Hard to Love

Mom and Dad came to the capital. Tonight we're having dinner at Uncle Yan's house. You and Tingli come back together later.]

During the break before elective class, the classroom was noisy with people constantly coming and going to take their seats.

Shi Sui stared at the screen for a long time before slowly replying with an "okay."

Suddenly, there was a commotion.

Shi Sui's elbow was nudged by her roommate Xue Jing, whose eyes were excitedly drifting as she signaled her to look behind.

Shi Sui turned her head and happened to meet eyes with the person coming through the back door.

She stiffened and quickly turned her face away.

It was a completely instinctive reaction, too late to remedy.

Very bad.

He didn't like her avoiding him.

"Yan Tingli, it's really Yan Tingli." Xue Jing was still sighing in her ear, "There were rumors before that he would choose this course. Strange, why would he choose a course from our major?"

"Western Art History" had nothing to do with Yan Tingli's major.

"Could it be that there's a girl he likes in our college?" Lin Anran gossiped nearby.

"No way, such a cold person-you could tell me he has no emotions and I'd believe it." As she spoke, Xue Jing's gaze also followed.

Those secretly watching like them were only more, not fewer.

Some people are destined to never be ordinary, and Yan Tingli was exactly that type.

Recommended for admission to University A's Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, then selected first with a crushing lead for the school's Zhiban program created for top talents.

In a place where prodigies gathered, he could still leave everyone in the dust. The abnormally difficult courses of Zhiban, Yan Tingli aced them all with perfect grades, his crushing strength becoming an inescapable shadow for all the other valedictorians.

University A had many geniuses every year.

But a genius with such naturally gifted looks, only one Yan Tingli appeared in several years.

In last year's special scholarship defense live stream, Yan Tingli's achievements were so heaven-defying, combined with that face comparable to a celebrity's, he caused a sensation throughout the entire school.

Very coincidentally, Yan Tingli sat quite close to them, in the only empty seat diagonally to their right.

His indifferent eyes lowered, finger tapping the screen, probably sending messages. His finger bones were distinct, with faint veins spreading.

"Yan Tingli is the sexiest man I've ever seen."

Art students had the keenest eyes. Lin Anran whispered: "A face of sexual coldness, hands with explosive sexual tension. I want him to be my hand model."

Xue Jing propped her chin in agreement: "I'm different-I want him to be my body model."

"Then go try it, don't just talk big."

"I'm lustful, not crazy." Xue Jing said.

Moreover, Yan Tingli had had no romantic rumors for so long, he was difficult to pursue. Approaching him would just be asking for rejection.

"Right, Sui Sui?"

Shi Sui didn't hear. Her gaze was fixed on her phone screen-a message Yan Tingli had just sent.

[Wait for me after class, we'll go back together]

"I'm talking to you, what are you looking at so intently?" Xue Jing tugged her sleeve.

Shi Sui hurriedly turned off the screen.

She responded reluctantly: "Celebrity gossip."

History class was typically lengthy, and the old professor spoke slowly, making this late autumn afternoon even more drowsy.

After class, Shi Sui told her roommates about her situation. Knowing she lived locally, Xue Jing and Lin Anran waved goodbye.

After the crowd dispersed, the classroom became unusually quiet.

Shi Sui packed her backpack very slowly.

At dusk, someone's figure blocked the light, finger knuckles tapping twice on the desk.

Shi Sui's spine stiffened as she looked up.

A few rays of light folded through the glass window, falling on Yan Tingli's eyes and brows, but didn't add any warmth to his cold, desolate features.

Yan Tingli hated wasting time.

Her deliberate dawdling would further consume his limited patience.

Since the last time, they hadn't seen each other for half a month.

At the beginning of the semester, the college organized a field sketching trip, and Shi Sui didn't tell Yan Tingli.

She disappeared for half a month as soon as she left, only returning yesterday.

Their last contact was when Yan Tingli told her to come to the apartment. After she shared the sketching location, she very stubbornly turned off her phone.

The method was childish, only satisfying momentary defiance.

Belated fear surfaced. Shi Sui: "Yan Tingli, I-"

"What did you call me?"

Shi Sui's chin was pinched by him, his fingertips very cold, not using force.

"...Brother Tingli." The address he liked to hear in bed.

"Mm."

But he wasn't responding to her. Yan Tingli pressed his earpiece, answering the other end: "Found her. Coming back now."

His hand had already moved from her chin to her delicate earlobe.

Rubbing hard.

The cold touch-Shi Sui didn't dodge, knowing that dodging would make it worse.

Yan Tingli was sick.

Always so unscrupulous like this.

The car stopped at the Yan family's entrance.

The driver was the Yan family's Old Chen. When parking, he glanced at the rearview mirror.

For the entire forty-minute drive, except when necessary, the two had no further communication.

Counting the time since Shi Sui moved in during the second semester of senior year, it had been two years now.

Two years, and she still couldn't exchange more than a few words with Young Master Yan.

"Thank you, Uncle Chen." Old Chen opened the back door, and Shi Sui got out.

"You're too kind, Miss Shi."

