Chapter 3: The Handsome Boy Bathed in Sunlight

Lin Xiyu smiled gratefully, tossed her backpack onto the teacher’s podium, and hurried to her seat. The proctor soon arrived at her desk to check her admission ticket. Cooperatively, Lin Xiyu smoothed the messy locks from her forehead, revealing her clear brow. After verifying her credentials, the proctor nodded in satisfaction and placed the exam paper on her desk.

“Thank you, teacher,” Lin Xiyu said obediently. As she reached to write, she realized she hadn’t taken her pen from her bag. What rotten luck—what now? The papers were already distributed; would the teacher suspect her of cheating if she got up to fetch her pen?

While she fretted, a sleek black fountain pen was tossed to her from the diagonal row behind. Her heart fluttered in surprise, but she didn’t need to look to know who it was. Gu Bin, having tossed the pen her way, immediately lowered his head and started answering questions, as calm as if nothing had happened.

Lin Xiyu tentatively reached for the pen, met the proctor’s scrutinizing gaze, and gave an awkward smile. Luckily, the proctor didn’t make a fuss and let her off once more. Lin Xiyu patted her startled heart, banishing all distracting thoughts, uncapped the pen, and wrote her name at the top of her exam paper.

The last subject of the college entrance examination was Chinese—her strongest suit. The earlier episode of rescuing people hadn’t disturbed her composure; she quickly settled in, focused her mind, and began answering questions.

—

Two hours flew by in a blink, and with the ring of the bell, the exam was over. Students rose from their seats one after another, handed in their papers, and left the classroom. Lin Xiyu, under the pretense of checking her exam, glanced toward the diagonal row behind her, just in time to see Gu Bin stand up and hand in his paper. She promptly capped her pen and followed.

The two walked out of the classroom side by side, backpacks slung over their shoulders. Gu Bin, standing at one meter eighty-five, had a tall, perfect figure and a sunny, handsome face—undoubtedly the most dazzling presence among his peers. Lin Xiyu could distinctly feel the gazes from all directions converging on them: those directed at him were heated and admiring, while those falling on her were—surprise and disdain.

“Your pen, thank you.” Lin Xiyu felt her ears burning as she returned the pen, wanting to put some distance between herself and him. Her current appearance was so conspicuous, she couldn’t blame others for their reaction; she felt awkward herself.

“What were you doing so early in the morning?” Gu Bin took the pen, teasing her with a smirk. “Did you fall in the river? You look so disheveled.”

“Something like that,” Lin Xiyu replied, embarrassed, as she smoothed her hair.

“You really fell in the river?” Gu Bin paused, genuinely surprised.

He’d only meant to poke fun, never expecting to hit the mark and uncover the truth.

“There was a car accident on the way here,” Lin Xiyu didn’t want him to look down on her, so she joked, “I rescued two people from the city moat—my own version of the ‘hero saving the beauty.’ Hahaha…”

“You, saving people?” Gu Bin watched her laugh so carefree and hesitated to believe her.

“It’s true!” Lin Xiyu lifted her chin, boasting with pride. “There were TV reporters recording it—maybe I’ll be famous soon…”

“Yeah, right.” Gu Bin couldn’t stand her smug little act; hands in his pockets, he strode off, cool and aloof.

“It really happened!” Lin Xiyu was about to run after him when she suddenly remembered her bike was parked on the other side of the lot. With a cry of dismay, she smacked her forehead and dashed toward the bike shed in the opposite direction.

Gu Bin glanced at her, the corners of his lips curling up, a delighted chuckle rumbling from his throat.