What Charm

Cheng Xingzhou felt as though the solid worldview he'd built over eighteen years was under tremendous assault.

He stood rooted in place, jaw tight, staring unblinkingly at their clasped hands. The Fu Haoyao beside him clearly hadn't recovered from the sudden turn of events either. Fu Liangxia was led out by Fu Langshu, and the corridor outside was packed with people.

The group was made up of strikingly handsome young people, including the renowned F4 of the school and the legendary up-and-coming elite—they carried an air of distinction that seemed oddly out of place. As soon as they appeared, they drew the attention of many onlookers.

But none of them wavered under the scrutiny.

Especially Cheng Xingzhou, who could typically remain unruffled even if the sky fell. He stared at a fixed point ahead, a storm brewing on his face.

Liang Huiming had noticed Fu Langshu the moment he appeared at the elevator doors. His gaze swept slowly over the two ahead, finally settling on Fu Langshu and Fu Liangxia.

A slow smile tugged at the corner of Liang Huiming's mouth, as if he'd stumbled upon something amusing, his grin brimming with the flavor of a spectator. For a moment, he seemed the most relaxed and detached person in the entire space.

He strolled out of the elevator, casually draping an arm over Fu Liangxia's shoulder with an easygoing air.

The group that had been locked in a quiet standoff immediately turned to look at him in unison, their scorching glares nearly boring holes through his arm.

The amusement in Liang Huiming's eyes deepened, and the curve of his smile widened exaggeratedly. Fu Liangxia, for her part, didn't react much to the arm on her shoulder. His touch was light—more hovering than actual weight—a mere pretense of a gesture.

What is he trying to probe?

She frowned slightly.

His elbow rested on her shoulder, but his words were directed at Fu Langshu. His eyes held a cold gleam, resembling, on closer inspection, the vertical pupils of a snake, radiating danger.

He grinned theatrically. "Oh dear, President Fu is so heartless—only eyes for his little girlfriend, forgetting his good friend over here."

His voice carried a note of feigned grievance. "President Fu truly is cold enough to chill one's heart."

"Do you need my hospitality? The Saintland Student Council president is standing right beside you." Fu Langshu gave him a faint, indifferent look, unmoved.

Cheng Xingzhou, snapped back to attention by the remark, responded politely, "That's right. If you need anything, Mr. Liang, feel free to let me know."

"Whoa!" Liang Huiming looked at him as though he'd spotted a rare curiosity, shifting his attention. He raised an eyebrow. "You really are... dedicated."

What remarkable patience, he mused inwardly with admiration.

Cheng Xingzhou's movement faltered under his stare, but his upbringing dictated that he never reveal his true feelings in public, so he merely gave a slight nod. "Thank you for the compliment."

All the bitterness seemed to have been buried deep in his eyes as he shifted states.

"..." Liang Huiming studied him for a few seconds, seemingly confirming that the other man wouldn't crack—instead growing more composed. He couldn't help but pout in disappointment. "I do have a little matter, so I'll trouble you to help me with it."

With that, the two walked off together, leaving the scene. Before he left, Liang Huiming turned back to glance at the pair, but Cheng Xingzhou never looked back, as if he couldn't care less.

Once Liang Huiming was gone, Fu Langshu naturally released her hand and turned to instruct Fu Haoyao, "The first two rows of VIP seats in the lecture hall are reserved. Take her there."

At that moment, Fu Langshu had reverted to his natural, elder-like demeanor.

"Of course I know." Fu Haoyao, thrown off by the earlier interruption, couldn't help but view his brother with increasing irritation.

What's going on between the two of them? Why did his brother call Fu Liangxia "Xiaoxia" and make such an intimate gesture?

Fu Haoyao instinctively didn't want the two of them to spend more time together. He turned to her and said, "Let me take you over first. My brother probably still has other things to do."

"Okay." Fu Liangxia glanced at Fu Langshu, who offered her a subtle smile. She turned and followed Fu Haoyao away. As they walked, she asked, "Didn't you not sign up for this? Why would you come to listen?"

With his temperament, Fu Haoyao never did what he didn't feel like doing. Even if his brother were giving a lecture, there was no reason for him to attend. She was genuinely curious what could drag someone so restless to sit through what was nearly a boring seminar.

Fu Haoyao's mind was still on the image of her hand linked with his brother's, a tangle of complex emotions. Still, he didn't let it show in his face, staring ahead as he said, "Just had nothing else to do, figured I'd drop by."

In truth, he'd guessed she might come and wanted to try his luck running into her.

But now it seemed he'd gone to unnecessary trouble. Fu Liangxia might not have come for the competition at all—maybe it was for someone else.

A shadow dimmed Fu Haoyao's eyes, but then a thought struck him and they lit up again. "How did you know I didn't sign up for the competition?"

She cared about him that much? She'd even specially looked into his situation?

