The moment their morning classes have ended, all of them agreed to wait for each other at the university gate.
Since Shi Lian and Shu Xian are classmates in all of their classes and are only classmates with Zhang Ren in the first period, both of them talked as they walked towards the gate, waiting for Zhang Ren to arrive.
"I can't believe that he's coming with us," Shi Lian said, Shu Xian, rolling her eyes at her.
"Whose fault do you think it is? You were the one who put us in this situation!"
When Shu Xian pointed this out, Shi Lian couldn't help but let out a small groan of frustration as she clung on to Shu Xian's arm, shaking her at the same time.
"Hey, I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean to… okay? I just didn't know what to say—I thought telling him that would make him stop because men hate shopping."
"I know they hate shopping," Shu Xian replied, now looking at Shi Lian with her eyes narrowed. "But with you saying that it's a necktie, then how is he not going to say no? It's for men's shopping! Now he's going to be curious about this!"
Shi Lian nodded, sighing as she apologized to her best friend.
"I know, I know! I'm sorry, Shu Xian…"
Shi Lian then pouted. The moment they arrived in front of the gate, thankfully, Zhang Ren's still not here as it gave them more time to talk—just between the two of them.
"I'm going to make it up, alright?"
Seeing as Shi Lian is really guilty, this time, Shu Xian playfully rolled her eyes at her and then pinched her cheek, already forgiving her best friend.
"It's alright," she said, letting out a small sigh afterward. "It's just that I wonder how we are going to tell this to Zhang Ren later when we start shopping for neckties. Imagine… if he suddenly sees Pan An wearing the necktie when we're studying in the same degree…"
Without even finishing the sentence and with Shu Xian shuddering, Shi Lian could already get what she was worrying about.
Nodding as her lips turned into a tight line, Shi Lian contemplated for a while as she thought what the best course of action would be good for Zhang Ren.
"Hmm… we only have two choices," Shi Lian said, looking straight at Shu Xian in the eyes. "We either be honest of what's this for, or we either be rude and tell him he can't come."
Shi Lian sighed once more, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she didn't like what Shi Lian suggested.
"I don't like both of these suggestions!"
"I know… but—"
"Heyo, ladies!"
With Zhang Ren greeting them all of a sudden, it got their attention, making them look at him with a slightly surprised expression on their faces.
"Aren't we going to the mall? Are you sure we're not going to eat? This will make me and Shu Xian hungry once we have our duty in the library!"
With him already walking towards them, Shi Lian commented on what he said, suggesting him something as well.
"If you're worried about being hungry later, why not go on ahead and have lunch? Shu Xian and I are doing shopping so it might bore you."
"Ah…"
Zhang Ren waved his hand, a gesture of debunking Shi Lian's suggested.
"Don't worry about me. It would be more boring if I'm alone! Even though it's shopping, it's for a necktie, anyway. You can count on me for some opinions!"
With that, Shu Xian and Shi Lian looked at each other. Their eyes communicated to say that there is nothing they could do about Zhang Ren coming with them, making Shu Xian sigh as she turned to face Zhang Ren, now talking to him honestly.
"If you come with us, would you please, please, PLEASE… not say anything about what you know when it comes to what you're about to know."
Hearing this from Shu Xian, Zhang Ren couldn't help but furrow his brows in wonder as he cocked his head to the side, not expecting to hear this from her since he thought it's only shopping.
"Why do you guys seem so secretive about this? It's only shopping for a necktie for a guy you probably like or for a friend or for family member, no?"
"No, nothing of the sort," Shi Lian answered, looking at Shu Xian as if asking permission if it's okay telling him on her behalf. With Shu Xian's nod, she then further told Zhang Ren, making him understand. "It's for Professor Pan An."
Zhang Ren widened his eyes in disbelief, not expecting that it's for Professor Pan An.
"Professor Pan An, as in… the Professor Pan An who gave us our first lecture in the morning?" he clarified, Shu Xian and Shi Lian confirming with a nod. "Wow! I didn't expect that you guys fancy the professor! Well, he is handsome."
"No, you dimwit!"
Shi Lian immediately retorted, hitting the back of his head at the same time.
"No one fancies the professor! Shu Xian is only giving him a necktie as thanks because he helped Shu Xian get the library student assistant scholarship!"
"Oh!"
Zhang Ren widened his eyes, now understanding why he was hit by Shi Lian. He then scratched the back of his head, narrowing his eyes at her as he looked at her in the corner of his eye.
"You didn't have to hit the back of my head, sheesh… now aren't you so comfortable in doing the gesture when we just met yesterday."
Shi Lian rolled her eyes at him, not saying a word as she stuck out a tongue at him before she mumbled to herself, enough for Shu Xian and Zhang Ren to hear.
"How could I like the professor? He's not my type."
"Oh?"
Zhang Ren's attention is now on Shi Lian, making her heart race in her chest with the question he threw at her.
"And what's exactly your type?"
Blinking her eyes a few times as Shu Xian looked at Shi Lian teasingly, Shi Lian just rolled her eyes at both of them and walked away, stating her answer loud enough for them to hear.
"None of your business. Are we going to shop for a necktie, or are we going to continue wasting our time?"