Chapter 450: For the Sake of a Surprise |
“Professor Liu, I’ll be going now.”
Seeing that Liu Yue was staring blankly, Lin Mo assumed she was lost in thought, perhaps contemplating how best to negotiate with Wang Haoran’s parents. Not wanting to disturb her, he simply offered a polite farewell and stepped out of the office, gently closing the door behind him.
It was only after she returned to her senses that Liu Yue realized Lin Mo had already left.
What am I even thinking?
She shook her head forcefully, trying to fling away the tangled thoughts swarming in her mind. That starry-eyed daze she had slipped into vanished almost immediately.
The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment—that much, she understood well.
Wang Haoran said he would ask his master to come, but in the end, it was still just an empty promise. A promise without weight.
Besides, her “husband” was so buried in work that it seemed impossible for him to spare the time. Even though Wang Haoran was his disciple, did he really have that kind of sway?
If even she, the man’s wife, couldn’t get him to show up, how could a mere disciple succeed where she had failed?
After calming her thoughts, she buried herself in her work again. Only when she was focused did the ache of longing in her chest begin to ease though only slightly.
In Classroom 113 of the Finance Department, Wang Haoran sat in his seat, eyes cast downward in thought. His expression was unreadable, and his gaze seemed to drift without focus.
Suddenly, something moved into the edges of that empty gaze, something that caught his attention.
His eyes snapped back into focus and locked onto a pair of curves so exaggerated they seemed almost unreal.
When his gaze lifted, he found himself looking into the doll-like face of Mu Zhaozhao, who was watching him intently.
“What were you thinking about so deeply?” she asked with curiosity, taking the seat beside him.
“I was just wondering what you eat to grow like that,” Wang Haoran replied without missing a beat. He was no naive boy, and certainly wouldn’t answer a question directly just because someone asked.
His eyes danced as he teased her.
“You’re so annoying.” She gave him a sideways glare, but her tone held no real anger.
“There’s going to be a costume ball on campus the day after tomorrow,” she continued. “Are you going?”
“Not interested,” he said instinctively, shaking his head. His time was far too precious to waste on something as dull as a social gathering.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, something clicked in his mind.
“Wait. At a costume ball, you can wear a mask, right?”
“Of course,” Mu Zhaozhao replied. “Why?”
A grin slowly crept onto his face. “Now I’m interested.”
An idea had begun to take shape in his mind—something involving Liu Yue.
Mu Zhaozhao tilted her head, sensing something unusual in his smile. “What are you thinking?”
“I was wondering what you’ll wear. What you’ll look like that night.”
Not wanting her to dwell too much on what he meant, Wang Haoran casually shifted the subject.
Her round cheeks flushed with a hint of delight, and she leaned closer with a conspiratorial glint in her eye. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, she lowered her voice and asked, “Then tell me… what would you want me to dress up as?”
Her tone carried more than a hint of mischief, and Wang Haoran easily picked up on the hidden message.
He gave it a moment’s thought and came up with a great suggestion—but then hesitated. After all, he wouldn’t be the only one seeing her at the ball. With a sigh, he let the idea go.
“Why don’t you tell me what you want to dress up as?” he asked instead. “Then I’ll give you some pointers.”
“Little bunny!” she said with a giggle, raising her pale hands in a scissor shape over her head to mimic rabbit ears, her face radiating pure cuteness.
“Alright, little bunny it is.”
Wang Haoran thought her idea was perfect. Bunnies were adorable, and so was Mu Zhaozhao. It matched her perfectly.
Just then, Wen Jing arrived and took the seat on the other side of Mu Zhaozhao. She didn’t say a word, but her gaze never left Wang Haoran’s face as she quietly listened in on their conversation.
“What about you?” Mu Zhaozhao asked. “What will you dress up as?”
“I’ll be a carrot,” Wang Haoran replied without hesitation.
“Carrot? Haha! Bunnies eat carrots! Chomp—I’ll eat you up!”
Mu Zhaozhao opened her small mouth wide and snapped it shut at the air with an exaggerated expression, playfully fierce yet irresistibly cute.
Wang Haoran chuckled softly, the smile lingering with meaning.
Wen Jing couldn’t help but cover her mouth, stifling her laughter.
Mu Zhaozhao blinked, confused by the reaction, and then her face turned beet red as she smacked Wang Haoran on the shoulder. “You’re the worst! So annoying!”
Ding-ling-ling.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the afternoon’s first class.
After the class ended, Wang Haoran headed straight to Liu Yue’s office.
He didn’t knock.
But this time, Liu Yue said nothing. She couldn’t even be bothered.
“Professor Liu, will you be going to the costume ball the day after tomorrow?” he asked.
“No,” she replied flatly. She had no interest.
Though the event was open to both students and faculty and had been held several times before, Liu Yue never once attended.
“Are you sure you won’t go?” Wang Haoran asked again, his tone tinged with something subtle.
He knew very well that convincing Liu Yue to attend wasn’t going to be easy. All he could do was hint at it.
Liu Yue’s expression shifted. Her brows furrowed as she looked him over more carefully.
“Why are you suddenly trying to get me to go? Are you scheming something?”
“I’m not scheming anything. Absolutely not!” Wang Haoran said quickly, putting on a look of exaggerated innocence. “I just thought it’d be fun, and I wanted to invite you along.”
His words, of course, only deepened her suspicions. Her thoughts started churning.
Wang Haoran made a bold claim before that he could get her “husband” to return.
Naturally, Liu Yue did not believe him.
But what if… what if it was true?
If her husband really was coming back, then how could Wang Haoran be so certain?
Unless… unless he already knew ahead of time.
But then why wouldn’t her husband tell her himself?
Wang Haoran’s sudden, strange attempt to convince her to attend the ball… could it be that her husband asked him to do it?
Could it be… he was planning a surprise?
The more she thought about it, the more everything began to fall into place. The haze of doubt that clouded her heart suddenly lifted.
No wonder Wang Haoran sounded so confident before.
This guy was using the fact that her husband was coming back to set a trap for her emotions, and for Lin Mo.
Liu Yue’s gaze brightened. In that moment, she felt as though she had seen through everything.
But she had no intention of exposing him.
If her husband was working with Wang Haoran to prepare a surprise for her, then it only meant the two were in close contact.
And if that was the case, it was all the more reason for her to stay on good terms with Wang Haoran. She certainly didn't want to disrupt anything that might ruin the surprise.
“A costume ball, huh?” she said with studied calm. “Alright. I’ll go.”
“Great.” Wang Haoran turned to leave, pulling the door closed behind him.
Inside the office, once she was sure no one was watching, Liu Yue suddenly leapt up from her chair, her excitement bubbling over. She bounced in place with joy and a smile on her face.
Through his X-ray vision, Wang Haoran saw everything and couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself.
He was looking forward to it—to seeing her face the moment the surprise unfolded.
What kind of expression would she wear then?