back at his grandmother’s place with Wei Hong proved to be a bit of a headache for Zuo He. The young girl would often come to find him when he was around, but now that he stayed in the Wang family’s residence, it was more convenient. During weekends, Hao Lianchun and Zuo Zhanshan would gather there, and it didn’t seem to pose any inconvenience.
Winter had arrived, and in a few days, it would be the New Year’s Eve party for Wang Qian’s class. Dong Xuan, serving as the entertainment committee member, surprisingly declared that each person should bring a dance partner that day. The reason given was the scarcity of male students in their class, and they planned to have a dance party for New Year’s as a form of entertainment.
This decision sparked discussions even among the dormitory residents.
“What kind of absurd idea is this? We’re from out of town. Where are we supposed to find dance partners? Isn’t this unfair?”
“Yeah, we don’t know any other guys. Are we supposed to grab someone randomly off the street?”
Li Tiange nonchalantly remarked, “Who cares? We can just sit back and watch them dance. It’s not a big deal. Let’s enjoy some sunflower seeds and admire their dance moves. Don’t worry too much, everyone agreed on it. Bring who you want. As for me, I don’t have a dance partner.”
Wang Qian lay on her bed with narrowed eyes, contemplating Dong Xuan’s idea. She had noticed the how she looked at Zuo He every time he visited. Considering this move, it seemed like Dong Xuan had a specific target in mind. Uninterested in dancing and lacking a partner at her age was normal, and she had no intention of bringing any of the guys from home. Making up her mind, she picked up her book to study while Li Tiange glanced down from the top bunk, noticing Wang Qian’s indifferent expression as she read.
“Girl, you should be on our team. Leave those ‘brothers’ of yours out of this,” Li Tiange instructed.
Wang Qian nodded with a smile, “Sister Tiange, at my age, I shouldn’t be dancing. It would be a disservice to this country’s flower. Rest assured, I’m with you all.”
Dong Xuan and Wei Yuanfang returned from their errands. One was the lifestyle committee member, and the other was in charge of entertainment, so they were both quite busy with preparations for the New Year’s Eve party.
“Hey, everyone, have you all confirmed your dance partners? Qianqian, make sure to bring Zuo He. I’ve already mentioned it. You’ll be bringing the handsome guy for everyone to admire. Don’t disappoint us,” Dong Xuan urged.
Hearing Dong Xuan’s tone, Wang Qian felt like giving her a slap. Zuo He wasn’t some zoo animal to be put on display. If they wanted to admire him, they could, but she wasn’t going to play along with this nonsense.
Feigning surprise, she responded, “Oh, Dong Xuan, you should have told me earlier. My brother and his military schoolmates have been deployed, so they probably won’t be able to make it back anytime soon. Apologies for any disappointment, but I’m sure the dance partner you bring will satisfy everyone’s expectations.”
Dong Xuan was taken aback by Wang Qian’s unexpected response. She had initially thought the young girl might be swayed by a bit of vanity, hoping to leverage this to invite Zuo He. However, it seemed this young lady wasn’t easily persuaded.
Wei Yuanfang chimed in to help defuse the situation, “Qianqian, if Zuo He can’t make it, perhaps Wu Zhengyuan can. I heard their New Year’s Eve party is a day earlier. So, inviting him should be no problem.”
As requests kept coming for Wang Qian to bring a handsome guy to the event, she grew increasingly annoyed. When Wu Zhengyuan visited her recently, with his fair skin now restored, even Wang Qian couldn’t help but admire his good looks. Surprisingly, Wei Yuanfang was still fixated on this matter.
Though inwardly displeased, Wang Qian’s smile appeared even more genuine. “Sister Wei, I’m sorry, but I doubt Zhengyuan can make it. Last I heard, his grandmother was coming, and he needed to accompany her to visit relatives. I really can’t persuade him. It’s just not possible.”
She simply couldn’t accommodate their wishes. She decided it was best not to involve someone like Wu Zhengyuan in this situation. Handling these two like wolves, she didn’t want to intimidate him. Even though she didn’t think Wu Zhengyuan would be scared off by them, she preferred to avoid the trouble.
After being rejected twice, Wei Yuanfang grew frustrated. “Wang Qian, it seems you’re not supporting our work. We’re here to serve everyone. If even you’re not cooperating, how are we supposed to proceed with our work in the future?”
Facing Wei Yuanfang’s sudden outburst, Wang Qian’s gaze sharpened. “Wei Yuanfang, you assigned me to bring these two people. If they can’t come due to reasons beyond their control, am I not supporting your work? It’s ridiculous. I’ve never heard of having dance partners assigned to me. You may have your thoughts, but at my age, you should understand. For a young girl like me to bring dance partners, isn’t it unreasonable? Do you think a teenager should focus on dancing instead of studying…?”
This time, Wang Qian wasn’t tolerating their behavior. She made it clear that she wouldn’t stand for it.