The next day, Cen Jin once again slept until noon.
After emerging from her bedroom, she found the house empty of anyone else. Only the untouched, aromatic two dishes and one soup on the dining table served as a reminder that Li Wu had returned last night.
She opened WeChat, where their conversation still lingered on her message urging him to come home.
It seemed her smooth talking last night hadn't managed to brush him off. He was still sulking, yet cunningly left a meal behind, as if afraid of crossing a line and accidentally driving her away.
Standing by the table, Cen Jin smiled faintly and sent him a message.
First: Big sister is awake.
No response from the other side.
Then: Big sister is eating.
Still no reaction.
Cen Jin had no choice but to deploy her ultimate double-entendre tactic: Did little brother cook this meal with some attitude? It's not nearly as tasty as little brother himself.
Finally, he had nowhere to hide: …
Cen Jin's tone turned cold: What's with the ellipsis? Think you're some big shot now? You didn't even tell me you went back to campus.
Li Wu replied: Didn't want to disturb your work or rest.
His awkward stubbornness made her both annoyed and amused: Well, thank you. Must be thrilling to run off right after having your fun.
Li Wu: I'm in the lab.
Cen Jin was unfazed: And?
Li Wu: Stop talking.
The shyer he got, the more excited she became to tease him: I'll say whatever I want. Mwah mwah mwah.
Li Wu: …
He threatened her: Don't go too far.
Cen Jin proceeded to flood the screen with "mwah mwah mwah," running wild.
Sitting on his stool, Li Wu's mind was filled with those unbearable, unimaginable scenes from last night—him helplessly propped on the sofa. His ears flushed bright red.
He stopped engaging further and hastily typed, "I need to record data," before closing WeChat.
Li Wu took a deep breath, stood up, cleared his mind, and focused on the experiment.
Across the instrument, Xu Shuo hadn't noticed anything unusual and merely said, "How many times is this now? Looks like it's not reproducible."
Chen Shuyang walked over: "Did you think good data grows on trees? Take a break, we'll continue this afternoon. Let's eat first."
The three guys walked side by side downstairs toward the cafeteria. Suddenly remembering something, Xu Shuo glanced at Li Wu: "Our department's Halloween dance is next week. You coming?"
Li Wu, being somewhat solitary by nature, usually avoided such events: "Not going."
"Oh—" Xu Shuo put on a mischievous face: "Gotta go back to serve your big sister in bed?"
Li Wu shoved his hands in his pockets, his voice turning colder: "Cut it out, will you?"
Xu Shuo stopped teasing him and continued persuading: "But Zhong and Wen are both going. It wouldn't be right if our dorm's missing just you. Plus, you need to bring a date—perfect chance to invite your girlfriend. Still not willing to introduce her to us?"
That last sentence stirred something in Li Wu's chest. He pondered for a few seconds, his expression unchanged: "She's busy with work. I'll ask and see."
Back in his dorm that evening, he sent Cen Jin a message: Are you busy right now?
The woman replied: Not really.
Li Wu deliberated over his wording for a while but ultimately decided to be direct: There's a Halloween dance in our department next Saturday night. Do you want to come?
Cen Jin had participated in similar events during her college days and understood immediately: Want to invite me as your date?
Li Wu: Mm.
Cen Jin checked her schedule: Should be free.
Li Wu repeated: Should?
Cen Jin: Yes, should.
Afraid of pressuring her, Li Wu said: Then I won't go either.Cen Jin had no way to deal with him: "How about over 80% possibility?"
Li Wu curled his lips: "Alright."
The chat box fell silent for a moment before Cen Jin sent a heartfelt message: "Don’t give up enjoying the beautiful moments of your student life just because I’m not involved. Besides love, there are many bright spots in your life worth pursuing and chasing."
Li Wu understood perfectly well, but he had little interest in such group activities to begin with. Asking Cen Jin was mainly to test her attitude.
The events of last night had awakened him somewhat, and he felt a growing dissatisfaction with his caged-bird-like relationship situation. So why not turn passivity into initiative and see if she was willing to step into his world and make it public?
