Her friend had been rushing to a fitness class, about to be late, and ran into her at the library entrance. She shoved it at her, leaving in a hurry and forgetting to take it back.
Cheng Buxi was taken aback; she vaguely remembered it was a risqué comic. Though she didn't know the content, the cover alone made it clear it wasn't proper reading material.
If this had been back in middle or high school, she'd have been scared pale. With test scores of 60-something and ranking at the bottom of the grade, a comic book would have earned her a half-hour reflection session facing the wall.
Seeing her delayed response, Lu Tingzhou wasn't impatient. "What's wrong?"
Cheng Buxi's tone weakened noticeably, losing its earlier momentum. She answered that it was Mankiw's Principles of Economics.
Principles of Economics—Shen Xiushi's textbook.
Lu Tingzhou nodded, showing a hint of understanding.
But before she could explain further, he continued with sharp inquiry, "Mm. And what's inside?"
Cheng Buxi knew it; she couldn't fool his eyes. She braced herself and answered, "It's... a comic..."
"A comic?" His tone visibly hardened, his narrow, sharp brows arching deeply.
"When's the exam?"
"Xiaoxi, even mischief has limits."
Not long ago, Cheng Buxi had failed an elective and barely passed the make-up exam. On the day the results came out, she happened to be volunteering at an orphanage. Her advisor couldn't reach her, so he called the parents. The contact for the family member was him, and thus he found out about the failure.
Cheng Buxi had thought he'd bring it up at a special time, but he never did. She had almost forgotten, and now it was forcibly brought back.
His implication was clear. Cheng Buxi felt deeply depressed, her eye circles reddening again.
A moment later, "I'm not blaming you."
Lu Tingzhou, too, felt frustrated. His brows knitted out of habit as he repeated the same sentence with a helpless tone.
Did she really think he was so heartless and unreasonable that he'd get angry over a comic?
For a brief moment of stiff silence, he didn't press further. Instead, he gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. This time, she was obedient, neither resisting nor dodging.
Next second, "She's an assistant." Rarely did he offer an explanation.
"An assistant?"
He shouldn't have said anything. Now she was riled up again. Cheng Buxi clearly didn't believe it. What assistant dressed like that, with a neckline low enough to raise fish? Or maybe he just liked this kind of thrill?
Her once saintly image of him was suddenly cracked. It felt like a million ants were crawling inside her.
"Why are you telling me this? I don't care who she is."
She tried to act composed, but her sour nose and tear-choked voice betrayed her immense dissatisfaction and hostility. She hugged the book even tighter.
"Oh? Don't care." Lu Tingzhou said with implied meaning, a silent smile curving his lips. From the angle, it almost looked like he was cradling her. "Then why the tantrum? I don't recall her having offended you."
Cheng Buxi was choked speechless.
Her strong reaction secretly pleased Lu Tingzhou. The little fox usually acted so docile and harmless, but when truly threatened, she couldn't help baring her sharp fangs. "How come you're more spoiled the older you get."
Cheng Buxi caught the defense in his words. "You feel sorry for her."
"Mm, I do." She's crying—how could he not?
Furious, Cheng Buxi leaped off the sofa.
Xin Ji nearly stumbled at the sight. They were just having a normal conversation, so why had it erupted like this? This was not good!
Cheng Buxi glared at him fiercely, thinking she looked intimidating, but it was just a childish tantrum. Lu Tingzhou wasn't affected in the slightest; if anything, he only became more dominant in the confrontation.
He remained as calm as ever, while Cheng Buxi, in contrast, seemed dark, suspicious, and petty.
Still clutching the 'bomb' book to her chest, Cheng Buxi glared at him again, then bolted out of the room without looking back.
"President Lu, the young miss... she went back?" Xin Ji finally squeezed in a word, but he didn't know how to handle this. It was far more difficult than planning a business proposal!
Lu Tingzhou was silent for a moment, then spoke unhurriedly, "Leave her be." If you listened closely, the indulgence in his voice was about to spill from his throat. But Cheng Buxi, being lost in the situation, didn't notice.
The figure by the door clearly heard those words. She froze.
Then, as if making up her mind, she ran out quickly and decisively.
Author's Note:
Happy New Year! ε(*ω)_/:☆
Peace and joy in 2025.
-Random red envelopes in the comments.