Names mentioned in this chapter :

-蘇芮 (sù ruì) – Su Rui, our female protagonist

-顧煜城 (gù yù chéng)- Gu Yu Cheng, the male lead

-余靜女士(yú jìng nǚ shì)- Madam Yu Jing

“What’s wrong?”

In the car, Gu Yu Cheng’s brows drew together and asked. Gu Yu Cheng gazed at Su Rui, who was spacing out as she leaned against the window.

“Nothing.” Su Rui was slightly stunned and replied softly.

She was just deeply reflecting on herself.

She clearly said that she would return home before 3 o’clock. Yet, even now, Su Rui didn’t understand how she agreed to Gu Yu Cheng to head to Chen’s house directly before 6.30 pm.

Where was her persistence? Where are her principles?!

Su Rui’s forehead furrowed slightly as she rebuked herself.

Looking at Su Rui’s knitted eyebrows, Gu Yu Cheng’s expression slightly moved and inwardly thought that Su Rui was probably thinking about the banquet.

“Don’t worry, you won’t be late.” Gu Yu Cheng said. His tone was reassuring and calm.

Su Rui sent a WeChat message to Liu Yue at 3 o’clock stating that she would head to the banquet directly. Until now, Su Rui didn’t dare to take out her mobile phone to check the contents of her mother’s reply.

“En, I know but it’s not about that,” Su Rui said as she tried to maintain a natural expression to smile at Gu Yu Cheng.

Since she dug her own pit, she has to stay (feign) calm.

“Then, what are you thinking about?” Gu Yu Cheng questioned again.

“Nothing…’

“Uh, Gu Yu Cheng.”

“Hm?”

“Let me ask you a question.”

Although it’s to change the topic, Su Rui suddenly remembered that there was a problem that she wanted to consult with Gu Yu Cheng.

Hearing this, Gu Yu Cheng’s eyes were still calm but the hands that were holding onto the steering wheel tightened its grip.“Go ahead.”

Su Rui organized her question and asked, “Since I’m going to be in my junior year in university, do you think it’s necessary for me to join the student union or societies?”

Because of the question the young female underclassman[1] had asked, Su Rui was also concerned about this. There were many societies in University B and there were many participants.

Don’t merely look at Liu Ling who seemed to have nothing to do all day. She is actually the vice president of the external relations department. If she doesn’t participate in societies, activities and so on, it would feel like she is pretentiously attending a university.

But for a third-year upperclassman like her to join a society or group and be a cute newbie,[2] it feels somewhat weird.

Su Rui has been hesitant because of this issue.

The first person she thought to consult was Gu Yu Cheng.

After all, other than being the Chairman of the Gu Company, Gu Yu Cheng was also her senior who had graduated.

Besides, if she remembered correctly, the last time she looked up the resume of a certain Gu on some encyclopedia[3], he seemed to have been the student president for two terms, as well as the honorary president for one year?

Obviously, Gu Yu Cheng didn’t expect Su Rui to ask this question. His expression froze and there was a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. However, he soon regained his composure and seriously pondered about Su Rui’s question.

“Societies and Student Union are two different systems. Which one do you prefer?” Gu Yu Cheng asked.

This was definitely Su Rui’s immediate response.

She had to reconsider the Student Union and whatnot.

“I’m considering the Student Union.” Su Rui thought about it and replied.

Hearing this, Gu Yu Cheng’s gaze fell once on Su Rui and asked, “Why?”

“I think that this experience would be more helpful to my future development and direction.” Facing Gu Yu Cheng, who had ‘experienced it before’, Su Rui didn’t conceal her inner thoughts and answered.magic

Why do you think the university provided for so many ‘salted fish[4]’ who does not work, earn money and have daily necessities? Isn’t that because they want to shape one’s three outlooks[5], find a direction in life, and determine one’s future course?In her past life, Su Rui didn’t know how she muddled through University.

So, after she started all over again, Su Rui’s views seemed to be clearer. It was always right to be cautious when making certain decisions.

As for the difference between Student Union and societies, other than the fact that both of them are on-campus involvement, it probably was that one could be written into the resume and the latter can’t.

It is only after entering society that one understands that books, awards, honours and experiences—regardless of whether they are very useful or seemingly useless—once it’s accumulated, it can form a step up.

Su Rui didn’t want to admit that she was envious when she saw the list of honours and resume that was in someone’s profile.

Hearing Su Rui’s reply, Gu Yu Cheng’s eyes moved. He was somewhat surprised and isn’t at the same time.

“It does have some benefits.” Gu Yu Cheng nodded his head.Gu Yu Cheng’s initial thought was:

However, as he thought about it, it seems that is likely.

If Su Rui’s thoughts were that of a 20-year-old girl’s, he probably wouldn’t have any ideas of having her as a girlfriend or even marrying her.

After all, just as Gu Yu Cheng told Madam Yu Jing previously: He doesn’t have any interest in being a ‘paedophile’ and even more so less interested in ‘raising a daughter’.

Being with Su Rui, at most, Gu Yu Cheng got along with her by having the same level of thoughts and views.

After saying this, he saw Su Rui’s eyes flashed with distress. Gu Yu Cheng couldn’t help but chuckle twice.

Then he said, “But some of them are just icing on the cake and they aren’t so important.”

Hearing this, Su Rui was stunned. She turned her head and looked at the person beside her, but she heard him say, “Choose what you like.”

“Actually, I like painting.”“You can.”

“Uh, I also like the cooking society.”

“Sure.” Gu Yu Cheng nodded his head.

The next second, when he reacted, he slightly raised his eyebrows and looked towards Su Rui, “You want to learn how to cook?”

Su Rui smiled and replied, “I’m just curious and I want to briefly understand it.”

She wasn’t blind. How can she not see the bit of expectation in Gu Yu Cheng’s eyes?

It’s just that Su Rui didn’t dare to promise anything at this moment. What if she really doesn’t have the talent for it and produce some ‘dark cuisine[6]’?

Also, Su Rui dare not expect too much from a culinary club in a non-culinary university.

Gu Yu Cheng didn’t mind when he heard Su Rui’s tone was slightly lacking in confidence.

“Alright.” Gu Yu Cheng unconsciously chuckled and responded.

……

[1] 學妹(xué mèi)- refers to a female junior or a younger female schoolmate

[2] 萌新(méng xīn) – cute newbie. A term that describes a newcomer or a novice in gaming.

[3] 某度百科(mǒu dù bǎikē)- refers to 百度百科(Bǎidù Bǎikē) which is Baidu online encyclopedia[4] 鹹魚(xiányú) – an internet slang which means like a dead corpse.

[5] 三觀(sān guān)- Three outlooks. It refers to the outlook of the world, opinions about value and outlook on life.

[6] 黑暗料理(hēi’àn iàolǐ)- dark cuisine. This phrase can be used when the food in a snack stand was sold in an average sanitation environment and that operates late at night, or dishes and food with unpleasant appearance made by beginners or people with ordinary cooking skills. The latter is a humorous self-mockery. Also, it can refer to certain ingredients or methods of cooking that ordinary people can’t accept/swallow down. Sometimes, it can refer to deliberately made ‘creative’ food, such as: spicy and sour mooncakes.