By the time the two of them sat down, Meng Yao had just returned from the restroom.
The server brought over a large platter of grilled fish and placed it on the table.
“Wow! Such a huge platter of grilled fish!” Meng Yao picked up a piece with her chopsticks and savored it carefully.
“Hey, where’s my phone?” She wanted to take a photo but couldn’t find her phone after searching for a while.
Yun Hui held Meng Yao’s bag: “We stepped out for a moment earlier, so I took your phone and bag with me—just in case they got stolen.”
Meng Yao took the bag, fished out her phone, and said, “Thanks, sweetie! Mwah!”
Bai Yueming hadn’t fully recovered from Yun Hui’s earlier actions and was still looking dazed as she mechanically picked up a piece of fish and ate it.
“Bai Yueming, why do you look so down?” Meng Yao gave her a puzzled glance.
Yun Hui’s round eyes darted toward her. What’s wrong with Yueming?
Meng Yao waved her hand in front of Bai Yueming’s face. Seeing that the other girl’s gaze wasn’t focused on her hand, she patted her shoulder.
Bai Yueming jolted, snapping back to reality: “What is it?”
Meng Yao rolled her eyes: “What’s going on? You look so upset.”
Bai Yueming stared at the grilled fish on the table and hesitated for a long moment before speaking: “I just feel like… I’ve harmed Yun Hui.”
Xi Yue—her skin is as thick as a city wall. She’ll definitely come back for more. The last time someone made her suffer, the outcome was something Bai Yueming couldn’t even bear to think about.
Yun Hui, who had been happily eating, turned to Bai Yueming: “It’s fine, don’t bring bad feelings to the dinner table!”
Meng Yao’s eyes shifted back and forth between the two of them.
Bai Yueming lowered her gaze slightly: “Then let’s just enjoy the meal.”
The two of them seemed to be speaking in riddles, and Meng Yao couldn’t understand a word. She muttered, “Hmph, two riddlers in the dorm?”
Yun Hui smoothed her hair: “Meng Yao, hurry up and eat, or it won’t taste as good later.”
Bai Yueming leaned in and whispered: “You really need to be careful about Xi Yue. From now on, avoid walking alone at night or in secluded places. I’ll try to find someone to protect you.”
Yun Hui brushed it off: “I don’t go out much anyway, so don’t worry about me.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xi Yue’s voice echoed in her mind again. It really did sound a bit like Yin Han Sou…
What is Sister doing right now?
“Yun Hui, spacing out again? I’ve noticed you really like to daydream.”
Meng Yao frowned as she stared at her.
The same words… just like Sister said…
“I… don’t have many friends, so I often daydream and let my thoughts wander.”
After everyone had eaten their fill, Meng Yao suddenly exclaimed: “Yun Hui! You signed up for the Love Poetry Contest too!”
Bai Yueming scrolled through her phone, expressionless.
Yun Hui: “Just giving it a try. The prizes seem really meaningful. Giving one to someone would feel incredibly rewarding!”
Meng Yao held her chopsticks between her teeth while her fingers swiped frantically: “You’re in the ‘Regret’ category.”
Yun Hui looked up: “What does ‘Regret’ category mean?”
Meng Yao explained: “The organizers wanted both tragic and happy themes to have their own competitions, so they split it into two tracks.”
Yun Hui frowned: “I don’t want to write for the ‘Regret’ category!”
Meng Yao scrolled down for a while and saw a comment below.
【Why am I in the ‘Regret’ category? I can’t write that kind of stuff.】
【↑Classmate above, the ‘Joy’ category is already full. Those who signed up later have to make do with the ‘Regret’ category.】
“Probably because the ‘Joy’ category is full, so they automatically placed you in ‘Regret,'” Meng Yao said, shaking her phone.
Yun Hui held a piece of fish between her lips, chewed it carefully, and swallowed: “Is this event really that big?”
Meng Yao looked up. “Don’t tell me you don’t know about this, Yun Hui! This competition has always been a highlight of our university—it’s on par with the school sports meet and the New Year’s Eve gala!”
Yun Hui lowered her head. “Meng Yao, are you participating too?”
The “loli” across from her clapped her hands, looking proud. “Of course! I’m planning to dominate the competition!”
“Have you all prepared in advance?”
“Don’t overthink it. At most, I’ve just gathered some inspiration. The specific format and guidelines haven’t even been announced yet. They’re just letting you get into the mood early.”
“What was last year’s format?”
“Last year, it was seven-character quatrains. The year before that, it was modernist poetry from the Crescent Moon School. Who knows if they’ll throw in a foreign poetry format this year? Anyway, when the time comes, things will fall into place. If you have someone you like, just write about that feeling.”
Yun Hui nodded thoughtfully.
Her own writing skills weren’t great. She only enjoyed reading poetry and prose but had never tried writing herself. Hearing about this competition now, she figured she had little chance of winning any awards. Opportunities were always reserved for those who were prepared.
“Yun Hui, I believe you have a wealth of inspiration hidden inside you,” Bai Yueming, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
Yun Hui shook her head. “I’ve never written any poetry, let alone anything with specific formats.”
Bai Yueming said, “Writing poetry is about concealing your thoughts, hiding all your emotions within a few simple words, allowing others to imagine endlessly.”
