OSTF - 3

Another message popped up on WeChat.

He Xingwang: [Are you coming down, or should I come up?]

Chi Suisui recalled the dormitory supervisor downstairs—a formidable woman who loved knitting—and couldn’t help but chuckle. She replied: [You can try coming up.]

It was a blatant provocation.

No sooner had she sent it than she saw He Xingwang opening the car door downstairs.

Chi Suisui’s eyelids twitched as she quickly retracted her earlier message and typed a new one: [I’ll be right down.]

Regardless of whether he succeeded or not, if he stepped out of the car, by tonight—not even tomorrow—the headlines would explode with news of He Shen waiting outside the dormitory.

Seeing her about to leave, Su Mian asked: “Are you coming back later?”

Chi Suisui tossed out a casual “Yes” before closing the door behind her.

There weren’t many people around the dormitory building, as this was the senior students’ residence. However, since today was the anniversary celebration, there were slightly more people than usual.

Chi Suisui got into the car, feeling uncomfortable in every way.

She still vividly remembered He Xingwang’s earlier theatrical gesture of getting out of the car. Now, sitting upright, she guessed he probably hadn’t seriously intended to get out at all.

“Where’s the thing?”

Chi Suisui extended her hand.

The car’s interior light was on, illuminating her slender, delicate fingers.

He Xingwang placed a gift box in her hands, his gaze calm. He reminded her gently: “Use both hands.”

Rarely obedient, Chi Suisui extended her other hand as well.

Looking at the exquisite exterior of the gift box, she immediately recognized it and teased: “Who told you to bring me something?”

He Xingwang glanced at her: “What do you think?”

Chi Suisui tilted her chin upward, nudging her jaw slightly, and smiled mischievously: “I think it was your own idea to bring me something.”

“Close enough.”

“What do you mean, ‘close enough’?”

Chi Suisui wasn’t satisfied with this answer and rolled her eyes. Opening the box slightly, a waft of fragrance escaped.

She hadn’t smelled this before.

“It’s from Pincheng Ji’s latest release,” He Xingwang casually explained.

“Thanks.” Chi Suisui closed the box again and twirled her eyes thoughtfully before asking: “How should I thank you?”

The driver in front discreetly covered his ears.

He sensed that whatever came next might be inappropriate to overhear.

He Xingwang’s expression flickered slightly, and he raised an eyebrow: “What kind of thanks can you possibly give me?”

Chi Suisui felt like he was mocking her, so she huffed and swiftly pulled out her phone, typing a new message with lightning speed.

The notification sound from WeChat was unmistakably clear.

He Xingwang opened the app and saw a red envelope reminder labeled “Thank You.” He tapped it open.

1.00

There was a brief moment of silence.

He Xingwang said: “Should I be grateful you didn’t send me just one cent?”

“I wouldn’t humiliate you like that,” Chi Suisui blinked innocently. “Of course, if you want, it’s not impossible.”

He Xingwang felt he had gained a new understanding of Chi Suisui’s personality. However, he hadn’t given her the Pincheng Ji item for the sake of such trivial gratitude.

He changed the topic: “Are you staying at school tonight?”

“The dorms aren’t available,” Chi Suisui’s bed had already been cleared out. “I’m just picking up some things and heading back with Su Mian.”

He Xingwang hummed affirmatively.

“Do you plan to return to Bai’an Manor tonight?” Chi Suisui suddenly remembered.

“Going to the training base tonight.”

Seeing that it was getting late, Chi Suisui picked up the gift box and prepared to get out of the car. Before opening the door, she turned her head and said teasingly: “When you return, I’ll give you the rest of my thanks.”

Her words were deliberately provocative.

Even someone as composed as He Xingwang couldn’t resist raising an eyebrow.

Thinking about it, one yuan didn’t seem so bad after all.

This was the first time He Xingwang had ever entertained such thoughts.

As for what the remaining “thanks” entailed, Chi Suisui didn’t elaborate. With a smirk, she got out of the car and disappeared into the dormitory building within a few steps.

The driver waited a moment before cautiously asking: “Master He?”

In the rearview mirror, he saw his boss still seated there, the car window half-open, seemingly lost in thought.

For a marksman, the most important qualities were calmness and focus.

He Xingwang rarely let his mind wander. Even during training, they deliberately honed this aspect. His fingers rested lightly by his side, inexplicably circling around her earlier words.

Then, deep in thought.

The driver waited for a response but heard nothing, growing slightly nervous.

After an indeterminate amount of time, He Xingwang glanced outside and closed the car window: “Drive.”

