My Upperclassman Wants me to confess my feelings - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The sun on September 1st was still scorching hot.

Xia Xiaohan stood among the crowd, dragging her suitcase, looking at the university entrance while drenched in sweat. It was a sea of people, with various small cars and bicycles weaving slowly through them.

As the shadows on the ground grew shorter, Xia Xiaohan finally managed to drag her suitcase under the shade of a tree. Just as she was about to rest, a bright-eyed boy with white teeth suddenly stopped in front of her.

“H—hello, is there something I can help you with?” Seeing the person in front of her staring at her from such a close distance, Xia Xiaohan couldn’t help but feel nervous and took the initiative to speak.

The boy bared his teeth in a smile and asked exceptionally gently, “You’re a freshman, right? Why aren’t you going in?”

Perhaps because the boy’s smile was infectious, Xia Xiaohan became less nervous: “I am a freshman. There are too many people right now, and I’m a bit shy, so I wanted to wait and see.”

The young girl’s eyes were bright and clear, making the boy’s heart skip a beat and causing him to involuntarily show kindness: “My name is Sun Wenze, a sophomore here at Jiangda. Which department are you in? I’ll take you to register.”

Xia Xiaohan felt grateful but also embarrassed: “I… I’m in the Mathematics Department. If you’re busy, Senior, I can just go by myself.”

“I’m not busy. Once you go in, there will be seniors taking you to register anyway.” Sun Wenze saw a high school student ID pinned to Xia Xiaohan’s white short-sleeved shirt with her name on it, and his smile grew even deeper.

Xia Xiaohan hurried to introduce herself: “Thank you so much, Senior. My name is—”

Before she could finish, Sun Wenze had already picked up her suitcase and asked even more gently, “Xia Xiaohan. Can I call you Xiaohan from now on?”

Without waiting for her reaction, Sun Wenze reached out to take the handbag from Xia Xiaohan’s hand. As his fingertips touched the slightly cool back of her hand, a flicker of excitement crossed his heart.

He wore a smile, looking at the cramped and uneasy Xia Xiaohan. He felt a bit strange; he didn’t use to like this “little white rabbit” type.

“Is your backpack heavy? Should I carry it for you too?” Sun Wenze’s eyes sparkled, and he made an instant decision: this little junior was his next target.

Xia Xiaohan waved her hands frantically: “No, no, I can carry it. I’ve already troubled you enough, Senior.”

“Let’s go then. It just so happens I know people from the Math Department; I can help you arrange your dormitory.”

Turning the suitcase, Sun Wenze deliberately moved closer to her. His arm almost brushed against Xia Xiaohan’s, yet he didn’t quite touch her.

Walking side-by-side with Sun Wenze, Xia Xiaohan was tense all over, her walking posture somewhat stiff. They were too close, but because Sun Wenze wasn’t actually touching her, she feared it would seem rude if she deliberately moved away.

Luckily, before they had gone two steps, someone called out Sun Wenze’s name from behind.

“Wenze(Little Brother).”

The voice was mellow with a hint of allure, like a gentle breeze carrying the scent of rosemary across the heart on a starry summer night; it was intoxicating.

The two turned around together. Unlike Xia Xiaohan’s curious and expectant gaze, Sun Wenze’s face turned slightly stiff.

Standing before them was a girl wearing a black spaghetti-strap dress. Her porcelain-white skin was exceptionally dazzling under the sun. With light gray crescent eyebrows, amber phoenix eyes, and a beautiful jawline complementing her bright cherry lips, she was vibrantly and boldly beautiful.

The newcomer walked over step by step. The little black dress hugged her exquisite figure as she swayed with every step, like a highly anticipated final model on a Victoria’s Secret runway.

She extended a slender fingertip, lightly lifted Sun Wenze’s chin, and squinted her beautiful eyes at Xia Xiaohan beside him. With a half-smile, she said, “Is this your next target?”

“No, no.” Sun Wenze hurried back two steps, his voice a bit dry. “I just saw this junior had just arrived and didn’t know the way, so I’m taking her to register.”

