After Dating the President O, I Turned Into a Puppy-Like Lover - Chapter 37

After two weeks, Jiang He finally returned to school.

Zhou Yi, who could never keep anything to herself, eagerly recounted everything that had happened during that time, from scheming her way into the student council to the honor of dining with the president. The only thing she left out was being called “Jiang He’s dog.”

She spoke animatedly about last Saturday.

She said she had mustered the courage to confess to the president. Jiang He’s breath caught. “And then?”

“Of course I was rejected, hahaha.” Zhou Yi remained cheerful, perhaps because she had never truly expected success. “She didn’t say it outright, but she told me, ‘I won’t date in high school.’”

“I see.” Jiang He fell into thought.

Between Classes

By mid-December, the temperature had dropped several more degrees, plunging below zero these past two days.

The once-bustling corridors were now empty, save for the occasional student rushing to the restroom.

Inside the classrooms, doors and windows were shut tight, the heating turned up high. Though warm, the air was stifling. Jiang He took advantage of the long break to get some fresh air and buy snacks at the campus shop.

At the hospital, she had risen at eight every morning. Back at school, she hadn’t adjusted yet—sleeping through breakfast and waking up ravenous.

She bought two buns and a handful of snacks. The shopkeeper wrapped them with an exaggeratedly large strip of tape, as if she was stocking up for a feast.

The cold kept most students away; the convenience store, usually packed during breaks, was nearly deserted.

The campus paths and stairwells were equally quiet, making the few figures outside stand out sharply.

Jiang He had finally layered up. Though her constitution was stronger than most, she wasn’t made of iron. With the temperature below freezing, she dutifully wore a sweater beneath her thickened denim jacket.

Even in winter, her figure remained tall and graceful.

Carrying her bag of snacks, she headed back to her classroom on the third floor. The trip took only ten minutes, though the break felt long.

Focused on climbing the stairs, she didn’t expect to run into someone at the corner of the third-floor hallway.

The silence outside made the few people in the corridor all the more noticeable.

Looking up from below, Jiang He saw Dan Sirou.

Two weeks apart, and suddenly meeting like this, it felt almost like a lifetime had passed.

Dan Sirou saw her too. Surprise flickered in her eyes before she took in Jiang He’s appearance. After time apart, changes were always more striking.

She seemed paler, a little fuller.

Jiang He froze, staring. Standing at the boundary of light and shadow, Dan Sirou looked to her like a noble saint.

Only after a long moment did Jiang He return to herself, her lips curving into a smile.

She greeted Dan Sirou.

In the past, Sirou would have stayed silent or offered a perfunctory smile—always distant, never sincere.

But this time, she responded as she would to anyone else.

Her faint smile was like moonlight—not blazing like the sun, but soft, casting a gentle glow that warmed the heart.

Jiang He stared, her heartbeat stumbling.

As they passed, words slipped out.

“Are you not cold?” Sirou asked, noting her thin clothing, her tone carrying a trace of concern.

The distance between them shrank; only a staircase separated them.

“I’m fine,” Jiang He replied.

“You didn’t eat breakfast?” Sirou glanced at the bag in her hand, asking casually.

“Yes.” Jiang He stammered, still adjusting, her words clumsy.

Though she had already felt Sirou’s softened attitude through the birthday gift and brief messages, facing such direct concern in person left her unprepared.

“Breakfast is important,” Sirou said, looking at the girl who, even standing one step below, met her gaze evenly. Her tone was lightly admonishing.

It was casual concern, whether Jiang He listened or not was up to her.

“Alright, I understand.” Jiang He answered earnestly.

Sirou nodded, and they parted ways.

Sirou descended at her usual pace. Jiang He walked normally only until they passed, then stopped, turning back to gaze after her.

It felt as though the faint fragrance Sirou left behind still lingered in the air, sweet against Jiang He’s heart.

At last, she understood what it meant for sweetness to itch at the very tip of one’s heart.

Physics Class

The physics lecture droned on like a chant.

The heating made the classroom drowsy, the atmosphere sluggish.

Jiang He propped her chin with one hand, twirling her pen with the other, feigning thought.

Her mind replayed recent events. She remembered the helplessness of that day when her pheromones had gone out of control and she couldn’t find anyone to ask for help. Aside from Fu Jiu, she knew none of Sirou’s close friends.

She began to think about those who seemed to have good relations with Sirou.

Evening Study

After the third evening self-study session, Zhou Yi hurriedly packed her things, muttering, “Boss, help me buy a cup of instant noodles later.”

“What about you? Where are you going?” Jiang He asked.

“Ugh, Lin Shi dragged me into something. She insists we all go with her tonight. Why not do it during the day? I swear.” Zhou Yi grumbled.

Jiang He chuckled. “How long do you plan to stick with the student council?”

She didn’t believe Zhou Yi’s three-minute enthusiasm would last a month. From experience, Jiang He figured the countdown had already begun.

“Heh.” Zhou Yi smirked. “Ready to bail anytime.”

Jiang He pressed her lips together, unsurprised.

“Alright, I’ll get it for you. Same flavor as usual?”

“Yes, yes, thanks!” Zhou Yi said.

The evening shop was crowded. Though vending machines also sold instant noodles, they were pricier, two yuan more than the store.

Two yuan wasn’t much, but neither Jiang He nor Zhou Yi would bother picking it up if it fell on the ground.

Raised frugally, Jiang He had no habits of the wealthy. To her, saving was natural. Even when buying for Zhou Yi, she preferred the crowded shop to the overpriced machine.

Finally, she paid and squeezed out of the crowd.

The air outside was icy, numbing her nose. Still, she preferred the cold to the suffocating mix inside, where a clashing pheromone scent had made her uncomfortable.

She had barely stepped out when commotion erupted behind her.

The doorway was narrow. Someone inside pushed too hard, shoving a girl straight into Jiang He. Jiang He dodged quickly, but her hand couldn’t escape—the instant noodles flew to the ground, rolling half a circle.

A few books fell too.

“Sorry, sorry!” The girl bent down, gathering everything. She handed the noodles back to Jiang He, then turned to shout at the crowd: “Stop pushing!”

Her brows arched, voice firm and commanding.

The effect was immediate. The crowd quieted, filing out in order.

Wu Qing, her anger fading, smiled apologetically at Jiang He. “Sorry about that.”

Jiang He studied her, then said calmly, “It’s fine.”

So, it was Wu Qing. No wonder she carried such authority.

Anyone holding a position in the student council had some ability. In management, she was far more experienced and confident than the average high schooler.

Jiang He hadn’t interacted much with council members, but she recognized Wu Qing.

She often appeared alongside Dan Sirou, so their relationship must be decent.

Jiang He thought quietly, then took the chance to chat with Wu Qing. Both had come alone to the shop, so they walked together back to the dorms.

Wu was a rare surname. Jiang He mentioned her grandmother also bore it. To their surprise, they discovered they were distant relatives. Though by their generation, the connection was negligible, it was still an unexpected bond.