The driver pulled out of the school grounds and then remembered an important question: “Master He, are we going to the training base or Bai’an Manor?”

The car fell silent for half a minute before—

—”Bai’an Manor.”

Inside the dormitory building, Su Mian had just finished washing her hands.

Chi Suisui entered with the gift box, using her foot to close the door behind her. Placing the box on the table, she headed to the balcony, where she could still see the tail lights of the departing car.

She pursed her lips and returned to her desk.

Upon opening the box, the aroma of desserts wafted out, instantly assaulting Chi Suisui’s sense of smell.

“What smells so good!?”

Su Mian had just stepped out of the restroom, her nose twitching like a sharp-nosed dog. It didn’t take long for her to sniff her way over to Chi Suisui.

Chi Suisui handed her a spoon.

“Pincheng Ji again,” Su Mian wasn’t surprised to see the packaging. “Isn’t Pincheng Ji closed by now?”

She frequently saw these desserts in Chi Suisui’s hands, always with different designs.

Chi Suisui usually appeared aloof and cold, but she clearly had a soft spot for this place.

Reminded by Su Mian, Chi Suisui remembered Pincheng Ji’s closing time and paused, stroking her chin.

She looked up: “What time did He Xingwang leave?”

Su Mian naturally knew she was referring to the celebration and recalled: “Around eight-thirty. I saw it mentioned in the group chat.”

Pincheng Ji closed at nine o’clock in the evening.

Chi Suisui’s eyebrows curved slightly, and she didn’t ask further. Scooping a bite into her mouth, the sweet fragrance mingled with fruity notes spread across her tongue.

The dessert wasn’t large—it took only two or three minutes to finish.

Chi Suisui tied up the gift box, then gathered the remaining items in the dorm. They were mostly small odds and ends, which she packed into a paper bag taken from the cabinet.

Su Mian spotted the LV logo at a glance.

Chi Suisui picked up the cello case and carefully checked the instrument inside. Her roommates had been kind enough to occasionally polish the case for her.

She plucked a string lightly.

A low, muted hum.

Su Mian adored listening to her play the cello.

Seeing Su Mian’s sparkling eyes fixed on her, Chi Suisui smiled: “So happy? Want to give it a try?”

“Me?” Su Mian pointed to herself, waving her hands: “I don’t have a light touch. What if I accidentally break it…?”

“You won’t.”

“…Alright, I won’t hold back then.”

Su Mian cautiously accepted the bow and, under Chi Suisui’s guidance, assumed the proper posture. Taking a deep breath, she gently drew the bow across the strings.

Chi Suisui asked: “Do you have a favorite song?”

Su Mian thought for a moment: “Too many to choose from—I can’t think of one right now.”

Chi Suisui chuckled at her response: “Then I’ll teach you something random.”

She placed her hand over Su Mian’s and guided her movements.

Su Mian felt like a mere tool, mesmerized by the soft, silky sensation on the back of her hand. Her face flushed.

Momentarily distracted, the pitch wavered.

“Don’t tense up,” Chi Suisui reassured her. She didn’t intend to fully teach her—it was just an experience. Beginners often sounded terrible.

The cello’s tone was rich and mellow, leaning toward lower pitches, unlike the violin.

“I once read a novel where the male protagonist’s voice was described as being like a cello,” Su Mian suddenly recalled. “It really is beautiful. From now on, I won’t criticize authors for lacking descriptive words.”

Because it was truly indescribable.

Su Mian tilted her head to look at Chi Suisui, whose eyes were slightly narrowed, her left hand hovering over the cello, fingers moving gracefully.

Her profile was delicate and stunning, radiant like peach blossoms.

Every year, the school held a campus beauty pageant. Chi Suisui, their beloved “Sui-senpai,” had been crowned the university’s most beautiful student for four consecutive years, with no one surpassing her.

Su Mian felt a strange sense of pride by association.

The school’s judgment was accurate—Sui-senpai truly deserved the title.

Chi Suisui released her grip: “Want to try yourself?”

Before Su Mian could move, urgent knocking echoed from outside the door, accompanied by a loud voice—

“What the hell is that noise? Are you disturbing the peace or not?”

Su Mian jumped in surprise: “Who is it?”

Chi Suisui tilted her head. A small alarm clock on the table still showed nine o’clock. The dormitory’s soundproofing wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible either.

Su Mian opened the door: “Stop knocking.”

The girl outside stopped, glaring fiercely: “What are you playing in your dorm? It’s so noisy—it’s unbearable! How can anyone sleep?”

Peering inside, she saw Chi Suisui arranging the cello.

