Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Wang Yan couldn’t be of much help, but he waited politely for the lady to sit.
Their seat numbers were 11 and 12, respectively. Wang Yan had a window seat, while the lady sat in the seat near the aisle.
The neighboring teenager might have been too excited, causing him to step on Wang Yan’s travel bag by accident when he was carrying her luggage. The wheels of the teen’s luggage grazed against the artificial leather, producing a muffled sound.
The teenager was nonchalant about it and gave Wang Yan a cheeky smile. “Oh no, sorry brother, was your bag squashed? Is that a counterfeit product from Hanshui Road? If it was a genuine product, I won’t be able to afford to pay for a replacement,” he said, thinking that he was being funny.
Wang Yan raised his eyebrows but remained silent.
Instead, the lady apologized immediately. “I’m so sorry, my luggage wheels are rather dirty. Maybe you can take your bag down now, and I’ll help you wipe it off?”
The Habit Incubator was working. Wang Yan thought about it and smiled. “Sorry for the trouble. As a guy, I don’t have the habit of carrying wet wipes around when I’m out.”
3
“It’s not troublesome! It’s something I should do!”
The lady gave him such a sweet smile that it would make others turn and stare.
Wang Yan’s heart started racing too, and it caused him to panic a little.
But right then, charismatic Wang Yan had fixed his manners. All his movements were restricted and would be corrected. Hence, with calm composure, he took his travel bag down and placed it on the fold-down table.
The lady turned her head to thank the teenager before sitting down. She took out either wet wipes or makeup remover wipes from her bag. Wang Yan was unsure which it was but didn’t dare to ask her. He just watched her work silently.
The teenager felt humiliated and snickered. He shook his head while mumbling, “What a hypocrite!”
Wang Yan couldn’t be bothered with him, but the lady was growing more anxious as she wiped it.
She had many Louis Vuitton leather products, both real and fake ones. From afar, the difference might not have been obvious, but with a single touch, one could tell an authentic one from a counterfeit.
The texture of counterfeits and authentic products was vastly different.
1
Moreover, if it wasn’t an authentic product, why would the guy have allowed her to clean it up?
He would have been too embarrassed to do that.
Upon realizing that it was an authentic Louis Vuitton bag, furthermore, a limited edition duffel bag, she prayed in her heart, ‘Please don’t be ruined!’
Thus, she was extra careful while cleaning it.
The seven-inch-long scratch mark was gone after she was done cleaning. She heaved a sigh of relief.
Luckily, the authentic matte leather was still very resistant to scratches. It was unlike waxed leather, which would show evident scratch marks after an accidental scrape.
After a last look at it, she returned the travel bag to Wang Yan happily. “Luckily, I didn’t disappoint. It’s clean now!”
Wang Yan didn’t look at it at all. He calmly pushed it to the other end of the table and turned to thank her. “Thank you, and sorry for the trouble.”
“It wasn’t troublesome. It was my fault anyway!”
The lady seemed insincere, but her attitude was sincere. When she squinted her eyes and smiled, she looked young, innocent, and cute.
4
Mesmerized by her bright smile, Wang Yan appeared calm on the outside, but he was panicking internally.
Luckily, he was a changed man. He wouldn’t lose his composure at any time. Instead, he gave off the vibe that nothing mattered to him.
He pumped himself up. ‘Chill! If you don’t know how to start a conversation, an awkward conversation will suffice too!’
“Are you going to the capital for a tour?”
“No, I’m attending school there.” The lady shook her head and explained simply, “I have a roommate that’s from the capital, and we made a promise to return earlier to celebrate her birthday together. What about you?”
“I need to buy something.”
Wang Yan merely stated the facts, yet the lady was stunned.
What item couldn’t be bought in Gujiao or Shen Cheng so that he had to make a trip down to the capital?
She kept the question to herself.
Wang Yan made full use of his talent and took the initiative to start the conversation by asking, “Which university do you attend?”
1
The lady pursed her lips while smiling and answered, “Wudaokou Training College! Do you know it?”
She looked at him in anticipation, but Wang Yan shook his head regrettably.
‘How would I know a school by its nickname?’
Right at this moment, the neighboring teenager interrupted their conversation. “Beautiful woman, are you from the Capital Dance Academy?”
His eyes lit up as he spoke.
‘The Capital Dance Academy?!’
Wang Yan was stunned.
