She's Too Sweet - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In the past, the bar for adult education exams was so low that the diplomas were barely worth mentioning—almost anyone who applied could pass. However, things have changed in recent years. The requirements have become stricter, and the study programs longer. Gone are the days of earning a degree with minimal effort; the certificates are now increasingly recognized by employers.

Among them, Haicheng University’s adult education program stands out as a top choice. Many companies send promising employees there to enhance their qualifications and polish their resumes.

Unsurprisingly, the program has seen a surge in applicants. To manage the demand, registration and fee payment were divided into multiple sessions.

Su He and her friend Wen Man managed to squeeze through the crowd, complete their registration, and finally get their dormitory keys. Exhausted but relieved, they drifted downstairs.

Just as they reached the stairwell, the sound of a commotion caught their attention. Wen Man, ever curious, leaned forward to peek. “What’s going on over there?”

The hallway, bustling with people, had unexpectedly gathered a small crowd, as if some spectacle was unfolding. Through the throng, Su He could only make out the back of a male student’s head. In front of him stood a girl, her face partially obscured, but the visible half revealed a delicate, youthful beauty.

It was just such a strikingly graceful face that, in the next moment, lifted a hand and delivered a sharp slap to the boy’s cheek.

“Smack!” The sound was crisp and loud.

The crowd burst into an uproar, with laughter and jeers rippling through the corridor.

“Senior Xie, how does it feel?” someone teased from the sidelines.

Hearing the name “Xie,” Su He froze, momentarily dazed.

Wen Man let out a playful “Oh!” before laughing. “A lovers’ quarrel, maybe?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd parted, revealing the boy at the center of attention. He was lazily wiping the corner of his mouth, his brows arched with an air of indifference, and started walking toward them. Another boy followed closely behind him.

Suddenly, their eyes met.

Su He’s mind went blank, thunder crashing in her head.

Xie Lou paused, slightly taken aback. But unlike Su He’s stunned reaction, his gaze narrowed, his long eyes carrying a trace of confusion, as if he were trying to recall something.

Who was this?

She looked familiar.

The boy standing beside Xie Lou, Chen Yao, lifted a long, slender finger and pointed at Su He. “Su… Su…” He stammered, struggling to recall the rest of her name.

Without hesitation, Su He turned on her heel and slipped into the crowd, her movements swift and deliberate.

Her fingertips trembled slightly.

* * * * * * * * * *

Wen Man caught up to Su He, silently observing her with a curious tilt of her head.

Su He walked along the lakeside, clutching the books in her arms tightly. Her thoughts wandered aimlessly until Wen Man accidentally stepped on a loose brick, nearly tripping. Su He instinctively reached out to steady her, bringing her back to the moment.

Wen Man laughed awkwardly. “I almost fell flat on my face…”

Then she turned to Su He with concern. “Are you… okay?”

Su He managed a faint smile. “I’m fine.”

“Good, that’s good.” Wen Man hesitated, then ventured cautiously, “So… do you know that guy back there?”

She couldn’t help but ask. The boy was far too striking—breathtakingly handsome, especially those long, narrow eyes, as dark as ink, hiding what seemed like an entire galaxy.

“No, I don’t,” Su He replied with another smile, shaking her head.

“Oh, okay.” Wen Man sensed she didn’t want to talk about it and wisely decided to drop the subject. She was good at reading the room, after all.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Damn, Su He!” Chen Yao finally recalled the last character of her name—the “He” from “lotus.” “What’s she doing here?” He glanced toward the administrative office.

“Studying?”

Xie Lou raised an eyebrow at Chen Yao’s words.

Oh. Su He.

The girl who chased him for three years—a spoiled rich girl from a wealthy family. Bold, extravagant, and unapologetically flamboyant. But after her family went bankrupt, she disappeared from school without a trace.

When her family assets were liquidated, their 2.1 billion debt even made the headlines in the business section.

“She was really persistent when she was chasing you.”

“She even sent you 999 roses.”

“She even booked the supreme private room at Paradise on Earth for your birthday.”

As the memories came flooding back, Chen Yao couldn’t help but sigh in amazement.

“But you just didn’t like her…”

“Man, you were blind.”

“Actually, no—you weren’t blind. You’re really sharp. Not accepting her was probably the smart move.”

Xie Lou said nothing, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lazily placing it between his lips. He shot Chen Yao a sidelong glance and said, “Shut up.”

“Alright, fine.” Chen Yao shrugged, falling into step beside him, winking playfully. “Not going after your girl?”

Xie Lou didn’t respond. His fingers brushed over the corner of his lips, his gaze lowering slightly.

Go after her?

What was the point?

It was already over.

* * * * * * * * * *

Su He and Wen Man went to check out their dormitory. Three years ago, Haicheng University had built a new dormitory building, though its location was somewhat awkward—right between the men’s and women’s dormitories, like the filling of a sandwich.

In consideration of the social maturity of adult students, the university had ultimately assigned the building to those enrolled in its adult education program, giving it a unique blend of practicality and “real-world vibes.”