Shi Sui wore a light-colored fuzzy cardigan, black hair to her back, spoke gently and softly, and had shallow dimples.

A lovable personality, yet somehow not close to Yan Tingli.

He had watched Young Master Yan grow up, though quiet, he was refined and polite.

Strange.

Outside, Shi Sui saw her father's car.

Without looking back, she ran into the door and saw her parents in front of the reception hall.

"Mom and Dad!" Shi Sui rushed over to hug them.

Li Yin hadn't seen her daughter in a long time either, immediately hugging Shi Sui back and kissing her. Shi Yue, beside them, shook his head: "Such a big girl now, still so impetuous. Look at Tingli, learn from him more."

Learn my ass.

Shi Sui said nothing.

"This child." Shi Yue laughed, his gaze turning to Yan Tingli, who was walking calmly from the door. The latter greeted them clearly and distantly.

Shi Sui also greeted Uncle and Aunt.

She had stayed with the Yan family for half a year during senior year, and during college often received the Yan family's care.

Mr. and Mrs. Yan had extraordinary status, and Shi Sui was very grateful to them.

Needless to say about Shi Yue-his company had problems two years ago, with debt collectors outside. He and his wife were overwhelmed, constantly traveling for business, unable to take care of Shi Sui.

Their time in the capital was short, their foundation shallow. With their daughter in the crucial senior year, after consideration, they could only entrust her to the only reliable acquaintance in the capital, college roommate Yan Zecheng.

But while Shi Yue used to call Yan Zecheng brother after graduation and entering society, some requests became harder to voice.

He was just an ordinary person who tested into college from a small place, while Yan Zecheng came from a superior family background. Even before graduation, his family had paved the way for him. He had a smooth life, single-handedly founding Qisheng Technology, a nationally renowned tech company, already a prominent figure in the capital.

When Shi Yue approached Yan Zecheng, he didn't have much confidence, but Yan Zecheng agreed without hesitation.

Now that the company had weathered the difficulties, the favor owed to the Yan couple needed long-term repayment.

With a good wine filled, Shi Yue raised his glass emotionally to give thanks.

"Sui Sui is very well-behaved. I just regret not being able to have such a daughter." Mrs. Yan, Song Jie, said.

Mrs. Yan was a very elegant and refined woman, and Yan Tingli's temperament resembled his mother's.

But compared to Uncle Yan, who was familiar with Dad, Mrs. Yan gave her a more intuitive sense of distance.

Even knowing these words were mostly polite, Shi Sui still responded with an obedient smile.

Since Song Jie said this, Shi Yue naturally had to praise Yan Tingli in return.

The flowery vocabulary used on him didn't seem exaggerated at all.

"Tingli studies..." Shi Yue had drunk too much and couldn't remember for a long time.

Yan Tingli: "Artificial intelligence."

"Artificial intelligence is good! Like father, like son-in the future you'll inherit your father's mantle!"

Speaking of his son, Yan Zecheng's face also showed satisfaction.

Yan Tingli made an acknowledging sound, his actions not stopping as he continued wiping his hands with wet wipes.

It seemed like a response, but only Shi Sui could see he hadn't thought about it at all-beneath his mild exterior was complete indifference.

"Will you settle there in the future?" Yan Zecheng asked.

Shi Yue clinked glasses with him: "Doing e-commerce now, there are still more opportunities in Hangzhou."

Yan Zecheng: "With Sui Sui here, we'll take care of her, don't worry."

"Of course I'm not worried. Back then, after Sui Sui's college entrance exam, we wanted her to apply to southern schools to come back to us, but she refused. When daughters grow up, we let them be."

Speaking of this, Shi Sui felt simply indignant.

The word regret wasn't enough to describe her current feelings.

Regretting being deceived by Yan Tingli's surface appearance, being guided by him to apply in the capital, and now being manipulated by him!

When Shi Yue and his wife came this time, it was just a temporary business stop. Hearing that her parents had an early morning flight tomorrow and were leaving again, Shi Sui's eyes reddened, forcibly holding back tears.

By the time dinner ended, it was already late.

The servants cleared the dining table while Shi Yue continued chatting with the Yan parents.

About to leave, Li Yin couldn't bear to part with her daughter, pulling Shi Sui aside to speak intimately.

Previously, though they were busy with work, they had always kept their daughter by their side. From childhood to now, Shi Sui had never been this far from them.

Now, with the family separated by great distance, they could mostly only meet during holidays.

"Mom still regrets not having you apply to the G Academy of Fine Arts back then-right next to home, how nice that would have been."

Shi Sui hugged Li Yin: "I'll come over after graduation to be with Mom and Dad."

Li Yin smiled, thinking her daughter was just comforting her.

After all, when applying for colleges, she would rather risk not getting in than give up trying for University A.

Remembering something, Li Yin softly instructed a few more things: "Oh right, Uncle and Aunt Yan are quite busy. If anything happens, tell Mom and Dad first, don't trouble them too much..."

Li Yin's meaning, Shi Sui understood.

No matter how polite the Yan family was, she was ultimately a guest. Moreover, some gaps couldn't be bridged by sentiment alone.

But those boundaries that shouldn't be crossed had already been transgressed long ago.

