Wen Ce thought he must really be in love.

Wen Ce's gaze fell on the slender fingers she rested lightly on the leave slip.

Her fingertips had turned slightly white from the pressure, but there was a little pink around her nails.

Luo Lianqing had beautiful hands, her fingers slender, fair, and soft-the kind of hand that made people want to hold it at first sight.

Wen Ce suddenly chuckled. "Senior, you're so cold. You didn't reply on WeChat, and the first thing you did when I got here was make me fill out a leave slip."

Luo Lianqing suddenly froze as she watched him smile. His smile seemed to brighten her somewhat gloomy mood.

Her fingers shifted, tugging at the leave slip to pull it back. "Then write it later. You were the one who said you needed to fill it out..."

Her voice was very soft.

Wen Ce suddenly reached out and pinned down the little leave slip. As though by accident, his palm gently pressed against her fingertips.

Perhaps it was simply the natural difference in body temperature between men and women, but his palm was much warmer than Luo Lianqing's fingertips.

Wen Ce didn't dare go too far. He quickly eased off after touching her, glanced at her, and pulled the leave slip over. "I still need to fill it out. So, want to go to the supermarket together in a bit? I remember you don't have any classes this afternoon."

Luo Lianqing swiftly withdrew the fingers that had touched Wen Ce. Her fingertips felt as though they had developed a mind of their own, growing hot and burning, so she didn't notice why he knew she had no classes that afternoon. "Okay. Once you finish, I'll pack up and we can go."

Footsteps came from the doorway. Wen Ce smiled, picked up the pen on Luo Lianqing's desk, and began filling out the leave slip.

Luo Lianqing's face began to flush. She felt as though summer had come early that year; even the weather was starting to get hot.

She lowered her eyes to the fingertips he had just touched, couldn't resist reaching over to touch them herself, then gently rested them over her heart. Her heart was beating very fast now.

When she looked up at Wen Ce, his eyes were lowered as he filled out the leave slip. Their hands had just touched, too. Only now did it feel real to Luo Lianqing: Wen Ce really was back.

Two teachers walked into the office together. Seeing Luo Lianqing and Wen Ce, they smiled and called out, "Teacher Luo."

Luo Lianqing withdrew her gaze and turned to greet the two teachers with a smile.

Wen Ce's pen paused as he wrote. Maybe everything Zhao Li had said was just so much hot air.

He had certainly felt Luo Lianqing's gaze resting on him all that time.

Wen Ce thought he needed to ask Zhou Chi what he had meant. Forget Zhao Li.

Although the guy had one pitiful bit of dating experience, it seemed to have been quite a failure.

He might as well go to Zhou Chi, who looked like a playboy through and through.

The guy wasn't much, but at least he was probably of some use when it came to relationships.

Wen Ce left first after finishing the leave slip.

After all, there were other teachers in the office. Standing there the whole time waiting wouldn't have been quite appropriate.

Wen Ce stood beside the large tree beneath the teaching building and glanced up toward the fourth floor.

On his phone was the message he had sent Luo Lianqing, telling her he was waiting downstairs.

Just then, Zhou Chi sent two reaction images.

Get flying for your daddy.jpg

Wen Ce felt that Zhou Chi didn't look particularly bright either. He didn't understand. Their university was at least a key university, so why did every one of them seem so dim?

But since he had something to ask, Wen Ce showed a rare bit of patience and replied, [What did you mean by what you said in the classroom?]

[I meant exactly what I said. Seriously, Wen Ce? You need me to repeat it again? So are you playing in the tournament or not?!]

Wen Ce replied expressionlessly, [No.]

His fingertips paused, then he sent another message. [Why did you say Teacher Luo likes me?]

"Seriously? You're still calling her Teacher? Is this some special kink you two have? Didn't know you had it in you, you little rascal. Isn't it obvious at a glance? Fuck, Beard! That's my milk tea!" Zhou Chi sent a voice message directly, with quite a racket in the background.

Wen Ce frowned. He didn't really want other people to know about his relationship with Luo Lianqing. If people found out and discussed it, it would definitely affect her.

He breathed out and sent Zhou Chi a message. [Don't go blabbing about it. I'll talk to you when you have time.]

This time, Zhou Chi replied quickly too. [I have time. I'm not blabbing. I can type, okay?]

The guy had probably done plenty of flirting; he typed incredibly fast. [Anyone with eyes can see there's something going on between you two. Wen Ce, you like Luo Lianqing, don't you? We're both guys, and I have tons of relationship experience. You definitely like her. Don't even try to fool me.]

Wen Ce looked at that line of text, somewhat hesitant. He wasn't particularly close to Zhou Chi, and had even suspected he was an idiot just two minutes ago. Was he really going to admit it to him?

Without waiting for him to admit it, Zhou Chi sent another message. [I went to see Luo Lianqing again just a few days ago. I wanted to ask her out, but she didn't deny liking you then. So anyway, you two like each other, and I gave up. So are you playing basketball or not!!!!!]

Wen Ce ignored the last sentence entirely, his gaze stopping on the words "she didn't deny liking you then."

So it really hadn't been his imagination. Luo Lianqing did treat him differently.

[How do you confirm whether a girl likes you? Wouldn't asking her directly be a bad idea?]

Zhou Chi, drinking milk tea by the school gates as he waited for a reply: ????

The guy opposite him watched him stare straight at his phone, his hands never stopping as he typed. "What's up, Chi? Flirting?"

Zhou Chi gritted his teeth. "No. Looking at a fucking idiot!"

[Are you serious? Have you never dated before? Come on, are you playing basketball or not! Answer me first!]

Wen Ce pressed his lips together and replied, [I'm really not playing. Don't you have to take photos and put out some news release when you collect the prize for that thing? I'm not playing, so answer my question above.]

"What the fuck?!" Zhou Chi was so annoyed he laughed. That basketball tournament was something a few companies had invested in to create a talking point and drum up some news coverage in the first place.

The champions would definitely make the news.

But wasn't Wen Ce way too cocky? He hadn't even played yet, and he was already thinking about winning the championship.

Yet, unexpectedly, Zhou Chi really admired him. He felt the guy was genuinely interesting.

How had he never noticed before?

He replied, [Never dated before, huh? I can teach you. I'm a professional, a master!]

Wen Ce grew a little irritated at all his babbling without getting to the point, and simply replied with a period.

Sure enough, Zhou Chi looked unreliable. He should never have counted on him.

Just then, Luo Lianqing came out of the stairwell. Seeing her reminded him of what Zhou Chi had said, and his mood improved even more.

In the end, he didn't block Zhou Chi. By comparison, what he said was much more pleasing to the ear than Zhao Li's words.

"Have you been waiting long? Teacher Wu stopped me to talk just now." Luo Lianqing quickened her pace for a couple of steps, stopped in front of Wen Ce, and looked up at him.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves onto her face. At that moment, in Wen Ce's eyes, Luo Lianqing was glowing.

Wen Ce thought he must really be in love.