The girl withdrew her hand and crossed her arms. Her eyes were full of smiles, and the black eyeliner at the corners of her eyes flicked out a hint of charm: “Is that so? But how did I hear that you just broke up with your previous girlfriend and are looking for a new one? With your personality, Young Master Sun, you wouldn’t be so diligent toward a stranger for no reason.”

Sun Wenze felt his skin crawl under her gaze and forced himself to argue: “Sister Cheng, even though I just broke up, I haven’t moved past the heartbreak yet. Besides, today is for welcoming freshmen; I have a task to do.”

“Really?” The girl’s smile didn’t fade as she took out her phone to dial. “I just ran into President Li, and she’s looking everywhere for you. I’ll call her right now and tell her you’re here.”

Sun Wenze almost knelt. He rushed forward to press down on her phone, pleading: “Sister Cheng, Sister Cheng! I was wrong! Truly wrong! For the sake of being in the same department, give me some face; don’t embarrass me in front of the junior!”

“Fine, then leave.” The girl put away her phone.

Since things had come to this and he was only acting on a whim anyway he figured there were plenty of “plain cabbages” among the juniors to find later. If he couldn’t afford to provoke her, he could at least hide from her!

Sun Wenze gave Xia Xiaohan an apologetic smile, quickly dropped the suitcase and handbag, and hurried into the crowd.

Xia Xiaohan remained dazed, not yet having reacted. She seemed to understand the words they spoke, but why did it also feel like she didn’t understand at all? Did the senior’s breakup have something to do with this “Sister”? Why did this glamorous senior want to call the President?

“Little sister, I’ll take you to register.” The girl picked up her handbag for her and pulled the suitcase.

Xia Xiaohan reacted belatedly and hurried to follow. “Senior, what is your name? Which department are you in?”

“My name is Cheng Wu. ‘Cheng’ as in journey, ‘Wu’ as in wilderness. Little Xiaohan can just call me ‘Senior’ directly. I’m from the Management Department.” Looking at the grateful Xia Xiaohan, Cheng Wu’s mood felt inexplicably light.

Being called by her name again, Xia Xiaohan asked in great surprise, “The senior just now called out my name instantly, how do you know my name too, Senior?”

This little fool!

Cheng Wu looked over sideways: “It’s written right there on the school ID on your clothes.”

“Ah?” Xia Xiaohan looked down. Her cheeks instantly flushed red as she hurriedly took off the ID and hid it behind her back.

On the way to registration, people kept greeting Cheng Wu, and she handled them all with ease. In the gaps between greetings, Cheng Wu even found time to introduce the school to Xia Xiaohan.

When they reached the Mathematics Department registration point, the crowd of boys instantly became excited.

“It’s the school beauty, Cheng Wu!” “It really is Cheng Wu!” “Heavens! The Goddess is so beautiful!”

…

A group of people swarmed up, asking Cheng Wu in a chaotic jumble if she needed any help.

Cheng Wu took Xia Xiaohan’s hand: “This is your new junior; she needs to report in.”

Upon seeing Xia Xiaohan, the boys were stirred up: “Our department finally has a girl!” “So cute!” “So well-behaved!” “She’s like a girl-next-door character straight out of a manga!”

…

Xia Xiaohan looked bewildered: “Are there no girls in the Math Department?”

Cheng Wu patted her head: “There are always some when school starts, but after a year, they all transfer departments.”

“Oh, I won’t transfer. I like math very much,” Xia Xiaohan answered very seriously.

This sentence was like a bomb exploding in the Math Department. Someone quick-wittedly took a photo of Cheng Wu and Xia Xiaohan together and uploaded it to the freshman section of the campus forum. Because of the presence of the school beauty Cheng Wu, the usually quiet Math Department thread instantly hit the top of the trending list.

With a group of people helping, Xia Xiaohan registered smoothly. When it came to dormitory assignment, it was discovered that the school had actually forgotten the Math Department. It just so happened that Cheng Wu’s dorm was short one person; she also knew the people at the Dormitory Management Committee, so she had Xia Xiaohan assigned to her room.

With Cheng Wu’s help, Xia Xiaohan quickly bought all her daily necessities. At dinner time, Xia Xiaohan insisted on treating Cheng Wu to a meal. Cheng Wu, who originally had an appointment, couldn’t bear to refuse and agreed.