Li Yin suddenly: "Hey, Tingli..."

Shi Sui: "He and I aren't familiar."

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Li Yin lightly pinched her daughter's arm.

Belatedly sensing something, Shi Sui turned around.

Yan Tingli was coming down from upstairs.

Standing on the staircase not far away, looking down from above with an indifferent expression.

Li Yin smoothly redirected the conversation.

"Mom and Dad are leaving." She ruffled Shi Sui's hair. "Tingli, when we're not here, please be tolerant of Sui Sui."

"Of course," Yan Tingli stepped downstairs, "I'll see you and Uncle off."

Li Yin smiled and nodded.

Toward Yan Tingli, Li Yin genuinely admired him.

But only to that extent. The distance with the Yan family was just right as it was now-they couldn't lose their sense of propriety.

Standing in the night wind watching her parents' car lights disappear into the distance, Shi Sui felt empty inside.

"Are you going back tonight?" Yan Zecheng asked them both.

"Yes."

"No."

Two voices fell simultaneously.

Yan Tingli's gaze lightly swept past Shi Sui, who turned her head away, avoiding eye contact.

Shi Sui said in a muffled voice: "It's too late today, the dorm has curfew. I plan to go back tomorrow."

Yan Zecheng nodded: "What about you, going back to school?"

Yan Tingli curved his lips slightly, with a few degrees of cold meaning.

"Since she's not going back, then I won't go back either."

Shi Sui's eyelid twitched. But no one present showed any unusual reaction.

"Then have Old Chen take you back tomorrow." Yan Zecheng said.

Yan Zecheng didn't stay at the Yan residence at night-he rarely rested here. Shi Sui didn't delve into the reasons.

The servants were on the first floor, Song Jie lived in the master bedroom on the second floor.

Song Jie's frequency of staying home wasn't high either. Today, as usual, she wanted to get her beauty sleep and entered her room very early.

She was always like this, not particularly concerned about anything, not even her son Yan Tingli.

In the Yan family, everyone had their affairs.

One more outsider didn't seem to affect anything.

Shi Sui's room was on the third floor of the villa, originally Yan Tingli's piano room and collection room.

Because of its good orientation, Yan Zecheng converted it into a bedroom for her.

Correspondingly, across the hall was Yan Tingli's room.

Shi Sui ignored the footsteps behind her, almost running upstairs into her room and slamming the door shut.

Her palms were damp, the phone screen fogged with moisture.

Lighting it up, there was a message Yan Tingli had sent during dinner, telling her to come to the apartment tonight.

What would happen at the apartment was obvious.

She wouldn't go.

The footsteps going upstairs outside remained unhurried.

Until they stopped.

Shi Sui pricked up her ears, hearing the footsteps seem to go to the opposite room, and sighed in relief.

At least at home, with Mrs. Yan still there, he wouldn't dare to-

The next second.

Her phone jumped with a new message, a concise and clear demand.

[I want to kiss you.]

[I don't want to.] Shi Sui replied.

[Be good, open the door.]

He used "be good."

Like coaxing someone, but a signal that his patience was exhausted.

Shi Sui ignored it.

The room had a fingerprint lock-if she didn't open it, Yan Tingli couldn't get in.

"Beep."

The sound of the door unlocking.

Before she could react, Shi Sui was already pressed against the door.

Yan Tingli's scent overwhelmed her like a tide.

Like the man himself-initially cold, then invasive and lingering intensely on the skin with strong, thick possession.

Shi Sui shook her head, struggling to swallow everything his mouth delivered.

Yan Tingli watched coldly, his cool finger bones gripping her delicate neck, pressing against her lips, and asking:

"Told you to open the door, didn't you see?"

Outside, the wind suddenly picked up, tree shadows swaying gracefully, brewing a spring rain.

Shi Sui wasn't tall enough, her neck craned back until it ached, humming as she kept dodging.

Yan Tingli got annoyed and lifted her with one hand.

Her cartoon slippers dropped to the floor with a "thud."

Mrs. Yan's room was right downstairs, and Shi Sui trembled in fright.

Her misty eyes panicked as she pushed against him.

Her jaw was gripped and forced straight, roughly, only allowed to face him: "Look, I'm kissing you."

Yan Tingli's hand directly went through her cardigan, his fingers especially cold, and she couldn't escape.

Shi Sui's eyes reddened from anger.

She wanted to curse him recklessly.

The curse reached her throat when Yan Tingli leaned close, his breath tickling past her earlobe: "Shh."

"Mom might hear."

Whimper.

Instantly defeated.

"Sui Sui chose to stay home herself, didn't she?"

"I didn't choose... mmph!"

Unfortunately, her body was more practiced than she was, and her words were insincere.

"...Gentle, be gentle."

"Don't pinch."

Shi Sui was held on the small sofa in the bedroom.

The wind grew stronger, the window not properly closed, howling as it rushed in.

Yan Tingli stared at her, his expression excessively cold, but his hands' actions weren't restrained at all.

In the second before Shi Sui was about to cry out, he withdrew his hand to cover her impending scream.

"Quietly."

"Mom is coming upstairs."

