"Senior, please sit here."
Mo Zhu pulled out a chair, calling over Yu Zhiling, who had been looking for a seat.
Yu Zhiling had originally intended to sit beside a group of girls, but at his words, she glanced up. In that brief moment, Shu Feng had already swiftly taken the spot she’d eyed.
Shu Feng raised a hand casually. "Senior, sit here. The other seats are near the serving area—it’ll be inconvenient once the food arrives."
They had reserved two tables, each seating eight.
Yu Zhiling had no choice but to thank him. "Thanks."
She settled into the chair Mo Zhu had pulled out for her. The seat beside her was soon occupied as Mo Zhu sat down, pouring her a cup of warm water.
"Thank you."
Yu Zhiling took a quiet sip of tea. The food hadn’t arrived yet, and everyone was chatting. The students didn’t seem particularly close to Mo Zhu—none dared strike up a conversation with him except for Shu Feng, who occasionally chimed in.
Mo Zhu sat close, their shoulders nearly brushing. He carried a faint, indistinct scent—something like laundry detergent, yet not quite.
"Senior, don’t be nervous."
A bowl of pear soup, meant to cleanse the palate, was placed in front of her.
If anything, that made Yu Zhiling even more self-conscious. She thanked him quickly.
He was impeccably polite, constantly looking out for her. Since they weren’t familiar with each other, Yu Zhiling naturally held back a little in front of a stranger.
Mo Zhu took the initiative to converse. "Senior, why did you choose finance? Do you like it?"
At the mention of a familiar topic, Yu Zhiling smiled. "Yeah, I do. Plus, the job prospects are broad."
"Where do you plan to work after graduation?"
"Lin City isn’t far from here. Either going back or staying would be fine—both are big cities with good opportunities."
Mo Zhu nodded in understanding, effortlessly steering the conversation.
Yu Zhiling relaxed slightly, eating as she asked, "What made you pick architectural engineering?"
"I like it. As a kid, I loved Legos and puzzles—building things just appealed to me."
Such a simple reason—she hadn’t expected that.
"Planning to pursue a master’s? I heard from some juniors that your grades are great. You might even qualify for a direct admission."
"Not sure yet. I’ll decide when the time comes."
"Fair enough. You’ve still got three years of undergrad left."
After a few more casual exchanges, Yu Zhiling felt less tense.
Mo Zhu observed her discreetly. She reached most often for the Southern dishes—spicy ones that made him sweat, yet she didn’t even flinch. He was perceptive, quickly noting her preferences.
She liked intense spice, favored fish and shrimp, and hadn’t touched the radish dish at all—clearly not a fan.
She also seemed to handle sour flavors well, unlike him, who preferred milder tastes.
Yu Zhiling remained oblivious to his scrutiny, simply thinking this junior was quite talkative—just like when he’d driven her to the airport before. He’d carried the conversation then too, ensuring it never lapsed into awkward silence.
Then, her phone buzzed with a call from Yu Xiangrong.
"Sorry, I need to take this." Yu Zhiling stood hastily, murmuring to Mo Zhu.
Mo Zhu nodded. "Go ahead, Senior."
Stepping out of the private room, Yu Zhiling found a quiet spot. Yu Xiangrong’s voice came through the phone.
"Niannian, your dad and I are heading back today. Where are you?"
Yu Zhiling leaned against the wall, surprised. "Today? Why not stay a few more days? It’s almost the weekend—I can spend time with you."
Yu Xiangrong chuckled. "Something came up at your aunt’s place. We’re going back to check on things. You’ll be on winter break in a couple of months anyway—we’ll see each other then."
With that reasoning, Yu Zhiling couldn’t argue. Glancing at the time—just past 8 PM—she quickly replied, "I’ll head back now. Where are you?"
"Still packing at the hotel. No rush, take your time."
"Wait for me, okay? I’ll be there soon. I’ll see you off."
