The sudden system prompt left Qin Luo slightly stunned.

So he’d keep getting rewards, right?

Then, this gold mine had quite a yield!

The unexpected gain caught Qin Luo off guard, and he forgot to accept the milk tea Ji Yan had handed over.

Feeling a bit disappointed, Ji Yan thought Qin Luo didn’t want to be involved with her anymore. But upon closer inspection, she noticed Qin Luo’s eyes shining as he looked at her, and she felt happy again.

He must have been moved by her!

Thinking this, Ji Yan finally spoke up: “A little sugar in the morning helps with studying. Here, take this…”

As she spoke, she extended the milk tea again.

“Oh, thank you,” Qin Luo responded, finally taking the milk tea, though his gaze remained fixed on Ji Yan, his eyes twinkling.

Ji Yan was accustomed to being stared at, but with Qin Luo standing before her, it felt different. She felt an unusual awkwardness. She turned her face away, too shy to meet Qin Luo’s gaze. At the same time, her heart inexplicably began to beat faster.

But suddenly, a pungent smell hit her nose. Ji Yan frowned and asked, “Did you drink alcohol?”

“Huh? Oh, I had a bit with my roommates last night,” Qin Luo answered nonchalantly. Then he pierced the film on the milk tea and took a sip. The smooth, sweet taste, with soft pearls inside, was quite good, and it cleared his hangover-fogged brain a little.

“Why did you drink so much?” Ji Yan’s tone carried a hint of displeasure.

Qin Luo glanced at her. “Are you teaching me how to live?”

Initially, he wanted to say it’s none of your business, but upon reflection, they didn’t have any serious grudges, so there was no need to be so hostile. Especially considering she was a valuable gold mine, Qin Luo was contemplating whether to continue exploiting it. If he continued, it meant interacting with Ji Yan despite his intention to avoid her. Not continuing meant giving up on potential rewards, which he was reluctant to do.

Ji Yan, unaware of Qin Luo’s thoughts, felt a bit wronged by his response. She was concerned for his health, yet his reply was so ungrateful.

Feeling misunderstood, she pursed her lips, glanced at Qin Luo one more time, and turned to leave without another word.

Qin Luo leisurely made his way to the cafeteria with his milk tea without overthinking. The onlookers who had anticipated some drama were left disappointed. They had expected a showdown, but the exchange ended too quickly, leaving them wanting more.

Despite the brief encounter, everyone had a good grasp of the situation. Previously, Qin Luo had persistently confessed his feelings to Ji Yan many times but decided to give up yesterday. Now, it seemed Ji Yan had started to develop feelings, even going so far as to deliver milk tea to the boys’ dormitory—a significant gesture given her typically aloof nature. Such a dramatic reversal left the students eagerly anticipating further developments.

(In Dorm Room 606)

The atmosphere was just as heavy as the day before.

Ji Yan returned to the dorm. She sat expressionless at her desk.

Although she usually maintained a cold demeanor, her three roommates could sense her low spirits.

Hao Meng couldn’t help but ask, “Ji Yan, didn’t he accept your milk tea? Why are you still so unhappy?”

Her other two roommates also looked on curiously. They had seen Qin Luo take the milk tea, thinking Ji Yan’s mission had been successful. But upon her return, Ji Yan seemed more dejected than ever.

After a while, Ji Yan put down her book, sighed deeply, and said, “It feels like he hates me now.”

Shi Yulu blinked. “Why do you say that?”

“I smelled alcohol on him and asked why he drank so much. He told me not to teach him how to live. I was just concerned for him; drinking is bad for his health; why did he get mad at me?”

As if triggered, Ji Yan’s frustration grew as she spoke, feeling more wronged. “Even though I used to reject him, I’m showing my feelings now. I even went to the boys’ dorm to give him milk tea. Why is he so petty and still mad at me?”

Seeing her grievance, Hao Meng and Shi Yulu rushed to comfort her. Jia Ting, however, frowned slightly and hesitated, “You shouldn’t have asked him that way.”

The other girls turned to her, and Ji Yan looked puzzled, “Why not?”

Jia Ting gave her a meaningful look. “Don’t you know why he drank so much yesterday?”

The room fell silent.

Why had he drunk so much?

Was it that hard to guess?

He had made a grand speech yesterday, leaving elegantly, but everyone knew he must have been heartbroken. People often needed an outlet for their sorrow, and alcohol was a convenient one. He had drunk to numb his sadness.

The three girls nodded in realization, looking dazed.

Jia Ting couldn’t help but sigh and scold, “Ji Yan is one thing; she’s used to rejecting people and has never dated. But how could you two be so clueless?”

Hao Meng and Shi Yulu protested, “How are we clueless? We just didn’t think of it that way!”

“Yes, and we haven’t dated either. Jia Ting, if you’re so knowledgeable, does that mean you have a lot of experience?”

Facing their scrutinizing gazes, Jia Ting turned her head away, denying, “You don’t need experience to know these things. You can learn from TV and books.”

“Then don’t act like an expert. You don’t have experience either,” Hao Meng and Shi Yulu retorted.

Ji Yan pursed her lips and said, “I know he’s probably very sad, but I’m showing my feelings now. I even brought him milk tea. Isn’t that enough?”

Hao Meng thought for a moment and suggested, “Maybe we’re overthinking. Perhaps he didn’t like the flavor of the milk tea?”

Shi Yulu agreed, “Or maybe he doesn’t like milk tea. Try giving him cola next time. Boys like cola.”

The confused Ji Yan listened, and began taking advice from Hao Meng and Shi Yulu. 

On the other hand, listening to their words, Jia Ting sighed in disbelief. 

Good grief, she rejected him 99 times, and now she thinks a cup of milk tea would win him back?

She couldn’t stand it anymore.

Fearing her own emotional intelligence would drop, she interrupted, “Alright, stop guessing. I have a suggestion…”

The conversation halted, and the three girls looked at her expectantly.