Chapter 5: In This Lifetime, I Really Hope to Date Teng Yi
The school anniversary gala lasted two hours, but even after it ended, no performance surpassed the opening street dance act in popularity. Naturally, no one outshone Teng Yi either.
As the crowd dispersed, Ruan Yu and Jian Xiangxiang slowly made their way out of the auditorium. Coincidentally, Teng Yi and his group were walking just ahead of them.
Five boys, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, their red outfits blending together like a moving flame.
"Zhou Xihe!" Jian Xiangxiang suddenly called out beside her.
The shout made many turn their heads, including Teng Yi at the front. Perhaps due to the angle, his first glance happened to land on Ruan Yu—though only for a fleeting moment before he turned back, continuing to chat and laugh with his friends.
Zhou Xihe raised a hand in greeting to Jian Xiangxiang.
"We’re grabbing late-night snacks. Wanna come?" Zhou Xihe asked.
Jian Xiangxiang nodded eagerly. She took a couple of steps toward him before suddenly remembering Ruan Yu was still beside her.
"Ruan Ruan, are you coming?"
"No, you guys go ahead."
The answer didn’t surprise Jian Xiangxiang. Ruan Yu never joined these kinds of crowded gatherings—she had been like this since the start of university. While others busied themselves socializing and exploring the food spots around campus with new friends, Ruan Yu remained solitary, shuttling between the cafeteria and the library, immersed in her own world.
This peculiar aloofness made her an outlier in class and the dorm. Many whispered behind her back, claiming she acted superior and standoffish because of her good grades. But as time passed, the cliques of so-called "best friends" began fracturing over petty conflicts—who skipped paying for a meal once, who said something snide in the group chat. The little boats of friendship inexplicably capsized, and secrets once shared turned into knives, cutting into sensitive, fragile hearts. It dawned on everyone that eating and drinking together couldn’t forge real friendships in college, and compared to two-faced, hypocritical friends, someone like Ruan Yu was far safer.
People began accepting Ruan Yu’s differences, trying to see her without prejudice. And then they realized—Ruan Yu was just a bit reserved by nature, but she was genuinely kind. Every midterm and finals season, half the class would flock to her for help, and she never hesitated, generously sharing all her notes without holding back.
Gradually, Ruan Yu gained many willing companions, yet she remained solitary. She avoided making enemies but rarely formed deep bonds either.
Jian Xiangxiang, by virtue of being her roommate, had gotten closer to Ruan Yu than most. The more she learned, the more she admired her.
Ruan Yu was truly a cool person.
Of course, her coolness wasn’t in her aloofness but in how clearly she knew where her time should be spent. On her, there was no trace of youthful confusion—only unwavering drive and clear goals...
"Alright, I’ll head off then," Jian Xiangxiang said, waving at Ruan Yu.
Ruan Yu nodded.
Once outside the auditorium, the crowd scattered.
The red lanterns across campus glowed brightly, the festive atmosphere thickening in the night.Ruan Yu walked silently toward the dormitory building, accompanied by many other girls along the way. They were all discussing Teng Yi, his street dance club, and those last few dazzling Breaking moves of his.
"Ah, I wish I could date Teng Yi in this lifetime!" someone suddenly exclaimed.
"The dorm is almost here. Lie down and you can make that wish come true," another voice quipped back.
Amid the playful laughter along the path, Ruan Yu lowered her head in the cover of darkness, the corners of her lips curling into a silent smile.
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