After Dating the President O, I Turned Into a Puppy-Like Lover - Chapter 24

On Sunday morning, Dan Sirou received a message.

Zhou Tingchen: Rourou, I’m already at the hospital. Which floor are you on?

She was taken aback, he hadn’t mentioned coming beforehand.

After steadying herself, she typed back the details.

Moments later, the door handle turned. Zhou Tingchen’s handsome head appeared, and the instant he saw her, his face lit up with joy.

“Rourou,” he called warmly.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. His arms were full of bags and gifts, so many that even Dan Sirou was surprised.

“You didn’t need to bring so much,” she said politely.

“It’s fine.” He struggled to carry them in, smiling all the while. “I haven’t visited Auntie in so long. It’s only right.”

She helped him set some on the table, the rest on the floor. “It’s just, this is a hospital. It’ll be inconvenient to carry everything back later.”

“You’re right,” he admitted, scratching his head before grinning again. “No problem. Just let me know when she’s discharged, and I’ll come help.”

Dan Sirou smiled faintly and said no more.

Zhou Tingchen then cheerfully greeted her mother, Shu Wan.

“Aunt Shu.” His voice was bright and clear.

Shu Wan, still lost in her own world, stared at the lively boy for a long while before slowly speaking: “Tingchen?”

“It’s me. You still remember me.” He smiled. “Sorry it’s taken me so long to visit.”

Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Instead, a gentle smile spread across her face, her eyes curving softly.

Dan Sirou’s heart tightened. She longed for her mother to say more.

Even if the words were few, each carried emotion. That alone was enough to make Dan Sirou content.

Beside the bed, Zhou Tingchen reminisced endlessly, how once he brought Dan Sirou home late and his father wanted to scold him, but Aunt Shu intervened; how his favorite memory was listening to her play the piano; and many more stories. Gradually, Shu Wan’s smile lingered longer.

Watching, Dan Sirou’s gaze toward Zhou Tingchen softened, filled with gratitude.

In the past, whenever he recalled old times, she would only smile faintly and let it pass. He never knew that for her, those memories were too beautiful, so beautiful they only highlighted the misery of reality. Dwelling on them drained her spirit, so she avoided them.

But now, unlike before, she laughed with him as he shared those stories with her mother.

Unconsciously, they seemed to recover a trace of what once was.

Yesterday, Jiang He had an unlucky fall on her way back from the hospital.

She scraped her knee but refused to return to the hospital. Instead, she bought gauze, alcohol, and antiseptic from a pharmacy, bandaging herself as best she could.

All night, her knee throbbed painfully. Only by propping it on a pillow did she find slight relief.

She had barely managed a quick rinse yesterday, but today the discomfort was unbearable, she had to bathe properly.

She filled the tub, stepped in barefoot, and placed her injured leg on a chair beside it. The posture was awkward, but no one was there to see.

Suddenly, she thought of something. She picked up her phone, hesitated, and opened WeChat.

How are things today? Do you need me to come help?

But the memory of Dan Sirou’s cold rejection flashed in her mind. Halfway through typing, she deleted the words one by one.

Ah, after yesterday, she regretted everything she had said.

On the surface, she and Dan Sirou seemed worlds apart—one high above, the other insignificant.

But in truth, Jiang He only begged for Dan Sirou to notice her. No matter her family’s troubles, she longed for the chance to share the burden.

Yet Dan Sirou was so resolute.

Jiang He couldn’t understand what she had done to make her despise her so much.

One moment she smiled at others; the next, her smile vanished when facing Jiang He. Her words to her were always cold.

Zhou Yi had once said that if she liked Dan Sirou, she could never compete. And Jiang He knew it was true. If anyone could move Dan Sirou’s heart, aside from Zhou Tingchen, even Zhou Yi had more chance than her. At least, Dan Sirou always greeted Zhou Yi with gentle eyes and a warm smile.

Forget it. Maybe it was better to give up.

Time would heal, eventually.

“I remember another time,” Zhou Tingchen said, “Rourou was afraid to swim. She said she’d only learn if I was there. Auntie actually called me over, and Rourou was so nervous she hid in a corner. We searched forever before finding her.”

“When was that? Did I really say that?” Dan Sirou laughed. She truly couldn’t recall.

“Of course you did.” He turned to her, eyes full of mirth. He looked at her longer, his phoenix eyes gradually deepening. “Rourou, you’re nothing like before. Back then, you told me everything, relied on me. Now, all I see in your eyes is distance.”

She looked away. She couldn’t remember how it had been, but he was right. Since their reunion, though their conversations had grown, an invisible line always remained between them. Her sense of boundaries was strong, she never let the relationship cross that line.

Today was the only exception in recent days.

Softly, she murmured, “Of course things change. So much has happened these years.”

