Before they knew it, lunch time already came. Shu Xian, Shi Lian, and Zhang Ren arrived in their usual spot in the cafeteria, the far-off table found in the corner of the location.


    Even though it was distantpared to other tables found in the cafeteria, they found themselvesfortable secluding themselves from other people.


    Besides, they often talk about topics that should be kept a secret—topics like Shu Xian being romantically involved with the university''s professor, Pan An.


    As they were eating their lunch, Shu Xian brought left over food fromst night''s birthday celebration.


    They didn''t mind eating left overs. The foodst night tasted like heaven! Besides, it made Zhang Ren and Shi Lian quite happy that they didn''t have to bring their lunches for today.


    Shu Xian told Shi Lian and Zhang Ren what had happened after Ruo Xi came into the ssroom and it prompted her to walk away. She started narrating from the time that Pan An followed her and what had happened after in the empty ssroom.


    Shi Lian and Zhang Ren both have bbergasted expressions on their face. With Shi Lian covering her mouth with her hand, Zhang Ren''s mouth instead was open in aghast, not expecting what he had heard.


    Shi Lian and Zhang Ren thought that Shu Xian and Pan An talked in the next room, but little did they know that they did more than that—even naughtier than they expected!


    What got their attention more was the part where Shu Xian told them that Pan An lied just for him to talk to her in the empty ssroom again and warned her not to act "sexy" (when she didn''t intend to act sexy) in public ces!


    After Shu Xian silenced, she took a piece of chicken in her mouth, chewing while Zhang Renmented about her story first.


    "Wow… I didn''t peg Pan An to be this kind of person. I mean… in general, both of your rtionship development is going rather fast, don''t you think?"


    "I agree," Shi Lianmented in a heartbeat, her rolling her eyes at the same time. "I''m happy and all about you finding the possible start of your love life… but I couldn''t help but think and suggest that you be careful because it''s as if today, you two aren''t aware of your surroundings."


    "I know," Shu Xian replied and nodded, now eating a bite of Japanese maki. "You guys do know that I''ll be able to focus on the following days once I get the proper assurance or get the hang of it, right?"


    "I told you so," Zhang Ren said, now looking at Shi Lian. "I may have known Shu Xian for only a short timepared to you, but I know that she''s just distracted now. It can get overwhelming like I said. And—"


    "Yeah, yeah..."


    Shi Lian interrupted him, waving her hand dismissively in the process as she took a maki into her mouth and spoke with her mouth full, but still coherent enough for them to understand.


    "Still… you two have to be careful. I wouldn''t want to make my way and check the security of this university."


    Shu Xian nodded and didn''t say a word. However, she had a faint flush of pink on her face, along with a smile that tugged the corner of her lips.


    As the three of them continued eating, Shu Xian remembered that Shi Lian collected the activity papers from the other students, blinking her eyes a few times at her as a thought passed her mind—asking a question about it to Shi Lian with the hopes of it concealing her idea.


    Of wanting to visit Pan An in the faculty room by apanying her best friend to deliver the papers.


    "Anyway," Shu Xian started, the two of them now looking at her. "Have you already submitted the papers?"


    The way Shi Lian rolled her eyes at her once more gave the indication to Shu Xian that she had already read between the lines in her question.


    With Shu Xian''s lips turning into a tight line as she feigned ignorance (even though she knew that Shi Lian already knew), she stayed quiet and waited for her answer.


    "Shu Xian, don''t you think I don''t know what you''re thinking. You want to apany me in submitting the papers to the professor."


    Zhang Ren chuckled, Shu Xian biting her bottom lip as she furrowed her brows, asking a question that made Shi Lianugh.


    "Is it that obvious?"


    "Oh, yes," Shi Lian answered immediately. "You''re noting with me. Seriously, with how the events earlier happening, it already makes people think otherwise about you two! I''ll be submitting the papers alone."


    "But—"


    "She''s right," Zhang Ren interrupted and agreed with Shi Lian, now serious as he is also concerned with his friend. "We will be having our duty hours in the libraryter. Our Chief Librarian did indeed say that she might being back today. If not, on Monday."


    "Poopie…"


    Shi Lian and Zhang Renughed as they both shook their head, Shi Lian, whispering so that the other students who were passing by wouldn''t hear her.


    "Anyway, you shouldn''t be sad… what you should be worrying about is the time you get hometer."


    Shu Xian blinked her eyes a few times, a bit confused.


    "What do you mean?"


    Zhang Ren and Shi Lian looked at each other, a cheeky grin appearing on their face. However, Zhang Ren was the one who answered her question, making Shu Xian blush in an instant.


    "With you two realizing your feelings towards each other because of the sudden appearance of that new professor, do you think that your passions will not die down especially that you two are alone together and are living together? Shu Xian, you and you-know-who had been kissing... passionately!"


    "Yeah," Shi Lian agreed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "And you told us that he was rather a bit touchy. What more if you two are alone together."


    Shu Xian hadn''t thought of this at all! With the two pointing this out, her thoughts suddenly went wild and haywire, numerous questions and scenarios popping in her head.


    ''That would be the time that we woulde hometer after our dinner…''


    ''When we get home after realizing our feelings with each other, what then would happen?''


    ''They did indeed say that a man and a woman who''s passionate and is left alone could have the best moments of their lives.''


    ''Best moments of their lives… could that mean in the bedroom..?''


    ''Wait… maybe the saying is not that actually perverse and it meant their lives in general.''


    ''With me feeling Pan An a moment ago… does that mean that I really give that effect on him?''


    ''Oh, geez… don''t tell me that we will have more moments like that behind closed doors.''


    ''We have more privacy at home and maybe… maybe…''


    ''His kiss… the warmth of his body… my legs turning into jelly… goodness—don''t tell me there will be more?''


    Shu Xian''s face turned redder by the second. With Zhang Ren and Shi Lian deducing that her thoughts may be going berserk, both of them couldn''t help butugh, theirughter getting Shu Xian''s attention.


    She narrowed her eyes at them and crossed her arms in front of her chest as she said, "You two didn''t have tough at me… I—I didn''t think this through until you pointed it out! And now, I''m nervous."


    "Hey, now," Zhang Ren started, shaking his head. "I think there is nothing to worry about, you know. You-know-who may be acting towards you like this, but he is a sensible man."


    "True," Shi Lian said and nodded in agreement as she further added to what he said. "Besides… you-know-who is an adult. He knows that you''re going to be surprised if things were going by so fast. If he is sincere towards you, he''ll make sure you''ll feelfortable."


    Shu Xian smiled at the reassurance that their friends gave her. With a nod, the three of them continued eating, already changing the topic into something different so as to make Shu Xian rx.


    And for the two not to tease her from time to time.


    ***


    Shu Xian and Zhang Ren were already in their workstation. Two hours had passed since the start of their duty at 1 PM, and the two of them were already encoding the other theses and dissertations that arrived.


    Soon after, Shu Xian found herself stopping. With her noticing that it was already three in the afternoon, she turned to Zhang Ren and announced her break time.


    "I''ll be going to the student lounge now."


    "En."


    With Zhang Ren focused on his encoding of his share of researches, Shu Xian got her bao and her bottled water, then proceeded to the student lounge.


    However, the moment she opened the door and closed it, she was bbergasted to see pasta marinara served on the table, along with a chocte milkshake beside it with whipped cream on top.


    What surprised her more, however, was the fact that Zhong Li was looking at her with a blush on his face, greeting her as he stood.


    "H-hey, Shu Xian. Let''s eat together."