Shall We Poach Someone

Shen Mengjie returned to the dormitory in a huff.

Wang Lijuan glanced at her and asked curiously, "Did it get windy outside?"

"Nope," Shen Mengjie replied.

"Oh." Wang Lijuan nodded, but her gaze involuntarily lingered on Shen Mengjie’s tightly wrapped-up chest.

This was definitely not Shen Mengjie’s usual style of dressing.

Noticing Wang Lijuan’s stare, Shen Mengjie looked down at her collar.

With an annoyed tug, she loosened it.

Her slender, fair neck and delicate collarbones were instantly exposed.

Like this, Shen Mengjie’s charm skyrocketed.

Wang Lijuan smiled faintly—this was the Shen Mengjie she knew.

Shen Mengjie playfully tickled Wang Lijuan before heading to her own bed.

Her bunk was right across from Han Xiaojing’s.

Just then, she noticed Han Xiaojing typing something on her phone, then deleting it.

A thought crossed her mind.

She walked over and sat on the edge of Han Xiaojing’s bed, asking softly, "Trying to figure out what to say to Long Aotian?"

Han Xiaojing instinctively turned off her phone screen when she saw Shen Mengjie sit down.

But hearing the question, she froze for a second, embarrassed.

Shen Mengjie didn’t need any more clues.

She sighed and gently pulled Han Xiaojing into a hug, resting the girl’s head on her shoulder. "He already has a girlfriend," she murmured.

Admittedly, Shen Mengjie wasn’t always the most principled when it came to her own affairs.

But there was no denying she treated her sisters well—especially those in the same dorm, where bonds ran deeper.

To her surprise, Han Xiaojing only paused for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh.

Shen Mengjie gave her a puzzled look and comforted her softly, "If Long Aotian’s taken, there’ll be others. Maybe the next one’s even better."

"Or we could just steal him?" Typical Shen Mengjie—even suggesting homewrecking with such conviction.

Han Xiaojing shook her head, her eyes amused as she met Shen Mengjie’s gaze. "Did you think I’d be heartbroken?"

Without waiting for a reply, she continued, "Honestly, I’m not surprised he has a girlfriend."

"It’s just... I never got to confess, so there’s a bit of regret, that’s all."

Though Han Xiaojing was gentle, she was also clear-headed and rational.

Why had she liked Long Aotian? Because he was outstanding, admirable.

If she was drawn to him, other girls probably were too. It wasn’t like she could expect him to stay single just because she had feelings for him.

And it wasn’t as if his having a girlfriend meant she should wallow in misery.

Still, she couldn’t help wondering—if she’d been braver, if she’d confessed sooner, would things have been different?

Seeing that Han Xiaojing really seemed fine, Shen Mengjie slowly stood up, stretching lazily.

Her figure was stunning, and she knew exactly how to flaunt it.

Han Xiaojing took a deep breath and reopened her phone, exiting Long Aotian’s chat window.

What’s meant to be will come; what’s not shouldn’t be forced.

"You really need to change that personality of yours," Shen Mengjie said. "If I were you, I’d have made a move the second I liked someone. Who cares if it’s ‘appropriate’? What’s yours is only yours if you fight for it!"

Han Xiaojing didn’t want to admit it, but it was true.

She was too reserved, too hesitant when it came to decisions.

In that way, she was a lot like Hu Yuying from before—but Han Xiaojing was luckier, with a family who loved her and good friends by her side.

"Honestly, that Li Longlong from Long Aotian’s dorm isn’t bad—"

"Stop talking nonsense, Mengjie!" Han Xiaojing cut her off.

She felt nothing for Li Longlong—something even their chats made obvious.

Besides, college had just begun. The next four years—no, even beyond—would bring countless changes and growth.

The future was wide open...

"Hmph! That Long Aotian actually dared to look at me like that? I won’t let him off easy!"

Han Xiaojing looked at Shen Mengjie and asked quietly, "What... did he do to you?"

Shen Mengjie recounted what had happened.

"I saw him with a girl, so I went up and asked if she was his girlfriend..."

"Was she pretty?"

Shen Mengjie paused, then reluctantly pursed her lips. "As much as I hate to admit it, yeah, she was really pretty."

She shook her head. "Whatever. I’ll find a way to make Long Aotian pay for this."

"Maybe I should just let it go. He’s actually not that bad."

"No, otherwise I won’t feel at ease." Deep down, Shen Mengjie knew it wasn’t right, and she understood that Long Aotian had said those things for her own good...

But it seemed like this was the only excuse she could find to get closer to him...

"Achoo!" In dorm 147, Long Aotian sneezed and casually rubbed his nose.

"Old Ao, you’re not coming down with a cold, are you?"

"Nonsense! It’s definitely my little girl missing me!"

Li Longlong stood up and glanced at Long Aotian’s bunk. "By the way, none of us have met our future sister-in-law yet. When are you going to arrange for us brothers to meet her?"

Hearing this, Huang Fei and Xu Shuai perked up—when it came to teasing, they were always eager to join in.

"Let me guess—is it one of those two pretty girls who came to visit you at our school last time?" Huang Fei ventured.

Seeing that Long Aotian didn’t deny it, Xu Shuai chimed in, "Is it the one with the really sweet smile? The one with slightly shorter hair, delicate and charming?"

"I think it’s the one who looks especially pure and shy. The way that girl looks at Old Ao is so tender it’s almost unbelievable—her eyes might as well be glued to him," Huang Fei speculated.

"Could it be that cold-but-beautiful campus belle from the neighboring college? Her icy elegance only softens when she’s around Old Ao. If there’s nothing between them, I won’t believe it!" Li Longlong declared confidently.

Long Aotian cleared his throat, exasperated. What nonsense were they spouting?

The short-haired one was clearly his rival, and the aloof campus belle was just his little sister...

"If my little girl agrees, I’ll set something up soon and introduce you three godchildren to her..."

[Goodnight, brothers and sisters.]