Chapter 19: A Lifetime as the Promise

Ruan Qingqing smiled sweetly at Xu Sui’an, her voice as gentle as ever.

“Xu Sui’an, truth or dare?”

Xu Sui’an smiled back.

This scene had happened in the original novel too.

Back then, she had also been chosen, and the question she’d been asked was a particularly tricky one—

If you rejected Shi Yubai, would you regret it?

At the time, Xu Sui’an had been too thin-skinned to admit the truth. She regretted it in her heart, but stubbornly refused to acknowledge it out loud.

Like a duck with a hard beak, she insisted she had no regrets.

The moment those words left her mouth, Shi Yubai never spared her another glance.

But this time…

You’re so curious, aren’t you? Then let me clear up your confusion properly.

“I choose truth.”

Ruan Qingqing fixed her eyes on Xu Sui’an.

“You clearly rejected Shi Yubai’s confession before. So why did the two of you suddenly get together afterward?

Are you serious about this relationship?

Or are you the type to change your mind overnight?”

It was a question that had puzzled her for a long time.

Xu Sui’an reached over and intertwined her fingers with Shi Yubai’s.

“I rejected him before because…”

“…I wanted to confess to him instead.”

“I wanted to tell the whole world that Shi Yubai is Xu Sui’an’s boyfriend.“

“Did you see the announcement photos on the campus forum?”

“That ring made of foxtail grass?”

“I braided it myself.”

“It was the token of love I used to confess to Xiao Bai.”

“I can responsibly tell you that we’re both completely serious.”

“We’re dating with marriage as our goal…”

“…and a lifetime as our promise.”

“If we weren’t still too young to register our marriage, you might even be eating our wedding candy tomorrow.”

Xu Sui’an gently lifted the hand she shared with Shi Yubai, their fingers still tightly interlocked.

“Ruan Qingqing.”

“Are you satisfied with my answer?”

Ruan Qingqing felt her heart sink little by little.

It was as if a wad of cotton had lodged itself in her throat, heavy and suffocating.

She forced the smile on her face to remain as she squeezed out a few words.

“…Satisfied.”

Xu Sui’an…

Are you showing off?

Isn’t it only because you were lucky enough to know Shi Yubai first?

So what if you grew up together? Plenty of childhood sweethearts lose to someone who appears later.

You’re spoiled and willful. You even made him carry you all the way up Nanshan Mountain. Doesn’t he get tired?

Sooner or later, he’ll grow sick of you.

I’m the one who’s truly worthy of him… the one who understands him best.

If I were his girlfriend… I would never make him carry me up Nanshan.

Of course, Shi Yubai had no idea what Ruan Qingqing was thinking.

If he did, he would only tell her one thing—

I’d gladly carry Suisui for the rest of my life.

Who knew if those words would make Ruan Qingqing cry from anger?

“You are not a fish; how can you know the joy of a fish?”

Where there was sorrow, there was also happiness.

And the happiest person present was undoubtedly Shi Yubai.

“Suisui.”

“I’ve memorized every single word you just said.”

“If only time would hurry up…”

“I really want to marry you as soon as possible.”

Beneath the moonlight, his peach blossom eyes seemed to hold an entire galaxy.

And at the very center of that galaxy…

…was the tiny figure of Xu Sui’an.

He Nanzhou bumped Shi Yubai’s shoulder before spinning the beer bottle again.

“Xiao Bai, that’s enough.”

“Can you stop showing off for once?”

“At least think about how I feel.”

Shi Yubai raised an eyebrow with a meaningful smile.

“Nanzhou-ge, with your qualifications, there are too many people at Nanda who like you to count.”

“As long as you nod your head, getting a girlfriend would take minutes.”

“You should come hang out with us more often.”

“Maybe you’ll run into the one you’re destined for.”

Behind everyone’s backs, Xu Sui’an mischievously reached over and traced tiny circles against the sensitive hollow of Shi Yubai’s waist with her fingertip.

Shi Yubai instantly straightened.

His dark eyes deepened, little flames seemingly flickering inside them.

The beer bottle came to a stop once more.

This time, it pointed at He Nanzhou.

Leng Ningxue glanced at Zhuang Yan.

He understood immediately.

Clearing his throat, he smiled at everyone.

“I’ll ask.”

“Brother He.”

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

He Nanzhou hadn’t expected the bottle he spun to land on himself.

