I don't like childhood sweethearts, only you

A low-powered pair of binoculars made the rounds among the guys.

In the end, none of them could find the beauty Luo Wenjie, their second-oldest roommate, had mentioned.

Everyone was sorely disappointed.

"Don't believe anything he says from now on. He's obviously so desperate for pretty girls that everyone looks beautiful to him."

Then Wu Di pointed at the binoculars in Ma Xiaoshuai's hands.

"This thing's pretty good, though. We're confiscating it for communal use. From now on, it belongs to the whole room."

Luo Wenjie still wanted to defend himself.

"There really was a beauty just now. I swear on my little buddy."

"Oh, give it a rest. If your little buddy were any use, you wouldn't still be single."

Chen Fan stayed out of their bickering and casually took the binoculars from Ma Xiaoshuai.

Standing on the balcony, he peered curiously at the dorm building opposite.

Most of the rooms had their curtains drawn, making it impossible to see inside.

It really was quite a feat for Luo Wenjie to have pinpointed a beauty through all those gaps in the curtains.

Chen Fan lowered the binoculars.

He was just about to turn back into the room when his gaze suddenly froze.

He had spotted a familiar figure.

Chen Fan hurriedly raised the binoculars again.

Through them, he saw a lovely figure walking toward them along the road beside the girls' dorm building opposite.

"It's Ruochu!"

"It really is Ruochu!"

Excitement lit up Chen Fan's eyes.

What was Ruochu doing over by the boys' dorms alone?

Was she here to see me?

Chen Fan had no time to speculate. He quickly shoved the binoculars into Ma Xiaoshuai's arms.

"I'm heading out."

"Hey, fourth brother, where are you going? It's almost lights-out."

"I'll be right back!"

With that, Chen Fan rushed out of the dorm building alone.

From a distance, he spotted Su Ruochu standing beneath a streetlight, looking around.

His face brightened, and he was about to run over.

But just then, someone emerged from Dorm Building Ten beside her.

Seeing him, Su Ruochu smiled and waved.

Chen Fan stopped in his tracks, his smile freezing.

As he stared blankly at Su Ruochu chatting happily with that sophomore, his previously steady confidence began to waver.

Just as Chen Fan was growing anxious, Su Ruochu happened to glance his way.

She spotted Chen Fan.

For a moment, she looked distinctly startled, then her face lit up with delight.

She waved vigorously at Chen Fan in excitement.

Now that she had seen him, Chen Fan stopped hesitating and walked over.

Before Chen Fan could speak, Su Ruochu eagerly came toward him, openly slipped her arm through his, and smiled at the other young man.

"Tian Yuan, let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Chen Fan."

"He's in the School of Economics and Management too, in the same major as me."

Chen Fan noticed that Tian Yuan's expression visibly faltered when Su Ruochu finished speaking.

But he quickly covered it up, a faint smile settling on his face.

"So you really do have a boyfriend."

Su Ruochu smiled. "Of course. Why would I lie to you?"

Tian Yuan looked Chen Fan over and offered his hand.

"Tian Yuan. Sophomore, international trade, School of Economics and Management."

"Nice to meet you."

Chen Fan hurriedly greeted him politely.

"Heh, you're one lucky guy. You only just started college, and you've already won her over."

"Even I'm jealous."

Chen Fan smiled. "I just had the advantage of being close by."

Tian Yuan stared at Chen Fan. "If I remember correctly, the freshman boys in your year are staying in Dorm Building Eight, right?"

"That place used to be full of beauties. You'd better keep yourself in check."

Chen Fan glanced at Su Ruochu, then shook his head with a smile.

"That won't be a problem. I only have eyes for her."

Tian Yuan chuckled.

"All right, then. I won't keep you two."

"I live in Building Ten. If anything comes up, you can come find me anytime."

"For Ruochu's sake, I'll help you sort it out."

"Thanks, but there's no need. I can handle things myself."

Tian Yuan gave Chen Fan a meaningful look, then nodded to Su Ruochu.

"I'll be going, then."

Chen Fan watched him turn and leave before looking back at Su Ruochu.

She was grinning, her face still clearly glowing with excitement.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing."

"Really?"

Still holding Chen Fan's arm, Su Ruochu asked with a grin.

"Isn't there anything you want to ask?"

Chen Fan played dumb.

"What should I ask?"

Su Ruochu changed the subject.

"Why didn't you come see me?"

Too embarrassed to admit that he had actually gone looking for her during the day, Chen Fan made up an excuse.

"There's been so much to do since starting college. I was planning to see you tomorrow."

Finally, Su Ruochu could hold back no longer and asked him directly.

"The way you were looking at Tian Yuan just now seemed a little off."

Chen Fan said evenly, "I'm wary of every guy who deliberately tries to get close to you."

Su Ruochu pressed him. "So you don't trust me?"

"That's not it."

Chen Fan shook his head. "It's just... he feels different."

"Different how?"

Seeing that Su Ruochu intended to get to the bottom of this, Chen Fan stopped pretending.

"You treat him differently."

"You looked so happy talking to him just now that I thought you two must be old friends."

Su Ruochu couldn't help laughing.

"So you're jealous?"

"Yes, I'm jealous."

Chen Fan nodded.

Seemingly very satisfied with that answer, Su Ruochu held his arm and explained with a grin.

"You actually got it right. I've known him since we were little."

"Tian Yuan's parents are old friends of mine."

"Our families used to live in the same neighborhood. His family moved away later."

"So I've known him longer than I've known you."

Chen Fan grumbled, putting on a sour tone.

"Childhood sweethearts, huh?"

Su Ruochu dropped another bombshell.

"Our families have been friends for generations. You could say my parents watched him grow up."

"Tian Yuan always did well in school, had good manners, and was tall and handsome. He was the model kid all the adults compared their children to."

Hearing Su Ruochu praise another guy so highly, Chen Fan couldn't help interrupting.

"Your parents don't see him as their future son-in-law, do they?"

To his surprise, Su Ruochu nodded and said very seriously.

"You guessed right again. My mom really did want to set us up this time."

Chen Fan froze, utterly speechless.

"I can tell he doesn't just want to be your childhood friend."

"He likes you."

When Su Ruochu remained silent, Chen Fan couldn't hold back.

"Do you... like him?"

As though she had seen right through Chen Fan's embarrassment and nervousness.

The corners of Su Ruochu's lips lifted despite herself.

She sighed.

"Tian Yuan really is a great guy. He'd make a good boyfriend. But..."

"What could I do? Someone pursued me so shamelessly and persistently that I softened and said yes."

Seeing the smile gradually spreading across Chen Fan's face, Su Ruochu finally said with a smile.

"I don't like childhood sweethearts. I only like you."

"Are you satisfied now?"

Chen Fan reached out, gently took her pointed chin between his fingers, and tilted it up.

"Woman, you have excellent taste."