Chapter 553: Chapter 553

Walking away from the Calligrapher Association on the way home, Han Mingyue suddenly said to Zhen Yu from the bottom of his heart, "Xiao Yu, there was actually a moment when I really hoped no one else would learn to write your characters!"

Zhen Yu tilted her head in surprise and glanced at him.

After pursing her lips and thinking for a while, she finally said, "Actually, I’ve had similar thoughts."

"?" Han Mingyue was stunned for a moment, then immediately followed up with, "What?"

But Zhen Yu suddenly bowed her head and quickened her pace, staying silent for a good while.

Seeing this, Han Mingyue couldn’t help but have many doubts and speculations arise in his heart.

Was it something hard to mention? Or something she didn’t want to tell him?

Or perhaps the thought was just too unique?

...Could it be possible that she was afraid speaking it aloud might backfire?

Regardless, Han Mingyue decided to express his own true thoughts and leave Zhen Yu space to refuse.

He first shook their clasped hands, then spoke up softly, "I want to hear it."

Zhen Yu hesitated for a moment upon hearing this but, in the end, slowed down and spoke some of her mind.

"I often, while queuing in the cafeteria, hear the girls in front of and behind me talking about you! They say things like ’Han Mingyue is so handsome! His charisma is really too much!’ and stuff like that..."

What Zhen Yu didn’t say was that among the giggling girls, there were also those who wished they could be his girlfriend. There were even some girls who swore an oath that they would pursue him relentlessly during the three years of high school!

Han Mingyue raised his eyebrows in surprise! He had no idea about this until she brought it up!

After all, Zhen Yu said it happened ’often’!

But he went to the cafeteria every day! How come he had never overheard girls talking about him?!

Zhen Yu pouted, "Then I just really, really didn’t want to hear other girls mentioning your name!"

Every time she felt so irritated she wished she could shove their heads into the leftover food bins in the corner of the cafeteria!!

Han Mingyue had a troubled expression. After all, the ancients have long said—guarding against the people’s mouths is harder than guarding against raging rivers! This kind of thing was utterly beyond his control!

"Huh?" A lightbulb went off, and suddenly Han Mingyue pulled on Zhen Yu to stop her from walking forward!

"What’s wrong?" Zhen Yu turned to look at him, asking in a not-so-friendly tone.

"You’re jealous, aren’t you?!" he accused.

Just a second ago, Zhen Yu was thinking, "Jealous about what? I’m not jealous!"

But the next second, Han Mingyue suddenly grinned, his eyes brimming with a ’I’ve guessed it right!’ look!

"Damn it!" Zhen Yu internally screamed! Her heart suddenly started ’thumping’ wildly, immediately feeling flustered!

Then Han Mingyue repeated it again, "You’re jealous!"

His voice was full of a coquettish tease...

Coming back to her senses from a confused state of ’who am I, where am I, what am I doing,’ Zhen Yu felt extremely guilty.

Her eyes darted around restlessly, but she just couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with Han Mingyue!

Seeing her reaction, Han Mingyue had no choice but to forcibly ’grasp’ her head, forcing her to face him!

Zhen Yu helplessly lifted her eyes and briefly met his gaze.

Zhen Yu’s eyelids drooped quietly, while inwardly she rolled her eyes at him. This update is available on N()velFire.net

"Hehe..." Han Mingyue chuckled as he casually rested Zhen Yu’s head on his shoulder!

Feeling a bit embarrassed by his laughter, Zhen Yu intentionally ribbed him, "Laughing like a fool..."

"A fool it is, then! I’m happy!"

The final round of the essay competition was scheduled for the 7th, so Han Mingyue had to set out by the 6th at the latest.

Originally, Mr. Han and Mrs. Han wanted him to take the train two days earlier, but in the end, they followed Zhen Yu’s advice and let him take a flight instead.

To ordinary people at the end of the 90s, those who could afford plane tickets were definitely ’rich people’!

Mr. Han and Mrs. Han had never flown before, and for ordinary citizens like them, airplanes were never a consideration for travel, so it was simply overlooked before...

After an early lunch, Zhen Yu accompanied Han Mingyue on the bus to the airport.

The bus wasn’t crowded, and Zhen Yu chatted with Han Mingyue off and on.

"You’re going to be away for nearly a week this time. Make sure to charge your phone frequently and call me if anything comes up."

"Mhm, I got it." Han Mingyue hesitated but still asked, "The dairy factory hasn’t called you; there isn’t a problem, is there?!"

Zhen Yu had also been preoccupied with this issue.

But considering that Han Mingyue was heading off to compete, she definitely couldn’t let him be distracted! So, she put on a brave smile and said, "What could possibly go wrong! With the New Year approaching, everyone is probably just busy, especially government officials! Just wait and see, if I feel good one day, I’ll give them a call."

"Mhm! You decide! But if there’s more negotiation to be done, you absolutely must have Zhen Yan accompany you!"

It would be somewhat unsafe for Zhen Yu to negotiate alone with a group of grown men! So Han Mingyue emphasized again, "You absolutely must have Zhen Yan accompany you! Did you hear me?!"

"I heard you! Who’s the fool, you, or me?"

In the evening, the plane landed in a city completely unfamiliar to Han Mingyue.

He followed Zhen Yu’s instructions, trailing the crowd out, collecting his luggage, and taking a bus, until he finally reached the brightly lit bustling downtown area.

"Driver, could you drop me near this address at the hotel?"

By the time Han Mingyue settled into his hotel room, it was already past nine at night.

He wanted to call Zhen Yu but feared she might already be asleep, so he ended up just sending a text message—I’ve arrived safely at the hotel.

Unexpectedly, less than a minute after the message was sent, his phone rang.

"Have you locked the door with the deadbolt? Did you put on the chain lock?!"

"Chain lock? I’ll check!" Han Mingyue hadn’t even noticed such a thing behind the door! So, upon hearing Zhen Yu mention it, he held his phone and walked towards the door.

"Hurry up and secure it! Don’t open the door to anyone, did you hear me?! It’s not very safe for you to be alone; boys must take good care of themselves when they are out!"

Han Mingyue: "Heh... Did you get it wrong? It should be girls, right?"

"No mistake! I’m talking about boys! In a metropolis like Hai City, there are all sorts of people! You must never be careless with strangers, whether they’re men or women!"

Zhen Yu spoke with exceptional seriousness, and Han Mingyue straightened up his attitude, "I’ll remember!"

"Then you should rest early! Isn’t the official competition starting tomorrow?"

"Yeah! Then... good night."

"Good night! Hang up now."