“Brother He…”

“What kind of girl do you like?”

It was the question everyone wanted answered.

Xu Sui’an and Leng Ningxue’s eyes immediately sparkled with gossip.

Shen Meng lowered her head, but her ears were practically standing straight up, afraid she’d miss even a single word.

He Nanzhou…

What kind of girl do you like?

He Nanzhou pondered his answer.

He had been about to say that it depended on fate.

But then…

A pair of bright, expressive eyes flashed through his mind.

Eyes that darted around nervously like a frightened little turtle.

At the slightest disturbance, the little turtle would retreat into its shell, only daring to peek out in secret.

He glanced at the owner of that little turtle.

For some inexplicable reason…

…his mood suddenly became very good.

“I’ll drink instead.”

Zhuang Yan tossed him a bottle of beer.

He Nanzhou tilted his head back and emptied it in one go.

Only then did Shen Meng finally relax.

Her feelings were a complete contradiction.

She wanted to know what kind of girl He Nanzhou liked…

Yet she also didn’t want to know.

Wasn’t that contradictory?

“I’ll spin this time!”

Xu Sui’an spun the beer bottle herself.

Although she hadn’t heard the answer she’d hoped for…

She had discovered a secret.

Before He Nanzhou chose to drink…

…he had glanced at Shen Meng.

And he had looked surprisingly happy.

Does that mean…

There’s hope!

Everyone’s gaze followed the spinning bottle, waiting to see who the next lucky—or unlucky—person would be.

The bottle stopped directly in front of Ruan Qingqing.

A smile slowly spread across Xu Sui’an’s face.

“Ruan Qingqing.”

“Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

Ruan Qingqing lowered her head, her fingers curling slightly.

Zhao Yuejiao seemed to receive some kind of signal and quickly proposed,

“Let’s make it exciting.”

“Spin the bottle again.”

“Whoever it lands on…”

“…you have to maintain eye contact with them for ten seconds.”

“Okay.”

Ruan Qingqing’s brows relaxed.

For some reason, she had an inexplicable feeling.

The bottle will definitely stop in front of Shi Yubai.

If we look into each other’s eyes for ten seconds… he’ll remember me.

Xu Sui’an silently watched the spinning bottle.

Trying to force the original plot again?

Hmph.

Just as the bottle began slowing down, she lightly tapped Shi Yubai’s hand.

He understood instantly.

With perfect unspoken coordination, the two quietly switched seats.

The bottle came to a perfect stop—

Right in front of Xu Sui’an.

She looked at Ruan Qingqing with an amused smile.

“So…”

“The bottle chose me.”

“Are you going to stare into my eyes for ten seconds?”

Ruan Qingqing was stunned.

She had been so close to looking into Shi Yubai’s eyes.

It was Xu Sui’an changing seats at the last second that ruined everything.

“Y-You…”

“You’re breaking the rules.”

“Oh?”

Xu Sui’an leisurely raised an eyebrow.

“How exactly am I breaking the rules?”

“Nowhere did anyone say we couldn’t switch seats.”

“I just felt Xiao Bai’s seat brings me good luck.”

“Or…”

She deliberately dragged out the last words.

“Were you actually hoping…”

“…to spend ten seconds gazing into my boyfriend’s eyes?”

“I… I wasn’t!”

Under everyone’s scrutinizing gazes, Ruan Qingqing shook her head frantically.

No matter what…

She absolutely couldn’t admit it.

She couldn’t afford that kind of embarrassment.

“Good.”

“Then what’s your choice?”

Xu Sui’an smiled faintly, waiting for her answer.

Ruan Qingqing avoided her gaze, too guilty to meet her eyes.

“I’ll drink.”

She grabbed a can of beer, closed her eyes, and gulped it down.

The smile on Xu Sui’an’s lips widened.

Her mood was excellent.

So what if there’s an original plot?

Ruan Qingqing…

You’ll never steal Shi Yubai away from me.

“Xiao Bai.”

“Come look at the stars with me.”

“Okay.”

Shi Yubai took Xu Sui’an’s hand, and the two walked off together.

Above them, the night sky glittered with countless stars.

The Milky Way stretched endlessly across the heavens.

The full moon drifted slowly through that sea of stars, as though searching for—or quietly waiting for—something.

“Suisui.”

“How did you know the bottle would’ve landed on me?”

Shi Yubai looked at her curiously, unable to suppress the question that had been lingering in his mind.

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