While everyone was waiting for the final result of the examination, Lu Xiulan left her seat.

“I’m going to take a cigarette break,” she told Yuan Jin. Yuan Jin watched Lu Xiulan’s back retreat before shaking his head. Lu Xiulan should come to her senses and deal with whatever problem she was trying to escape. Her envious gaze at Lu Xinyi and Shen Yi wasn’t lost to Yuan Jin.

Lu Xiulan was aware of the meaningful looks that Yuan Jin was throwing her. He needed not to remind her what to do. It was just every passing day without a word from that man made her feel lost. Her sure steps towards the vending machine were a vast contrast to the mess in her heart.

Three months. Had it been that long since she last talked to him? Did she make the right choice leaving him, distancing herself to save whatever dignity left in her? Was she expecting that he would seek her this time and try to pick up where they left off? No matter how many steps she took forward, he was always out of her reach.

She scoffed to herself. Wasn’t his silence for the past weeks a screaming answer to her already? Whatever possibility that he cared about her was already down the drain. It was useless for her to check her phone for his messages or calls. She should have known better than expect from him.

‘Oh no, Xiulan. You aren’t thinking of him again!’ She chastised herself. How many times did she find herself thinking of him today?

Lu Xiulan closed her eyes and blinked away the tears that were trying to fall from it. Maybe, she hadn’t totally moved on since that night. He was moving on his life without her, and maybe, it was time for her to do the same. He was a treasure she found but wasn’t for her to keep. She had to let him go even if it meant breaking her own heart, and she wasn’t strong enough to hold onto an empty promise any longer.

Inserting coins on the vending machine, she pushed the button for her favorite cold grape juice before striding her way to the smoking area where she could burn out some of her frustrations. Sitting at the bench beside another vending machine for candies, she lit up a cigarette and puffed out the smoke from her lungs. She was glad that the scalding temperature outside had been diminished as the sun started to set unlike earlier when she arrived.

She enjoyed the temporary haven the smoking area offered. With a cigarette on her hand and her favorite juice beside her, she felt better than these past few days. She was plagued with stressful work. The final touches for her and Yuan Jin’s advertisement should be ready before the week ends.

Her momentary peace was disturbed when her ears picked up sounds of squeals and screaming of women somewhere. She was shocked to find Shen Xue tripping on his own feet before hiding at the other side of the vending machine. He placed a finger on his lips, telling her to keep quiet.

Lu Xiulan almost let out a laugh at Shen Xue’s bad luck. It seemed that he was being hunted by his fangirls. ‘Ah, what a great day to meet the other Shen brother.’ She chuckled and puffed her cigarette.

Moments later, a group of girls appeared at the doorway, looking around for any signs of their idol.

“Xuexue, where are you?” One of the girls called out.

Shen Xue cringed at where he was hiding. Now, he understood what Shen Yi meant when he told him fangirls could be dangerous. Ah, it was Shen Yi’s fault in the first place! He was the one who decided to step forward to save Lu Xinyi himself, and he was left to deal with the mob of girls waiting for him outside the conference room. He was able to run away from them with the help of Silver Leaf’s security.

“He’s not here, but I thought he ran this way.”

“He didn’t jump from this balcony, right? It’s too high from here.”

“Maybe he took the other way.”

“Let’s go! He shouldn’t be that far!”

When the girls left, Lu Xiulan couldn’t contain her laughter anymore. She laughed out loud and slapped her thighs.

“What’s so funny?” Shen Xue asked, irritated that this woman was making fun of him. Her pitch black straight hair bounced on her shoulder, her cheeks flushing from laughing. Shen Xue never felt ashamed in front of a woman till now.

“You! Ahahahahaha! I can’t—!” Lu Xiulan held her stomach as she laughed. Shen Xue sat at the other side of the bench, his face turning red from embarrassment.

“I can’t believe that they almost got you,” she continued, “You should learn from your brother how to evade those women.”

Shen Xue frowned. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he’d seen her.

“You look familiar. Have I seen you someplace before? ” he asked.

“Is that a pickup line?” Lu Xiulan grinned, “Maybe yes, that’s why I don’t go there anymore.” She joked before deciding she had enough laughing for the day. “I’m Lu Xiulan, Xinxin’s cousin.”

Shen Xue opened his mouth to ask, but Lu Xiulan beat him to it.

“Father side,” she added.

“I see,” he nodded, “Don’t worry about her. My brother is doing his best to make sure she’ll pass the exams without any problems.”

“About time for Prince Charming to rescue his Cinderella.”