Seeing Xu Xiuwen's exaggerated reaction and Xiao Youran's stunned expression, An Shishi couldn't help but chuckle.
"I'm just joking, look how scared you both are. My husband treats me well; I would never leave him."
Xiao Youran regained her composure and, hearing this, felt slightly relieved.
She hesitated for a moment but still said, "Shishi, it's not right to joke about keeping. Xu Xiuwen wouldn't do that, and I hope you'll think carefully. That old man is only interested because you're young and pretty. Don't fall for it."
An Shishi nodded, "Okay, Youran, I won't say such things again in the future. But I've thought it through; I love my husband, and he loves me too. So I won't leave him, and please don't advise me anymore."
Xiao Youran looked at An Shishi's determined attitude, feeling quite helpless.
She couldn't understand what that old man had that could enchant An Shishi like this.
She sighed and dropped the subject.
Soon, the food arrived.
The three of them ate and chatted.
Mainly, Xiao Youran and An Shishi chatted.
Then, the conversation turned to Xu Xiuwen.
Excitedly, Xiao Youran said, "Shishi, have you watched the TV series Xiao Xu directed? It's really good."
An Shishi's home was in the mountains, with no TV, and even if there was, it wouldn't receive Jiangsu TV.
She shook her head, "I haven't watched it. Is it really that good?"
Xiao Youran nodded, "It's fantastic. I've also read Xiao Xu's novel; he portrays everything so well, and he looks especially handsome in them."
Listening to the two women chatting, especially Xiao Youran praising him, Xu Xiuwen, though he didn't show it on the surface, felt a bit proud inside.
Seeing Xiao Youran's infatuated expression, An Shishi chuckled.
She suddenly noticed Xu Xiuwen's expression and turned to ask, "Is he really as handsome as Youran says?"
Xu Xiuwen smiled, "How can I answer that? I can't praise myself."
Both women chuckled at his response.
After lunch, Xu Xiuwen drove the two women back to the university and then drove back to Jiangling.
Before getting off the car, Xiao Youran gave Xu Xiuwen a good look and said, "Xiao Xu, I'm leaving."
Xu Xiuwen nodded and reminded her, "Be careful getting off; it's slippery. Don't fall."
Xiao Youran still seemed a bit reluctant to leave.
Xu Xiuwen teased, "Do you want a farewell kiss?"
Because An Shishi had already gotten off the car ahead of time, so he wasn't worried about her overhearing.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Youran's face immediately turned red.
She felt embarrassed to kiss Xu Xiuwen in front of the girls' dormitory building and in front of her roommates.
She hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the car door, and got out.
An Shishi was already waiting outside with an umbrella.
She quickly rushed under An Shishi's umbrella, shielding herself with her hands over her head.
The two girls shared the umbrella, waved at him, then closed the car door and walked back to the girls' dormitory building together.
After dropping off the two girls at the dormitory, Xu Xiuwen drove directly to his own dormitory building.
Entering the dormitory building, he returned to his room.
As soon as he walked in, Xu Xiuwen saw that the door of the dormitory was open.
He walked in and saw that Jin Haonan, Liu Zhihao, and Yang Baishan were already there, chatting.
Jin Haonan came up and said, "The big star is back! Our dormitory now has an additional big star!"
Xu Xiuwen smiled and waved his hand, "Stop teasing me."
"How is it a tease? I'm serious. I watched the TV series you acted in, and it was really well-made. Many female classmates I know have become your fans now."
Yang Baishan with a envy-filled face said, "Xiuwen, many of my female classmates like the role you played."
Liu Zhihao nodded, "Yeah, Xiuwen, your drama is really popular. Even my mom watched it and said it was great."
Jin Haonan said, "Xiuwen, after my classmates found out I'm your roommate, they asked me to get your autograph. Can you sign a few for me?"
Yang Baishan and Liu Zhihao chimed in together, "We want autographs too."
Xu Xiuwen smiled helplessly, nodded and said, "Alright, but let me practice my handwriting first. I can't sign well right now."
"Okay, no problem." x3
"I saw you guys chatting so animatedly just now. What were you talking about?"
Jin Haonan said, "We were just discussing last semester's final exam results. You've been hiding it well—over 90 marks in every subject. It's really impressive."
Xu Xiuwen laughed heartily, "I've been telling you guys I'm a top student, but you didn't believe me."
Jin Haonan smiled and said, "We believe you now. From now on, we believe everything."
Yang Baishan wore a mournful expression and said, "Xiuwen, I failed four subjects. I'm done for!"
Liu Zhihao also looked grim, "Xiuwen, I failed one subject. If I had known you were such a top student, I would have copied from you. I got exactly 59, just one point away from passing."
Xu Xiuwen explained, "Actually, I wasn't a hundred percent confident I would do so well at the time. I can only say I was lucky."
Yang Baishan suddenly said, "I saw the school notice; the makeup exam is in half a month. I don't know anything, I won't pass even if I retake it. Xiuwen, how about you help me take the makeup exam? I'll treat you to drinks."
Xu Xiuwen was speechless, "Stop thinking about shady stuff all the time. Just study hard for the makeup exam; you'll definitely pass. If I help you take the makeup exam and we get caught, we'll both be in trouble. Can you stop trying to drag me into trouble?"
Jin Haonan also said, "Yeah, Old Yang, don't drag Xiuwen into this. You should rely on yourself."
Liu Zhihao asked, "Xiuwen, do you have any notes? Let me take a look so I know which topics to focus on."
That's more like it.
Makeup exams aren't difficult; serious study is the right approach.
Thinking about finding someone to take the exam for you, if caught, would be a big problem.
Forget about Yang Baishan; even if his own brother asked him to take the exam, he wouldn't agree.
But borrowing notes is fine.
Xu Xiuwen wasn't stingy; he directly took out the notebook from the table and handed it over, "These are the notebooks I used to review back then. Each subject has marked which topics are important. Take a look yourself."
Liu Zhihao took the notebook like it was a treasure, delightedly saying, "Thank you, Xiuwen. After the makeup exam, I'll treat you to a meal."
Yang Baishan quickly added, "Count me in too."
The two walked aside and began flipping through Xu Xiuwen's notebook.
Xu Xiuwen turned to Jin Haonan and asked, "Dormitory head, how was your winter vacation?"
He just casually asked.
Unexpectedly, Jin Haonan suddenly blushed and laughed shyly.
Xu Xiuwen immediately understood that something was up.
"Brother Hao, tell us what happened. Any good news?"
Jin Haonan grinned, "I met her during Chinese New Year."
"Who? Your childhood sweetheart?"
"Yeah, she came back for Chinese New Year."
"How is she now? Is she beautiful?"
Jin Haonan nodded, "Very beautiful. It seems her company is planning to debut a girl group, and she told me she might be selected."
Upon hearing the word 'debut', Xu Xiuwen paused.
He knew that Wonder Girls seemed to have debuted in the past couple of years. There was indeed a member surnamed Kim in the group, the female singer who later sang "Trouble Maker."
But she seems to be born in '92, younger than them by a few years.
She probably isn't brother Hao's childhood sweetheart; the ages don't match.
So, the childhood sweetheart of Jin Haonan likely won't debut.
Xu Xiuwen didn't tell Jin Haonan what he was thinking.
Firstly, he wasn't sure, and saying it might upset people unnecessarily.
Moreover, thinking carefully, if brother Hao's childhood sweetheart debuted, she would practically belong to a different world from him, and the chances of them being together in the future would be very, very low.
But if she didn't debut, maybe there's still a slight possibility for the two of them.
Xu Xiuwen didn't need to be the bad guy to shatter brother Hao's dream.