「 ✦ Extra 3 ✦ 」

"Before Sunday, everyone remember to send the group assignment to my email. The deadline is Tuesday."

The professor said this as he gathered his things and left the classroom.

Jiang Shuyi also stuffed her notebook randomly into her bag, made sure nothing was left behind, and was about to leave.

Looking out the window, she noticed it was going to snow again soon, and since she had forgotten her umbrella today, she wanted to get home quickly.

However, just as she stepped out of the classroom, she was grabbed by the wrist.

"Jiang Shuyi, wait a moment."

Jiang Shuyi looked at the person holding her hand.

It was an Omega male student.

Jiang Shuyi remembered that this guy always sat not far from her during class. Although she didn't know his name, she had seen him for nearly half a year, so he was somewhat familiar.

"What's wrong?"

The boy looked at her seriously, his ears turning red.

"You helped me move some books to the library last time, right? I wanted to thank you."

"Oh..."

Jiang Shuyi remembered that once when she was at the library looking up information, this person did indeed drop a lot of books.

"Oh, you don't need to thank me, I was just passing by."

She glanced outside the window and continued walking toward the exit.

Seeing her walk away, the boy became flustered and quickly followed after her.

"But," he said, blushing even more as he grabbed the strap of Jiang Shuyi's backpack.

Jiang Shuyi smiled at him. "It's really no problem."

"Yeah," the boy nodded, "but..."

"Just..."

After hesitating for a while, he whispered softly, "I want to date you."

Jiang Shuyi was taken aback.

Now she suddenly realized why this person had been so hesitant just now.

"Thank you. But I'm sorry, I can't date you. I already have a girlfriend."

Upon hearing the words "I already have a girlfriend," the Omega male student not only recalled many rumors about Jiang Shuyi in his mind.

Although he and Jiang Shuyi were not in the same department, there were many rumors about Jiang Shuyi within their department as well.

Rumors circulated that Jiang Shuyi had long had a partner who was a much older professional woman, or that her partner was actually a professor at the school, and there are even rumors that Jiang Shuyi was being financially supported.

All these varied rumors, along with the ring on Jiang Shuyi's ring finger, made it sound quite credible.

The male student obviously also thought of those rumors, his gaze shifting away from Jiang Shuyi's ring finger, and he pursed his lips. "Is she pretty?"

Jiang Shuyi nodded.

The boy lowered his head somewhat dejectedly and tightened the strap of her backpack, unwilling to let go. "Is she prettier than me?"

Jiang Shuyi nodded again.

The boy, seeing her nod so decisively, turned sour. "But, I, should, I like you more than her."

Jiang Shuyi frowned.

Just as she was about to argue with the boy, a voice called out from behind her.

"Jiang Shuyi."

The voice was cold.

Jiang Shuyi turned around and saw the person calling her. She instinctively took a step back, creating a little more distance between herself and the boy. "Wen Yao."

". . ." Wen Yao walked calmly up to her, carrying a hint of rose scent.

Today, she wore a dark shirt with a light gray blazer over it.

Wen Yao looked up at Jiang Shuyi, her tone light. "Class is over?"

Jiang Shuyi nodded.

Wen Yao quietly raised her head, her gaze finally landing on the boy behind Jiang Shuyi. Her voice was calm. "Your classmate?"

Jiang Shuyi turned around, looking somewhat awkwardly at the boy behind her. Not knowing his name, she could only introduce him, "Yes, a classmate in the same class."

"Hello." Wen Yao nodded slightly.

Jiang Shuyi also casually introduced Wen Yao to the boy, "My girlfriend."

The boy, referred to as 'classmate in the same class' fell silent for a moment, sizing up Wen Yao with a hint of hostility.

Perhaps he was comparing his appearance to Wen Yao's, or maybe he was busy in his mind equating Wen Yao with the rumored professional woman who was supposedly supporting Jiang Shuyi. In any case, he didn't respond.

After a while, he looked even less happy, his eyelashes drooping. "I have things to do. I'll leave first."

Jiang Shuyi responded, showing no intention of stopping him.

As the boy walked away with his backpack, Wen Yao quietly looked at Jiang Shuyi, as if nothing had happened. "Are we going back?"

"Sure." Jiang Shuyi nodded.

---

The two walked down the stairs in the academic building. Jiang Shuyi reached out to hold Wen Yao's hand, smiling. "What made you think to come find me today?"

Wen Yao felt Jiang Shuyi's slightly warm fingers brush against her hand and gently returned the grip without resistance. "I remembered that this class is very close to your classroom."

"You could have told me in advance, what if I had left early?" Jiang Shuyi smiled.

Wen Yao didn't answer.

"Are you close with that guy?"

After a long pause, Wen Yao looked down the stairs and suddenly asked.

Her expression seemed casual, but the question felt quite abrupt.

Jiang Shuyi was startled for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh. She tightened Wen Yao's fingers and asked, "Are you jealous?"

Wen Yao glanced at Jiang Shuyi but didn't answer.

Seeing Wen Yao's silence, Jiang Shuyi cleared her throat and explained, "I've only seen him a few times in class, I'm not close with him."

