Chapter Sixty-One: The Savior

"Those words are truly comforting. Thank you," Dong Yanyan smiled at him, then lowered her head to eat.

"You took so much ketchup, why aren’t you eating it?" Ren Jiaxuan tore open a packet of ketchup and held it in front of her.

Dong Yanyan was momentarily stunned—Lulu was the one who loved ketchup. Years later, KFC had become an affordable, everyday treat, but children still thought it was the best. Every time Lulu insisted on going, it was for the ketchup—she only liked the ketchup there.

"Yanyan, who told you I had a girlfriend?" Ren Jiaxuan turned to ask her.

"Huh?" Pulled from her memories, Dong Yanyan thought carefully. In her recollection, all the boys in the broadcasting class had girlfriends—sometimes not even enough to go around, with several girls vying for one boy. Had her memory failed her? Or had the story changed since she’d come back?

"Sorry, I honestly forgot," she said apologetically, forcing a smile. "But from the rumors we’ve heard, they’re all positive—you’re measured, disciplined, and self-possessed."

"Are you complimenting me or mocking me? My girlfriend and I broke up long ago." Ren Jiaxuan scowled, clearly annoyed.

Seeing his expression, Dong Yanyan recognized the look of someone about to gleefully dissect a tragic TV drama. He probably felt quite pleased about the breakup. So she half-heartedly said, "Oh, my condolences," before biting into a chicken wing—tender, still a little warm.

"The chicken wings are really good, just the right texture," she remarked.

Leaning back in his chair, Ren Jiaxuan watched her eat, eyebrows furrowed. "Why do I get the feeling you’re enjoying my misfortune?"

"You don’t even care, and you accuse me of gloating?" Dong Yanyan couldn’t help but laugh. "You know the saying—women are like clothes, brothers are like limbs. Missing a woman is just missing an outfit; you’ve got eight guys in your dorm, you could walk sideways with that crew. One crab has eight legs, two crabs have sixteen..."

Ren Jiaxuan paused, then grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, narrowing his eyes and flashing his teeth. "Getting a little too familiar, aren’t you? Feeling cocky? Think I won’t put you in your place?"

She hadn’t expected so much strength from his slender arm. She struggled twice but couldn’t break free and glanced down at his hand—fair and long-fingered. Instantly, she was smitten! Not only was she a face and voice fanatic, she had an obsession with hands—and she had rarely seen such beautiful ones.

Ren Jiaxuan noticed her silent gaze fixed on his hand and, feeling awkward, quickly let her go.

Only then did Dong Yanyan realize she’d lost her composure. She’d always gushed over handsome men online, but now she was doing it in real life. A boy of just seventeen, trying to act mature and charming, was still easy to embarrass with a few glances. Suddenly, a wave of feminine superiority washed over her.

To ease his embarrassment, she casually flipped her hair and said with a smile, "Your fingers are long and well-shaped—perfect for playing piano."

At this, Ren Jiaxuan perked up, tapping the table with his fingers and boasting, "You guessed right. I’ve played piano since I was a kid, passed level ten ages ago. I’ve also studied cello, violin, and drums. Honestly, there’s nothing I can’t play or sing. Impressive, right?"

"The legendary music prodigy?" Dong Yanyan exclaimed in mock amazement. "That means you’ll never worry about unemployment—a lifetime of street performances awaits if all else fails. Hey, do you know how to play the erhu?"

Ren Jiaxuan burst out laughing. "When the time comes, I’ll play the erhu and you can sing along."

Voices came from the door—Yu Xia’s, by the sound of it. Dong Yanyan instinctively glanced at Ren Jiaxuan and saw him pause for a moment before switching to an impeccable smile, with a glint of anticipation and challenge in his eyes.

The door opened. Yu Xia and Xinran entered one after another, both surprised to see him.

"Hi, hello!" Ren Jiaxuan greeted them in his most refined manner, using his broadcast accent.

Xinran paused, nodded, and replied with a flat "hello" as she passed by him and put her things on her bed.

"Ren Jiaxuan? How unusual! Here, have some sunflower seeds!" Yu Xia held out her bag to him, and Ren Jiaxuan, a bit surprised, grabbed a handful.

"Yanyan, what have you been up to today?" Xinran asked without looking up, busy sorting her new clothes.

"I’ve had a cold," Dong Yanyan replied with a playful pout.

"What?" Xinran immediately hurried over, feeling Dong Yanyan’s forehead, then her own, with concern. "Are you okay?" Then, noticing all the food on the table, she pointed suspiciously at Ren Jiaxuan. "Did he buy all this?"

Dong Yanyan nodded. "Help yourself if you want any."

"We just ate outside. Hey, where are number three and number four? Not back yet?" Yu Xia wondered. As she spoke, the door opened again, and Liu Ying and Leng Yue came in laughing.

"It’s freezing out there today!" Leng Yue said, hugging her arms, then noticed someone sitting by her bed.

"Hello," Ren Jiaxuan waved politely. "I hope I’m not in your way?"

"No, no, it’s fine. You sit there," Leng Yue replied, taking a seat on Xiao Han’s bed across from him.

Liu Ying glanced at Leng Yue, then asked with some suspicion, "Ren Jiaxuan? The one from the broadcasting class?"

Leng Yue nodded.

"Would you like some water? Why hasn’t number five poured you any?" Liu Ying said, grabbing Dong Yanyan’s new cup and filling it with hot water for him.

"No need, no need, you’re all way too kind," Ren Jiaxuan said, wiping his brow discreetly, though still smiling.

"Don’t stand on ceremony with us. Thanks to Tiantian, we’re basically family," Leng Yue said cheerfully, then turned to Dong Yanyan. "Hey, Yanyan, where are number six and number eight? Only an hour until evening study."

"Really? It’s that late?" Dong Yanyan checked her watch—it was already past six. The day had flown by; the whole precious weekend was almost gone.

As they chatted, Gu Xiaohan and Tiantian came in, laughing. Gu Xiaohan’s bed was by the door. As soon as she sat down, she spotted Ren Jiaxuan across from her and immediately jumped up, eyes wide with surprise, pointing at him and grinning as she said, "Ren! Jia! Xuan!"

Ren Jiaxuan gave her a friendly smile. "Xiaohan."

"Here! Have an apple—I just washed it in the water room," Xiaohan said, pulling a large apple from her bag and handing it to him.

"Hey, Ren, what brings you to our dorm today?" Tiantian bounced over, throwing an arm around his shoulders.

"I’m here to do a good deed. Your number five almost burned out with a fever," Ren Jiaxuan replied, biting into the apple with a grin.

For some reason, Dong Yanyan thought the way he said it sounded rather unpleasant.