Beihang University is right next door to them; it only took about ten minutes to walk to the school gate. But their campus was just too big—after wandering around for half an hour, they still couldn’t find the School of Aeronautics.

　　Sophie Hill sent a WeChat voice message to complain: [What kind of treasure is your school hiding? It’s like the Longling Maze, who are you trying to keep out? I’m so dizzy from walking around.]

　　Not sure what message came through on the other end, but Sophie Hill turned off her phone screen and turned to say, “My uncle said he’ll come pick us up, so let’s wait here.”

　　In less than ten minutes, Sophie Hill looked as if she’d discovered a new continent, her eyes lighting up as she waved excitedly across the street: “Uncle, we’re here!”

　　Samuel Clark was standing to the side, looking at the Beihang University promotional materials. Hearing this, she turned her head—and then she saw Jason Harris. He stood in the center, surrounded by a group of boys like stars around the moon. Jason Harris held a cigarette between his fingers, walking with a relaxed, unhurried gait. The group chatted and laughed around him, his expression loose, a roguish smile playing on his lips.

　　She never expected it to be him.

　　She caught a glimpse of the red glow at his fingertips. As Jason Harris drew closer, his brow bones and high nose bridge became clearer and clearer. Her heart pounded rapidly, like that faint red ember—weak, but burning uncontrollably.

　　Jason Harris clearly saw them too. He lifted his hand holding the cigarette in greeting to his friends, then walked toward them. A boy standing next to Jason Harris, as they got closer, raised his eyebrows and deliberately said, “Yo, isn’t this Miss Sophie herself?”

　　SophieSophie—it sounded like she owed him her life. Sophie Hill ran over in a few quick steps and punched the boy, frowning as she said, “Nathan Scott, I told you not to call me that. If you don’t want to use my full name, just use my English name, Tracy.”

　　“I think you’re just asking for a beating.” Nathan Scott replied seriously.

　　Seeing it was two girls, Jason Harris stubbed out his cigarette and tossed it into a nearby trash can. He walked up to them, his voice tinged with the hoarseness of a smoker as he asked, “Have you eaten yet?”

　　“Not yet, I was waiting for you to say that,” Sophie Hill suddenly remembered something and linked arms with Samuel Clark. “Oh right, this is my roommate, her name is Samuel Clark.”

　　By normal social convention, Samuel Clark should have said something at this point, but the two of them were standing so close that her mind went completely blank.

　　Jason Harris looked at the girl in front of him, a sense of familiarity flashing through his mind—quick and elusive. He frowned slightly, lifted his eyelids to glance at her, and his voice was low and textured, like gravel after being rubbed together, deep and pleasant.

　　“Hello, Jason Harris.”

Chapter 5: Confession

　　Jason Harris clearly didn’t remember her, and Samuel Clark felt a wave of disappointment rise in her heart. But she quickly gathered her courage and greeted him anyway.

　　Jason Harris was generous, taking them straight to a small restaurant on the second floor of the cafeteria for a private meal. Throughout the meal, it was mostly Sophie Hill and Nathan Scott doing a comedy double act, with Jason Harris occasionally chiming in absentmindedly.

　　Sophie Hill didn’t like celery, but Nathan Scott insisted she eat it, even dumping all the celery from his own bowl into hers. He asked, “Do you know why your husky at home is so ugly?”

　　Nathan Scott, in the spirit of education, waited for Sophie Hill to ask why. But when she ignored him, he just went ahead and said it was because the dog was picky about food. Sophie Hill picked all the celery out of her bowl and replied seriously, “Because it looks like you.”

　　“You—” Nathan Scott was so angry he couldn’t get a word out.

　　“Uncle, don’t you think so?” Sophie Hill turned to Jason Harris for support.

　　Jason Harris tilted his head, glanced at Nathan Scott, and with a mischievous glint said, “You know, it really does look a bit like you.”

　　“……” Nathan Scott.

　　Samuel Clark chuckled softly. Nathan Scott, not wanting to bother with them, turned to Samuel Clark and said, “Miss Clark, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Nathan Scott, and any friend of Sophie is a friend of mine. If you ever need anything, you can come to me.”

　　“Tch, if something happens, why would she go to you instead of having Jason Harris look out for her?” Sophie Hill mercilessly exposed him, then smiled at the other person. “Uncle, don’t you think so?”

　　Though it was a joke, Samuel Clark’s heart tightened. She pretended to lower her head and eat casually, but was actually waiting for Jason Harris’s response. Just as Jason Harris was about to speak, his phone vibrated on the table—the caller ID showed Evelyn Baker.

　　Jason Harris picked up the phone and held it to his ear. Samuel Clark, sitting across from him, noticed the smooth curve of his throat. His left hand rested on the table, idly flicking the tab of a can of soda, condensation clinging to his slender fingertips.

　　Short phrases like “Mm” and “What’s up” echoed in her ears. Whatever was said on the other end made Jason Harris let out a soft, amused chuckle.

　　Samuel Clark sat on pins and needles, feeling unbearably awkward.

　　“It’s over,” Jason Harris said.

　　After he hung up, Nathan Scott teased, “Tsk tsk, Master Harris really is something. His girlfriend calls him ten times a day, and I’ve never seen him call her back even once.”

　　“Speaking of which, your girlfriend is actually in the same dorm as me. But she doesn’t seem to know about my relationship with you. You haven’t told her?” Sophie Hill said.

　　“Lazy,” Jason Harris replied with a single word.

　　They were eating in the cafeteria when a classmate of Jason Harris, David Lewis, came over. Looking at the well-behaved and proper Samuel Clark, he joked, “Wow, changed girlfriends already? Trying a new flavor?”