“I’ll give it a try when the time comes!”
By the time the three of them finished eating, the city lights had begun to glow.
They strolled along the street.
Yun Hui stretched. “The grilled fish in Haicheng really has an indescribable uniqueness. In short, it’s just delicious!”
Bai Yueming raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t lie to you, did I?”
Meng Yao patted Bai Yueming’s stomach. “You didn’t eat enough at all, did you? Wow! It’s still so flat!”
Bai Yueming pushed Meng Yao’s head away. “Do I not want my abs? I have high standards for myself. As long as you two enjoyed the meal, that’s all that matters.”
Yun Hui belatedly realized and instinctively touched her own stomach… it was… quite round?
“What, do you want abs too?” Bai Yueming bent down teasingly.
Yun Hui got flustered again. “It’s not like I’ve never had them before! Who cares!”
Having had them once meant she had them!
Bai Yueming spoke seriously. “I can tell you must have trained when you were younger.”
Yun Hui let out a soft huff.
Seeing Yun Hui’s expression, Bai Yueming couldn’t help but think of the version of her who had taken down Xi Yue in three moves in that alley. She looked soft and gentle, but when it came to fighting, she didn’t hesitate at all.
Little Yun Hui had quite the contrast.
“Meng Yao, Yun Hui and I need to talk about something private.” Bai Yueming pulled Yun Hui aside and winked at Meng Yao.
Meng Yao understood immediately: Oh? Could it be she’s going to pass on some incredible experience?
She crouched by the roadside and called You Bo.
Yun Hui was dragged aside by the “tall” Bai Yueming. “Yun Hui, be honest. What’s your current relationship with that woman?”
Yun Hui stammered. “It’s… just a normal relationship.”
Bai Yueming extended her hand. “A normal relationship leads to kissing like that? Besides, this must be your first time in a relationship, right? Send me a photo of your partner.”
She felt there was a high chance Yun Hui had been deceived. What kind of normal person starts dating within just a few days of the semester starting?
All she could say was that the wolf on the other side had set its sights on Yun Hui, this weak little lamb. And its intentions were unclear—purely driven by lust.
She had seen many such players, and their methods were roughly the same—play around and then disappear.
“I don’t… don’t have any photos…”
At this point, Yun Hui also felt that Yin Han Sou might have deceived her.
Who… has such a clear purpose… taking her home on the very first day…
“None? Yun Hui, don’t joke around. Then tell me, how did you meet?”
Yun Hui curled her toes inside her boots, her face reluctant: “I asked for directions… and then…”
Bai Yueming’s clear eyes darkened: “You don’t even realize you’ve been played? Did she even give you her contact information?”
“Yeah…”
Bai Yueming shook her head repeatedly: “I thought Meng Yao was the dumbest in the dorm, but it turns out it’s you, Yun Hui.”
She interjected: “Did you sleep together?”
Yun Hui blushed, lowering her head as far as possible: “No…”
She had liked someone before and knew the feeling of love at first sight.
Yin Han Sou gave her an inexplicable sense of reliability, though she couldn’t explain why.
Bai Yueming let out a sigh: “Break it off quickly. Isn’t she clearly taking advantage of you?”
Yun Hui’s eyes drifted elsewhere: “She’ll definitely come find me in a few days.”
In a few days?
Bai Yueming’s face darkened: “I don’t mean to break up your relationship. How about this—if she still comes looking for you, bring her to see me. That’s not too much to ask, is it? I’ll help you vet her.”
Yun Hui’s gaze wandered. She didn’t want to bring her sister for others to see… especially since Yueming also liked girls.
If she stole her away, Yun Hui would have no choice but to cry.
“You don’t trust me? I won’t make any shady moves.”
Yun Hui seemed to make a very important decision: “I’ll bring her to see you next time.”
Bai Yueming: “I just hope she has the ability to protect you. It’s all my fault for leading you into the tiger’s den.”
Yun Hui counted on her fingers: “I know what you mean. If she comes, she comes. At worst, I’ll take a few beatings. I’m not afraid of being hit.”
I’m afraid… of being unloved like before…
Bai Yueming’s expression grew even gloomier. Just as she was about to speak, lightning flashed across the sky.
“It’s going to rain again.” Bai Yueming glanced at the sky and called out to Meng Yao: “Meng Yao, let’s get ready to go back. It’s about to rain.”
Meng Yao, still on the phone, responded: “Okay, let’s go back.”
Yun Hui followed behind Bai Yueming the whole way, lost in thought.
Was Han Sou really deceiving her feelings? But… the way she looked at her was completely different from usual…
Was it really as Yueming said?
On Yin Han Sou’s side, it was still daytime. The morning meeting had gone quite smoothly. When she returned to the hotel, her heart trembled uncontrollably.
“Yun Hui?” she instinctively called out.
Only when she realized she was abroad did she notice she seemed to be missing that little one.
“Assistant.”
“What is it, President Yin?”
“Change the return flight ticket to the evening of the day before.” She picked up her glass and drank the red wine, swallowing her agitation along with it.
After the assistant left the room, she removed her suit, leaving only a thin, clean shirt.
She loosened her tie, took out her phone, and pulled up the photos from the night before last.
In the photo, Yun Hui lay quietly asleep in her arms, and she had raised her phone to capture the beautiful moment.