Hanging up, Yu Zhiling returned to the private room. The lively atmosphere hadn’t dimmed, and Mo Zhu looked up as she entered.
He lounged lazily in his seat, chopsticks untouched, as if he’d been waiting for her.
Yu Zhiling didn’t notice. She grabbed her bag and coat, lowering her voice. "I have to go. Something came up with my parents."
Mo Zhu didn’t press her to stay, simply asking politely, "Urgent?"
"Yeah. They were here on vacation. I was planning to show them around this weekend, but something happened at home. They need to leave early, so I have to see them off." She slipped on her coat, apologetic.
Across the table, Shu Feng noticed her preparing to leave. "Senior, you’re leaving?"
"Stay a little longer! At least finish dinner."
"Yeah, we’ll be done soon. It’s late—we can drop you off."
Yu Zhiling responded politely to each. "Family matters. Sorry about this."
Since they weren’t close, they didn’t push further.
"I’ll take you." Mo Zhu stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder before taking hers as well.
Yu Zhiling blinked. "Huh?"
Mo Zhu was already stepping past her. "I’ll drive you. I have my car."
Shu Feng and she had arrived in Mo Zhu’s car earlier; the others had carpooled separately.
Shu Feng instantly caught on, chiming in, "Right, I’ll go back with them. It’s late—not safe for a girl to take a cab alone. Let Mo Zhu handle it."
Before Yu Zhiling could agree, Mo Zhu was already out the door—with her bag.
Flustered, she offered the table an apologetic smile. "Sorry, everyone. Next time, I’ll treat you all."
With that, she hurried after him. The room fell silent for a beat before the chatter resumed.
A guy beside Shu Feng leaned in. "Does Mo Zhu have a thing for that senior?"
Shu Feng shrugged him off, rolling his eyes. "Pretty sure anyone with eyes can tell."
Mo Zhu had been practically glued to her, asking endless questions—uncharacteristically chatty—and memorizing every detail about her.
Even Yu Zhiling, as oblivious as she was, began sensing something was off.
When she moved to open the back door, Mo Zhu chuckled, stopping her. "Senior, sitting back there makes me feel like a chauffeur."
Yu Zhiling laughed awkwardly. "Sorry."
Taking the hint, she slid into the passenger seat instead.
"Um, is this too much trouble? Let me treat you to a meal sometime," she offered.
"Sure." Mo Zhu agreed without hesitation.
Yu Zhiling paused. "...Huh?"
She hadn’t expected him to accept so readily—she’d assumed he’d demur.
Mo Zhu turned to her, eyes glinting with amusement. "Sure. When you’re free, Senior, you can take me out."
"...Okay. It’s a deal."
Yu Zhiling withdrew her gaze, keenly sensing that Mo Zhu seemed to be getting a little too close to her.
She wasn’t a fool. Maybe it had just been speculation before, but today he had taken her out for a meal, then driven her to the hotel—once, twice, three times. Surely it couldn’t all just be out of kindness?
Was he really that nice?
"What’s on your mind, senior?"
His sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.
Yu Zhiling shook her head. "Nothing, just thinking about nothing."
"Are you cold?" Mo Zhu rolled up the car window as he asked.
"No, I’m dressed warmly," Yu Zhiling replied.
Now even Mo Zhu could tell her mood was off. He glanced at her, his eyes dimming slightly.
For a moment, the car fell into silence, so quiet they could hear each other’s breathing.
After a few minutes, Mo Zhu spoke up casually, "Senior, we’ve actually met before."
Yu Zhiling hesitated. "...Last week?"
"No, a year ago."
His phone was mounted on the holder. He switched from the navigation screen to his social media feed, where only one photo stood out.
"That’s you, senior. You were probably there to pick someone up that day—so was I, my cousin. That umbrella was the one you gave me."
He was referring to the black umbrella he’d used the last time he drove her to the airport. Just an ordinary black umbrella, one Yu Zhiling hadn’t recognized as hers at all.
