A Strawberry Candy Wins the Aloof Lu God from His Pedestal

The physics building at Nanda was as cold and silent as a gigantic ice cellar. Su Ruan held her breath and quietly pushed open the laboratory door. In her line of sight, Lu Shiyan, who usually buttoned his shirt all the way to the top and was known as “the walking calculating machine of the physics department,” was leaning lazily against a lab bench. His long fingers held a pink strawberry-flavored lollipop. He was studying it intently, muttering, “More than fifteen percent sugar. I’ll have to switch brands next time.” Su Ruan froze, her mind crashing. The ethereal male idol at Nanda, whom the girls imagined lived on dew, was secretly a sweets addict? “Had enough of looking?” Lu Shiyan didn’t turn around. His cool voice sent a chill through the empty room. He slowly turned, rolling the candy between his fingers. Its pink wrapper gleamed mockingly under the lights. Su Ruan gave an awkward laugh. “Senior Lu, what if I told you I was just passing by to do a quick sketch… would you believe me?” Lu Shiyan advanced step by step, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses, his presence oppressive. He braced one hand against the wall behind Su Ruan. The warm, sweet scent of strawberries filled the air, but his voice was icy. “You’ve uncovered my secret, Su. Have you thought about how you’re going to ‘make it up to me’?”