Chapter 3: Captured by the Campus Belle

The clamor from the stadium exit gradually faded, leaving only the echoing footsteps in the empty corridor.

That single phrase, “white-haired junior,” kept replaying in Su Cheng’s mind.

Su Cheng froze in place, her brain entering a state of shutdown.

‘How could I be caught by Yin Xuelian just like this? Why? Why is everything so unfortun-ate after returning from rebirth?’

‘The ones I want to avoid, I can’t; the ones I want to escape, I can’t seem to get away from.’

With many questions in her heart, Su Cheng was roused by the steadily approaching footsteps.

Su Cheng instinctively wanted to bolt, but her legs felt like they were filled with lead.

Fragments of sweet and painful memories from her past life surged uncontrollably, making her fingertips slightly cold.

She forced herself to calm down. Now, they were “meeting for the first time.”

Taking a deep breath, Su Cheng turned around, forcing a slightly bewildered and polite smile onto her face, looking towards the source of the footsteps.

Yin Xuelian still maintained a light makeup, her pink long hair pulled back, revealing a clear forehead and a swan-like neck.

She had changed out of her host’s white dress and was now wearing simple athletic wear, yet it still couldn’t conceal her astonishing beauty and extraordinary aura.

Beautiful and confident.

At this moment, Yin Xuelian stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her light brown eyes carrying a curious smile, openly appraising Su Cheng.

“Hello, upperclassman.”

Su Cheng’s voice was steadier than expected, but the last syllable still wavered slightly.

Yin Xuelian took two steps closer, examining the junior, who was a bit shorter than herself, at a closer range.

“Mmhmm.”

The corners of Yin Xuelian’s mouth curved into a beautiful arc, like a cat purring contentedly after a meal.

“I noticed you from the stage just now, the little white-haired junior sitting in the corner of Class 1 of Science. Oh, and you were playing on your phone all morning.”

“Upperclassman, I… I…”

“Haha, alright, it’s nothing to be distracted during the opening ceremony, it’s normal. I often get distracted during these big meetings too.”

Yin Xuelian gave her a “relax” smile, but Su Cheng still thought Yin Xuelian wanted to use this to catch her.

“Uh… Upperclassman, don’t scare me.”

An alarm blared in Su Cheng’s mind.

“But your hair color is so rare. Is it dyed?”

Su Cheng shook her head, her gaze firm.

“No, I was born with it.”

Although she was like this after rebirth, it still counted as natural.

“Is that so? No wonder I found it so pleasing to the eye; I kept thinking about it while on stage.”

Su Cheng’s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure on the surface, though a hint of nervousness still flickered in her eyes.

‘She noticed that too, what a weirdo!’

Yin Xuelian seemed to find Su Cheng’s reaction amusing, and her smile deepened.

“I just felt a good connection and wanted to get to know you. My name is Yin Xuelian, a sophomore, majoring in broadcasting and hosting.” She extended her hand gracefully.

“Su Cheng.”

Su Cheng hesitated for a moment, then reached out, gently clasping Yin Xuelian’s slender, elegant fingers.

The slightly cool touch from her fingertips made Su Cheng’s heart tremble, and she pulled away almost as if shocked.

She silently chided herself: ‘Su Cheng! You’ve held hands before in your last life! Why are you panicking?!’

Yin Xuelian evidently caught Su Cheng’s momentary stiffness and quick withdrawal, and her curiosity intensified, but she didn’t point it out.

“Su Cheng… a nice name,” she paused, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Su Cheng’s slightly flustered expression, then changed the subject, “Can I borrow a little of your time, junior?”

Su Cheng swallowed hard, immediately refusing wasn’t good, but directly accepting wasn’t an option.

She needed to be more subtle, find a different excuse.

“Um, it won’t take too long, will it?”

Yin Xuelian maintained her faint smile.

“No, just helping me move some things to the student union office, just some clothes.”

“I still have other things to get, and I’m short on one person. It would be great if you could help, junior; that way I don’t have to make two trips.”

Su Cheng feigned contemplation, then after a few seconds, gave her answer.

“Then, no problem.”

