Not knowing that Shen Yusi and Lin Yingzhou had actually met, Yu Shushu used the term ‘your calligraphy teacher’.
The purpose of this dinner party was twofold: to express gratitude to Lin Yingzhou for teaching Shen Yusi calligraphy, and to give Shen Yusi more face time with Lin Yunzhi.
Barring any surprises, Shen Yusi’s future career would be related to art. Building a good relationship with Lin Yunzhi would be beneficial in every way.
The reason she had asked Lin Yunzhi to choose a calligraphy teacher from the CCA for Shen Yusi was so that she could conveniently invite him to a thank-you dinner.
She just never expected he would pick Lin Yingzhou.
Yu Shushu had climbed the ranks through hard work. Her scheming was beyond what most could imagine. As an elder, she naturally thought of more things.
In every aspect, Lin Yingzhou was perfect. This kind of walking top-tier resource was something you wouldn’t encounter once you left school.
If Shen Yusi could like him, Yu Shushu would be willing to give a little push. Even if it was just as friends, the art resources she could gain would be substantial.
Of course, Shen Yusi had no idea her aunt was thinking so far ahead.
She was simply thinking, Dean Lin and the calligraphy teacher are going together?
Well, that made sense. After all, Auntie Shu had said the teacher was a relative of a friend. That friend was probably Lin Yunzhi.
It was perfectly normal for the CCA chairman to have a relative in the CCA.
But was it really that simple?
The process of solving the puzzle was entertaining, but Shen Yusi was tired of guessing.
She just wanted the answer quickly.
“Oh, Auntie Shu.” Shen Yusi threw her brush into the water bucket. The vermillion paint bloomed in the clear water like blood. She stared at the ripples and asked, “I never got a chance to ask. What… is my calligraphy teacher’s name?”
“His name is Lin Yingzhou. Zhou as in a solitary boat.”
Suddenly, Shen Yusi remembered that painting. The Fisherman on a Cold River…
It wasn’t a boat.
It was ‘Zhou’.
A light laugh escaped her lips. “I see.”
Yu Shushu was curious. “What’s so funny?”
“I just discovered something very amusing.” The cleaned brush twirled nimbly in Shen Yusi’s fingers.
Her eyes glinted. How amusing? She would find out at the weekend dinner.
After hanging up, Shen Yusi let the heat rushing to her ears burn down her neck and spread through her whole body.
She opened the window in the studio, trying to dispel this strange heat.
But when she thought again about what would happen at the weekend, the blood seemed to flow even faster.
Time was passing so slowly.
She couldn’t wait to meet Z.
This news was too much to digest alone. Shen Yusi dialed Xie Sheng’s number.
“I have a heavy news and a nuclear bomb. Which do you want first?”
“The heavy news. Ease me into it.”
“I’m having dinner with Z this weekend.”
Xie Sheng shot up from her bed, her voice cracking. “What the hell! An online date! How exciting!”
Shen Yusi was momentarily speechless. “…You. You’re insane. This is hardly an online date.”
Xie Sheng snorted, her excitement palpable. “Then it’s a teacher-student romance! Even more exciting!”
Shen Yusi was exasperated by her train of thought. “Can you please think about something healthier? Auntie Shu arranged this dinner. Our dean will be there too.”
Hearing this, Xie Sheng lay back down on her bed, safe and sound. “Pfft. Can’t you be clearer? And here I thought it was something big. Turns out the elders will be there.”
She asked, “So, what about the nuclear bomb? If it doesn’t blow me up, don’t bother.”
“Aren’t you curious why our dean is coming too?” The current crackled in her eardrums for three seconds. Shen Yusi let out a soft sigh. “Because, Z is—”
She paused, then said the name slowly.
“Lin Yingzhou.”
“What?!” Xie Sheng sat bolt upright in bed again.
“Xie Sheng, what’s wrong?” Her roommate was startled by her sudden movements.
Realizing her roommate was still there, Xie Sheng knew she couldn’t discuss Lin Yingzhou in the dorm.
“Sorry, sorry. I’ll take this call outside.”
Xie Sheng quickly scrambled off her bed and ran to the hallway, lowering her voice. “Are you saying Lin Yingzhou is your calligraphy teacher?”
“Yeah. I suspected it before, but I had no proof. Auntie Shu just confirmed it.” Shen Yusi leaned against the studio window, her restless heart slowly calming down in the breeze.
Xie Sheng let out an exclamation of awe. “My god, Little Island! You are so lucky!”
“What do you mean?” What did luck have to do with it?
“You have a person with Z’s inner self and Lin Yingzhou’s face, all in one. See? The perfect ideal type is right beside you. And you’re having dinner with him this weekend? I can’t even imagine!”
Xie Sheng remembered Shen Yusi saying she and Lin Yingzhou were fated. She had thought it was just talk, but now she was being proven wrong so quickly.
Shen Yusi’s hair blew in the wind, and that feeling of excitement came rushing back. “…Damn. When you put it that way, it feels even better.”
Xie Sheng was still reeling from the news, leaning against the railing. “Go buy a lottery ticket. If you win, you can add a few zeros to your bank balance.”
Shen Yusi laughed. “No way. I’m going to take a nap.”
That evening, Shen Yusi finished her assignment and was about to head back to the dorm.
Her phone vibrated. She wiped her hands clean and answered it.
