Chapter 3 — Ha Ha, You're All I Want

I carefully asked, "Isn't this terribly expensive? What if I accidentally smudge it?"

"It is quite all right. Do you like it? If you do, we shall pick one out together another day."

Pick... pick out a car?! The barrage of viewer comments streaming across the ceiling was a flurry of vile curses, though only rows of encrypted asterisk symbols were visible. I pressed my lips together and murmured, "I haven't even taken my driver's license exam yet. During the summer breaks, it is either freezing cold or scorching hot, and I am far too lazy to bother attending driving school."

"That is of no concern. When the time comes, we can simply hire a personal driving instructor for you."

Learning to drive with a private instructor? Indeed, I was utterly ignorant of how the wealthy lived; I had assumed everyone had to cram five people into a foul-smelling practice car. East Hall led me to a restaurant built in traditional Chinese architecture. I was quite surprised. "I know this place! It was designed by Winter, my absolute favorite designer." East Hall's gaze darkened, becoming inscrutable. "You even know who designed this restaurant?"

"Of course! I am studying architectural design, after all, and he is my idol. It is only a pity that he has not released any new works over the past entire year."

Whenever the name Winter was mentioned, I would rattle off facts as though reciting from memory, to the point that the floating comments vanished before I even realized it. East Hall listened in silence while attentively dishing out food onto my plate. When I touched upon a few profound artistic insights, he was even able to keep up and exchange a few remarks with me. He truly felt like my soulmate. Only after I had talked incessantly for a long while did a trace of self-consciousness begin to creep over me. He merely smiled gently, gesturing for me to continue. By the end of the meal, my stomach was pleasantly full and my palate utterly satisfied.

"I was even thinking that whenever his firm opens up recruitment, I would submit my resume to intern there. I heard they work four days and rest three—truly a dream company."

East Hall offered words of encouragement. "With your rock-solid professional knowledge, you should definitely give it a try."

"You can even tell just like that!"

He burst into laughter. "You talked my ear off about all of this for so long; it is not as though I let it go in one ear and out the other."

"Ha ha ha ha, then I shall gladly borrow your auspicious words!"

When he dropped me off back at campus, East Hall retrieved a jewelry box from inside the car. Nestled within was a sunflower-shaped brooch encrusted with precious stones, exquisitely crafted and remarkably fitting when pinned to my collar. On the back of the brooch was stamped a minuscule signature, yet one disturbingly familiar. Winter. I was simultaneously astonished and overjoyed. "Has he started designing women's jewelry lately? That is unbelievable! I love it so much, East Hall!"

"It was originally prepared as a gift for you. I... happen to know him personally. If you like it, I can get you another one next time."

East Hall's eyes shone brighter than the gems on the brooch.

"Really..."

A sudden realization dawned upon me: this gentle treatment was never meant for me in the first place. My soaring spirits plummeted straight to the earth in an instant.

"Never mind, having just this one is more than wonderful."

Only layers of bitter ache welled up deep within my heart. That afternoon, our dormitory had no classes. Right at the hour of the midday nap, the moment I stepped into the hallway, peals of laughter echoed from our room. The voices of three people blended together so noisily that I could not make out what they were saying. My phone lit up with a notification from the official account—it was a recruitment posting from Winter's firm, Inspiration. Suppressing my overwhelming joy, I scrolled rapidly to the bottom of the announcement. There was indeed an intern position! As I pushed open the door and stepped inside, the other two girls were huddled around White Blossom's bed. Seeing me return, they exchanged knowing winks and dispersed. White Blossom feigned nonchalance as she stepped up to me, casting a sideways glance at my phone screen. I glared at her fiercely. Only then did she self-consciously pull back her gaze and whine, "Darling, have you and that man broken up yet?"

"I am truly so sorry, you know how it is. You are so gorgeous, and since it was my first time falling in love, I felt terribly insecure, which is why I took your photo and posted it on my moments. You won't hold it against me, will you?"

Seeing that I remained silent, she continued her act.