Chapter 40

After the New Year holidays, Fu Ming Shi became busy again. Zhen Bao had just started school and didn't have exam pressure, so her studies were relatively relaxed for the time being. Compared to last semester, the only change was Feng Yue.

Since they were classmates, it was hard to avoid running into each other in the dorms and classroom buildings. They went from chatting happily to pretending not to see each other, which made things rather awkward. Feng Yue also had some close friends, including those from other classes in their faculty, so sometimes when Zhen Bao was coming back alone from the library, she would run into Feng Yue and her friends. As they brushed past each other, Zhen Bao could feel their prying gazes.

Zhen Bao didn't like it, but she couldn't control what others did.

On Thursday night after finishing her part-time job, Zhen Bao was leaving the hospital when she was surprised to find Fu Ming Shi sitting on the back of her bike. The two had developed a habit of dating by now. Fu Ming Shi would usually come over on weekends since he was busy with work and often flying domestically and abroad, so a lovely surprise like this didn't happen frequently.

"Not busy today?" Zhen Bao walked over with a smile and asked.

Fu Ming Shi pulled her into his arms and kissed her first, tacitly agreeing. "What do you want for dinner tonight?"

Zhen Bao wasn't picky, so she let him decide.

Fu Ming Shi was already very familiar with the restaurants around University A. He took Zhen Bao to eat grilled fish. At this time, most students had already eaten dinner, so the restaurant wasn't crowded. Fu Ming Shi held Zhen Bao's hand and chose a bass from the fish tank. When the owner weighed it, it was 4 jin.

"Isn't that too big?" Zhen Bao asked in a small voice.

"I have a big appetite," Fu Ming Shi said with a smile at her, then led her inside to sit. After waiting a while, the steaming hot fish arrived, bubbling broth blurring Fu Ming Shi's handsome face across from her. Zhen Bao loved spicy food, so when she saw the red chili peppers her appetite increased greatly, but she only ate half of it before she'd be too full to eat more.

Fu Ming Shi really did have a good appetite though, and actually finished the rest. His fair complexion was flushed, and his lips were strangely tempting for some reason.

Just as Zhen Bao noticed Fu Ming Shi about to look up, she quickly shifted her gaze back to her phone. It was 9 pm already. After the meal, they put the bikes back in the garage as usual, then went for a stroll around campus. Though they called it strolling around campus, it was cold out at night. Even as a couple they weren't silly enough to actually walk around in the wind. Fu Ming Shi directly led Zhen Bao to the stadium, climbing the spectator stands on the downwind side. He sat on a chair with Zhen Bao sitting on his lap.

Kissing had become an indispensable part of their relationship, but with each kiss, Fu Ming Shi would take things a step further, like right now, his hands had finally broken through the outer layer of Zhen Bao's down jacket to caress her warm little waist underneath, gliding back and forth.

But that was still the limit, he didn't dare to touch anywhere else yet.

"I'm flying to Hangzhou tomorrow night. The new drama the group invested in will start shooting, so I'm going to meet the director," Fu Ming Shi said regretfully, since he wouldn't be able to accompany her over the weekend.

Zhen Bao didn't mind at all, rather she was a little excited. "Is it Director Lin Ping?"

Last year when Fu Ming Shi taught her how to use Weibo, fans happened to be gossiping about Fu Ming Shi and the heroine of The Glory of Chang'an, Xia Ying. So Zhen Bao knew about that drama already. Upon finding out that the director Lin Ping was the one who directed her favorite ancient costume drama, Zhen Bao was quite looking forward to the release of this new drama.

Fu Ming Shi said in surprise, "You like him?"

Zhen Bao nodded and praised Director Lin Ping extensively in one breath.

Fu Ming Shi laughed and tempted her, "Then take a couple days off your part-time job and come with me. We can take a photo together."

Without even thinking, Zhen Bao directly refused. With so many celebrities gathered together, there would definitely be a lot of reporters and fans. She was afraid of being photographed.

"Then I'll get you an autograph," guessing that his shy fiancée wouldn't go, Fu Ming Shi helplessly patted her head.

Just having the autograph was enough to make Zhen Bao very satisfied. She happily thanked him.