Shi Sui's face changed color in fright.

Yan Tingli lowered his eyes. The bedroom lights weren't on, his brow ridge against the light.

Calmly wiping his fingers on her face.

He did such vile things, yet Shi Sui didn't dare make a sound.

Listening intently for a while, except for the clock ticking, no footsteps were coming upstairs.

"Ah, I heard wrong." Yan Tingli said.

Shi Sui angrily lunged forward to bite him.

Yan Tingli took the opportunity to grip her chin and kiss her.

"So much, can't even wipe it clean." He said, consuming what was on her face, "So sweet."

Pervert!

Shi Sui cried out in humiliation: "I was wrong, really wrong."

"Why are you crying?" Yan Tingli frowned slightly.

As if worried about her, though his eyes were still cold.

Yan Tingli had fair skin and high facial symmetry, giving him a refined and handsome appearance.

Truly deceptive.

Shi Sui sobbed as she wrapped her arms around his neck: "Brother Tingli, I was wrong."

"I shouldn't have gone sketching without telling you, shouldn't have refused to go back with you, shouldn't have not opened the door."

Yan Tingli glanced at her, unmoved: "Wrong about what? We're not even familiar."

Shi Sui didn't understand.

Didn't understand why, even after softening and admitting fault, he still wasn't appeased.

She shrank forward, trying to please him by kissing the corner of his lips.

But Yan Tingli seemed disinterested, not even bothering to respond.

The atmosphere was unusual.

But Shi Sui had already admitted what she should. She still didn't know what he was angry about.

When she showed signs of retreat, Yan Tingli's eyes finally fluctuated. His large palm pressed against the back of her head, biting from her earlobe to her cheek.

Like a pervert, he always liked biting her. When Shi Sui felt pain, she would let out muffled whimpers.

His leg also wedged in, his knee pressing and grinding against her.

He only looked slender, but elite education had him exercising and training consistently for ten years. His leg muscles were hard, making her ache.

Afraid of making noise, Shi Sui bit down hard on her fingers.

Always like this-getting angry at the slightest disagreement, doing such terrible things!

What was more hateful was that her body had already gotten used to this chaos.

"Shi Sui." Yan Tingli suddenly called her full name when they were both in such a messy state.

His voice, when first heard, would make people think of spring's thin rain, so light that even falling on skin seemed like a fleeting illusion.

Just like when this person first stood before her.

Black turtleneck sweater, slender neck, standing high on the stairs, looking down at her as if she were nothing.

After Uncle Yan introduced her name, Yan Tingli blandly repeated: "Shi Sui?"

Yan Zecheng: "Do you know each other?"

"Don't know each other."

Easily making Shi Sui's mistaken heartbeat return to normal.

He didn't know her, but she knew him-the school's famous good student, liked by countless girls.

She never imagined that when darkness fell, even good students would devour people.

Shi Sui's eyes were covered by Yan Tingli as she was filled from behind.

She held back muffled groans, not daring to make a sound, when suddenly she heard Yan Tingli say: "Want to go back to Hangzhou?"

Shi Sui stiffened.

In a flash, she recalled telling her mother tonight about going back after graduation-he had heard it.

She didn't respond for a long time, so Yan Tingli turned her face forcibly.

"Is that so?"

"...No."

She was very bad at lying, her eyes darting around.

Yan Tingli looked at her without emotion, his eyes a cold black.

"Stay here. Don't even think about going anywhere."

He would occasionally say such authoritarian things, but it didn't prevent her inner rebellion.

What she wanted to do wasn't for him to decide!

A whole night of absurdity.

When she woke again, dawn was just breaking. Shi Sui opened her eyes, her whole body soft and powerless, swept by a deep fatigue.

Yan Tingli was no longer beside her. He had changed the sheets and her pajamas.

As for where the original sheets went, she didn't know and didn't want to care-he could always handle it properly.

Shi Sui wrapped herself in the blanket and sank back into the pillow.

Closing her eyes.

Though still in a tired state, she couldn't fall asleep again.

Failed.

As early as half a month ago, or even earlier, she had vaguely wanted to end this relationship. But she only dared to think about it-she was remarkably cowardly.

Obviously, during the half month she was sketching, Yan Tingli hadn't contacted her once.

Shi Sui even thought their absurd entanglement could come to an end, that Yan Tingli might be tired of it. They began with momentary indulgence; perhaps they would end silently.

But she still underestimated Yan Tingli's degree of absurdity.

Last night should have been his most outrageous time yet. Right in the Yan house, with Song Jie still downstairs, barging right in.

At seven-thirty, Shi Sui finished washing up.

A high-necked sweater concealed the mottled marks on her neck.

Looking in the mirror for a while, she still applied foundation and lipstick to improve her complexion.

The door was knocked.

"Who is it?"

"Beep."

The fingerprint unlocked, but no one entered.

The visitor's identity was obvious.

Hateful.

Shi Sui went to open the door.

Yan Tingli: "Come downstairs for breakfast."

Shi Sui said with a tense face: "How did you unlock the door?"

"Do you need me to tell the truth?" Yan Tingli asked blandly.

