Ning Zhuochuan: …doesn’t feel romantic at all…

“And then, you said you asked his name, asked what he does,” Old Xiong seemed to be lost in memories of the past, continuing with a delighted expression, “and at first he didn’t tell you. It was only when you saw the luggage tag on his suitcase with the words ‘Luocheng University Business School’ that you investigated on your own!”

Alright, Ning Zhuochuan thought speechlessly, it seems like I really did fall for this guy named Cheng Xi at first sight. Otherwise, why would any normal person spend so much time investigating a stranger they only met once on a high-speed train?

“Haha, that’s nice.” Ning Zhuochuan chuckled awkwardly and then casually changed the subject to company matters.

According to Old Xiong, based on Ning Zhuochuan’s previous investigation, Luocheng University Business School is located in the western university town of Luocheng City. It’s a campus built in the past two years, with lax management, allowing social vehicles and personnel to enter.

“President Ning, I investigated in advance as per your instructions,” Old Xiong said as the car entered the campus, skillfully navigating around, “Cheng Xi’s dormitory is in East Third Building, so we’re heading there now.”

“…” Ning Zhuochuan felt that waiting like this was too inefficient, so he couldn’t help but ask, “But if we just wait under her dormitory, we don’t know how long we’ll have to wait. Maybe we should go back first and figure out her daily schedule.”

“No worries, you sent me his photo last time, so we can just watch and wait. His outstanding appearance and height make him stand out among the students. As long as he passes by the dorm entrance, we’ll definitely see him…” Old Xiong said with a chuckle, “And if your information is correct, Cheng Xi should be training with the school basketball team this afternoon. The training ground should be right next to their dormitory basketball court.”

Ning Zhuochuan: …Alright, it seems like I really went to great lengths to come to the school to see Cheng Xi… But if she’s a girl who plays basketball, she should be taller than average…

While Ning Zhuochuan was lost in his thoughts, Old Xiong, driving in the front, suddenly raised his voice in surprise, “Isn’t that the person in the photo!”

“!” Ning Zhuochuan was startled and immediately followed Old Xiong’s gaze out the car window, “Where?”

“On the basketball court!” Old Xiong pointed out the window with one hand, “Look, President Ning, isn’t that the one holding the basketball and going for a layup! Wow, he’s even more handsome in person than in the photo!”

Handsome?

Ning Zhuochuan felt a surge of confusion. He couldn’t understand why Old Xiong would suddenly use the word “handsome” to describe a girl, but despite his confusion, he temporarily suppressed his questions and leaned against the car window to look at the basketball courts where people were playing.

But after looking for a while, Ning Zhuochuan didn’t see any tall girls on the basketball court, so he couldn’t help but ask, “Which one exactly? I don’t see anyone.”

“Come on, it’s this one.” Old Xiong said, having already parked the car steadily on the path next to the basketball court. He rolled down the window and pointed at someone walking towards them, “Look, isn’t that him?”

Ning Zhuochuan, feeling a bit nervous, followed the direction Old Xiong pointed to and saw a tall, leggy guy holding a basketball standing by the court. In his other hand, he held a bottle of mineral water and was drinking it without a care.

His slightly sweaty hair was casually pushed back by his hand, revealing a smooth forehead. This young man looked very young, and his skin was so good that even under the glaring sunlight, there wasn’t a single flaw visible. His eyebrows were neatly black, his eye sockets somewhat defined, and his eyelashes long and curled, casting a long shadow on his cheek under the sunlight.

At this moment, his Adam’s apple was moving up and down with the action of swallowing water, looking inexplicably sexy.

Perhaps sensing someone watching him, the young man glanced sideways towards the road while drinking water, his sharp gaze meeting Ning Zhuochuan’s somewhat bewildered eyes.

The young man’s eyes were narrow and long, with double eyelids that were also narrow and long, and the ends of his eyes slightly tilted upward, giving an indescribable sense of pressure when he looked at people sideways.

Caught in the act of peeking, Ning Zhuochuan, under such a gaze, couldn’t help but feel guilty and quickly looked away, then awkwardly asked Old Xiong in the front seat, “Cheng Xi is a guy?”

“Oh, President Ning, it’s not like it’s a big deal nowadays. Same-sex relationships aren’t that rare anymore.” Old Xiong seemed worldly and unfazed, “Besides, you’re so busy with work every day, you don’t have time to make friends. Now that you finally have a young man you like, everyone in the company is hoping you’ll find someone soon!”

“…” Ning Zhuochuan’s expression gradually became indescribable, but he still politely managed to say, “Thanks.”