"How will you thank me?" Fu Ming Shi lowered his head, his dark eyes profound. "I don't really like verbal thanks."

His teasing made her heart beat even faster than his kisses. Zhen Bao turned red and looked to the side silently for a few seconds before suddenly twisting back and swiftly pecking Fu Ming Shi on the lips. Then she hung her head and said, "Is this enough?"

Fu Ming Shi tightened his hold on her waist and nibbled her ear, "That's enough for the down payment. I'll come get the balance from you when I get back."

Zhen Bao covered her ear that he had practically kissed melted. "Then I don't want the autograph anymore," she mumbled.

"Forgot to tell you, this is a forced transaction. The engagement is already paid for, no backing out." Fu Ming Shi grabbed her hand and looked at her teasingly. He was pretending to be a shady businessman, but he actually made Zhen Bao laugh. She curled into his arms, liking his warm embrace.

Over the weekend, Fu Ming Shi went to meet the director while Zhen Bao also had tasks to complete. There were still several animals at the student association that hadn't been adopted yet that needed baths, including two new stray cats that had just been brought in. By now, Zhen Bao was very skilled in this work. After finishing the tasks the new department head had given her, she didn't leave in a hurry. Instead, she picked up Lord Cat who had been acting cute and begging for her attention for half the day, and sat under the sun to trim its claws.

This job used to be done by Meng Jin Ning. After he left, Lord Cat from the technical department only recognized her now, not letting anyone else touch it.

After trimming its claws, Zhen Bao gently stroked Lord Cat's fur one by one. Lord Cat comfortably exposed its belly and let out rumbly purrs, making even Zhen Bao feel sleepy. Just as she was enjoying this, there was suddenly a shriek from inside. Lord Cat's eyes snapped open immediately while Zhen Bao also swiftly put it down and went to go see what was happening.

"Zhen Bao, it scratched me, look!"

Seeing Zhen Bao, Food Science freshman Wang Li aggrievedly held out her arm to show her. Zhen Bao walked over to take a look and saw Wang Li's arm was bleeding. She quickly advised, "You'll need to get a rabies vaccine for this. Go quickly, I'll help you wash it."

Wang Li blanked for a moment, looking at her arm, seemingly hesitant. "I really have to get the shot? I feel like I got scratched by a cat when I was little too but it was never treated."

Just as Zhen Bao was about to speak, the new department head came in. After examining Wang Li's injury, she had the same attitude as Zhen Bao, "Go on, just to be safe. Once you actually get rabies, even if you regret it, it'll be too late." She then told Zhen Bao, "Go with Wang Li, you're familiar with that area."

Zhen Bao nodded, grabbed her bag, and rode her bike to take Wang Li to get the injection. Wang Li didn't have enough money on her, so Zhen Bao helped pay 100 yuan upfront. By the time the shot was administered, it was almost noon. Wang Li went to withdraw money first to pay Zhen Bao back, then insisted on treating Zhen Bao to a meal. No matter how much Zhen Bao declined, Wang Li still dragged her to the cafeteria.

"How unlucky, just like that a few hundred yuan is gone," while eating, Wang Li was responding to her friends' replies on Moments about her "bad luck", while complaining in a small voice.

Zhen Bao could only comfort her that a small loss now prevents bigger trouble.

She didn't know if Wang Li had listened, but then Wang Li shouted again, making Zhen Bao nearly choke on her food. Zhen Bao wiped her mouth in confusion and looked at Wang Li.

"Look, Xia Ying is caught up in a scandal!" Wang Li passed her phone to Zhen Bao. She was a loyal fan of Xia Ying's.

Xia Ying's scandal...

Thinking of Fu Ming Shi who was also at the set today, a bad premonition suddenly popped into Zhen Bao's mind. When she took Wang Li's phone and saw the man in the scandal photo with Xia Ying was indeed Fu Ming Shi, Zhen Bao's heart started racing rapidly, not because she doubted him.

She believed Fu Ming Shi and Xia Ying didn't have anything going on. She was just worried that classmates who had seen Fu Ming Shi before might also have noticed this scandal and would link "Shi Ming" to Fu Ming Shi.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, her phone rang.

It was Jia Xiao Yu, telling her to come back to the dorm immediately.