"He seems to really like you."

Jiang Shuyi leaned in closer to Wen Yao, as if trying to gauge her feelings, and kissed her cheek. "But I only like you."

". . ." Wen Yao fell silent.

"What about you?" Jiang Shuyi coughed and looked at Wen Yao.

Wen Yao still didn't respond.

"What about you, what about you?" Jiang Shuyi asked insistently.

Knowing that Jiang Shuyi would keep repeating the question if she didn't answer, Wen Yao finally said, "Mm."

"'Mm'," Jiang Shuyi repeated, grinning. "What does that 'mm' mean?"

"I feel the same way."

Wen Yao said calmly, as if stating that one plus one equals two.

"Hehe." Jiang Shuyi wasn't bothered by her calm tone, swinging their held hands triumphantly.

As they exited the teaching building, it had started snowing lightly outside.

Jiang Shuyi glanced at Wen Yao's shirt and blazer. "In this cold weather, why are you wearing such a thin suit?"

"I have a presentation today."

Wen Yao stated quietly, taking out an umbrella from her bag.

Jiang Shuyi took off her thick coat and draped it over Wen Yao's shoulders. "Did you walk over like this just now?"

The scent of lemon balm warmly enveloped Wen Yao's shoulders, and she tightened her fingers around the coat.

"Mm."

"It must have been cold walking over, right? Is it better now?" Jiang Shuyi said, giving Wen Yao's shoulder a light pat.

Wen Yao glanced at the coat Jiang Shuyi had draped over her. "...It's better."

---

"The temperature dropped so quickly this year."

Lin Siyun, wearing a trendy camel wool coat, approached Jiang Shuyi with a shopping bag from a well-known clothing brand in a nearby department store.

She spun around in front of Jiang Shuyi. "Senior, what do you think of my new clothes?"

Jiang Shuyi could tell that Lin Siyun had just been out shopping and teased her, "Aren't you worried about getting your new clothes stained with sauce since we're having Lu cuisine today?"

Today was considered the annual meeting for their research lab. Thinking they would eat this meal and then head home after the exam, Jiang Shuyi felt annoyed just thinking about the test. She had thrown on some clothes casually for dinner and hadn't expected Lin Siyun to still have the leisure to go shopping.

"That's something you would do, Jiang Shuyi." Lin Siyun hadn't answered yet, but a senior in the research lab couldn't help but laugh.

Jiang Shuyi didn't mind and also laughed.

Lin Siyun also smiled and asked, "You could at least say whether it looks good or not."

"Mm, it looks good, it looks good." Jiang Shuyi replied perfunctorily, while taking off her down jacket.

"Oh, by the way, what did you order today? Did you get the sweet and sour pork ribs that I wanted?"

Jiang Shuyi flipped through the menu clatteringly.

At this moment, a student called out, "Professor Wen, you're here."

Someone gently closed the door at the entrance of the private room and quietly walked in with their arms crossed.

She wore a blue blazer over a black turtleneck sweater.

Jiang Shuyi found herself mesmerized by the curve of the newcomer's neck.

"Professor Wen, where would you like to sit?" the senior asked.

Wen Yao lifted her head slightly, her gaze seeming to land on Jiang Shuyi.

Jiang Shuyi's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a lump in her throat.

But the next moment, she saw Professor Wen glance past Lin Siyun and sit down next to the youngest member of the lab, Fang Xingyu. "This seat will do."

". . ."

Jiang Shuyi felt a bit down.

"Senior, there's your favorite spicy chicken." Lin Siyun said as she scooped some spicy chicken into Jiang Shuyi's bowl.

"Ah, thanks." Jiang Shuyi replied, her eyes drifting toward Professor Wen.

Professor Wen was silently scooping soup with her spoon.

Fang Xingyu felt a bit uncomfortable.

Although everyone else was acting normally, he felt out of place sitting next to Professor Wen, who was the only one beside him today.

As the youngest in the lab, he wasn't very familiar with everyone yet, and now sitting next to Professor Wen made him feel like he was in ice water.

He sat there, too afraid to move his chopsticks, unsure of what dish to pick.

Professor Wen glanced at him. "Just be casual." 

"Ah, okay."

Fang Xingyu nodded, thinking he should respond, and reached out to grab some food.

However, when he lifted his elbow, he accidentally knocked over the glass jug filled with freshly squeezed orange juice, spilling it toward him and the professor, the juice gushing out.

The jug hit the ground and shattered, drawing the attention of the other students.

Professor Wen watched the orange juice spill, calmly moving aside. The juice completely missed her, but it splashed all over the blazer she had folded beside her.

Professor Wen silently stared at her wet blazer, not saying a word.

". . ." Fang Xingyu watched Professor Wen's actions, his face turning pale. Although he was considered quite smart in the lab, seeing this scene left him speechless.

Professor Wen, however, was the calm one. She addressed the other students, "You all take your time eating. No need to worry."

After setting her blazer aside, she called the waiter to bring two napkins. She started wiping herself with one and handed the other to Fang Xingyu, indicating his pants with a calm tone. "Wipe it off."

"Ah, thank you."