"What?"

"In high school, I practiced with my family's smart home system."

Shi Sui was speechless.

Following behind Yan Tingli, they went downstairs one after the other.

At this time, Song Jie was still doing yoga. Only the two of them were at the dining table.

Shi Sui had no appetite at all.

She randomly drank a few sips of porridge, then sat silently, waiting for Yan Tingli to finish eating before leaving together in the car.

Yan Tingli glanced at her.

Until they got in the car, the two had no communication.

Old Chen drove in front.

The car drove smoothly, with warm air conditioning on. Shi Sui felt drowsy.

A palm suddenly crossed her waist, massaging her lower back.

Before the art exam in high school, Shi Sui would often sit all day to paint, developing some chronic problems with her back.

Last night, he had aggravated it again.

Old Chen focused on driving and didn't notice what was happening behind him.

He massaged very comfortably.

The light, cool fragrance belonging to Yan Tingli floated subtly at her nose.

Shi Sui didn't expect that she would fall deeply asleep during such a journey beside Yan Tingli.

It was only twenty minutes.

Opening her eyes, she met Yan Tingli's gaze directly.

He was staring at her, not having time to look away. After a moment's pause, he turned his face away.

Shi Sui suddenly remembered a very small incident.

It was when she had just moved into the Yan house.

For a sensitive teenage girl, staying as a guest seemed like another level of depending on others' charity, especially after witnessing the Yan family's social stratum.

Shi Sui was careful with every word and action, afraid of making mistakes.

Yan Zecheng similarly arranged for Old Chen to drive them to school.

At that time, due to academic pressure, Shi Sui's menstrual cycle was irregular.

With the temperature drop, she caught a cold with nasal congestion, wasn't feeling well, and dozed off as soon as she got in the car after school.

When she woke, the strange sensation below reminded her of what had happened.

Her hand secretly explored-wet everywhere.

The car had already entered the Yan estate, Uncle Chen was parking.

Yan Tingli sat beside her, shoulders and neck straight. Receiving her hesitant gaze, he removed his earphones.

They weren't familiar at all then.

Shi Sui's face was snow-white.

Her lips trembled, unable to speak for a long time.

She didn't know what to do.

She had only seen this car in magazines-a brand her family couldn't afford.

She had dirtied the car, and it had white leather seats, too.

Yan Tingli's gaze passed over her fingers gripping her school uniform pants.

He lowered his eyes and picked up his teacup for a sip.

When closing the lid, his fingers didn't hold steady, knocking over the cup, water spilling on the seat.

"Uncle Chen, I spilled my tea."

Old Chen waved his hand: "No problem, I'll send it for cleaning tonight."

Yan Tingli opened the door and got out. Only then did Shi Sui quickly stand up, red-faced as she used wet wipes to clean the red marks from the seat.

She was grateful for the large tea stain as cover-that bit of blood was inconspicuous, mostly hidden after one wipe.

This was such a small, almost insignificant episode that Yan Tingli never mentioned it afterward. As if the tea that day was accidentally spilled by him on the seat, as if he had accidentally dirtied the car.

Coming back to the memory, Shi Sui had already returned to the dormitory.

Her phone buzzed. Shi Sui glanced at it.

Yan Tingli reminded her to come to the apartment the night after tomorrow.

The night after tomorrow was Friday.

Every week on this day, she would tell others she was going home, but spent the entire weekend fooling around with this "good student."

He was only a little bit good, but bad in so many ways.

Her phone buzzed again.

A message from her mother-they had just landed in Hangzhou. It was followed by reminders for her to be well-behaved at the Yan house.

After a long time, Shi Sui finally replied: [Got it.]

At the Yan house, she had always been well-behaved.

It was precisely because she was too well-behaved that she was always bullied by Yan Tingli like this.

This rain lasted two days, finally clearing up on Friday.

Spring had already begun last month. After several rains, the temperature warmed up.

Before afternoon class, Shi Sui changed out of her turtleneck sweater.

Xue Jing, passing behind her, stopped and touched the back of her neck: "Hey, is this a bug bite? It's all purple."

Shi Sui stiffened for a moment, remembering that last time Yan Tingli had taken her from behind. She didn't know how many marks were still on her back. She lowered her head and quickly put on her jacket.

Xue Jing clicked her tongue: "That bug is quite venomous."

"Very venomous, extremely venomous." Shi Sui agreed.

"Let's go, let's go, class is starting soon, we're running out of time." Lin Anran, who had been waiting nearby, urged.

It was peak class time, the academic building was packed, and the three were stuck on the stairs.

During the gap, Lin Anran still scrolled her phone, suddenly elbowing Xue Jing: "Case solved!"

"What?"

"I saw in the group chat that they're guessing Yan Tingli might have chosen 'Western Art History' for our department flower, Su Han."

"Tell me, tell me?"

"See for yourself in the group."

They had a good relationship with the neighboring dorm and formed a group chat, which was convenient for teaming up on assignments.

Only now had this group become a gossip relay station.

"They're sitting together." Xue Jing enlarged the photo in the group. "But if you're saying Su Han is the department flower, our sweet sister leader Sui Sui would be the first to disagree."

