Chapter 62: Let’s Go Together.

As Lu Zhao approached, he overheard nearby chatter.

“Hey, look, Yuan Haoyang’s after Senior Yun again.”

“So jealous! Why not me?”

“You? Go look in a mirror. You think you can compare to Senior Yun?”

“I know, you don’t need to tell me! What, you think you’re better?” The girl rolled her eyes at her friend.

As Lu Zhao passed, the two fell silent, then whispered “quietly” behind him:

“Oh! It’s Lu Zhao, he’s hot too. Too bad Yan Qingxin, that little b*tch, got him first!”

“Yeah, just some stinking money. Pfft!”

Lu Zhao couldn’t ignore that. He stopped, turning with an icy glare.

“…”

The girls, mortified, scurried off.

Where there are people, there’s conflict—truer words were never spoken.

Shaking his head, he entered the cafeteria to find Yan Qingxin and Ling Cang.

He didn’t spot them but locked eyes with Yun Shuiyao. Her familiar smile appeared as she walked toward him.

Though familiar to Lu Zhao, that smile looked different to others.

“Am I imagining things? Did Senior Yun just… smile?”

“Nonsense, it’s your imagination. When does she ever show expression?”

Yun Shuiyao was quite known at school, largely because of Mei Zi.

Her aloof demeanor, striking looks, and academic accolades made the young professor a focal point.

Her clear favoritism toward Yun Shuiyao drew extra attention to the seemingly emotionless girl.

Despite her plain style—always in a black dress, wearing outdated tea-colored glasses—her eye-catching golden hair and subtle beauty stood out.

Plus, her stellar grades led students to joke that she was Mei Zi’s prized pupil, her “chosen one.”

“Junior, what a coincidence.”

Lu Zhao smiled. “Yeah, Senior, what brings you to the cafeteria today?”

It wasn’t intentional focus; her hair was just hard to miss.

Yun Shuiyao lowered her head, fingers pinching her skirt. “Haven’t been in a while, thought I’d check it out.”

She usually ate with Mei Zi, but lately, Mei Zi kept subtly suggesting she try dating, saying it might help her condition.

Yun Shuiyao had no response but couldn’t outright disagree, knowing it was for her own good.

Her childhood made her expressionless but sharpened her ability to read subtle emotions.

Like now—Lu Zhao was just speaking his mind, no hidden motives.

That was nice. It made being around him easy.

But the person behind her…

“Senior Yun, what do you want to eat? Oh? Isn’t that Lu Zhao? Wanna join us?”

A warm, magnetic voice sounded behind Yun Shuiyao.

Lu Zhao looked over—it was that third-place guy, smiling at them.

Why did Lu Zhao sense hostility? It went back to a freshman basketball game.

While cheering for Qingxin, he’d felt a malicious stare.

The source? Yuan Haoyang, the third-place guy.

That was one of their few encounters, and they hadn’t spoken since.

Lu Zhao wanted no part of him. About to refuse, he caught Yun Shuiyao’s eyes.

Her usually faint smile held rare distaste, startling him. He added to his refusal:

“No thanks… I’ve got something to discuss with Senior. Uh, classmate, you…”

He politely hinted for Yuan Haoyang to leave.

Her distaste turned to delight, her flat tone tinged with pleasure. “Yes, I have something to discuss with Junior Lu. Yuan Haoyang, you go eat.”

Yun Shuiyao didn’t hint—she was blunt.

The clear rejection made Yuan Haoyang’s face darken. “Oh… alright, I won’t bother you.”

He headed for the exit, clearly not eating.

Lu Zhao felt that malicious gaze again—no need to guess who.

As three somewhat notable figures, their exchange sparked chatter among onlookers.

“Erm… isn’t this like, trying your hardest and still losing?” a girl said.

“Pfft, losing my ass. Lu Zhao’s a scumbag. He’s got a girlfriend and still goes after Yun Shuiyao?” a guy scoffed.

“You don’t get it. Didn’t you see Yun Shuiyao brush off Yuan Haoyang? Lu Zhao was helping her out. He’s so cool.”

The guy rolled his eyes. “What, being hot means he can do whatever? Pfft! Simp. Pathetic.”

Lu Zhao ignored the chatter, smiling as he led Yun Shuiyao, who’d grabbed her food, to find Ling Cang.

Ling Cang, who’d gotten food for the others, blinked, confused why Lu Zhao brought her.

She knew Yun Shuiyao but not their connection.

“You know Senior Yun?”

Lu Zhao sat across from her, next to Qingxin’s usual spot. “Yeah, we’re high school alumni. Qingxin not here yet?”

His words clued Yun Shuiyao in on the seating. She sat beside Ling Cang, greeting her.

“Hi.”

“…Hi, Senior. I’m Ling Cang.”

“Yun Shuiyao.”

“…”

Ling Cang, already socially anxious, nearly expired facing this emotionally complex heavyweight.

Their awkward exchange made Lu Zhao laugh. “Haha, don’t mind, Ling Cang. Senior’s been like this since I met her—expressionless.”

“Haha… really?”

Yun Shuiyao nodded, eating quietly.

Ling Cang answered his earlier question. “Yeah, Qingxin’s not here yet. Not sure what she’s up to.”

She waved behind him. “Qingxin, over here!”

Yun Shuiyao’s eating paused as she looked up.

Lu Zhao turned, but one glance at his girlfriend’s face told him something was off.

Why did she look… angry? Who upset her?

But she quickly smiled, sat beside him, and kissed his cheek.

The move stunned Lu Zhao and Ling Cang—it wasn’t part of her usual routine.

Only Yun Shuiyao’s eyes held a faint envy.

“Baby, how’d you end up with Senior Yun?”

“Oh, just ran into her. Figured we’d eat together.”

“Cool, together it is.”

Lu Zhao had a sudden feeling. Though Qingxin was smiling, why did it feel so hostile?