Zhang Yiqing blinked, her face practically screaming, “Hurry, tell me, tell me!”
Lin Ting egged her on: “Come on, just say it!”
Zhang Yiqing took a sip of her milk tea, then imitated Lu Hesheng’s famously cold and arrogant tone:
“Lu Hesheng reportedly didn’t hesitate for even a second. He stepped back a few paces and said, ‘There are plenty of people who like me. You can queue up in France first.’”
“That’s not all!”
“He then glanced her up and down and evaluated her in four words: ‘Dong Shi imitates Xi Shi.’”
Zhang Yiqing got caught up in the story, clearly enjoying herself immensely.
“Ahahaha, I’m dying laughing!”
“Serves her right! That’s what you get for being a know-it-all!”
“Lu Hesheng is incredible. And that dead green-tea Liu Qingluo finally met someone who could handle her.”
After laughing, Zhang Yiqing noticed Lin Ting sitting across from her, lips pursed, unusually serious.
She quickly stifled her laughter and asked hesitantly, “Tingting… why aren’t you laughing? Are you just naturally serious?”
Lin Ting couldn’t help it—she thought of a classic TV show scene and snickered.
She explained: “I just got distracted for a moment… thought of something unpleasant.”
In reality, she had encountered similar confession attempts from Liu Qingluo back in high school. Hearing it now was nothing special.
If Lu Hesheng ever publicly showed affection for a girlfriend, that’s when she would truly feel uneasy, unable to let go.
Zhang Yiqing popped a piece of fried chicken into her mouth: “Don’t worry, babe. Eat first, forget it after.”
Lin Ting picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of rice cake.
Perhaps out of habit from growing up in the Lin household, she ate quietly, barely making a sound.
Zhang Yiqing curiously asked: “Honestly… is there really nothing between you and Lu Hesheng?”
To her, Lin Ting was beautiful, kind, top of her class, and inexperienced in love—more than a match for Lu Hesheng.
Besides, she could tell that the way Lu Hesheng looked at Lin Ting wasn’t indifferent.
Lin Ting put down her chopsticks, her mind wandering back to that night at the club, remembering what Lu Hesheng had said to Shen Zhiyao.
She repeated it quietly, as if reminding herself:
“We… are just friends.”
Zhang Yiqing gave her a knowing look and said with a grin: “Just more than friendship, but not quite lovers yet!”
“When you do start dating, don’t forget to tell me first.”
The next few days, Lin Ting spent most of her time in the dance studio.
They were rehearsing a girl group routine—physically demanding, but doing something she loved made it effortless.
The girls hung out, eating and chatting, the atmosphere warm and cheerful.
Before long, it was time for the final rehearsal.
The dressing room buzzed with activity, performers busy with makeup and costumes.
Lin Ting and her teammates wore matching stage outfits, coordinating hair accessories and necklaces—bright, cheerful, and full of energy.
A staff member knocked and reminded them:
“The first act is on. Please get ready in advance, everyone else!”
Zhang Yiqing gathered the group, giving a few last reminders before heading backstage.
Their performance was scheduled for the latter half of the show.
Standing by the curtain, Lin Ting could clearly hear music and applause from the stage.
To calm her nerves, she ran through the choreography in her mind, matching the beats.
Minutes later, the first act ended, and some performers rushed backstage, complaining:
“Ugh! We practiced for days, and now it’s wasted.”
“The leader said the song was too niche, no one understood it.”
“Seems we walked into the wrong crowd. Apparently, one of the acts had a leader’s daughter…”
“Nothing we can do, just bad luck, haha.”
Hearing this, Lin Ting instinctively checked herself and realized she had forgotten her hair accessory.
It wasn’t very noticeable, but the thought pricked at her like a thorn—she worried about letting her teammates down.
She whispered to Zhang Yiqing: “I forgot my hair accessory. I’ll grab it from the dressing room and be right back!”
Zhang Yiqing remained calm: “No rush, there are still ten acts ahead. Go, quick and come back.”