When she made the request, Xia Xiaohan already knew that the Third Canteen was the most delicious. While buying things in the afternoon, she had even taken a detour to memorize the route. So, when they left, Xia Xiaohan excitedly took the lead.

In just one afternoon, Cheng Wu had figured out Xia Xiaohan’s personality. She couldn’t help but laugh: “Do you remember the way?”

“Of course I do! Don’t worry, Senior, I study math; I’m very smart!” Xia Xiaohan lifted her chin proudly.

Unexpected events came fast. After walking for only a few minutes, Xia Xiaohan successfully got lost. It’s over, it’s over, which way was it again?

Xia Xiaohan pulled out her phone while pretending to be very interested in the nearby buildings: “Senior, what place is that?”

“That’s the Biology Department building.” Cheng Wu was half a head taller than Xia Xiaohan; when Xia Xiaohan opened the map to search, Cheng Wu could see it with a single glance.

With great difficulty, Xia Xiaohan selected the walking route to the Third Canteen, but her hand slipped, and she accidentally turned up the volume. The mechanical female voice of the E-Map instantly rang out: “E-Map is now navigating for you. Proceed straight for 100 meters, then turn right…”

The air suddenly went quiet. Xia Xiaohan stopped dead in her tracks, biting her lower lip, wishing she could dig a hole and crawl into it.

Cheng Wu helplessly took her hand: “Let’s go, I’ll lead the way.”

The deliberate closeness allowed Xia Xiaohan to relax quickly. After a while, she apologized in a small voice: “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have bragged.”

Catching a glimpse of her reddened face from the corner of her eye, Cheng Wu, for some reason, took the initiative to comfort her: “There are a lot of people at school today, you’ve just arrived, and there’s a lot going on. It’s normal not to remember.”

“Mhm.” Xia Xiaohan secretly vowed to memorize the roads properly in the future.

Arriving at the Third Canteen, Cheng Wu could tell that Xia Xiaohan’s family background wasn’t very wealthy, so she only symbolically ordered two moderately priced dishes. It would put Xia Xiaohan at ease without making her overspend.

But Xia Xiaohan was stunned: “Is that all you’re eating, Senior?”

“I need to maintain my figure.” Cheng Wu glanced at Xia Xiaohan’s thin, weak little frame. “If I were as thin as you, I’d eat freely too.”

Xia Xiaohan hesitated but nodded in agreement.

The two were very restrained during the meal. Cheng Wu didn’t mind; she didn’t eat much anyway. But looking at the “good girl” across from her, it seemed she kept glancing at the serving window at the very end. Following her gaze was that the place that sold steamed buns?

After finishing the meal, Xia Xiaohan plucked up the courage to say to Cheng Wu: “Senior, I’m not full yet. How about you go ahead with your business? I want to buy some more steamed buns to eat.”

Cheng Wu looked apologetic: “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you weren’t full. I should have eaten less just now.”

“No, no, it’s my fault for pretending to be refined. I should have bought the buns from the start. It’s mainly because I have a big appetite, and I was afraid you’d laugh at me, Senior.” Xia Xiaohan waved her hands quickly, a flush of bashfulness appearing on her face.

“Then go ahead. I’ll leave first. Come back to the dorm early after eating, and remember—don’t pay any attention to that senior we saw at noon.” Cheng Wu gave a couple of worried reminders before leaving.

As soon as Cheng Wu left, Xia Xiaohan rushed to the window selling steamed buns and buns. she asked for ten steamed buns, specifying she would eat there and to just put them all on one plate.

The cafeteria auntie was stunned: “Not ordering anything else?”

Xia Xiaohan shook her head: “No need, I just like eating steamed buns.”

The auntie looked instinctively at the cafeteria, which only had a few people in it: “You’re eating them all by yourself?”

“Yes.” After saying that, Xia Xiaohan seemed to realize something and explained awkwardly, “I have a big appetite, and I’m starving today. Your buns are too small; usually, I only eat six or seven.”

The auntie stared at her in shock, and only after a reminder from her colleague did she hurriedly pack the ten steamed buns.