Yu Shushu’s voice didn’t betray much emotion. “Dean Lin had something come up, so he won’t be able to make it this weekend. We might have to reschedule.”
A shadow passed over Shen Yusi’s eyes. “What about the calligraphy teacher?”
“I asked him separately. He says he’s busy too.”
Shen Yusi’s eyebrows lifted slightly, a playful glint in her eyes.
Oh. He’s hiding from me.
Nervous, are we, Lin Yingzhou?
Then, her voice sweet as honey, she said, “That’s fine. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Auntie Shu. We can just catch up.”
Hearing this made fireworks go off in Yu Shushu’s heart.
Shen Yusi and Jiang Yanci were the only children left in the world by Yu Shushu’s two deceased friends. She sincerely wanted to be close to them, but her work, and the distance between Yunchang and Canaan, made it hard.
They hadn’t been close when they were young, so they naturally grew apart as adults.
Yu Shushu had been thrilled when Shen Yusi finally came to study in Yunchang. Her polite and distant demeanor made Yu Shushu sad, though she wouldn’t admit it.
At least she could tell that Shen Yusi was slowly opening up to her. That made her happy enough.
“Great! I’ll come pick you up this weekend, then.”
After hanging up, Shen Yusi immediately messaged Xie Sheng: [Can you get Lin Yingzhou’s class schedule?]
Sheng Sheng: [I have it. Let me find it for you.]
Xie Sheng thought it was strange: [Aren’t you seeing him this weekend? What do you need that for?]
She joked: [Tch. Can’t even wait three days?]
Shen Yusi was furious: [Lin Yingzhou! He turned down Auntie Shu’s dinner!]
Sheng Sheng: [Why?]
Shen Yusi wanted to know too. Why?
All signs pointed to Lin Yingzhou knowing from the start that Island was her.
That’s why he deliberately faked Z’s handwriting to avoid being discovered.
He went out of his way to fulfill her every request online, but in real life, he was evasive and aloof.
Shen Yusi didn’t understand. Was teaching her calligraphy so embarrassing?
She was the one who had boldly declared her love for Lin Yingzhou on the internet. She was the one who had confessed to the person himself.
She should be the one hiding from this dinner, not him.
What was Lin Yingzhou so afraid of?
Island: [I don’t know. So I want to go find out.]
The more Lin Yingzhou tried to hide from her, the more she wanted to appear before him, tear off his mask, and enjoy his embarrassment.
Sheng Sheng: [Alright. I’ll get the schedule for you.]
Lin Yingzhou’s class schedule had been circulating since the start of the semester. Xie Sheng had glanced at it then. It was easy to find again.
She opened a random group chat, searched for the keyword ‘schedule’, and quickly found a few pictures. She forwarded them.
The next morning.
The corridor, still hazy with morning mist, buzzed with pre-class chatter. Shen Yusi opened the schedule Xie Sheng had sent, confirmed the classroom number matched, and then audaciously stood at the door, scanning the room to make sure Lin Yingzhou wasn’t there yet. Then she waited by the corridor like a hunter.
People passed by, and some classmates glanced at Shen Yusi, who was clearly waiting for someone. In their three years at university, they’d gotten used to seeing different types of pretty girls appearing at classroom doors.
They’d even come to enjoy it. It was pleasing to the eye.
Shen Yusi leaned against the railing, her gaze fixed on the stairwell. When a familiar, elegant figure turned the corner from the elevator, she immediately ran over.
“What a coincidence, Senior. You’re here too?”
The sweet ending note made Lin Yingzhou’s brow twitch.
Shen Yusi stood before him, beaming, her eyes sparkling.
It looked just like a real coincidence.
Beside him, Xu Huaichuan cleared his throat softly, his fist covering the corner of his twitching mouth.
This girl was interesting.
Blocking someone at their classroom door, then saying ‘what a coincidence’.
“Mm.” Lin Yingzhou’s gaze lowered, noticing that her hair was loose today.
He didn’t know why, but he felt a sudden sense of relief.
He was glad he had worn his glasses before leaving the house this morning.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to meet her gaze for three seconds.
Shen Yusi also noticed he was wearing glasses today, a rare occurrence.
The metal frames overlapped with the shape of his eyes. His eyelids were slightly lowered behind the lenses. From this distance, she could see a small mole between his brows.
It had a cold, precise, and delicate beauty.
Shen Yusi suppressed the urge to drool and continued.
“Senior, after the hospital that day, I went home and thought it over. I really feel I should treat you to a meal to show my gratitude.”
Lin Yingzhou was about to speak, but a clean, fair hand quickly appeared in front of him, signaling him to wait.
“We’re at school, so I can’t take you to anything extravagant. I’ll be waiting for you on the second floor of the Third Cafeteria after class.”
With that, Shen Yusi turned and ran, giving Lin Yingzhou no chance to refuse.
She didn’t know Lin Yingzhou’s temper, but she knew Z’s.
Playing the stubborn one was the most effective trick on him.
Xu Huaichuan watched Shen Yusi’s retreating figure, then glanced at Lin Yingzhou, the corner of his mouth twitching again. “She’s pretty funny.”
“Is she?” Lin Yingzhou averted his gaze and walked into the classroom.
Before class ended, the professor said, “Next Thursday, we’ll be discussing the neural mechanisms of decision fatigue. I suggest you all preview Baumeister’s literature on ego depletion theory, especially the controversial replication crisis papers. If you have any questions, you can come to my office after class.”