Yin Xuelian instantly blossomed into a radiant smile, tightly clasping Su Cheng’s small hand.

“Thank you, junior. Hehe, I’ll treat you to a meal later.”

Su Cheng smiled, nodding in silence.

Since she was so enthusiastically offering, Su Cheng had no reason to refuse.

It was just that the turn of events completely exceeded her expectations.

The Yin Xuelian before rebirth, although also cheerful and fond of smiling, wasn’t this proactive.

After all, there used to be many people surrounding her.

She wouldn’t have been reduced to needing help just to move something.

‘Could it be that Yin Xuelian’s character has collapsed in this world?’

But no matter what, she was still the campus belle.

“Alright, let’s hurry.”

Yin Xuelian led Su Cheng by the hand to the backstage area, where two cardboard boxes were filled with items; one box contained clothes, and the other held some books and A4 paper.

“Heave-ho, it’s a bit heavy.”

“Upperclassman, do you need help?”

“No, no, I can carry it. Just a little more, and we’ll be there soon.”

Su Cheng vaguely remembered that the student union office was about four hundred meters from the stadium, as she used to be a member of the student union herself.

Previously, she joined the student union to get closer to this campus belle. Now, Su Cheng no longer had such intentions; she only wanted to maintain a certain distance from her.

Under the sun, the two carried their respective cardboard boxes to the student union office on the first floor of the main teaching building.

The office was still as messy as ever; calling it an office, it was more like a utility room.

This felt the same as when Su Cheng first entered the student union.

In her previous life, the most commendable thing Su Cheng did after joining the student union was to clean up all the clutter in the office.

Now, it seemed that person would no longer appear.

“Phew, I’m exhausted. Junior, have some water.”

“Thank you.”

Taking the water Yin Xuelian had just drawn from the dispenser, Su Cheng drank it in one gulp, feeling much more comfortable.

Yin Xuelian watched her with a slight surprise, having initially thought she was a delicate girl, but she drank water so fiercely.

“Want more?”

“I’ll get it myself, no need to trouble upperclassman.”

“Alright.”

Yin Xuelian sipped the water in her cup, her gaze fixed on Su Cheng, observing her every move with considerable curiosity.

Noticing Yin Xuelian’s “stalking” gaze, Su Cheng grumbled inwardly, and this time, her drinking motion was much more restrained.

When Su Cheng changed her drinking speed, Yin Xuelian’s gaze also changed.

“Alright, I’ve had enough to drink.”

Su Cheng discarded the paper cup and looked at Yin Xuelian.

Yin Xuelian had already finished her water, just holding the empty cup without discarding it.

“Then let’s go eat. The cafeteria still has food at this time.”

Su Cheng nodded, leaving the office first. Yin Xuelian, who was following behind, discarded the paper cup in her hand and closed the office door.

At this moment, Su Cheng’s phone suddenly rang, a barrage of messages from Chen Xi:

[ Xi Xi: Cheng Zi!!! Where are you?! Kidnapped by aliens? ]
[ Xi Xi: The cafeteria is so small, but I can’t find you. ]
[ Xi Xi: You weren’t really abducted, were you? ]

Su Cheng typed helplessly on the screen.

[ Orange Juice: Got conscripted by the student union president, going to the cafeteria with her now. ]
[ Xi Xi: WTF, you already hooked up with the campus belle so fast? You’re good! ]
[ Orange Juice: Sweating cat.jpg, don’t talk nonsense, okay? Watch out, I’ll deal with you back in the dorm. ]

A hand suddenly landed on her shoulder, and Yin Xuelian’s urging voice came from beside her ear.

“Let’s go, are you replying to messages?”

“Yeah, my roommate asked where I went. I said I was captured by the student union president.”

Yin Xuelian smiled sweetly, “Haha, I’m not a bad person, how can you say ‘captured’?”

Su Cheng awkwardly scratched her head, “Just kidding.”

“Let’s go to cafeteria one. They’ll still have food at this time. My treat.”

“Okay, thank you, Sister Xue.”

Su Cheng followed behind Yin Xuelian, heading towards cafeteria one.

In her heart, however, she was wondering how to deal with what might happen next.