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76

 Liu Shuyao had been drawing all morning, making edits and adjustments. After a nap, they finally returned to the hotel in the afternoon.


Xiang Ran watched as the campus beauty carefully packed away the box of colored pencils, even cushioning it with her clothes, and found it a bit unbelievable.


"Why bother packaging it so carefully? Just use it!"


To his surprise, Liu Shuyao cradled it protectively. "You don’t understand! This set of colored pencils is collectible! There are only 2,500 sets worldwide, and they’re not meant for drawing!"


"And besides, since you gave it to me as a gift, I have to take good care of it!"


Xiang Ran chuckled and let her be.


On the way back, Xiang Ran's phone kept buzzing with notifications.


"Can you check who it is?"


While driving, he gestured for Liu Shuyao to take a look.


"It's about Yang Ping's blind date," she replied. "They’re tagging you since you haven’t replied."


"Should I respond?"


Liu Shuyao glanced at the group chat, where Fatty was desperately seeking help and couldn't help but laugh.


Fatty: [Fathers!] Fatty: [My love has arrived! Early childhood education major, sweet and gentle! @Qi Dong, @Wang Hao, @Xiang Ran!] Fatty: [Hurry! Teach me how to start a conversation?!]


Wang Hao: [Try to find common topics.] Fatty: [Common topics are our moms!] Fatty: [Come on! They can't just eat together! @Qi Dong, @Wang Hao, @Xiang Ran] Qi Dong: [Then talk about your mom!] Fatty: [Have you lost your mind from the traffic during the holiday?!]


Wang Hao: [By the way, what happened between you and Zhao Ying?] Qi Dong: [I dropped her off and her mom warmly invited me in for tea! Though her dad didn’t look too happy, it’s still a big step forward!] Qi Dong: [Planning to confess at the school reunion!] Wang Hao: [Awesome! Directly meeting the parents!]


Fatty: [???] Fatty: [I wish you happiness too, but can you guys focus on my survival first?!] Fatty: [Where’s Ran? @Xiang Ran]


Hearing it wasn’t important, Xiang Ran spoke up. "No need to worry."


"Hahaha, and Qi Dong actually went home with Ying Ying~"


Liu Shuyao shared the recent happenings with her boyfriend while Fatty kept tagging them. Xiang Ran frowned slightly, focusing on driving as his phone buzzed.


"Just tell him not to contact me; I can’t help him!"


Liu Shuyao giggled, still holding her boyfriend's phone. "Can I help him instead?"


"Sure, just pull up your navigation."


Xiang Ran had no issue with Liu Shuyao replying with his phone, which made her even happier. After all, she’d heard of many boyfriends not letting their girlfriends touch their phones.


Xiang Ran: [Step one: Learn to mirror their language (understand what kind of person they are).] Xiang Ran: [Step two: Offer silent praise, empathy, and admiration.] Xiang Ran: [Step three: Find a way to connect emotionally.] Xiang Ran: [Lastly, I recommend a book: "How to Make the One You Love Fall for You."]


Fatty: [......]


Qi Dong: [......]


Wang Hao: [......]


After Liu Shuyao finished replying, she exited WeChat, happily seeking out Zhao Ying to gossip about her and Qi Dong's progress.


Once they reached the service area, Xiang Ran finally had time to check his phone.


Wang Hao: [Has Ran been possessed?]


Qi Dong: [What kind of ridiculous book is this?]


Fatty: [Ran!!! You clearly said this book is nothing!!]


Xiang Ran frowned, scrolling up through the chat history. Sure enough, he spotted that familiar book title.


He turned to Liu Shuyao and asked, “This book, How to Make the One You Love Fall for You, isn’t it the one you borrowed?”


“Hmm?”


“What? How did you know?”


Liu Shuyao thought she had hidden it well.


“So you’ve already practiced these steps?”


Xiang Ran felt like there were countless crows flying past his head.


“It’s just that digital screen thing—I asked Teacher Wu for it myself.”


“You were avoiding me for a while, so I had no choice. As soon as I heard about it, I ran to ask.”


Worried that her boyfriend wouldn’t believe her, Liu Shuyao opened her eyes wide and nodded repeatedly, trying to appear sincere.


“What else did you do?”


“I also went to the temple to pray for a good relationship!”


“The master said we are a match made in heaven. Plus, I bring good fortune!”


“And?”


“Um, nothing else...”


Her voice trailed off, becoming quieter.


It was all a scheme!


So she was still thinking about credits back then, and he’d already been caught in her trap?


“Hubby~”


“You’re not mad, are you?~”


Xiang Ran sighed deeply, looking at his girlfriend, who seemed more pitiful than he was.


“Not mad.”


What right did he have to be mad?


He had unexpectedly gotten a campus beauty as a girlfriend. Even though it was a loan-based relationship, it wasn’t too bad!


Seeing that her boyfriend really didn’t seem angry, Liu Shuyao relaxed.


“Did I say something wrong in the group?”


She leaned over to check his messages, mischievously asking.


“It’s fine.”


Xiang Ran’s response had a hint of resignation.


What else could he do but spoil his girlfriend?


Finally, he replied in the group.


Xiang Ran: [Don’t ask, just know it’s useful!]


After replying, they continued driving on the highway. Xiang Ran glanced at Liu Shuyao, who was focused on peeling an orange in the passenger seat.


He thought about their recent progress and the chat messages, suddenly feeling:


Was their underground relationship still underground?


Before he could sort out his thoughts, Liu Shuyao held out a piece of orange to his mouth.


“Ah~ Open wide~”


Xiang Ran obediently took a bite.


Mmm! So sweet.


All the way to Ningzhou, Liu Shuyao was in a good mood, and they chatted and laughed until they reached her house.


However, just as they were driving toward her home, Liu Shuyao suddenly received a message, and Xiang Ran keenly sensed her mood drop.


【Your dad has a last-minute business trip. You’ll be spending the Mid-Autumn Festival at school. I’ll let you know when to go to your grandfather’s for dinner.】


Liu Shuyao frowned at the cold message from her mom on her phone screen.


That line of chat was within her expectations.


“Is something wrong?”


Xiang Ran noticed Liu Shuyao had locked her phone and leaned her head against the car window, looking downcast.


“Nothing. My dad is on a last-minute business trip. Just take me back to school.”


“Your dad is away, what about your mom? Are you not going home for the next few days?” Xiang Ran didn’t understand.


“Not going back yet.”


Liu Shuyao said softly.


Xiang Ran wanted to ask more, but since he was driving, he decided to wait until they got to school.

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