Teng Yi was waiting for her. From his direct gaze and the bag of cold medicine in his hand, Ruan Yu could tell he was waiting for her.

Realizing this, she instinctively looked around. The campus was quiet at this hour, with only one or two delivery riders passing beneath the dormitory buildings. No one noticed them.

“What? So afraid of others seeing you with me?” He walked up to her. Though questioning, his tone was light.

“I don’t want people to misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what?”

“Misunderstand that we’re close.”

“What happens if they misunderstand?”

“Trouble.”

Teng Yi’s lips curved upward – it was his first time hearing a girl call him trouble.

“At lunch, your voice sounded like you had a cold,” he held out the bag to her.

Ruan Yu’s throat suddenly itched, and she couldn’t help but cough lightly, coincidentally confirming his suspicion.

“Take it.”

“No need.”

“Did you buy medicine yourself?”

She shook her head.

“Then take it.” Teng Yi pushed the medicine into her hand.

His movement was quick – their fingers brushed briefly, but the contact barely reached the skin before disappearing. She didn’t even have time to feel the temperature of his fingertips.

“It’s not candy. If you don’t want it, I can’t take it back and use it myself,” he added.

Ruan Yu felt that continuing to refuse would be too petty, so she quietly gripped the bag.

“Thank you.”

“If you want to thank me, let’s talk.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

As soon as Ruan Yu spoke, she felt the question was foolish. What else could they discuss besides Teng Hao?

“Teng Hao.”

Sure enough.

“Alright.”

“Want to find somewhere to sit?” He pointed toward the West Gate.

The West Gate had a “Food Street” with various food stalls lining both sides. Every evening, university students would flock there in groups to eat, drink, and hang out. Ruan Yu had rarely been there, but she knew it was as lively as a food festival every day.

“No, let’s just talk here.”

Teng Yi nodded and sat down on the concrete edge beside the lawn.

Ruan Yu was stunned.

“Practiced dancing all afternoon, my legs are a bit sore,” he explained.

Ruan Yu didn’t comment but felt it wouldn’t be right for one person to be standing while they talked, so she sat down too.

She deliberately maintained a few fists’ distance from him.

“You’re Teng Hao’s fifth tutor,” his voice, heard up close, carried a hint of languor amid its low huskiness.

“I know.”

“Do you know why he acts like this?”

Teng Yi leaned back, supporting himself with both hands on the lawn. Though speaking to her, his gaze wasn’t on her but on the night sky. The clouds were thick tonight, with only occasional scattered stars giving off faint light.

Ruan Yu remained silent; she hadn’t thought about it.

Teng Yi waited a while, and seeing no response, turned to look at her.

Ruan Yu shook her head.

“Because he wants to get Ms. Shen Bing’s attention this way.”

Ms. Shen Bing?

“My mother,” Teng Yi smiled.

In Teng Yi’s smile, Ruan Yu saw a son’s reverse indulgence toward his mother. She looked away, feeling somewhat envious – envious that he could speak of his mother this way.

“Ms. Shen Bing is very busy. Out of three hundred and sixty-five days a year, she spends roughly three hundred and sixty days abroad. The other five days are spent returning to the country to deal with Teng Hao’s tutor issues.” Teng Yi paused, slowly realizing, “Come to think of it, thanks to Teng Hao, I get to see my mom.”

Ruan Yu: “…”