Fu Haoyao's heart bubbled with delight, but the next second, the bubble burst.

"That's just obvious." Fu Liangxia looked up at him, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone. "With your math scores, you shouldn't need to worry about the math competition for now."

Fu Haoyao's expression froze, and he ground his teeth quietly. "Right, I'm just bad at it, so it's natural you don't like me and like my brother instead. Makes perfect sense!"

With that, he suddenly strode forward, quickly reaching the VIP seat and flopping down.

But even in his huff, he didn't forget to save her a spot. He sat twisted in an awkward posture, waiting for her to take the seat beside him.

"..."

Fu Liangxia was at a loss for words.

Though she'd deduced his feelings from the Affinity Points and his various actions, Fu Haoyao clearly hadn't fully realized what those emotions stemmed from. He often acted like a little kid—surprisingly childish.

Fu Haoyao froze for a second, not quite processing, and looked up at her. "Then why... why did you let him hold your hand? Isn't that something only people who are into each other do?"

"It's just holding hands. Friends can do that too." Fu Liangxia sat down beside him and suddenly reached out, taking his hand. "See? We're holding hands now too."

Fu Haoyao's brain short-circuited.

He stared at the point where their fingers touched, his mind a blank. It was as if every sensory nerve in his body could only function at that one spot, with all other sensations fading away—only the delicate touch of a girl's skin registered.

Smooth as silk, a texture wholly different from his own.

"Thump, thump—"

His heart pounded out of control.

Fu Haoyao sat frozen for a few seconds, then recalled a word she'd used earlier: "friends."

So that's all he was—just a friend.

"And Fu Langshu?" It was rare for Fu Haoyao to address his brother by his full name, reserved for when he was in a bad mood.

"What?" Fu Liangxia looked puzzled.

"Is Fu Langshu also just a friend?" he pressed.

"Of course." Fu Liangxia's expression grew even more confused. "What else would he be?"

A smile crept back onto Fu Haoyao's face, his sharp little canine peeking out from the corner of his mouth, a telltale sign of his good mood. "No, of course, just a friend. My brother's so old, you two don't match at all."

"...Does your brother know you talk about him like that?" Fu Liangxia sighed in exasperation.

Fu Haoyao stretched lazily, leaning back into the seat with satisfaction. "Who cares."

...

The lecture turned out to be more interesting than expected. Fu Langshu had a natural dry wit, and Liang Huiming was never one to let the silence drag. The whole talk maintained a light, brisk rhythm, far from the usual rigid formality.

But as Fu Liangxia had known all along, the substance didn't deviate much from the original story. Those who placed in the competition would still get an internship at Fu Corporation. This time, though, thanks to Liang Huiming's involvement, the internship options had expanded to include Huiming Technology.

But these weren't the problems she needed to dwell on yet. By the time the finals wrapped up, she'd already be attending the seminar in Haishi at the end of the month. Who knew what other opportunities might arise by then.

Fu Liangxia mulled this over and suddenly remembered that she hadn't yet opened the reward for completing Su Xingshu's route. Just as she was about to find a secluded spot to think it through, a voice suddenly cut through from a corner up ahead.

"Oh, if it isn't our ever-popular Miss Fu."

Fu Liangxia glanced up at the sound and saw Liang Huiming's unmistakably striking face before her.

She couldn't fathom why he'd deliberately stopped her, nor why he'd be waiting in such an out-of-the-way spot. Surely he hadn't been lying in wait just for her.

Fu Liangxia said, "Mr. Liang must be joking. I have things to do, so I won't intrude on your time."

She'd always felt a dangerous air about this man that she disliked, and now she regretted taking the shortcut to avoid the crowd, having run straight into him.

Liang Huiming chuckled. "What a shame. I was hoping to borrow two minutes of Miss Fu's time, if it's not inconvenient?"

He asked with words, but his body blocking her path made it clear this wasn't a request.

Suppressing her impatience, Fu Liangxia asked, "What is it?"

"Just a small curiosity I'd like Miss Fu to satisfy." Liang Huiming circled around her, stopping in front of her. He bent slightly, bringing his gaze level with hers, his breath spilling over her face, a wild, dangerous glint flickering in his handsome eyes.

"What is it about Miss Fu that makes so many people fall for you, and yet keeps them from turning against one another?"

Fu Liangxia wasn't surprised he'd noticed, but she was baffled that he'd chosen to call it out so directly. Was he dissatisfied with her relationship with Fu Langshu and here to provoke her?

That didn't feel right.

Then what was he after?

Fu Liangxia smiled. "I'm afraid I don't quite follow what Mr. Liang is saying. I don't think I have any particular charm, and as for all these people supposedly falling for me, I believe Mr. Liang is mistaken."

But he wasn't fooled by her words.

He suddenly reached out, lightly pinching her chin. His handsome face loomed closer, and he drawled with a slow smile, "No, you know."