Her lack of resistance showed she wasn’t avoiding it—her attitude was open, and she didn’t see their relationship as something to hide.
Li Wu was overjoyed and pestered Cen Jin for another half hour before finally putting down his phone, satisfied, and picking up his textbook.
—
For an entire week, Cen Jin meticulously arranged her schedule, making sure she could squeeze out Saturday evening to fulfill her college student’s wish.
At four in the afternoon that day, Cen Jin returned home early, pulled up the Corpse Bride-inspired makeup tutorial she had watched multiple times, and began applying it in front of the mirror.
After finishing her makeup, she dug out a previously unworn, all-white strapless wedding dress and put it on.
By the time she adjusted her veil and smoothed her skirt, the sky outside had darkened. Cen Jin hurriedly threw on a cardigan, grabbed her clutch, and rushed to F University.
The woman, with her trailing white veil and eerily enchanting makeup, looked like a phantom from a dream.
As she walked toward Li Wu’s dormitory holding up her skirt, Cen Jin received many admiring glances and teasing whistles from the male students.
She ignored them all and only contacted Li Wu: "I’m almost there. What are you dressed as today?"
"..." Her wording made the young man pause: "Don’t laugh when you see it. My roommates did this for me."
When they finally met, Li Wu and all his dorm mates were completely stunned.
Cen Jin stopped two meters away, looked at Li Wu, put her hands on her hips, and burst out laughing: "Are you serious?"
Li Wu held his phone, looking embarrassed: "Is it ugly?"
"Not ugly," Cen Jin sighed. "It’s just that we completely didn’t coordinate."
Li Wu smiled slightly: "Isn’t combining Eastern and Western styles good?"
Cen Jin ended the call and walked toward this tall, ethereal young Taoist priest in white.
The roommates beside Li Wu, dressed in equally bizarre costumes, seemed even more excited than the couple, constantly nudging each other and cheering.
Stopping in front of Li Wu, Cen Jin let go of her skirt, tilted her head up slightly, and extended her hand.
Li Wu took it, held it tightly, and pulled the most beautiful woman in the world toward himself.
The single roommates watching howled with excitement, as if witnessing a wedding.
Cen Jin was like Snow White among the dwarfs, gracefully turning her gaze to each of them and asking their names.
The young men were flattered and quickly introduced themselves.
After brief greetings, the roommates scattered to pick up their own dance partners.
Under the rising crescent moon, Li Wu led Cen Jin unhurriedly toward the dance. Both dressed in eye-catching white, with their striking looks and clever coordination, they naturally attracted many sidelong glances.
Li Wu was ecstatic, unable to wipe the smile off his face. Seizing a chance, he whispered: "You’re so beautiful today."
Cen Jin raised an eyebrow, pretending not to hear his compliment, but lightly scratched his palm with her fingertip: "Little Taoist priest, I want to take you home right now and break your vows."Li Wu's ears flushed faintly red, his heart itching from the female enchantress's movements and words. He released his grip and changed position, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer until she was pressed tightly against him.
"What are you doing?" The wedding dress felt cool and smooth against her skin as Cen Jin's waist twisted like a fish in his hands.
Li Wu tightened his hold, his possessiveness unmistakable.
In such a public setting, both restrained themselves, not daring to be completely uninhibited.
Upon entering the venue, crowded with people, nearly everyone simultaneously turned their gaze toward them.
Cen Jin's aura was pristine and elegant, like a swan that had migrated south out of season, stirring a lake full of still-immature waterfowl.
Whenever classmates came to ask, Li Wu would generously introduce Cen Jin's identity, keeping her close the entire time and never allowing her to stray more than half a meter away.
As music began to play, the venue lights dimmed. The bizarre, chaotic decorations failed to evoke any sense of horror; instead, the pumpkin lamps glowing ambiguously in the corners of the dance floor created an intimate, almost flirtatious atmosphere.
Li Wu and Cen Jin held each other, swaying gently to the music. It couldn't be called proper dancing, but it was tender and affectionate.