“Noisy? Are you sure we disturbed you?” Su Mian recognized her as a student from a neighboring dorm.

S University’s dormitories were well-equipped.

Their class’s dorm was next door. Previously, a classmate had bought a ukulele, and even through a wall, the sound was barely audible. Let alone two walls away.

Chi Suisui walked over to Su Mian, her gaze falling on the takeout in the girl’s hand. She asked Su Mian: “Did I forget to lock the door properly earlier?”

Su Mian thought for a moment: “There was a small gap.”

“If we genuinely disturbed you, we’ll apologize,” Chi Suisui raised an eyebrow. “But, classmate—”

Her tone suddenly shifted.

The girl’s eyelids twitched, regret creeping in.

“Classmate, are you planning to—right now, at nine o’clock—stand outside our dorm with takeout and sleep here?”

Chi Suisui spoke slowly and deliberately.

When she wasn’t smiling, she exuded an intimidating presence.

Su Mian caught on belatedly and slapped the doorframe: “Exactly! You’re clearly passing by with takeout. Don’t be ridiculous!”

This was clearly a lie to stir trouble.

“I was throwing out the trash before bed!” The girl stubbornly defended herself, though her tone weakened significantly: “Why do you care what I do…”

Before she could finish, she noticed Chi Suisui stepping forward.

Standing beside her.

“Since you insist,” Chi Suisui glanced at her indifferently and turned to Su Mian: “Su Mian, go play the cello.”

“Huh?”

Su Mian froze for a few seconds before realizing what to do. She rushed into the dorm and placed the bow on the cello: “Sui-senpai, I’m ready!”

Chi Suisui closed the door, leaving a small gap intentionally.

Su Mian carefully played twice. By the time the sound reached the door, it had become muffled yet melodious—pleasant without being ostentatious.

The girl’s expression changed.

She had indeed passed by, hearing strange cello sounds through the door crack and seeing the dorm number belonging to Chi Suisui. Impulsively, she had knocked.

Chi Suisui turned her head and spoke calmly:

“We’re both journalists. Facts speak louder than words, and uncovering the truth is our principle. Not to mention, it’s only nine o’clock. Do you really think this sound disturbs the peace?”

The girl felt as if she were seeing a ghost. Her eyes reflected disbelief and a hint of shame.

She had only heard rumors of Chi Suisui barging into a boys’ dorm and dismantling gossip with just a few words. Now, she finally believed it was true.

Was this even human?

Dazed, the girl realized Zhou Qingya was indeed no match. No wonder she had been overshadowed for four years. After a long pause, she managed to stammer weakly: “…No.”

With that, she lowered her head and left.

Su Mian walked to the door: “I thought it was strange. There are hardly any people in our building. Even if we wanted to disturb someone, how could we? Where did she go?”

“She left.”

Chi Suisui closed the door and returned to her desk.

“Our Sui-senpai’s silver tongue lives up to its reputation,” Su Mian slapped the table. “That was practically inviting humiliation.”

Chi Suisui smirked but didn’t refute it.

“Sui-senpai, how were you so confident? I even doubted if we really were disturbing them,” Su Mian asked enthusiastically.

“Because I play the cello,” Chi Suisui replied nonchalantly.

If a cello and piano played together now, even the audience seated below might not hear the cello clearly.

How loud was the sound? Could it disturb anyone?

She knew better than anyone.

By the time they returned to Bai’an Manor, it was already ten o’clock.

The house was registered under both her and He Xingwang’s names, but since He Xingwang spent most of his time at the training base, Chi Suisui enjoyed the entire villa to herself.

Though they weren’t married.

This was a long story, and even Chi Suisui found it miraculous, with a hint of subtle irony.

The house was pitch-black, unlit.

Chi Suisui hung the paper bag on her wrist, opened the door, and without turning on the lights, kicked off her high heels and walked barefoot inside.

Her cheerful mood made her gait light and breezy.

If Su Mian had seen her, she would’ve exclaimed in awe.

Until cool fingers suddenly gripped her wrist, and Chi Suisui instinctively swung the paper bag to strike—

Had a burglar broken in?!

The lights suddenly turned on.

Chi Suisui squinted reflexively, unable to adjust to the brightness immediately.

A tall, blurry figure stood before her, legs crossed, exuding casual indifference. He Xingwang’s voice sounded softly by her ear.

“So this is the rest of your thanks?”

“Aren’t you supposed to not come back?”

The two spoke simultaneously.

Chi Suisui adjusted to the light and opened her eyes, meeting his gaze with a faint smile.

She added teasingly: “Don’t rush.”

Her voice was crisp and cheerful.