Fang Xingyu took the napkin, finally managing to organize his words. "Professor, I will compensate you for your clothes."

"No need," Wen Yao glanced at him. "It's just wet."

"Then I'll take it to the dry cleaner." Fang Xingyu insisted firmly.

Wen Yao looked at him and, seeing his determination, relented. "If you feel at ease doing so, then go ahead."

She changed chairs and resumed eating without saying anything.

After dinner, the group left the restaurant.

Most of the students here lived on campus, while others resided nearby. After dinner, they all headed towards the subway station.

The December weather was starting to get cold.

The temperature difference between the restaurant and outside was like two different seasons. Jiang Shuyi rubbed her hands, intending to put on her coat, and then saw Professor Wen walking alone behind the crowd.

Jiang Shuyi cleared her throat and took a few steps back to Professor Wen's side, draping her still-unworn coat over her shoulders.

"Professor, you look a bit cold."

Wen Yao raised her head slightly to look at Jiang Shuyi, who had put her coat on her. A faint scent of lemon balm surrounded her.

She glanced at the sleeves of the coat and then at this student, who was over ten years younger than her. "Aren't you cold?"

"No, not cold at all." Jiang Shuyi said, scratching her nose.

Lin Siyun, walking ahead, heard this and immediately turned around. She looked at Professor Wen and then at Jiang Shuyi, who was only wearing a sweater.

Being a warm-hearted person, she quickly offered her own old coat to Professor Wen.

"Professor, I have an extra coat here. Please wear mine!"

Lin Siyun handed her coat to Wen Yao.

Wen Yao looked at the white wool coat handed to her by Lin Siyun in one hand, while her other hand lightly pinched the red down jacket draped over her shoulder.

Her gaze drifted a short distance away, and without saying a word, she took Jiang Shuyi's coat off her shoulder.

"Thank you." Professor Wen took Lin Siyun's coat.

Then she reached out and gently placed Jiang Shuyi's coat back on her shoulders. "Thank you."

The two "thank yous" were delivered in the same tone, sounding very calm and equal.

"Professor, the train will be here soon." a student called out.

"Mm... Let's go."

Wen Yao touched the white wool coat on her body that didn't have the scent of lemon balm, and walked towards the station with the students.

---

Wen Yao touched the coat draped over her shoulder by Jiang Shuyi.

"You used to do this kind of thing often."

"Did I?" Jiang Shuyi didn't remember what Wen Yao was referring to.

Wen Yao looked at the coat on her shoulder. "In the past..."

"Ah, that time."

Wen Yao recounted what had happened that day, and Jiang Shuyi remembered as well.

Jiang Shuyi was a bit incredulous that Wen Yao remembered it so clearly, even the color of the clothes she wore that day.

But if Wen Yao said so, it must be true.

"You remember those few minutes so clearly." She sighed in pure amazement.

Wen Yao didn't respond.

After a while, Wen Yao held an umbrella, calmly watching the falling snow.

"On the way back that day, I thought, it would have been nice if only that coat on my shoulder was yours."

Wen Yao said this very calmly, but Jiang Shuyi felt her heart leap.

"You wanted my coat back then?"

Jiang Shuyi felt her ears grow hot.

". . ." Wen Yao shook her head, as if to deny it.

Jiang Shuyi didn't understand why she was shaking her head. Just as she was about to ask for clarification, she saw Wen Yao looking calmly ahead, saying softly:

"I was thinking of you."

—It was never just a coat, a pen, or the lingering scent of lemon balm.

—It has always been about you.

Jiang Shuyi was stunned.

She lagged behind Wen Yao, who was walking ahead.

When Wen Yao noticed that she hadn't moved, snow had already landed on Jiang Shuyi's shoulders.

Wen Yao leaned the umbrella towards Jiang Shuyi's head a bit.

"You've got snow on your shoulder." she reminded her.

Jiang Shuyi reached out and grabbed Wen Yao, pulling her into an embrace.

"How many things are you hiding from me?"

Wen Yao's expression was calm, as she always was, brushing the snow off Jiang Shuyi's shoulder.

"It's all in the past."

"Tell me about the past, everything that happened before." Jiang Shuyi was very curious, very eager to listen.

Wen Yao glanced at Jiang Shuyi. "We'll talk about it when we have time in the future."

"The future? When exactly is that?" Jiang Shuyi inquired.

Wen Yao brushed it off with a few words, and the two held hands and continued walking forward.

After walking for a while, Jiang Shuyi gently bumped her head against Wen Yao's head.

"Wen Yao."

She called out Wen Yao's name, the streetlights casting long shadows of them both.

Jiang Shuyi's hair brushed against Wen Yao's neck, and Wen Yao couldn't help but feel a little ticklish, her voice sounding like she was laughing. "Mm?"

"I want to kiss you." Jiang Shuyi leaned closer to Wen Yao's ear and said.

"...Let's go home first."

"I can't wait."

Even without her coat, Jiang Shuyi's hands were still warm. She wrapped her arms around Wen Yao's waist and, ignoring the previous statement, gently kissed Wen Yao.

Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi, and after a moment, she gently returned the kiss.

---

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