Extra Story - He Is the Moon in the Sky - First Encounter

Autumn, Jingzhou University, School of Business.

Sunlight streamed through the large windows, gilding the lecture hall with a golden edge.

Ren Qian sat in the first row.

Her back was straight, like a poplar tree facing the light.

On the notebook before her were meticulously organized class notes.

Every character was as neat and precise as if printed, orderly and cool.

She was number one in the entire department.

Had been since enrollment began.

She held that position firmly.

On the podium, Professor Zhao, who taught Macroeconomics, adjusted his glasses.

"The final project for this semester will be completed in groups."

As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of suppressed murmurs rippled through the classroom.

Professor Zhao's courses were notorious for their rigor.

His major assignments could keep half the department pulling all-nighters for a month.

Ren Qian didn't move.

She didn't need to find a group.

Usually, people came to her.

"This year's topic is somewhat special."

Professor Zhao paused for effect.

"Analyze the impact of Xia Country's future ten-year new energy industry policies on the macroeconomy."

The classroom fell silent instantly.

The topic was too broad, too abstract.

It involved too many variables.

And many were merely policy predictions.

Without solid data support, it was difficult to produce a deep analysis.

This was beyond the scope of an undergraduate's capabilities.

"Of course, you may form groups freely."

"However," Professor Zhao's gaze swept across the room.

"There is one group for which I have already predetermined the members."

His eyes landed on the first row.

"Ren Qian."

Ren Qian looked up.

"And, Lu Chenyuan."

A lower wave of discussion, tinged with envy and jealousy, rose in the classroom.

Ren Qian's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Lu Chenyuan.

That name was known to everyone in the Jingzhou University School of Business.

He was another legend.

One completely different from Ren Qian.

Ren Qian had climbed step by step from an ordinary family to the pinnacle through near-masochistic effort and talent.

She was the undisputed best.

Lu Chenyuan was born in the clouds.

The Lu family was one of Jingzhou's top-tier wealthy dynasties.

He himself was dazzling to the point of being blinding.

Talent, family background, looks.

He possessed everything.

Like the moon in the sky.

Cool, bright, and out of reach.

Ren Qian knew him.

Or rather, knew of him.

They were classmates.

But the two had almost no interaction.

He always sat in the back of the classroom, listening quietly or reading his own books.

Unassuming, not mixing with the crowd.

Yet, he could offer the most precise, most profound insights in every class discussion.

Such an outstanding guy probably had many girls chasing after him.

But he politely declined all advances.

He was as gentle as jade, yet carried an innate aloofness in his bones.

Ren Qian held no particular fondness for him.

In her view, people born with a silver spoon couldn't understand real competition and struggle.

Their excellence was merely the view from the shoulders of giants.

Now, she had to form a group with this "moon in the sky."

For the first time, Ren Qian felt a flicker of uncertainty in her heart.

The group's first meeting was scheduled in a library study room.

Ren Qian arrived ten minutes early.

She opened her laptop, having already outlined a preliminary framework and research directions in a document.

She was used to taking the initiative.

Lu Chenyuan arrived on time.

To the minute.

He wore a simple white shirt and casual trousers, carrying a clean scent.

He sat down opposite Ren Qian.

"Hello."

His voice, like his person, was gentle yet distant.

"Hello," Ren Qian nodded in response.

"I've drafted a preliminary framework."

She turned her laptop towards him.

Lu Chenyuan's gaze fell on the screen.

He read quickly and with focus.

"The framework is good."

He spoke after finishing.

"But the data model could be adjusted."

Without pleasantries, he went straight to the core issue.

"Traditional macroeconomic models aren't fully applicable here."

"The weighting of policy variables needs recalculation."

"Furthermore, we need to consider the forcing mechanism of international energy market dynamics on domestic policy."

His pace wasn't fast, but every word hit a key point.

Clear and logical.

For the first time, Ren Qian felt the pressure of meeting her match.

And a trace of admiration she herself hadn't yet noticed.

"I see."

She retrieved her laptop.

"Then let's re-divide the work."

"Alright."

Lu Chenyuan took out a pen and a piece of paper.

He didn't use a computer.

Instead, he wrote swiftly on the paper.

A clear task breakdown soon appeared.

From data collection, to model building, to report writing.

Every task was detailed down to the person and specific timeline.

"Any questions?"

He slid the paper towards Ren Qian.

Ren Qian looked at it.

The handwriting was strong and forceful, like the man himself—calm and powerful.

"No."

She shook her head.

This time, she was genuinely convinced.

This man wasn't just born with a good family.

He was a true, natural leader.

For the next month,

Ren Qian and Lu Chenyuan became regulars at the library.

The two of them practically took over that small study room.

Neither spoke much.

Most of the time, they worked on their respective tasks in front of their computers.

Only when encountering key issues would they have brief discussions.

These discussions were always efficient and to the point.

Not a single wasted word.

Ren Qian enjoyed this feeling.

It was the intellectual thrill of meeting one's match.

She discovered Lu Chenyuan's knowledge was far broader than she imagined.

He wasn't just proficient in economics.

He had an extraordinary understanding of politics, history, even basic industry.

Discussing problems with him was like conversing with a walking database.

She, too, displayed her capabilities without reservation.

Her data processing skills and analytical sharpness drew approving glances from Lu Chenyuan more than once.

Though those glances were always fleeting.

"My part is done."

Late one night, Ren Qian sent the report section she was responsible for to Lu Chenyuan.

"Mmm, not bad."

Lu Chenyuan's reply came quickly.

Just three words.

But Ren Qian knew that "not bad" from him was already high praise.

She leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh.

Glancing at the time, it was already 2 AM.

Outside the window was Jingzhou's sleeping night.

She looked at Lu Chenyuan across from her.

He was still focused on his screen.

The screen's glow illuminated his face, making his handsome profile appear even more defined.

It also deepened the melancholic air about him.