Xue Jing and Su Han were both class officers who didn't get along, often bad-mouthing each other in the dorm.

Xue Jing put her hand on Shi Sui's shoulder, rubbing her snow-white cheek: "Look at this little face, these big eyes, this lovely appearance-doesn't it deserve the title of department flower?"

There were still people around, some heard and curiously looked over.

Shi Sui felt embarrassed and pulled down Xue Jing's hand.

Lin Anran made a sound: "Su Han always participates in activities, our Sui Sui is too low-key."

"Hmph."

"What are you hmph-ing about?"

Xue Jing pouted: "Why should Su Han get to hook up with the male god? That's Yan Tingli! Anyone can see he's top quality-refined under the sheets, fierce in bed..."

Shi Sui couldn't listen anymore, covering her mouth with one hand and dragging her through the crowd at a trot.

Lin Anran followed, asking with interest: "How can you tell he's fierce in bed?"

"Look at his hands, look at his nose. Such long fingers, and his nose is straight and big..." Xue Jing glanced at Shi Sui from the corner of her eye, deliberately teasing her, "Sui Sui, why are you blushing? Even modeling nude didn't make you this-"

Shi Sui: "Hurry up, we're running out of time!"

As they spoke, the three arrived at the classroom's back door.

Looking from high to low, they immediately spotted the most conspicuous couple sitting in the middle.

The young man lowered his eyes, shoulders, and neck straight, his exposed skin a frost-snow cold white.

"Handsome." Xue Jing squinted, looking at the curly-haired girl beside Yan Tingli, who was propping her chin and gazing at him, saying sourly, "Su Han is eating well."

She pulled Shi Sui forward. Shi Sui frowned: "Where are you going?"

"Sit closer, gather intelligence."

No, no, no! Shi Sui wanted to run, but she wasn't stronger than Xue Jing. After struggling for a while, she looked up and met Yan Tingli's gaze as he turned toward the sound.

A very light glance.

It immediately slid past.

Shi Sui didn't dare dodge anymore, letting Xue Jing drag her straight to the seat next to Yan Tingli.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Xue Jing smiled sweetly, ignoring Su Han's eye roll.

Getting Yan Tingli's response: "No."

"Sui Sui, you sit." Xue Jing pushed Shi Sui inward.

Shi Sui: "..."

She sighed almost inaudibly.

Fine.

After sitting down, Xue Jing and Lin Anran also squeezed over.

Five seats in a row, perfectly filled.

Their phones kept vibrating as Xue Jing and Lin Anran frantically messaged in the group.

Lin Anran: [Ahhh, up close he's so handsome!]

Xue Jing: [Really want to ask how he maintains his skin, it's so white and smooth qwq]

Shi Sui took out her book from her bag. Conversation between a man and woman came from beside her.

"Sorry to trouble you. It's my fault for not having time to find my dad, making you make the trip."

"Don't mention it."

Su Han continued: "I don't know how to thank you. Let me treat you to dinner after class."

Shi Sui placed her book on the desk. She forgot to control her strength-"bang"-the sound was somewhat abrupt.

Su Han was still asking from the side: "Do you have time for dinner together after class?"

Yan Tingli withdrew his peripheral vision.

"Unfortunately, I have an appointment."

Su Han was stunned for a few seconds, seemingly not expecting to be rejected so cleanly and decisively. She responded with disappointment for a few sentences.

The interaction between the two naturally didn't escape Xue Jing, who had been listening intently. She provided live commentary, and the group chat gossip was flying.

[No way, is he that hard to pursue? Even Su the beauty, can't catch his eye?]

[Kind of interesting. Who's sitting close? Can you get his WeChat for me?]

The message was from Zhou Xuyan from the neighboring dorm, sitting diagonally behind, eagerly waving at them.

Xue Jing replied: [Sui Sui is sitting close, you can ask her to help]

After sending, she nudged Shi Sui's elbow.

"Me?" Shi Sui pointed to herself.

"Yeah, Xuanxuan wants you to help."

"I..." Shi Sui wasn't good at refusing people. After much consideration, she still shook her head.

Yan Tingli valued privacy the most.

If she asked, he would be unhappy.

When unhappy, he would bully her.

Seeing Shi Sui's troubled expression and guessing she was embarrassed, Xue Jing didn't mind: "No problem, I'll ask later."

Shi Sui apologetically hummed in agreement.

The class bell rang. She opened her book but couldn't focus on a single word.

She wasn't deliberately pretending not to know Yan Tingli in front of her roommates.

Rather, even now, she didn't know how to define her relationship with Yan Tingli.

When they were together, they mostly did that kind of thing.

At the Yan house, when the adults weren't there, the apartment with traffic flowing outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

She thought he would be as gentle and refined as his appearance suggested.

But that was only at the beginning, when he still pretended.

The real Yan Tingli was extremely domineering, very fierce, and always did things that made her cry from shame.

Lately it was getting worse. He was like an airtight net, and when they were alone, the air was thick with burning desire.

Their beginning was inexplicable.

After the high school graduation party, at the Yan house, in Yan Tingli's room.

