Mid-March, and the early spring chill hadn’t quite faded yet—like a sweater forgotten to be taken out of the closet after airing, carrying that lingering, inescapable scent of last year’s memories.

Shen Wanyu sat on a bench by the school’s artificial lake, flipping through the script in her hands. The white magnolia flowers beside her swayed gently with the breeze.

There was no one else around.

Before filming the short film, the two of them had to run through their lines first.

“Department Head, want some water?”

“You’re awfully late.”

Shen Wanyu closed the script and glanced at Jiang Linyuan standing before her, holding two bottles of mineral water.

“I arrived right on time.”

Jiang Linyuan sat down beside Shen Wanyu, leaving a huge gap between them—enough for another whole person to sit in between.

So he placed the water bottle right in that gap.

“Isn’t it basic etiquette to arrive five minutes early?”

Shen Wanyu grabbed one of the bottles and took a sip.

“Department Head, I was actually late because of the water you just drank.”

*You drank my water and still dare to criticize me!? Big balls!*

“Is that so.”

Shen Wanyu said flatly:

“I just felt like criticizing you, that’s all.”

“No reason?”

“Don’t need one.”

Shen Wanyu flashed a mocking smile.

*This Department Head!*

*Well, I’ll criticize you right back!*

“Department Head, your smile is so annoying it’s already hurting my eyes.”

“Is it?”

Shen Wanyu’s smile widened:

“Well then, I suppose I must keep smiling at all times.”

*Spread the word—the Department Head is always smiling at me!*

Shen Wanyu dropped the smile:

“The dumbest people are the ones who don’t know they’re dumb.”

“Shouldn’t it be the most handsome people are the ones who don’t know they’re handsome?”

“Even though you have some human qualities, I think I still need to call the zoo.”

“Department Head, no denying my humanity!”

Jiang Linyuan crossed his arms in an X-shape in front of his chest.

“I hope this isn’t your excuse for forgetting your lines.”

Shen Wanyu looked up at him.

“Hehe, Department Head, do you really think I’d forget my lines?”

Jiang Linyuan glanced at her dismissively.

*Department Head, you have absolutely no idea how valuable the Overclocked Single-Jump Brain is!*

The two of them sat by the artificial lake, trading lines back and forth as they rehearsed.

And as it turned out, the Department Head had a memory that rivaled the Overclocked Single-Jump Brain.

*Looks like the Department Head isn’t entirely useless besides being beautiful.*

“Department Head, how about we go to different spots around campus like the script says? Just to get familiar with the setting in advance.”

Shen Wanyu looked at Jiang Linyuan:

“You make a good point. Oh, and according to the script, you’re supposed to die at the school gate. Ready for that?”

“…I’m NOT dying at the school gate! I’m just going back to my own time and space! And it’s the male lead going back, not me!”

“Isn’t that the same as dying?”

“…Department Head, be careful next time you go home.”

“What’s that supposed to be? A threat?”

“It’s concern!”

Jiang Linyuan decided right then—when the short film was over, he’d definitely visit his Future Mother-in-Law’s place more often and make sure she taught the Department Head a proper lesson!

Walking into the sunlight, it wasn’t long before the two reached Xingnan University’s main gate.

Since it was the weekend, there were plenty of people coming and going, with couples being the most noticeable group.

Early spring crabapple blossoms were covered in pink, contrasting with the tall, thick green trees lining both sides of the road.

The branches weren’t too dense, leaving plenty of sunlight spilling onto the ground.

“Isn’t this a bit too many people?”

Shen Wanyu frowned slightly. The sunlight hit her face at just the right angle, making her look radiant and striking.

Jiang Linyuan looked at her and said:

“The Department Head isn’t the type to get stage fright, is she?”

“No, with so many people, I’m worried that if you die, it’ll cause a panic, won’t it?”

“The male lead just goes back to his own world! He doesn’t die! And! I’ll say it again! That’s not me!”

Hearing Jiang Linyuan’s complaints, Shen Wanyu let out a small laugh:

“But seriously, the script isn’t very rigorous. Meeting someone who traveled through time, and just blatantly walking them around campus like that?”

“Does the Department Head mean she wants to secretly kidnap me and hide me at home?”

Shen Wanyu ignored him and walked out of the school gate.

“Department Head, are you shy?”

“I’ll tell Su Muzhi everything you said.”

“Perfect. I’m going to see Xiao Su tonight anyway. The Department Head can come along with me.”

Jiang Linyuan smiled, completely unfazed.

Shen Wanyu let out a long sigh, looking at him like he was garbage:

“Absolutely unbelievable.”

With that, she shook her head and pointed toward the main gate:

“Wild Monkey, you can start your performance now.”

“Yes, ma’am, Queen Monkey.”

Shen Wanyu rolled the script in her hand into a tube and smacked Jiang Linyuan on the head.

“Department Head, why did you hit me?”

Jiang Linyuan asked.

*The Queen Monkey is angry and starting to bully humans.*

Shen Wanyu let out a cold laugh:

“Starting now, if your performance doesn’t satisfy me, I’ll teach you a good lesson!”

“No, it’s just a short film. Acting skills don’t really matter, do they?”

“If you’re acting opposite me, the standards are high.”

“What about you, Department Head! If your acting doesn’t satisfy me, can I teach you a lesson?”

“There’s always an overconfident monkey trying to challenge authority.”

“That sounds a bit like a monkey king competition in the troop.”

Shen Wanyu glared at Jiang Linyuan.

Jiang Linyuan glared right back. *You think you’re the only one who can glare? I can glare too!*

The two stood at the school gate, each determined to catch the other’s acting flaws, and began performing the first scene of the short film.

According to the script, Jiang Linyuan turned his face sideways, letting the sunlight hit his profile. His expression was filled with confusion and bewilderment as he stared at the four characters on the school gate, muttering to himself:

“Xingnan University?”

At the school gate, amid the flow of people, a gentle breeze blew by. The calm, sparse-looking boy’s hair was slightly messy.

Shen Wanyu watched him, paused for a moment, then followed the script and said:

“Hey there, classmate, I noticed you’ve been standing here for a while. Are you lost?”

“No, I’m just a bit confused right now.”

“From the way you’re dressed, are you shooting some Republican-era photoshoot?”

“Photoshoot? No, I’m trying to get to the Eastern Academy.”

“Eastern Academy? What kind of name is that? Do you mean the East District?”

“…I think so?”

The two stood at the school gate, trading lines, and finished the first scene of the short film.

“Department Head, you clearly stumbled on your line just now. Hehe, did you forget your words?”

Jiang Linyuan looked at Shen Wanyu with a sideways glance, letting out the exact same cold laugh as Xiao Su.

Shen Wanyu nodded:

“As expected of our shifty-eyed Deputy Minister Jiang. Yes, I did stumble a little.”

“Was that an insult?”

“Yes it was.”

*And you even admit it! You stumbled on your own line too!*

“I just remembered something.”

Shen Wanyu looked at Jiang Linyuan, her bright eyes focused.

“What is it?”

“The first time I met you, it seemed to be at the school gate too.”

A clear breeze blew by, and the girl’s pitch-black hair separated strand by strand, swaying gently like willow branches by the river.

Jiang Linyuan was stunned for a moment:

“Back then, I was the one who initiated the conversation with you, wasn’t I?”

“Yes. To this day, I still can’t forget that sinister look in your eyes.”

“…So my first impression was that bad?”

“It’s still that bad now.”

#