Lin Ting hurried to their previous dressing room.
As soon as she reached for the door handle, she heard a heated argument inside:
“Liu Qingluo, do you even know your own skill level?”
“Everyone’s been accommodating you, worried about your mood… we arranged Beibei to take center, and now you come last minute saying no?”
“If our act gets cut, who takes responsibility?”
Liu Qingluo retorted: “Weren’t you the ones who couldn’t find anyone, so you invited me?”
“And now you’re complaining? What were you doing earlier?”
Hearing Liu Qingluo’s name, Lin Ting’s head throbbed.
She quietly opened the door, planning to grab her accessory and leave.
The argument stopped abruptly.
A surprised female voice rang out: “Lin Ting?!”
Recognizing it as Liu Qingluo, Lin Ting ignored her and went straight to the accessory, grabbed it, and headed for the door.
“Wait!” Liu Qingluo blocked the exit, eyes sharp.
She appraised Lin Ting’s outfit: “You’re performing too?”
Lin Ting glanced at Liu’s upset teammates nearby, and coldly replied: “Mind your own business first.”
Seeing Lin Ting walk away, Liu Qingluo’s face turned pale and red in succession, realizing she had been called out. Her frustration had no outlet.
Lin Ting returned backstage.
Zhang Yiqing helped her fix the hair accessory: “Perfect! Now you can relax, babe.”
When it was their turn, Lin Ting moved to the front of the stage with her team.
Her eyes met Lu Hesheng’s unexpectedly—those peach blossom eyes locked onto her.
Her mind blanked for a moment, but her muscle memory carried her through without error.
As the music neared its end, everyone struck the final pose.
The leaders nodded, clapped—signaling the act passed.
The happiest of all was Zhang Yiqing, who secretly mouthed a “Yes!” to her teammates.
Lin Ting turned and ran off the stage with her team.
Suddenly, Lu Hesheng called out: “Lin Ting, wait.”
Zhang Yiqing, standing beside her, gestured excitedly: “Go on, babe! We’ll head back to the dressing room and wait for you.”
Lin Ting walked over slowly, feeling shy.
She was wearing a strapless top with a bubble skirt, paired with lace-trimmed socks and black shoes—innocent yet subtly sexy.
Her shoulders and legs were exposed, making her self-conscious facing Lu Hesheng up close.
Noticing her slight embarrassment, he complimented her: “You look beautiful. Anything you wear looks good on you.”
He handed her the milk tea bag at his feet:
“These are for you, ordered by Chen Jiaxu, no one drank them.”
Meanwhile, Chen Jiaxu sat with the leaders, whispering.
Hearing this, he turned his head in disbelief.
The drinks he had bought for student council staff had all been given away by Lu Hesheng.
He opened WeChat and sent Lu Hesheng a reimbursement link with a note: Reimburse! And include the delivery fee!
After rehearsal, Lin Ting and the dance club girls went for a late-night snack.
They chatted and ate, never-ending gossip, until late at night when they finally returned to their dorms.
After showering, Lin Ting checked her phone.
It was already past midnight—she didn’t expect Ji Yunzheng to message at this hour.
【Tingting, just finished work.】
【The transfer I sent you earlier, why didn’t you accept it? It bounced back.】
【It’s been a while since we met. What have you been busy with at school?】
Lin Ting frowned slightly.
There was a subtle… hint of flirtation in his messages?
He hadn’t been like this before.
Their relationship had always had boundaries; they only spoke when necessary.
This carefree, no-responsibility dynamic had made Lin Ting comfortable.
It was one of the reasons she hadn’t immediately opposed the Lin family’s arranged match proposal.
After thinking for a moment, she replied: 【Forgot to accept the transfer.】
【I’ve been rehearsing for the school’s welcome gala.】
Not long after, Ji Yunzheng asked: 【Welcome gala? When is it? I’ll have my assistant get a ticket.】
【I’ll go watch your performance then.】