Facing Chen Hanxing's sudden display of tenderness, Shen Youchu was startled and nervously waved her hand to decline: "No, no need."
As she refused, she awkwardly raised her head and immediately collided with Chen Hanxing's meaningful gaze, causing her to quickly avert her eyes, much like a frightened fawn. Chen Hanxing couldn't help but sigh. Shen Youchu's upbringing was the main cause of her insecurity. Even though she might be more beautiful than other girls, her appearance could potentially become a psychological burden.
Shen Youchu was hiding in her own little world, possibly due to some subconscious self-protection. "I'll take my time, as long as I can find a way to slip into her heart, even if she eventually closes it, it's fine."
Chen Hanxing thought to himself. From his perspective, he could clearly see the high bridge of Shen Youchu's nose under her long eyelashes, and her well-defined lips. "No matter what method it takes to open this gap!"
Shen Youchu, though lowering her head, could still feel the intense gaze on her from across the table. Unsure of how to respond, she quietly extended her index finger, pushing the bowl of shrimp rice away from herself, trying to draw a line as if trying to distance herself from him.
"Heh, why doesn't class monitor peel one for me?" Hu Linyu, watching from the side, sneered.
"Sure." Chen Hanxing casually replied.
"Forget it, there's no sincerity at all!" Hu Linyu declined the offer of attention.
Chen Hanxing smiled and said, "I thought the prettiest girl in the class was Shang Yanyan."
"Hmph!" Hu Linyu snorted disdainfully, showing that she didn't agree.
Suddenly, her expression became serious. "Not many people in our dorm have noticed Youchu's real looks. I only realized it recently. She's so beautiful, and her personality is so soft. You have to keep this a secret, or else all the perverts will come after her."
"Not a problem at all, but can you not stare at me when you say 'perverts'?" Chen Hanxing grumbled.
"All men are the same. As long as you know it, that's enough." Hu Linyu said in a tone of someone who's seen it all.
Chen Hanxing sighed inwardly. These girls who've never been in a relationship think they've figured out all men, but once they fall in love, they throw themselves into it without hesitation, and usually get hurt. As for the women who treat love like drinking water, they don't waste time thinking about such nonsense because they know exactly what they want.
Shen Youchu, hearing their conversation about her, blushed deeply, but was too afraid of Chen Hanxing to leave. Luckily, Chen Hanxing quickly changed the subject: "Let's talk business."
"Okay." Hu Linyu was curious about what Chen Hanxing was up to.
"In my second year, I'm going to step down from the class monitor position. You can take over. This way, it won't affect your future plans for the civil service exams. What do you think?"
Hu Linyu thought for a moment. As long as she could ensure that she was still class monitor when applying for the 'selected student' program, it didn't matter if it was in her second or third year. But why was Chen Hanxing so generous?
"How can you guarantee a smooth handover to me?" Hu Linyu asked.
While the two "strategists" were negotiating, Shen Youchu once again extended her finger to push the bowl of shrimp away, as if distancing herself would make her safer.
Noticing this, Chen Hanxing immediately abandoned Hu Linyu and turned to Shen Youchu. "Why aren't you eating? Is it because I peeled it?"
"No, no, I'm fine. I can just eat the steamed bun." Shen Youchu replied, not knowing when she had picked up half of a cold bun, already taking a couple of bites.
Seeing Shen Youchu's resistance and unwillingness to cooperate, for some reason, Chen Hanxing's temper flared.
"Is this steamed bun so delicious? Let me try!" he said, snatching the half-eaten bun from her hand and, before Shen Youchu could react, stuffing it into his mouth. In her stunned gaze, he swallowed it in a few bites. Wiping his mouth, he casually said, "It's just average."
"You... you..." Shen Youchu was in shock, her mouth agape, staring at Chen Hanxing.
"You're a rogue!" she finally blurted out.
At that moment, Hu Linyu couldn't help but finish her sentence. "Exactly!"
"What's with the attitude? We're discussing a collaboration," Chen Hanxing said, shifting the conversation back as he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a "thunk, thunk" sound.
"I have a plan for how to hand over the class monitor role to you. During the first semester of your sophomore year, you can become the Youth League secretary, take on the class's daily tasks, and gradually establish an image in the minds of the students and old Gu. Once I resign in the second year, you can smoothly take over," he continued. "Also, being the Youth League secretary can help you join the Communist Party early, which will be beneficial for your civil service exams."
Although Hu Linyu wasn't very thorough in her thinking, she wasn't foolish. She immediately shouted, "I get it! You want me to take on the class monitor duties while you go off and do other things, and in the end, the results will all be credited to you while the hard work is mine."
"There's no such good thing!" Hu Linyu was angry. She felt like Chen Hanxing was taking advantage of the situation.
Chen Hanxing smiled. "The results are everyone's. What's mine now will be yours in the future, and ultimately, it will still be yours."
His words sounded a bit like a riddle, but if you thought about it, there was a philosophical logic behind it. He continued, "I'm not doing nothing. You'll handle the small stuff, and I'll handle the big things."
"And what qualifies as big and small?" Hu Linyu wanted to clarify.
"Anything you can't handle is a big thing," Chen Hanxing said confidently.
Hu Linyu wasn't happy. This implied that his abilities were superior to hers, though it was probably true.
Shen Youchu felt like her head was buzzing. First, she couldn't believe Chen Hanxing ate the bun she had taken a bite of—didn't that mean they had kissed? Second, he was treating the "class monitor" position like a bargaining chip in a deal.
She glanced at Hu Linyu, who was still seriously considering Chen Hanxing's proposal, and Shen Youchu felt that he was a dangerous man, leading Hu Linyu astray.
Taking advantage of Hu Linyu's moment of contemplation, "the dangerous person" Chen Hanxing spoke up again, but this time in a calm manner: "Shrimp are high in protein and not as greasy as meat, so it's okay if you eat more."
Seeing that Shen Youchu still didn't eat, he took a shrimp and held it out to her. "Here, let me feed you."
Shen Youchu blushed and tightly shut her mouth, turning her head to avoid him.
Chen Hanxing smiled mischievously. "If you don't eat, I'll just keep holding it."
The cafeteria was busy, and with Chen Hanxing's determination and audacity, he might really hold it for as long as needed. Shen Youchu's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't want anyone to see, so she finally opened her mouth and ate the shrimp he offered, as if swallowing poison.
"What if I refuse?" Hu Linyu still wanted to resist.
"Then I'll just have to work harder, managing both the class duties and my business. But you'll have no chance. It's rare to change class monitors in college." Chen Hanxing replied leisurely, adding fuel to the fire: "I can arrange for you to become Youth League secretary first. Whether you take the position or not, it's up to you."