Chapter Twenty-Three: Are You Hiding Something from Me?

After speaking, He Zheyu cast a fleeting, gentle glance at Mo Qinghan’s face. When their eyes met, a faint blush bloomed on Mo Qinghan’s cheeks; her gaze darted around, uncertain where to rest. Seeing her reaction, He Zheyu’s lips curved into a warm, subtle smile.

Han Mo glanced at the watch on his left wrist and said to He Yurou, “Miss Yurou, the boss still has things to attend to, so I won’t carry your things upstairs.” With that, he strode quickly to the car.

After the car drove away, He Yurou looked at the insulated lunchbox in her hands, then at Mo Qinghan. An indescribable sense of strangeness lingered in her heart, though she couldn’t pinpoint the cause. Mo Qinghan noticed He Yurou staring straight at her and, feeling a bit uneasy, said, “Don’t just stare at me! Come help carry your stuff!” She then picked up her bags and walked ahead. Only then did Dai Yawen and Zhang Wen realize they had come down to help carry things, not to admire handsome men. They picked up their own bags and followed. He Yurou, left with only a few small bags, carried them leisurely behind the group.

In the car, He Zheyu said, “Reply to Principal Li and tell him I’m free to accept their school’s invitation soon.”

Han Mo replied with a smile, “Alright,” then added, “Boss, can you please stop joking about my love life? Ever since you met Miss Mo, my romantic prospects have been nothing but rocky—feels like all I have left are ex-girlfriends.”

He Zheyu only smiled and didn’t respond. He turned his head to gaze at the scenery flashing past the window, touching the spot on his shoulder where Mo Qinghan had bitten him that night. A gentle warmth welled up in his chest.

After Mo Qinghan and the others carried everything into the dormitory, she sat on a stool, breathing heavily. Looking at the heap of fruit and snacks that took up half the room, she said, “Yurou, when will you ever finish eating all this?”

He Yurou got up, walked a few steps, and placed the lunchbox in Mo Qinghan’s arms. “You should eat what’s in the box first. Besides, you’re not the only one—there are others here too.”

Mo Qinghan looked at the lunchbox in her lap and said, “I already had breakfast.” Glancing at Dai Yawen and Zhang Wen, she said, “You two eat it,” and handed it over to Dai Yawen.

Dai Yawen looked at He Yurou, who understood and said, “We’re all in the same dorm, so it doesn’t matter who eats it.” Dai Yawen laughed and took the box, sharing it with Zhang Wen at the desk in the back of the room.

He Yurou studied Mo Qinghan for a while, then softly asked, “Qinghan, are you hiding something from me?”

Mo Qinghan’s heart skipped a beat; her hands at her sides fidgeted for a few seconds, but she kept a calm smile and replied, “What could I possibly hide from you? Besides, I’m the type whose feelings are written all over my face—I couldn’t hide anything even if I tried.”

“Then why does it feel like you’re a bit distant lately?”

“Of course I’m a little more distant than before. Back then, it was just the two of us. Now, Senior Brother Zhao stands between us. Naturally, you notice him first and me second. We’re bound to feel farther apart than before.”

He Yurou realized Mo Qinghan was teasing her. She walked over, began tickling Mo Qinghan, and said, “How dare you tease me… how dare you!”

Seeing the two having so much fun, Dai Yawen and Zhang Wen joined in. The entire dormitory soon erupted in playful laughter, their innocent, carefree voices echoing throughout the girls’ dormitory building.