Drama Queen Reborn as a Top Student!-Chapter 786: She is your girlfriend
Early Saturday morning, as Shen You’an stepped out of the neighborhood, Liu Runxi was already waiting there.
The boy was wearing a short white down jacket and blue jeans today, carrying a black backpack. His figure was tall and slender, his youthful appearance clean and refreshing.
The morning streets held a heavy chill, though spring had already arrived, the weather remained cold. Each breath he exhaled hung in the air like thin mist, softening his brows and features, making him appear increasingly aloof and ethereal.
As if he were an otherworldly immortal untouched by mortal life.
Shen You’an paused her steps.
Liu Runxi turned his head and noticed her, his eyes curving into a smile, as though in that instant, he descended from the clouds, touched by earthly warmth.
Shen You’an walked over. "Have you been waiting long?"
"Just got here."
Liu Runxi pulled out a paper bag from his arms and handed it to her. "Breakfast."
Only now did Shen You’an realize he had been keeping the breakfast warm against his chest all along.
She reached out to take it. Inside were soup dumplings from Xu Ji, along with a cup of soy milk and an egg.
This particular Xu Ji soup dumpling store was wildly popular in Jingzhou, with limited daily supplies. Online posts complained that people started lining up as early as four in the morning.
Shen You’an glanced up at him. "You didn’t line up at three in the morning, did you?"
She remembered You Shiyi mentioning this famous Xu Ji soup dumpling spot in casual conversation. You Shiyi had asked if she liked soup dumplings, and she had vaguely nodded.
Did he really think she genuinely wanted to eat them?
The boy lowered his gaze and chuckled softly. "Of course not. There’s a delivery service app for that. I just spent a bit more money, that’s all."
Shen You’an gave him a skeptical look. Liu Runxi wouldn’t lie, and someone of his standing wouldn’t brave the freezing night winds lining up for dumplings. Spending more on a delivery service was far more consistent with the lifestyle of a young master.
She handed the bag back to him. "You should eat too."
Liu Runxi shook his head. "I’ve already eaten."
"I can’t finish all this myself. Are we wasting food then?"
Under Shen You’an’s gaze, Liu Runxi reached into the paper bag and took out one soup dumpling.
Shen You’an took one as well, and the two bit into them simultaneously.
Shen You’an couldn’t help exclaiming, "No wonder it’s so popular—it’s really delicious."
Liu Runxi lowered his gaze, a faint trace of satisfaction glimmering in his eyes.
As long as she liked it, even lining up at three in the morning would be worth it.
Walking in the cold morning breeze, Shen You’an ate the steaming, fragrant soup dumplings. Glancing at the boy walking beside her, a peculiar feeling quietly brushed past her heart.
Her tongue suddenly got burned. She jolted back to reality, her brows knitting ever so slightly.
"It’s now 7:15 AM. The Go competition starts at 9:00 AM. The venue is at Ren Shi Chess Academy in Xin’an District, 8.7 kilometers from here. A taxi would take about 15 minutes but one section of the route tends to get congested during morning hours. If we take the subway, it’ll be faster, though there’s about a kilometer to walk afterward. Estimated arrival time is 8:00 AM."
Liu Runxi had already meticulously calculated everything, waiting only for Shen You’an’s decision.
Shen You’an tossed the leftover paper bag into a trash bin. She was about to fish for tissues from her backpack when a packet of wet wipes was handed in front of her.
Shen You’an took it, wiping her hands as she said, "Then we’ll take the subway."
So, the two headed toward the subway station. As they entered, Liu Runxi handed her an unopened mask. "You’re a celebrity now, after all."
Shen You’an pulled out a mask from her backpack and slipped it on, not even looking up as she muttered, "Better save yours for yourself, or tomorrow’s trending topic would be ’Subway encounter with handsome guy.’"
Typically chauffeured to school, Liu Runxi likely had little experience using public transportation. He probably wasn’t aware of how much attention his looks drew in the eyes of strangers.
Liu Runxi froze briefly, then shook his head with a bemused smile. Obediently, he also put on his mask.
Even on a Saturday morning, the subway was crowded. Each unfamiliar face bore the weariness of a working-class life.
Though both Shen You’an and Liu Runxi wore masks, their heights and outfits were strikingly above average, making them stand out. Their presence frequently caught the attention of surrounding passengers.
Once inside the train car, the crowd pressed even tighter. Shen You’an held onto a railing, while Liu Runxi stood behind her, spreading his arms slightly to shield her securely from the surging wave of bodies.
There was still a slight gap between Shen You’an’s back and Liu Runxi’s chest—a buffer zone deliberately created by Liu Runxi. He couldn’t let Shen You’an feel the slightest discomfort. Despite the jostling crowd behind him, his body remained unwavering, as solid as a mountain, anchoring her in safety.
At the next stop, a new wave of passengers poured in, pushing against the already packed space. Liu Runxi stumbled slightly forward, his chest briefly grazing Shen You’an’s back, his cheek brushing against the soft strands of her hair. A faint fragrance enveloped him, freezing him in place instantly.