That was a very well-known school!
The country had different art schools: Capital Drama Academy, Central Conservatory of Music, Central Academy of Fine Arts, The Central Academy of Drama, Zhong Yin Musical School, China Academy of Art, Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Capital Dance Academy…
There were multiple films, dramas, and fine arts institutions fighting for the first position, but in the dance category, Capital Dance was definitely the first. Even the first runners up couldn’t compete.
That was how arrogant they could be!
The lady was quite impressed, but she didn’t have a good impression of the teenager since he had nearly gotten her in trouble. Hence, she gave him a simple reply.
“Yes.”
The more Wang Yan looked at her, the more he found her familiar.
Gujiao hadn’t had any art students who could make it into those prestigious institutions for a long time. Just last year, there were two who made it. Shiyan High School had a senior that had made it into the Central Conservatory of Music, while the other was a senior from No. 2 High School who made it into Capital Dance.
1
After thinking back for quite some time, Wang Yan suddenly realized, “Oh! You’re Liu… Senior Liu from No. 2 High School?”
Wang Yan had seen her photo before but didn’t manage to remember her name, how awkward.
“Oh! You’re only attending university this year?” The lady’s focal point was her unique and sly smile. “I’m Liu Li. How do I call you, junior? Where did you graduate from?”
“Wang Yan, from Shiyan High School,” Wang Yan generously introduced himself.
Ling Li scrunched her nose and squinted her eyes. “Rivals… I won’t talk to you then.”
4
Shiyan High School and No. 2 High School were at odds with each other just like Tsinghua University and Peking University. Liu Li showed her cute side as she joked with Wang Yan.
Wang Yan hadn’t thought about how to reply, and the neighboring teenager interrupted again, “Beautiful lady, we’re fated to be! We’re neighbors since I study at Di Du University of Technology!”
The teenager seemed to be in his early twenties, with a strong build and a pale complexion. He wore a bright-colored shirt. Solely based on looks, he stood out next to Wang Yan.
6
Observing the situation, Wang Yan felt cheeky and chose to become a bystander. He wanted to see how the lady would react to the situation.
In the end, it was a simple reply again.
“Oh, what a coincidence.”
“Beautiful lady, my home is in Shen Cheng. I graduated from No. 2 High School as well. Why do I have no recollections of you? Considering such a beautiful lady like you, that can’t be!”
“I’m not pretty.”
Liu Li didn’t correct his mistake that the No. 2 High School she referred to was different from the one he was talking about. She remained cold and unfriendly towards him.
“No, no, no! I think you’re prettier than your senior, Shi Shi! Maybe because you art students have outside activities and are too busy. Moreover, I was too focused on studying at that time. I may have missed out on you.”
“…”
“Junior, we’re simply meant to be. We graduated from the same high school, the same grade, and even our universities are just three blocks apart… Can I visit your school to find you and take a look around?”
1
“I’m busy with my school work.”
“It doesn’t matter. No matter how busy you are, you still need to eat, right? I’ve heard of your school’s cafeteria for quite some time and am tempted to try it.”
4
Liu Li quietly turned her head to the window and rolled her eyes.
Wang Yan could barely hold in his laughter. He finally witnessed how a brownnoser was snubbed by a goddess, what an eye-opening experience.
Although Wang Yan wasn’t popular, he didn’t suck up to anyone. Having a crush on He Meng was something he kept buried in his heart. He wanted to keep his last bit of pride, knowing that it was impossible. He didn’t want to think too much about it.
1
Wang Yan could feel second-hand embarrassment.
1
Wang Yan was happy simply to be an onlooker, and a faint smile started to appear on his face. Liu Li saw it and felt that this junior wasn’t being kind, so she gnashed her teeth at him and pursed her lips.
Her pink lips looked as soft as jelly. They gave people the urge to kiss them just to verify they were sweet.
2
As the saying went, just like a brownnoser could never be accepted, one could never restrain their desires.
Liu Li saw where Wang Yan was staring and started blushing.
Wang Yan felt dizzy. He stood up abruptly and said, “I need to visit the bathroom. Could I bother you to help me watch my stuff?”
“Sure,” Liu Li replied without a pause, but as she watched him walk further away, she realized something. A beautiful lady was waiting for him to save the situation, yet he had gone to the washroom instead!
She could feel her blood boiling again.
‘Little kid, you must be single!’
6