But now that he mentioned it, she remembered.
The rain that day had come out of nowhere. Yu Zhiling had bought the last two umbrellas at the convenience store near the school gate. While waiting for her cousin, she noticed a guy stepping out of a taxi.
The downpour was so heavy she couldn’t make out his face, only that he was tall, wearing a cap, a black shirt over a T-shirt, and loose pants. He’d been drenched the moment he stepped out.
He went into the store but came out empty-handed. Yu Zhiling guessed he’d been looking for an umbrella—but she’d bought the last two.
She hesitated for a moment, then thought, This guy must be here to pick up a student too. Once the exam ends, the kids might get soaked. Today’s a day for celebration—no one should have their mood ruined.
So she handed the spare umbrella to the frowning guy, who was on the phone.
The rain was too loud—she couldn’t hear what he said. Maybe it was a "thank you," or maybe he’d tried to stop her.
Then the exam bell rang—the last English test was over. Yu Zhiling rushed into the crowd to fetch her cousin, hurrying off to the celebratory dinner.
A whole year had passed. She’d long forgotten about it.
Yu Zhiling blinked in realization. "That was you? I gave you that umbrella?"
Mo Zhu chuckled. "Yeah, you did. I called out to you a few times, but you didn’t hear. You just left after picking up your person."
"The rain was too loud, and my family had plans to celebrate at a restaurant. I wasn’t paying attention," Yu Zhiling admitted, her guard lowering as she noticed the black umbrella still sitting in the back seat. He’d kept it all this time.
Mo Zhu said, "That’s why I recognized you when we met again. You helped me before, so it’s only fair I help you a few times in return."
Fair exchange—nothing wrong with that.
She’d initially thought Mo Zhu was just another flirtatious guy, but now Yu Zhiling laughed it off. "Right, right. Next time you’re free, I’ll treat you to a meal. I’ve been imposing on you too much lately."
Mo Zhu kept his eyes on the road, relieved she’d dropped her suspicions.
He’d been too eager—his repeated gestures of goodwill had made her wary. From her perspective, a good-looking junior suddenly being overly attentive for no reason would naturally raise red flags.
Mo Zhu had never been in a relationship before. By nature, he wasn’t the type to step back easily, but now he realized that trait wasn’t exactly helpful when pursuing someone.
After dropping Yu Zhiling off at the hotel, she waved at him from outside the car. "Thanks again. It’s late, so you should head back. I’ll go help my parents pack upstairs."
Mo Zhu didn’t insist on seeing them all the way to the airport. Originally, he’d planned to be thorough in his kindness.
But now that she was wary, he had to pull back a little.
"Alright, senior. Stay safe." He rolled up the window and drove off.
In the rearview mirror, he saw her standing there, watching him for a couple of seconds before finally turning toward the hotel.
Mo Zhu looked away and left.
Mid-January marked the start of winter break.
After staying at school for a while post-exams, Yu Zhiling finally packed her bags and returned to Lincheng.
The moment she opened the door, her mother, Yu Xiangrong, pulled her into a tight hug.
"Sweetheart, you’re finally back! Your cousin’s been home for days already."
Yu Zhiling giggled, dropping her luggage to hug her mom. "I couldn’t get a ticket! I was helping my professor with some work, and only managed to snag one yesterday."
Jiang Yingchen was busy in the kitchen, bringing out a dish. "Go wash up, dinner’s ready—just in time."
"Got it!"
After decades of marriage, Jiang Yingchen was still the one who cooked. Yu Zhiling had grown up on her dad’s food, and after half a year away, she was craving it. She squeezed into the kitchen eagerly.
Their kitchen wasn’t big, and with all three of them inside, Jiang Yingchen shot her a look. "Take your mom and wait outside. What are you doing in here, causing trouble?"
