Model

While the others spoke, the club president picked up his cup and took a sip to moisten his throat. The candidate speaking now was one he had high hopes for. The candidate spoke with confidence and poise, and his plans for the club's future were very clear. Growing more satisfied the longer he listened, the club president turned to ask the Student Council president for his opinion.

"You..." The club president's words caught in his throat.

The Student Council president, who had always been strictly business and exceptionally conscientious, had actually let his mind wander.

His gaze rested vaguely on some spot, while a gentle, faint smile played at the corners of his lips.

The club president's expression suddenly turned strange. He had never seen the president look like this before. There was a hint of tenderness, and a hint of... amorous delight.

Could he even say that?

In any case, it was as though the president were immersed in some fantasy of his own, his heart swaying at the images he had conjured up.

Was he imagining something... unspeakable?

The club president gave a soft cough to get his attention.

The light in He Wangsheng's eyes focused again. As if his mind hadn't wandered at all, he even struck up a conversation with the club president. "What he said was good."

He was referring to one of the candidates who had just finished speaking.

The club president said, "..."

No wonder he was the president.

The club president had guessed correctly. He Wangsheng really had been immersed in some fantasy of his own.

He looked toward the bowed head in the back row, a dark glint of determination flashing through his eyes.

Absorbed in his game, Cen Xia had no idea he had been targeted. Right now, Ding Yiheng was playing so badly that Cen Xia's liver hurt.

"Can't you just behave yourself and play support?" Cen Xia cursed him under his breath.

"I dream of carrying too!" Ding Yiheng sniffled as he looked at his negative score, feeling terribly wronged. "I'll pick support next round."

The meeting ended, and so did their game.

A huge "Defeat" popped up on the screen. Cen Xia stood up and walked away expressionlessly, with Ding Yiheng chasing after him.

"Cen Xia, Brother Cen, Xiaxia... listen to me explain!"

"I'll definitely follow orders next time. Please forgive me..."

Cen Xia walked with his head down, ignoring him.

Behind him, Ding Yiheng kept calling out to him in a sickening voice. "Xiaxia, Xiaxiaxiaxia..."

Cen Xia quickened his pace, but just as he was one step from the door, someone stopped him again.

He had been stopped three times today: once by Shen Zhong, once by a senior, and once by He Wangsheng.

Had he triggered some event today that prevented him from getting out the door in one go?

"Is there something you need, President?" he asked, bewildered.

He Wangsheng had an excellent reputation at school. Not only did he handle matters efficiently and thoroughly and always treat people with such warmth and consideration that they felt bathed in a spring breeze, but he was also blessed with an exceptionally handsome face. His features were delicate and soft, without a trace of aggression.

With looks and character like his, nothing he did ever failed.

He was confident that no one would refuse his request.

But-

The ordinary-looking young man before him first froze, then his expression grew subtle, as though he couldn't understand why He Wangsheng would make such a request. After that, he shook his head and politely refused.

"Sorry, President, I can't be your model."

A crack appeared in the mask he always wore so perfectly, and the smile froze at the corners of his lips.

"Why? I can pay you, or is there something you want? I can exchange it with you..." He heard himself ask.

How could you still not be tempted by an offer like that?

But the young man remained firm. "No, I simply don't want to do it."

Was he kidding? Why should he pose as a nude model for He Wangsheng?

He would have to be crazy to do that.

Cen Xia grumbled inwardly, but outwardly he expressed his refusal to He Wangsheng with perfect politeness.

He Wangsheng's mask mended itself. He smiled with some regret and didn't press the matter.

"All right, I respect your decision."

The moment he turned around, where no one could see him, his smile vanished, and the depths of his eyes were like spilled ink.

Ding Yiheng only dared step forward once he saw He Wangsheng leave.

"Damn, what did the president say to you?"

Cen Xia's expression twisted. "He said he wanted to ask me to be his nude model."

"..."

Ding Yiheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "The kind where you take your clothes off?"

Cen Xia didn't want to answer that question. "I refused."

"I heard the president's paintings are really famous. If you actually became his nude model, wouldn't you end up in an art museum someday? Would that count as leaving your name in history?" Ding Yiheng's train of thought jumped.

"...I don't really want to leave that kind of name behind."

By mid-October, the weather had begun to cool, and the evening wind already carried a piercing chill. Ding Yiheng hadn't worn a coat, and he shivered from the cold as soon as he stepped outside.

The gust reminded him of something.

"Oh, right, Shen Si is back at school."

That beautiful face appeared in Cen Xia's mind.

"Shen Si is pretty good-looking," he said.

Shen Si had a feminine face, with delicate brows and eyes. By Cen Xia's standards, he preferred Shen Si's looks to Lin Jiandu's.

Ding Yiheng looked at him as if he were crazy. "Do you have a death wish? Shen Si hates it most when people say he looks like a woman!"

"Isn't that a compliment? Besides, I didn't say it to his face."

"You still shouldn't say it. What if someone hears and tells Shen Si?" Ding Yiheng said in a low voice. "We're not much better off than the specially admitted students. We have to be really, really careful."

Changing the subject, he asked, "Speaking of Shen Si, didn't you add Shen Zhong as a friend?"

Cen Xia was puzzled. "What does adding Shen Zhong have to do with Shen Si?"

"You don't know? Shen Si is Shen Zhong's older brother."

"What?" Cen Xia froze. Then he thought back carefully and suddenly realized that seemed to be true. Shen Zhong was the second young master of the Shen Family in the second book, and Shen Si was the eldest young master of the Shen Family in the first. Didn't that make them brothers?

Shen Si's face appeared in his mind, then Shen Zhong's.

"Those two don't look alike at all." They had the same father, yet they looked completely different. That was rather remarkable.

"That's all beside the point." Ding Yiheng waved a hand. "The most important thing now is-we need to eat."

After eating, they each returned to their own dorms because Shi Su had tipped them off in the group chat that there would be a dorm inspection that night.

It wasn't their first inspection, so everyone knew the drill. Cen Xia went back to his dorm and took a shower. At around nine, someone knocked on the dorm door.

The people conducting the inspection had arrived.

Cen Xia had prepared himself for four or five pairs of eyes to be staring at him when he opened the door, but to his surprise, there was only one person outside.

When he met those gentle, affectionate eyes, Cen Xia was dazed for a moment. He felt as if he were about to drown in them.

He quickly came to his senses, and only one thought remained in his mind. Is the Student Council that short-handed? Even the president has to inspect dorms in person?

He Wangsheng was very polite. "May I come in?"

"Sure." Cen Xia stepped aside.

Just like the Student Council members who had conducted the last inspection, He Wangsheng looked around. The only difference was that he asked for Cen Xia's permission before entering the bedroom.

"Sure." Cen Xia put on a fake smile.

If I said no, would you stay out?

What a phony!