The girls set aside what they were talking about for a while. With the three of them listening to the professor, Shi Lian did her best to listen to the professor even though she''s quite conflicted with the feeling she was having towards the guy sitting beside her, Zhang Ren.


    Actually, Shi Lian is frustrated with herself!


    How can she develop a crush on the guy when they just met recently? Shi Lian never grew interested in a guy even though some have courted her before when they were back in high school.


    It''s because Shi Lian preferred her freedom to herself—thinking that dating is something early to do.


    Other than that, she sees herself as a girl who rarely likes—or even has a crush on anyone, making her think right now, what does Zhang Ren have that is different that is making her feel this way?


    "Nnngh…"


    Hearing her expression, it had actually caught Zhang Ren''s attention, making him look at Shi Lian subtly from the corner of his eye and has poked her with the end of his pen.


    "Pssst! What''s wrong?" he asked, whispering as soft as he could. "Are you bored with the sses since this is our first ss in the morning?" he added, Shi Lian, not actually answering his question verbally as she just nodded, trying her best to mask her difort.


    "Me, too! To be honest, I didn''t like the suggestion Miss Wang Fang said about having this ss in the morning. I wanted more time to myself and go to university at ater time. But, ahh… I should listen to our boss."


    Good thing, there was one thing that Shi Lian noticed.


    The guy beside him ispletely dense—him not noticing that Shi Lian is ufortable sitting beside him now that she has started to think that she may have developed interest in him!


    Even without Shi Lian giving a reply to what he said, Zhang Ren didn''t give much attention to it, still shifting his focus on Professor Pan An who is discussing in front of the ss.


    He was also trying his best to diligently copy notes, Shu Xian, observing the two people who are seated beside her.


    ''Damn… tomorrow, I''m going to make sure that I''m the one in the middle,'' she thought to herself, the professor already giving them their next activity.


    "Alright..."


    Pan An started, already leaning on his desk as both of his hands supported his weight.


    "What I want you to do now, is to brainstorm with your fellow seatmates about how assessment is done by teachers. Afterwards, I will call on some duos or trios to share their ideas to the ss. I''ll give you guys ten minutes."


    Even with the given instruction, Zhang Ren grinned at thedies, already suggesting something different that is not rted to the ss.


    "Do you wanna grab some grubter at lunch? I mean… we still have two more sses before lunch, but wanna meet up at the cafeteriater?"


    Shu Xian raised a brow at him, wanting him to focus on their activity.


    "Hey, Zhang Ren! Focus! We are only given ten minutes to discuss!"


    Zhang Ren yfully rolled his eyes as he yed with his pen.


    "Oh, Shu Xian! You''re so uptight! But, hey! I wanna know what you guys think before we can focus, yeah? So we meet and eat in the cafeteria before Shu Xian and I go to our duty hours? Or?"


    This time, Zhang Ren looked at Shi Lian for her answer. With their eyes meeting, Shi Lian felt her heart racing again as she was unusually quiet, even Zhang Ren who doesn''t know her well found it weird for her to be quiet.


    "Hmm… I''m guessing your quietness has nothing to do with your spunkiness," hemented, his eyes not leaving Shi Lian''s. "I mean… with you throwing a pickup line yesterday, how is it that you''re so quiet now? Are you okay?"


    With this said, Shu Xian gave a subtle kick on Shi Lian''s shoe. When she did the gesture, Shi Lian looked at her, both of them talking as if they could understand each other with the use of only their eyes.


    ''What the heck are you doing, Shi Lian?''


    ''What am I supposed to say? I know I could easily answer his question, but I find myself tongue-tied!''


    ''Don''t you know that this is going to be more suspicious for him if you''re so quiet?''


    ''I know…''


    ''Being quiet is not in your vocabry! Now be noisy since we''re given the chance to chat for ten minutes even though it''s brainstorming!''


    With that, Shi Lian sighed, turning her head to look at Zhang Ren and spoke to him.


    "I''m sorry," she said, Zhang Ren, now listening to her. "Shu Xian and I are going somewhere to the mall. We''re going to buy a necktie for someone. I''m helping her choose," she added, Shu Xian, widening her eyes as she pinched Shi Lian''s leg, not expecting that she will tell him their n.


    "What was that for?" Shu Xian whispered, only enough for Shi Lian to hear. "What do you think will happen if hees with us and—"


    "A necktie? Sure! I suppose this is for your brother, father? Or perhaps… someone you like outside of university?" he said and asked with a wink, Shu Xian, rolling her eyes at him.


    "It''s none of your business, Zhang Ren. Anyway, sorry, we can''te with you to the cafeteria. We''re—"


    "Then going to the mall it is!"


    He interrupted, Shu Xian''s eyes widening in surprise when Zhang Ren interrupted her, already inviting himself in their errands.


    "Since it''s a necktie for a guy, then I would definitelye and give my opinion, yeah? Tell me more about himter."


    Shu Xian red at Shi Lian. If Shi Lian didn''t tell him honestly what they are going to doter on, then this would not have happened!


    Now that Zhang Ren is insisting to let himselfe, then he would find it suspicious if ever he saw the bought necktie worn by Professor Pan An!


    Of course, Shi Lian and Shu Xian couldn''t say no to him directly, too! They found it awkward and sort of rude to decline Zhang Ren when he was so excited with being with the girls.


    Now, Shu Xian is thinking of what to tell Zhang Renter once they go out shopping for a necktie…