"Who’s causing trouble? I’m helping you carry dishes!" Yu Zhiling retorted, snatching a crispy fried meatball and popping it into her mouth before her dad could flick her forehead. Then she grabbed a plate and darted out.
"Dad, your cooking’s even better now. Mom’s so lucky to eat this every day."
Her flattery was a skill honed since childhood—always hitting the right notes with her parents.
Yu Xiangrong had missed her dearly. The moment her daughter was home, she hovered around, asking about everything—her studies, her classmates, whether she had enough money, and, most importantly:
"Met any boys you like?"
Yu Zhiling shoveled rice into her mouth, mumbling, "No rush. It’ll happen when it happens."
"None in undergrad, and still none in grad school?" Yu Xiangrong scooted her chair closer. "It’s easier to find someone in school than after you start working."
Yu Zhiling muttered, "Even if you meet someone in school, there’s no guarantee you’ll last till after graduation. These things just happen naturally."
"Shush!" Yu Xiangrong’s tenderness lasted only a second before she bristled again.
Jiang Yingchen quickly pulled his wife back. "Why rush her? She’s still young."
Yu Zhiling nodded vigorously between bites. "Mhm, Dad gets it."
Even as a second-year grad student, on the verge of starting her career, in Jiang Yingchen and Yu Xiangrong’s eyes, she would always be their little girl.
Yu Zhiling finished washing the dishes and took a relaxing bath before curling up on her bed, pulling out her phone to log into a game. It was only three in the afternoon. Just as she opened the game interface, a message popped up.
At first, she didn’t recognize who the black serpent avatar belonged to, but it clicked the moment she opened the chat.
Ever since their last group dinner with Mo Zhu and the others, neither of them had reached out first. They’d crossed paths once or twice on campus, but Mo Zhu had only ever greeted her briefly before moving on.
MZ: "Senior, are you back in Lincheng?"
Little Fish: "Just got back. Why?"
MZ: "Last time, you mentioned Lincheng was nice. I came to visit and was wondering if you could be my guide. Would that be okay?"
Yu Zhiling: "..."
She’d only said it casually back then—she never expected him to actually show up.
She sat up abruptly.
Little Fish: "It’s snowing in Lincheng. Are you at the train station? Did you bring a winter coat?"
Her message was just an ordinary show of concern, but Mo Zhu, still on the train, couldn’t help but smile at the notification.
MZ: "No, Beicheng isn’t this cold. Is it really freezing outside?"
Little Fish: "Yes, extremely. Did you book a hotel yet?"
MZ: "I did."
He sent her the name, and just as he anticipated, her reaction was exactly what he’d hoped for.
Little Fish: "Cancel it. That hotel’s notorious for being a scam, and it’s way too far from the tourist spots. You picked somewhere too remote—the subway’s inconvenient, and even taxis are hard to get. I’ll send you a better location. You clearly didn’t do any research. Don’t wander off; I’ll come pick you up later."
With just a few words, she’d been coaxed into taking charge. Mo Zhu’s eyes sparkled with barely concealed amusement as he replied with a cartoon snake nodding in agreement.
MZ: "Then please be careful, Senior. I’ll wait for you."
She really was too kind. Even if she kept her guard up around him, the moment he softened his tone and played the underdog, she’d still rush to his aid.
Another message buzzed in—this time from his mom.
"You there yet?"
"Not yet. She’s coming to get me soon."
"Go get her, son! Mom’s rooting for you!"
Mo Zhu tucked his phone away, slipped on his earplugs, and leaned back to rest.
The closer he got to her, the more his heart raced with anticipation.
For two whole months, he’d resisted the urge to reach out, only occasionally "coincidentally" bumping into her at the cafeteria she frequented. The architecture and finance departments were practically on opposite ends of the campus—if he didn’t go out of his way to see her, their paths would never cross.
The moment she left campus that morning, he’d packed his bags and boarded the very next train.
Two months. That was the absolute limit of his patience. Finally, he had a reason to get close to her again.