Mr. and Mrs. Yan weren't there-it was all alcohol-catalyzed indulgence.

They didn't even go all the way that night because there were no condoms.

But he bit her all over.

Shi Sui hadn't even thought there would be a next time.

Until the next day, when Yan Tingli stopped her on the stairs: "I bought condoms."

Shi Sui stood in place, not knowing how to react.

Yan Tingli waited a few seconds, then said directly:

"I want to make love with you. Do you want to?"

Shi Sui's face turned red.

She stammered, "I'll think about it," and fled.

But that very night, she was on the third-floor staircase, kissing Yan Tingli.

Everything happened naturally.

At that time, Yan Tingli was a brilliant honor student in Shi Sui's eyes. She couldn't resist his natural sexual magnetism at all.

Shi Sui was very clear about the gap between them.

Yan Tingli came from a distinguished family, the pride of his parents placed high hopes on him.

While her family was ordinary, even though her father and Uncle Yan were old college friends, there was still a natural barrier between them and the Yan family.

They tacitly pretended not to be familiar. This underground relationship would end when the time came-at least Shi Sui thought so.

She had thought about actively ending it, especially under Yan Tingli's gradually revealed bad temper.

But these subtle emotions, once they arose, could be keenly detected by Yan Tingli.

He always had ways to make her afraid to speak up.

Now, around her, Yan Tingli was gradually weaving a dense, invisible net, tightening bit by bit.

Like this "unexpected encounter" elective course.

Shi Sui was in a daze throughout this class.

When the professor randomly called on people to answer questions, she only reacted after being called twice.

The question was about last class's content, but Shi Sui hadn't absorbed much last time either. After stammering for a while, she couldn't answer.

She looked to her roommates for help, meeting two equally clear but blank stares.

"..."

Until she heard the sound of pages turning beside her, the male student's distinct finger bones tapping the paper page suggestively.

Yan Tingli wasn't listening seriously-he was even reading literature on his tablet, multitasking.

Shi Sui lowered her head and didn't look.

Yan Tingli snorted, closed his book with a "snap," and didn't give her another glance.

Shi Sui made a small but noticeable fool of herself, was lectured for a few sentences, and sat down awkwardly.

She glanced at Yan Tingli from the corner of her eye.

He showed no reaction, his demeanor very cold.

Seemed unhappy again. Shi Sui pursed her lips.

The dismissal bell rang.

Shi Sui received Xue Jing's look and moved aside to make room. The latter rushed to Yan Tingli, waving her phone: "Classmate, my friend wants to get to know you. Can we add contact information?"

Su Han, who hadn't left yet, glanced at Xue Jing as if mocking her for overestimating herself.

Yan Tingli packed his tablet into his bag and looked up. His pupils were a light amber color, making him seem more distant: "Which friend?" His gaze turned to Shi Sui, who was shrinking her neck, "Her?"

Huh?

Shi Sui, who had been called out, looked up.

"Uh no," Xue Jing pointed in another direction, "it's that girl over there, her name is Zhou Xuyan..."

Somehow, talking to Yan Tingli, she felt a chill, and her voice grew smaller and smaller.

"Why didn't you come ask?"

Xue Jing: ...Huh?

She followed Yan Tingli's gaze and finally understood he was asking Shi Sui.

"You're sitting closest to me, why didn't you come ask?" Yan Tingli asked casually.

Shi Sui stood frozen, not understanding what madness had suddenly seized him.

"She's usually quite introverted, not comfortable talking to boys," Xue Jing quickly smoothed things over, "so please give us contact information."

Yan Tingli's lips barely moved, and he said nothing more.

Shi Sui turned her face away.

A few seconds later.

Yan Tingli rattled off a string of numbers, telling Xue Jing, "Have your friend add this."

"Oh my god, I still can't believe Weiwei just easily added Yan Tingli?!" On the way back, Xue Jing was still in disbelief.

In the group, Zhou Xuyan was messaging: [Ahhh, he accepted!]

Xue Jing: "Damn, if I'd known I would have asked for myself!"

Shi Sui walked beside her, the screen in her hand darkened by her press showing a message from Yan Tingli.

No other words, just a location pin two hundred meters outside the school gate.

Shi Sui exhaled and said carefully: "Um, I-"

Lin Anran guessed: "Going home again?"

Shi Sui nodded.

Xue Jing sighed: "I've never seen anyone more obedient than you, going back religiously every week."

"Right. You don't even look that eager to go back. Just don't go this time. You're grown up now, your parents probably won't say anything."

Shi Sui mumbled: "...Next time maybe, I already promised this time."

After saying goodbye to her roommates, Shi Sui walked alone toward the school gate.

She opened her phone.

On the WeChat interface, Yan Tingli's avatar was at the top.

Every time Shi Sui pushed it down, he would move it back up. After many while, she was too lazy to bother.

Yan Tingli's car was parked at the intersection ahead. He didn't have the flashy air of a rich young master, had low material desires, and only drove an inconspicuous black sedan.

Shi Sui opened the car door and got in.

Yan Tingli didn't look at her, his gaze fixed on his phone screen.

She glanced-it was a WeChat chat interface.

