Feeling Jiang Cheng's gaze, Ye Wan lowered her head slightly, not daring to meet his eyes.
The air was thick with the aroma of breakfast—and with a subtle, delicate tension.
Glancing at the slightly battered thermos on the table, Jiang Cheng asked, "Do you have a morning class?"
That low, magnetic voice seemed to pluck a string deep inside Ye Wan's heart.
"N-no, I'm heading to Simple Tea in a bit."
The moment she spoke, Ye Wan couldn't hold back a hiccup.
Seeing her hiccup, Jiang Cheng's lips curved in a faint, doting smile.
Embarrassed, Ye Wan lowered her head, nervously twisting the hem of her shirt to hide her awkwardness.
Actually, she'd spotted Jiang Cheng and Huang Yiyi the instant she walked in.
Even though Jiang Cheng was her boss, she hadn't gone up to greet them.
After getting home last night, she'd thought about it the entire night.
The more she thought, the more she felt that, to Jiang Cheng, she was probably just another charity case—like the sick children from impoverished families he helped.
She knew about Jiang Cheng's online philanthropy.
Though he rarely appeared on campus, forum posts about him popped up all the time.
Most were posted by girls who reposted updates from Social Media Platform onto the forum.
Those threads were often deleted for no apparent reason, yet she still managed to see them.
Compared with Huang Yiyi and Shen Mengjia, who had just been hovering around Jiang Cheng, she herself was like earth versus sky.
Ye Wan was painfully aware: to Jiang Cheng, she was merely an act of charity.
Grateful as she was, a quiet gloom still lingered inside her.
Jiang Cheng stood first. "Shall I come with you?"
Ye Wan's heart gave a lurch; she sprang up, voice trembling, "Huh?"
"You gave some great suggestions yesterday. I'd like to see how they're working out."
Side by side they walked toward the school gate, close enough for Ye Wan to feel Jiang Cheng's breath and warmth.
Every ounce of her attention was fixed on the man beside her.
She didn't notice the curious looks classmates cast their way.
Her eyes drifted irresistibly to Jiang Cheng; his tall frame blocked most of the sunlight like a solid shield.
Because he faced the light, from her angle he seemed to glow.
Watching the sun sketch that handsome profile, Ye Wan's gaze turned rapt.
A nameless feeling welled up inside, as if a little deer were racing wildly through her heart.
She tried to quell the flutter, yet the more she tried, the fiercer it surged.
Sensing her stare, Jiang Cheng tilted his head slightly and met her eyes.
In that instant time seemed to freeze; everything blurred except their locked gazes.
A few seconds later, color flooded Ye Wan's cheeks and she quickly looked down.
Jiang Cheng's mouth curved in a faint, almost hidden smile.
Soon they reached Simple Tea. Yang Fan was out front with several staff members, holding a morning rally.
They stood in neat ranks, spirits high, eyes bright with enthusiasm and expectation.
Yang Fan shouted from the front, "Dear teammates, a new day has begun! Let's meet it with passion and take on every challenge!"