The next morning, the rain pattered softly against the windows, and the weather had turned slightly chilly.
When Shen Ning opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the firm chest of the man beside her. She blinked, confused, before looking up at Qin Yuheng.
He had woken up almost an hour ago, but when he found her nestled in his arms, he had chosen to stay in bed, enjoying the quiet moment.
"Awake?" His lips curled into a lazy smile when he saw her looking at him with dazed eyes.
"Did you sleep well?" He teased, his voice low and playful. "Last night... you were quite disobedient. My arms are almost numb."
Shen Ning immediately pulled away from him, flustered. "It was in my sleep... not intentional."
Qin Yuheng chuckled softly but didn't tease her further. "Go freshen up before breakfast," he said, his tone now more serious.
---
At breakfast, Shen Ning sat in her usual seat, quietly sipping her coffee.
As they ate, she suddenly looked up, her expression thoughtful. "About my studies..."
Qin Yuheng paused, then handed her the glass of milk with a soft smile. "The transfer certificate and all the arrangements are done. You can start attending classes next week."
Shen Ning nodded, a hint of gratitude in her eyes. "Okay... Thank you."
It wasn't that she loved studying. It was more her father's dream for her. But she didn't want to sit idly at home either. At least her college life might offer some joy, even if it was a bit of an escape.
---
The day arrived when she would go to her new medical college: Beijing Medical College.
It was a prestigious institution that only accepted students with exceptional marks, yet she had secured a place with ease—thanks to Qin Yuheng's help.
"I'll drive you there," Qin Yuheng said as they got into the car. "My company's not far from your college. If you encounter any problems, ask the principal. He's also one of my friends."
"Okay," Shen Ning replied.
When they reached the college, Qin Yuheng stopped the car and looked at her. "When your classes end, call me. I'll pick you up."
"Got it." She nodded, stepping out of the car and closing the door behind her.
She wandered the campus, searching for her class, her nerves creeping in. It wasn't easy for her to socialize, so she simply introduced herself to the class when she found it.
The teacher, a middle-aged man with glasses, glanced at her as he entered. "You must be Shen Ning, the new transfer student?"
"Yes, sir," she answered politely.
"I'm Zhang Cui, your Chemistry teacher. We've already covered a few topics, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask, or you can collect notes from your classmates."
"Okay, thank you," Shen Ning replied, feeling a little out of place.
The class began, and after it ended, her deskmate, a friendly-looking girl, leaned over with a smile. "Hi, I'm Lu Nan."
"Hi," Shen Ning responded awkwardly. She wasn't sure how to continue the conversation.
But Lu Nan seemed to understand. "You can take these notes and print them," she offered, holding out a neatly organized set of papers.
Shen Ning blinked in surprise. "Thank you. You saved me a lot of trouble."
"No problem!" Lu Nan smiled. "Let me know if you need anything else."
After classes, Shen Ning called Qin Yuheng. He arrived soon after her call.
As she buckled her seatbelt and gazed out the window, she sighed, the weight of the day settling in.
"You can ask the driver to pick me up from tomorrow," she said quietly, her tone almost indifferent.
Qin Yuheng glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "You don't like it when I pick you up?"
Shen Ning looked out the window again, her voice flat. "You don't have to trouble yourself with these trivial matters."
The car ride was silent after that.
---
At home, Shen Ning entered first, followed by Qin Yuheng, who looked unusually sullen.
She addressed the housekeeper, her voice calm. "Can you please prepare a study room for me?"
The housekeeper, remembering that he was to follow her wishes, nodded. "Of course, Young Madam."
Qin Yuheng, overhearing this, shot a resentful glance at the housekeeper, his mood dropping to zero.
What did he do wrong? The housekeeper wondered, but he didn't dare to question it.
During dinner, the atmosphere was tense, with Qin Yuheng barely touching his food, his mood clearly sour. Shen Ning, however, remained quiet, eating her meal without acknowledging his behavior.
After they finished, Shen Ning stood and excused herself.
Qin Yuheng, who had some work to attend to, nodded curtly and went to his study room, the space between them growing with each passing moment.