Chapter 7

Inhale. Exhale-- Li Xiu stayed rooted against the hallway wall. Running always manages to deplete her energy and she must have fooled herself into thinking that she could actually reach the classroom within two minutes-- when in fact, considering her soft body, she can't.

"Need some water?"

Almost flying backwards, Li Xiu grabbed the wall for support. Her mouth hanged open, her incredulous eyes drifted towards obsidian filled with amusement ones and she considered pivoting her feet to flee.

"W-Wang Jian!"

"Xiu." The familiarity within his response was horrifying. Since when did they reached first name basis!?

"What...what are you doing here?"

"I'm Wang Jian," he casually said, handing over a bottle of water. His actions were smooth and polished. His flawless skin burned hers when he easily pried open her fingers with one hand, placing them around the bottle since she seemed preoccupied.

Li Xiu shook her head, the action pulling her out of her momentary reverie. "O-oh! um thank you for the," she raised the bottle, questioning, and he understood immediately, "no Xiu, it was not opened."

She nodded, "I need to go. S-something crazy happened a while ago and I-well, I'm still embarrased about it but that's not what's important right now b-because I'm late! And goodness--" her blabbering was cut off by Wang Jian.

"Calm down Xiu. Drink the water."

"No. I'm fine. But I'll not be if I miss another class," she started walking again.

"It's no use. First classes already begun."

"W-what!? Then why are you here?" She reflexively looked around, taking note of the confounding peace surrounding them. She adores peace, bask in every opportunity where she could get to just stare at the clouds quietly and without noise-- but this...this is not the peace she embrace with open hands.

"I'm the president."

"Y-yes, but still--"

Wang Jian leaned towards the wall, watching the panicking girl with amusement playing in his eyes. His hands were on his pockets and he removed one only to hold Li Xiu's midnight black tresses, smoothly placing some stray ones behind her ear.

Li Xiu was beyond words speechless. In the back of her mind, she contemplated on how he could surprise her more than once in a single day. She absently concluded that he's bad for her heart. Without another word, she backed away. She was thought better than to let a man touch her without her permission. Even if he's impossibly handsome, and rich, and intellectual, and--

Regardless of any of that, she's a Li.

"I'll go now. Even if I'm late, I'm sure Miss Shin Mei would let me in. S-she's very nice," then she listlessly lowered her head. Passing by the impassive Wang Jian, she didn't notice the glimmer that flashed in his emotionless eyes.