207: Chapter 207 Reunion with Su Mian

Chen Fan smiled slightly and took the initiative to greet her, "Happy New Year."

Shen Qing gave a lukewarm response of "Happy New Year" before turning back to look at the podium, acting as if the person next to her didn't exist.

Chen Fan didn't mind. He leaned back against his chair and pretended to listen intently as Counselor Shen Na went over the announcements for the new semester.

Then came the textbook distribution, make-up exam schedules, dormitory safety, anti-fraud reminders... a whole list of miscellaneous things that took nearly half an hour to finish.

"Alright, that's all," Counselor Shen Na said, closing the folder in her hand. "Meeting adjourned."

The sound of chairs scraping filled the classroom as the noise rushed back into the space.

Chen Fan stood up and was about to head out when Counselor Shen Na's voice came from the podium: "Chen Fan, stay back for a moment."

Chen Fan paused and turned toward the podium.

He acknowledged her and stayed put. Once the classroom was mostly empty, he walked up to the podium at a leisurely pace.

"Sister Na," Chen Fan greeted her with a smile.

"I thought you weren't coming today?" Sister Na's tone carried a hint of teasing.

"How could I?" Chen Fan smiled. "Would I dare miss a class meeting hosted by Sister Na?"

A flicker of amusement passed through Sister Na's eyes, but she quickly pulled it back and waved her hand. "Alright, stop being cheeky."

She straightened her expression, her tone becoming more serious. "I asked you to stay for no other reason than to tell you that although you ranked first in all your exams last semester, don't skip every single class this semester. At least do what you did last term and show up occasionally. It doesn't look good if you don't attend a single one."

Chen Fan nodded, his attitude very proper. "Don't worry, Sister Na. I'll be there."

"That's good then," Counselor Shen Na nodded. "That's all I wanted to say. You can go."

"Goodbye, Sister Na."

As Chen Fan spoke, he turned and walked out of the classroom.

...

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

That day at noon, Chen Fan was lying on the office sofa resting after lunch. Just as his eyelids closed and drowsiness was about to take over, his phone rang.

The ringtone sounded particularly piercing in the quiet office, jolting the sleepy Chen Fan awake.

He frowned, reached for his phone, and squinted at the screen. It was a call from his older cousin, Chen Tong.

"Hello, Sis," Chen Fan answered the phone.

"Xiao Fan, didn't you ask me to check with Su Mian last time?" Chen Tong's voice came through the phone. "I've spoken to her."

Most of Chen Fan's sleepiness vanished instantly. He propped himself up, leaned against the sofa, and switched the phone to his other ear. "What did she say?"

"She made a special call to her family to ask. They said it's no problem; it just depends on when you can come over."

Chen Fan thought for a moment. Tomorrow was Saturday. There was nothing urgent at the company, and the stock market would be closed, so he was free.

"Can we go tomorrow, Saturday?"

"Hold on a second, Su Mian is right next to me. I'll ask her directly."

A rustling sound came from the other end, then Chen Tong's voice sounded a bit further away, as if she were turning to speak to the person beside her: "Su Mian, my brother is asking if we can go tomorrow? Just tomorrow, Saturday."

Chen Fan heard a soft voice from the other end. It was at a bit of a distance, but every word was very clear.

"Sure, my mom is usually at the factory."

Chen Tong's voice came closer again, back to the receiver. "Did you hear that? She said it's fine. Just wait at the school gate tomorrow. Su Mian will go with us; she happens to be at school too."

"Alright, then I'll go to your school tomorrow morning."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

After hanging up, Chen Fan placed his phone on the coffee table and leaned back into the sofa.

He closed his eyes, his mind starting to turn toward the matter of going to the garment factory tomorrow.

Since it was the first meeting and they were elders, he couldn't go empty-handed; he had to bring something.

Cigarettes? Alcohol? Or tea? He didn't know what Su Mian's parents liked. After some thought, he decided to be a bit conventional and just buy a bottle of liquor, some high-grade tea, and a box of health supplements.

...

The next morning, Chen Fan drove toward Changan University of Arts and Sciences.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped at the gate of Changan University of Arts and Sciences.

Chen Fan turned off the engine and sent a message to Chen Tong: "I'm here, at the gate."

Then he sat in the car and continued to wait.

About ten minutes later, two familiar figures walked out of the school gate.

One was his cousin Chen Tong, and the other was Su Mian.

Chen Tong was no different from how she was during the New Year—still that boisterous self, wearing a red sports jacket with her hair in a high ponytail, walking with a brisk, energetic pace.

In contrast, Su Mian beside her looked much quieter.

Today she was wearing a pink hoodie. The clothing was a bit loose, but it couldn't hide her impressive curves.

On her lower half, she wore blue jeans and white sneakers on her feet.

It was a very simple outfit with no fancy decorations or deliberate styling, but the overall look was very pleasing.

Seeing the two of them come out, Chen Fan opened the driver's side door, got out, and walked toward them.

Upon seeing Chen Fan, Chen Tong quickly waved her hand, her voice just loud enough for him to hear: "Over here!"

While Su Mian didn't make any grand gestures, a faint smile appeared on her face, her eyes curving into two crescent moons as she quietly watched Chen Fan approach.

"Sis, Sister Su Mian," Chen Fan greeted them casually as he drew near.

Su Mian smiled slightly and gave a soft "Mm."

Her gaze lingered on Chen Fan's face for a split second before shifting away.

"You're quite early," Chen Tong said.

"It's not early; it's already ten o'clock," Chen Fan said, checking his watch. "Get in the car."

"Let's go."

Arriving at Chen Fan's car, Chen Tong pulled open the back door and flopped inside. She leaned against the seat, stretched, and collapsed into a heap.

Su Mian followed to the other side. Just as her hand touched the handle of the rear door, Chen Tong spoke up: "Hey, Mianmian, why don't you sit in the front? I want to lie down and sleep for a bit in the back."

Su Mian froze for a moment, her hand still on the handle. "Didn't you just get up?"

"Oh, I went to bed too late last night. I'm a bit sleepy," Chen Tong said, already taking off her jacket, bunching it up to use as a pillow behind her neck, and slumping against the seat, motionless.

Su Mian hesitated, her gaze shifting between the front and back seats. Ultimately, she let go of the rear door handle, turned to the passenger side, opened the door, and sat down.

However, she was a bit confused. Chen Tong had clearly gone to bed very early last night; she'd climbed into bed around ten and fallen asleep without even scrolling through her phone for more than a few minutes.

Why did she say she "went to bed too late last night" as soon as she got in the car? Could she have remembered incorrectly?

She didn't dwell on it and began to fasten her seatbelt.

Her movements were slow as she buckled the seatbelt. With a click, she fastened it, then pulled her hands back to her knees, sitting properly and obediently.

Chen Fan buckled his own seatbelt and looked at Su Mian in the passenger seat, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. "Sister Su Mian, please give me the address."

Su Mian spoke an address. Her voice was soft, but she spoke clearly, enunciating every word accurately.

Chen Fan checked the navigation. It wasn't actually that far; it was in Changan, just in the most remote district.

It was about a forty-minute drive from the school—not too far.

He entered the address into the car's navigation, confirmed the route, and with a press of the accelerator, drove toward their destination.