"Yes!" Xu Suiran, completely oblivious to the strange atmosphere, enthusiastically recommended it to Yuan Su. "Yu's essay is so moving. She says the puppy wasn't round at all, and he was really fierce. He even growled at her when she gave him a steamed bun."
Pu Yu bit her lip and closed her eyes in despair.
It was over.
She was dead.
Yuan Su raised an eyebrow, stood up, and walked over.
He still wore his work clothes, faintly scented with machine oil. Tall and straight-backed, he carried an imposing presence that was impossible to ignore.
"Give it to me."
He came to the desk and reached for the newspaper.
"Don't...!"
Almost reflexively, Pu Yu lunged forward to cover it.
But Yuan Su was faster. With a flick of his long fingers, the newspaper fluttered into his hand.
Pu Yu caught nothing and could only watch helplessly as he lifted the paper and turned his gaze to the essay.
Time seemed to freeze.
Every second stretched unbearably long.
Yuan Su read slowly.
His gaze swept over the words: "skin and bones," "grimy armor," "baring his teeth," "an awkward little puppy"...
His fingers tightened slightly around the newspaper.
He raised his eyes to Pu Yu.
Pu Yu ducked her head, practically trying to shrink into her chair, her face as red as a ripe tomato.
Help...
Someone, please save her...
Seeing her look as though she wanted the ground to swallow her whole, Yuan Su's lips curved almost imperceptibly.
But he said nothing. He merely folded the newspaper and actually tucked it into his own pocket.
"Huh?" Xu Suiran blinked. "That's my news-"
"I'm keeping it," Yuan Su said evenly. "I'll get you a new one later."
"But..."
Xu Suiran looked from Yuan Su to Pu Yu, who seemed to have