Chapter 10: Senior

“Hey pretty girls, any plans this weekend? Ye Lin and I want to treat everyone to a meal. Let’s get both dorms together. We’re all classmates, and it’d be nice to get to know each other better!” Ling Fei announced happily, raising her voice in excitement.

“Aww, sounds like you two are getting ready to meet the ‘in-laws’!” Hui Qian teased playfully.

Sheng Han and Tian Yu chimed in with laughter, “Of course we’re going! We’ll clear our schedules if we have to—this is Ye Lin’s chance to bribe us properly. We’ve got our eyes on you!”

The four girls laughed and joked around, making the dorm lively and full of energy.

The weekend arrived quickly. The girls woke up early and, with Tian Yu’s help, took their time getting dressed up before heading out together.

Downstairs at the girls’ dormitory, four boys were already waiting. Since they were all from the same major, no introductions were needed—except for one unfamiliar face that caught the girls’ attention.

“This is Senior Hao Yu, also from our department. He’s a fourth-year, graduating in two months. He just moved into our dorm,” Ye Lin introduced him seriously, as if a kid earnestly introducing his friend to his parents. Sheng Han, Tian Yu, and Hui Qian couldn’t help but laugh. Ling Fei rolled her eyes at them, but Ye Lin didn’t get why.

The day’s outing with the two dorms went smoothly. At dinner, everyone sat around a big round table. The atmosphere was warm and lively.

But Sheng Han kept feeling a deep, lingering gaze aimed at her from across the table. It made her uncomfortable. She looked up—and her eyes met with Senior Hao Yu’s. Startled, she quickly looked away, not daring to glance up again. The whole dinner, she felt trapped in an invisible, awkward tension that left her feeling suffocated and uneasy.

After dinner, someone suggested going to the ancient city in Migu for a bonfire party. Everyone agreed. Ye Lin and Ling Fei, practically glued together like superglue, wanted a romantic moment and rode off on a shared bike ahead of the group.

That left an awkward problem—there were now too many people for a single car. Sheng Han, who had wanted some alone time to call Xiu Jie, suggested taking the bus instead.

At that moment, Senior Hao Yu—who had barely spoken much—volunteered, “I’ll go with you. You girls are still new to the school and probably haven’t been to a bonfire party here. I know the place well. I’ll ride the bus with you and show you the way.”

Before Sheng Han could reply, the others all agreed enthusiastically and hopped into a taxi, leaving her behind with Hao Yu.

Watching the taxi drive off, Sheng Han sighed and muttered, “Traitorous girls!”

On the way there, Hao Yu kept asking her questions, chatting idly. Little by little, Sheng Han let her guard down. The atmosphere gradually warmed up.

When they arrived, the others were already dancing around the bonfire, hand in hand. Seeing Sheng Han and Hao Yu, they waved for them to join in.

Before she could react, Hao Yu grabbed her hand and pulled her into the circle without asking. It was the first time Sheng Han had ever held hands with a guy other than Xiu Jie, and it made her extremely uncomfortable. She instinctively wanted to pull away and leave the crowd, but Hao Yu on one side and Ling Fei on the other were holding her tight—she couldn’t break free.

Once it finally ended, Sheng Han quickly pulled her hand back and stepped aside. Ling Fei, watching the whole thing from nearby, covered her mouth and giggled nonstop.

Back at the dorm, Ling Fei asked tentatively, “Sheng Han, what do you think of Senior Hao Yu?”

Sheng Han looked confused, unsure why Ling Fei was suddenly asking such a question. Seeing her puzzled expression, Ling Fei finally spilled the truth.

Turns out, the so-called two-dorm group outing had been a disguised setup—planned entirely by Ling Fei—with the goal of pairing Sheng Han with Hao Yu. Tian Yu and Hui Qian had known all along. No wonder Sheng Han had felt like everyone was acting strange that day—they had all been trying to create moments for the two of them to be alone together.

Upon hearing the truth, Sheng Han felt like she’d just been casually sold off by her closest friends. Here in a faraway place, Tian Yu, Ling Fei, and Hui Qian were supposed to be her closest allies.

Suppressing her anger, Sheng Han forced herself to stay calm and said, “Ling Fei, I have a boyfriend. You all know that! Besides, Senior Hao Yu is in his fourth year—he’s graduating and leaving in just two months. Can you all stop messing around? This prank isn’t funny at all. Not even a little.”

“So what?” Ling Fei shrugged. “Your boyfriend is so far away—you can’t see or touch him. You need someone here to take care of you. Besides, youth is meant to be spent freely! What’s wrong with just dating casually for fun? You and Hao Yu—one single, one unattached—what’s the big deal?”

Hearing this, Sheng Han felt completely unable to agree with Ling Fei’s values. It was beyond reasoning. She didn’t want to argue anymore. Word by word, she replied:

“I have a boyfriend. Please respect me—and respect Hao Yu.”

Then she climbed into bed and went to sleep.

“Tch—what a white lotus act,” Ling Fei muttered with disdain. Tian Yu and Hui Qian, shocked by the argument, sat frozen at their desks, not daring to say a word.

In the days that followed, Sheng Han and Ling Fei remained in a cold war. The atmosphere in the dorm was tense, making Tian Yu and Hui Qian feel uncomfortable every single day. After thinking it over, they decided to help ease the tension.

After school one day, they dragged both Sheng Han and Ling Fei out for barbecue. Considering that they’d be living together in close quarters for four years of college, it was better not to let things get too awkward. It had been long enough—time to move on.

Sheng Han, softhearted, agreed to let it go and joined them. Ling Fei, being the carefree girl she was, couldn’t insist on staying mad once Sheng Han backed down.

“I’m bringing Ye Lin,” she said, then called him.

Sometimes, things start out so small—like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings—and spiral into a chain of events that grow more and more out of control.

Going to that dinner was the worst decision Sheng Han ever made.