“It doesn’t matter.” His eyes held only her. “I’m back now. Whatever happens, I’ll protect you.”

Monday.

The semester had already passed halfway without anyone realizing.

Midterm exams were fast approaching, and this month’s blackboard competition centered on the theme of “learning” was in full swing.

As the publicity committee member, Duan Xinchun had a knack for design and a natural talent for aesthetics. Thanks to her, Class Eight’s blackboard displays consistently ranked among the best in the grade.

On Monday, after the fourth period ended, she and two classmates responsible for the board skipped their lunch break, hurrying to finish the task assigned by the school.

“Xinchun, later Fang Rui from the student council’s publicity department will come to check our progress.”

“That’s fine.” Duan Xinchun smiled confidently. “Xiao Lin, help me, does this line look crooked?”

“Master designer, not at all.” Xiao Lin teased. “Seriously, look at ours—it’s nearly done. When she comes, she’ll be shocked.”

Xinchun laughed lightly.

The top classes in the competition would receive a banner. For those with strong collective pride, it was a great honor. But Xinchun cared less about awards than about whether her work satisfied her own standards.

“They’re here.” Xiao Lin tugged at her sleeve. “Hey, the president came too.”

“President.” Xiao Lin quickly greeted warmly, while Xinchun, slower to react, looked toward the two girls at the classroom door.

Dan Sirou accompanied Fang Rui listlessly, going from class to class. She had only stopped by the student council office, but Fang Rui insisted she tag along. She had no choice but to come.

The blackboard competition wasn’t her responsibility. Her role was simply to delegate tasks to Fang Rui, who then distributed them. Sirou’s presence was just to accompany her friend.

As they approached, Xinchun grew tense, unlike Xiao Lin’s composure.

Her gaze fixed on Dan Sirou’s delicate, beautiful face—haunted by the memory of that day in the restroom, when she had seen her with Jiang He. She still couldn’t reconcile the image of the dutiful president with that scene involving an Alpha.

It was a secret she would never reveal, not only for Jiang He’s sake, but because her own moral compass forbade it.

Yet she felt a pang of unwillingness. She had always known Dan Sirou was a noble S-class Omega, stunning in both looks and figure, eclipsing anyone who stood beside her. But Xinchun had never felt inferior; she too was exceptional.

Outward beauty was secondary—inner strength was what mattered most.

Because of Jiang He, this was the first time she found herself comparing with Dan Sirou in private.

“President.” As they drew near, her voice faltered, lacking its usual strength.

Dan Sirou smiled faintly and nodded. She was used to greetings along the way; this one didn’t stand out.

“Did you all make this?” She pointed at the blackboard, surprised.

Though she didn’t pay much attention to such things, she could judge aesthetics. The board looked impressive—far beyond what she expected from students their age.

“Not us.” Xiao Lin jumped in eagerly, pointing at Xinchun. “It’s all her—our genius. Arno and I just helped a little.”

“I see.” Sirou’s eyes curved like a crescent moon. “Very impressive.”

Xinchun smiled distractedly.

Then her eyes caught someone at the door. She startled. “Eh, Jiang He, why are you here?”

Everyone instinctively turned to look.

Jiang He stood holding a package. “My aunt asked me to pass this to you. Sorry, I forgot this morning, luckily you’re still here.”

As they all turned, Sirou glanced back too.

Jiang He limped forward, each step slow, taking ten seconds to cover ten meters. She wore loose casual pants, hiding whatever injury lay beneath.

She immediately felt Sirou’s gaze on her.

The girl’s eyes followed her steadily, joined by others, turning the simple act of delivering something into a one-person runway show.

Under Sirou’s gaze, Jiang He’s scalp tingled.

Disaster. She shouldn’t have come. She should have asked Zhou Yi to deliver it instead.

Now, she could only avert her eyes, forcing herself not to look at Sirou.

Inwardly she repeated: Don’t look, don’t look. One glance and all the effort I spent this morning trying not to think of her will be wasted.

As she passed Sirou, a faint fragrance brushed against her senses, striking her heart like a thousand blows. She longed to glance at her, but forced herself to repeat: Forget her. Forget her. She said it’s impossible.

At last, Jiang He reached Xinchun and handed her the package.

“What happened to your leg?” Xinchun asked, startled.

“Fell yesterday,” Jiang He replied.

“Is it serious?” Concern filled Xinchun’s eyes.

“No, no.” Jiang He smiled reassuringly. “I can still walk. I’ve already applied medicine. It’s fine.”

As they spoke, Fang Rui tugged at Sirou’s sleeve. “Let’s go, Dandan.”

But Sirou’s eyes lingered on Jiang He’s leg, which could barely support her. Fang Rui called her several times before she finally snapped back to attention.

The scene had turned melodramatic.