“President Ning, you’re joking!” Old Xiong laughed heartily, “You’ve always been so considerate of me, of course I hope your wishes come true! So, do you want to leave the car here, or…?”

Ning Zhuochuan thought for a moment and said, “…Drive to the dormitory entrance, and we’ll wait for him to finish training.”

“Got it!”

After parking the car at the designated spot, Old Xiong sensibly made an excuse to get out and smoke, leaving the car space for Ning Zhuochuan alone.

Ning Zhuochuan rolled down the window, leaned back in the seat, and quietly watched Cheng Xi still training on the basketball court. The more he watched, the more uncomfortable he felt inside.

This kid looks like he’s barely in his early twenties, possibly even ten years younger than me. It’s one thing to be an old cow eating young grass, but this is a male grass! No matter how you think about it, it feels a bit beastly…

Ning Zhuochuan felt hesitant, but thinking about how after being rejected 99 times, he could live the dream life of focusing solely on his career, he figured he could handle being a beast.

So, Ning Zhuochuan took a deep breath, pressed the car lock with one hand, and then leaned over to pick up the large bouquet of roses he had placed beside him, preparing to get out of the car to seek his first rejection since entering this world.

Cheng Xi seemed to have just finished training. He stood by the court, holding a basketball and listening to someone who looked like a coach. After nodding in response, he bid farewell to his classmates on the court and turned to walk towards the dormitory.

Seeing Cheng Xi getting closer and closer, Ning Zhuochuan, who had never had any experience pursuing someone—especially a guy right off the bat—couldn’t help but feel nervous. He took deep breaths and cleared his throat, finally managing to adjust his state by the time Cheng Xi reached him.

“Hello,” Ning Zhuochuan greeted with a smile, “Cheng Xi.”

Cheng Xi, covered in sweat, glanced at Ning Zhuochuan, hesitated for a few seconds before remembering who this man with the extravagant roses was, and then stopped, nodding slightly as a greeting.

“Uh, thanks for the help on the high-speed train last time!” Ning Zhuochuan said with a smile, trying to appear as if he knew Cheng Xi, “I, uh, came here today specifically to thank you.”

Cheng Xi frowned, seemingly not needing Ning Zhuochuan’s thanks. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the bouquet of light purple roses Ning Zhuochuan was holding, and coldly asked, “You saw my luggage tag?”

“?” Ning Zhuochuan recalled what Old Xiong had said earlier about seeing Cheng Xi’s luggage tag with ‘Luocheng University Business School’ written on it and investigating him, so he honestly nodded and admitted, “Uh, yeah, I knew you were studying at this school…”

“But my name and dormitory? You even know I have basketball practice in the afternoon,” Cheng Xi’s expression was unfriendly, “You really did your homework.”

“…” Ning Zhuochuan was at a loss for words because this information wasn’t something he personally investigated. Besides, he wouldn’t have the time to investigate someone he only met once on a train.

But from Cheng Xi’s perspective, it indeed seemed like “he” had meticulously investigated him, so Ning Zhuochuan could only smile and say, “Haha, maybe I did a little… But don’t be mad, I didn’t mean any harm, just wanted to see you again.”

Cheng Xi’s well-defined eyebrows furrowed even tighter, clearly displeased with Ning Zhuochuan’s investigation. He looked at Ning Zhuochuan for a while, then coldly said, “Don’t investigate me again, and don’t show up in front of me.”

With that, he turned around without hesitation, ready to leave Ning Zhuochuan behind.

Ning Zhuochuan stood there awkwardly with the flowers, feeling that Cheng Xi’s words could be interpreted as a “rejection,” but there was a problem: he hadn’t confessed yet, so the phrase “don’t show up in front of me” didn’t quite count as a standard rejection.

Thinking of this, Ning Zhuochuan couldn’t care about much else and quickly took two steps to grab Cheng Xi’s shirt hem.

“Wait, I still have something to say to you!”

Cheng Xi unceremoniously pulled his shirt hem back from Ning Zhuochuan’s grip, then looked at him with impatience, clearly using all his restraint not to walk away immediately.

Ning Zhuochuan nervously swallowed. He had never pursued anyone, let alone confessed, so in this critical moment, his mind went blank, and he couldn’t think of what to say.

Despite having seen countless romantic and touching lines in movies and novels, he couldn’t recall a single word. All he could think of was Old Xiong’s description in the car of how he fell in love with Cheng Xi at first sight.

So, Ning Zhuochuan, not knowing what he was thinking, blurted out to Cheng Xi’s face, filled with impatience and annoyance, “I fell in love with you at first sight, I like you!”