For a while, Yan Tingli still hadn't started the car, his fingertips tapping as he replied to messages.

Shi Sui fastened her seatbelt and stared at her toes for a while. After a moment: "Do you have to chat now?"

"Are you in a hurry?"

Shi Sui instantly didn't want to talk anymore.

When she didn't answer, he tossed his phone aside: "Eager to go back and do it?"

But before she could get angry, Yan Tingli had already spun the wheel with one hand, the sedan shooting forward, startling Shi Sui: "Yan Tingli!"

She rarely got angry, yet she always lost her composure around Yan Tingli.

This person was moody, unpredictable. Vile to an outrageous degree!

Just then, a phone rang-Yan Tingli's.

"Hold it to my ear."

Shi Sui glared at him for several seconds before picking up the phone. The screen showed the caller as Professor Su.

Yan Tingli had joined the college's top project team this year, under the guidance of mentor Su Ye.

The call connected, and Shi Sui silently held the phone to his ear.

She was practiced at this action.

When Yan Tingli was doing other things, he was always impatient about answering calls.

These other things might be driving, might be reading, or might also be her.

At those times when he didn't want to answer the phone, she would listen anxiously. When she panicked and reached for his phone, she'd be hit hard several times while having to follow his command: "Hold it to my ear."

"Professor Su."

Her thoughts were called back by Yan Tingli's voice. Shi Sui used her hair to cover her reddening ears.

"You're too kind." He turned the steering wheel, expression bland, "I happened to choose this course too."

He said something unknown, also mentioning Su Han. Shi Sui's eyelashes fluttered.

Yan Tingli said, "Yes, today is inconvenient."

"Tomorrow?"

"My father made an appointment with you?"

"Mm, he hasn't told me yet."

After a few more responses, Yan Tingli had her hang up. His brow was furrowed with some coldness.

Shi Sui roughly heard some of the call. Su Han was Professor Su's daughter. Su's mother doted on her daughter and made some of her favorite foods for Professor Su to bring to his daughter. But Professor Su was busy, so he had Yan Tingli bring them over conveniently.

As for the end of the conversation-what relationship Su Ye had with Yan's father, what appointment Yan Tingli had on Saturday-Shi Sui didn't know.

She put the phone back in place without asking questions.

Yan Tingli's apartment was in a high-end community two blocks away.

A large flat with river views, worth its weight in gold. Shi Sui hadn't been here for nearly a month. Opening the door, a cold, desolate atmosphere hit her.

Shi Sui suspected Yan Tingli hadn't been here either-otherwise, why were the snacks she'd half-opened last time still on the sofa?

The door closed behind her.

Dusk had arrived, leaving the room in dim light. Shi Sui had just steadied herself when Yan Tingli began kissing her.

He was too tall-kissing her always required hunching his shoulders, bending his neck.

When she dodged, he pursued.

Drawing and swallowing, looking desperately thirsty.

Shi Sui's eyes reddened, whimpering incoherently.

Yan Tingli stopped. In this gap, Shi Sui pushed him and instinctively ran.

She couldn't say why she wanted to run-maybe just biological instinct.

But this action displeased Yan Tingli.

His mood was already poor today, something Shi Sui only finally perceived after spreading her legs and sitting on him.

Especially when he pressed her down without mercy, and she let out a whimper, she realized this was punishment.

Yan Tingli's brow relaxed in that instant.

His long fingers brushed from her tightly furrowed brow to her bitten lips: "Feel good?"

She bit her lip and made no sound.

Yan Tingli's face was cold, his thumb pressing her lips: "This place is so hard."

"How come everywhere else is so soft?"

Shi Sui's cheeks were like a boiling kettle, red all over. She started crying again.

She didn't dare be stubborn-she'd be penetrated. There were also all kinds of embarrassing, face-reddening sounds, verbal and physical.

Hatefully, she would still get very excited, as would Yan Tingli.

The difference was that Yan Tingli was more clearheaded than she, his dark eyes capturing her from above.

But he was very pleased-this was obvious.

His Adam's apple rolled, his chest rose and fell with subtle, hoarse panting sounds, completely different from his usual refined appearance, almost losing composure.

Shi Sui always felt that Yan Tingli was willing to maintain this kind of relationship for two years because doing this with her was pleasurable.

She wanted to say that aside from being sick, he was also very good at it.

Until Yan Tingli's phone, tossed on the sofa, lit up, showing a message from Zhou Xuyan.

Yan Tingli unlocked the screen and threw the phone in front of her.

Shi Sui saw the brief chat record-Zhou Xuyan's self-introduction.

Zhou Xuyan was always bold, taking the initiative when she met someone appealing.

This was just the first message-apparently in the car, Yan Tingli hadn't been chatting with her.

"How should I reply?"

Shi Sui: "Mmph, don't know."

Her brain was like mush, absent-minded and completely uncaring.

Yan Tingli watched her quietly, suddenly, his features showing a layer of sinister frost.

He spoke slowly: "Don't know?"

"Don't know who's dripping all over the sofa, or don't know who's twisting her waist sitting on me?"

"Tell her, Sui Sui."