The first three floors of the building were reserved for the boys’ dormitories, while the fourth floor and above were for the girls. This arrangement worked perfectly, as there were only a limited number of adult education students each year—one dormitory building was more than enough to accommodate them.

Wen Man glanced around at the small dorm room, which was meant to house four people, and looked a little unimpressed. “The bathroom doesn’t even have a proper toilet seat.”

She worked in real estate and owned a comfortable 90-square-meter apartment in Haicheng, where she lived alone in luxury. Adjusting to such a shared living space wasn’t easy for her.

Su He chose the bed near the window, placed her books on it, and said, “You drive anyway; you can just go home often.”

“That’s true,” Wen Man agreed, finally nodding as she picked the bed opposite Su He’s. “Still, experiencing this kind of communal living might be fun. Makes me feel young again.”

Su He smiled faintly.

The dormitory’s management was far more relaxed compared to others. After all, they were adults—many already seasoned professionals. The school treated the adult education students with more leniency.

Before long, two more roommates arrived. One of them, around Wen Man’s age—26—had a composed and mature demeanor. The other, like Su He, was 21, with a baby face and a bright personality. She introduced herself as an online business owner.

The four of them greeted each other and selected their beds before heading out together.

They had arrived early, and the official military training for the third group wouldn’t begin for another two days. After picking up their military uniforms, Su He and Wen Man left Haicheng University. Wen Man parked her car at the North Gate, and despite Su He’s hesitation, she couldn’t refuse and accepted the ride.

“You live in the old district of East Huacheng?” Wen Man asked casually as she turned onto the road.

“Yeah.” Su He nodded.

“That’s a bit far. Is it a rental?” Wen Man asked, not expecting much of an answer.

“It’s my family’s.” Su He smiled in response.

Wen Man raised an eyebrow and glanced at Su He. “A hidden wealthy person?”

Su He chuckled softly but didn’t reply.

If the old district could have been redeveloped sooner, her family might have had a chance to breathe. Four years ago, when her family went bankrupt, her father had been counting on the old house.

But unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. It was the old district in South Huacheng that got redeveloped instead.

The East Huacheng area still lingered in the hustle of Haicheng, a sprawling metropolis.

“The road conditions over there aren’t great, so I won’t drive in. Do you want to get out here?” Wen Man glanced at the traffic jam ahead. Su He had been thinking the same thing, so she nodded. “Thanks, I’ll get off here.”

“Heh, don’t mention it.” Wen Man waved her hand casually.

Su He unbuckled her seatbelt, glanced at the uneven pavement, and got out of the car. She bent down and waved at Wen Man as the silver car drove off.

Once the car was out of sight, Su He turned and walked into the narrow alley. It was just as noisy and chaotic as ever.

Trash cans were scattered haphazardly, the roads were filled with cars without any clear lanes, and small street vendors were practically spilling onto the road, while bicycles were left carelessly parked everywhere.

Su He walked under the eaves with a blank expression.

In the four years since, she had grown accustomed to this environment.

She climbed upstairs.

After showering, she had just finished when her phone rang. It was a call from the real estate agent, Sister Zhang.

Su He picked up the phone.

Sister Zhang’s voice was upbeat. “Su He, you’re really lucky. The family lives in the new East Huacheng district. You can head over directly.”

Su He nodded as she changed her clothes. “Thank you, Sister Zhang.”

“You’re welcome! It’s just noon, so show them your skills,” Sister Zhang’s cheerful voice came from the other end of the line.

“Got it.”

After changing, Su He hung up the phone, grabbed her tools, and headed downstairs.

The new East Huacheng district was located across from the old district, separated by a wide avenue. It was easy to reach by walking across a pedestrian bridge. Following the address Sister Zhang had sent, Su He arrived at Building 8, Apartment 1606 in District D. She rang the doorbell, and the door opened quickly. A middle-aged woman in a gray top peeked out.

Seeing how young Su He was, the woman was slightly surprised.

“Are you from Xinjia Household Services?”

Su He smiled gently. “Yes.”

“You’re so young?” The woman, Liu Ma, looked Su He up and down before stepping aside to let her in.

Su He politely entered and, under Liu Ma’s guidance, changed her shoes. Liu Ma then asked, “How old are you?”

“Twenty-one,” Su He answered.

“She’s so young…” Liu Ma muttered, but didn’t comment further. Nowadays, it was common to see young nannies, and having a younger chef wasn’t unusual either.

“You’re just in time. The owner of the house is here. I’ll go call him,” Liu Ma said, thinking she couldn’t make decisions on her own. She gestured for Su He to stand still before heading toward the study.

Su He smiled and nodded, standing obediently. The room was decorated simply, with no unnecessary ornaments—clearly, it wasn’t a place for many people to live.

“Hmm? How old is she?” A man’s voice followed the sound of footsteps, deep and lazy.

Su He instinctively froze, feeling as though she had heard that voice before.

“Twenty-one? Still a student, I assume?” The man let out a light laugh, his tone casual. Su He couldn’t help herself and glanced toward the study.

Then, her body stiffened.

Xie Lou, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, was looking over at her as well.

Once again, their eyes met.