Taking advantage of the dim lighting, their noses brushed against each other repeatedly, their breaths mingling and touches fleeting as they melted into one another.
When the bright lights illuminated everyone again, the music turned cheerful and playful.
With her experience studying abroad and nights out at clubs, Cen Jin was in her element, completely at ease. She swayed and twisted gracefully among the crowd of young people, her smile radiant.
She blended in perfectly while remaining the center of attention. Li Wu, who had no skill in dancing, automatically took on the role of background support.
Later, some students simply stopped dancing altogether, watching her entirely, clapping to the beat, unable to look away from her confident, vivid expressions.
...
After several songs, Cen Jin had worked up a light sweat. When she went to sit and rest by the wall, Li Wu hurriedly handed her a bottle of water, so pleasantly surprised he was nearly speechless.
Cen Jin took a few small sips and looked up at him: "Didn't embarrass you, did I?"
Li Wu stared unblinkingly: "I feel even more insecure now."
You little... Cen Jin raised her hand and thumped him in the abdomen with the bottom of the water bottle.
Li Wu didn't dodge in time and burst out laughing.
Cen Jin glanced around and snorted contemptuously: "Let's see who dares to covet my man from now on."
As soon as she finished speaking, a female voice suddenly called out Li Wu's name loudly.
Li Wu turned toward the sound. It sounded somewhat familiar to Cen Jin, so she also looked in that direction. A girl dressed as Harley Quinn was running toward them, her twin ponytails bouncing, her movements lithe and graceful. She soon stopped in front of Li Wu, slightly out of breath.
She had a sweet face, no larger than a palm.
"I'm late!" The girl's eyes sparkled as she looked at Li Wu: "You look so handsome today—"
Then she turned to observe Cen Jin, her brow furrowing slightly in consideration: "Is this your teacher...?"
Just as Cen Jin was about to speak, Li Wu beat her to it: "She's my girlfriend."
The girl laughed in surprise: "Huh? Sorry, sorry, I thought she was a professor from your department. I was wondering when our school got such a beautiful teacher."
Is that the game she's playing? Cen Jin rolled her eyes internally while maintaining a friendly exterior.
The girl looked back: "Hello, I'm from the School of Journalism and Communication. My name is Wan Chun."
Cen Jin smiled gently: "Hello, junior. No need to be so formal—it makes me sound like I'm from an older generation. I don't want to take advantage of you like that."
Wan Chun paused: "Oh, okay. Are you also a graduate of our school, sister?"
"Yes," Cen Jin nodded: "I also studied journalism and communication."
"Wow! So you're my senior! Hello, senior!"Cen Jin responded indifferently.
After the pleasantries, Wan Chun spoke to Li Wu again: "You're so trendy, dating an older woman. If I wait outside a middle school now, could I find a boyfriend like you?"
Cen Jin smiled faintly, with a hidden warning: "Go ahead and try, see if you can find one."
Wan Chun's smile didn't fade, her almond-shaped eyes round and bright: "Do you think I can find one, senior?"
Cen Jin curled her lips, fingers rubbing against the water bottle, already too lazy to respond.
After two seconds of tense silence, Li Wu suddenly spoke up, his tone slightly innocent: "How do you expect her to answer? Obviously, I was the one who pursued her."
Hearing this, Cen Jin turned her face away and chuckled softly, wishing she could poke him again with what she held in her hand.
...
After the dance ended, Cen Jin didn't let Li Wu return to his dorm, forcibly pushing him into the back seat of the car. With lips and hands working together, she spent a long time half-rewarding, half-punishing him.
Not willing to be outdone, Li Wu turned over and pressed down on her, leading to another round of physical struggle. Cen Jin had mostly exhausted her energy at the dance and couldn't match the young man's physique and strength. She could only cling to his sturdy frame like an octopus, letting him move as she whimpered softly.
Finally, the two lay tangled together, clothes disheveled and breathing heavily. Cen Jin gritted her teeth: "If I mark you right now, maybe there won't be so many admirers hovering around you."
The young man asked humbly: "How do you mark someone?"
Cen Jin leaned close to his ear and whispered softly: "By having you."
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