The server arrived with the hot pot and dishes, but that didn’t stop Lou Qing from responding. She held the girl’s hand, gazing at her with earnest eyes.
Even without a word spoken, Lu Huan understood the other’s feelings, and the smile on her face grew even brighter.
The server seemed to sense the sweet atmosphere surrounding them, glancing over several times. Because both women were exceptionally attractive, even the young women at neighboring tables turned to look.
Perhaps because they had laid their feelings bare, their interactions couldn’t help but carry a hint of ambiguity. The way they looked at each other seemed to spark with electricity.
A girl at the next table complained to her friend, “I can’t believe I came out for hot pot only to be fed dog food.” She then let out a burp whether from being full from the hot pot or from the metaphorical dog food was unclear.
By the time they left the hot pot restaurant, it was already 9 p.m. The evening breeze swept away much of the lingering hot pot scent clinging to their clothes.
“I’ll walk you back,” Lou Qing said, adjusting the scarf around the girl’s neck.
“Okay.”
Evening self-study was in session at the school, while students who weren’t attending were on the sports field some playing basketball under the bright lights, others jogging, creating a lively atmosphere.
Lou Qing wasn’t ready to head back just yet. Glancing toward the field, she asked, “How about we take a couple of laps?”
Lu Huan nodded happily, clearly not eager to return to the dorm so soon either.
Today was their first day as a couple, and she wished she could spend every moment of the next 24 hours glued to the other.
Newly in love, couples just want to be this clingy.
The field was dotted with several young couples strolling hand in hand. As Lu Huan and Lou Qing walked, they passed four or five pairs some male, some female. Halfway around the track, Lu Huan even spotted two girls embracing and kissing in a dark corner where the field lights didn’t reach.
Startled, she hurried forward with her head down.
“What’s wrong?” Lou Qing caught up with her long strides, glancing toward where Lu Huan had been looking. Once she realized what was happening, she chuckled and asked, “Are you embarrassed?”
“No,” Lu Huan insisted, though her flushed face betrayed her shyness. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at her new girlfriend.
Lou Qing laughed softly, stepping in front of Lu Huan. Carried by momentum, Lu Huan bumped right into her arms. Worried she might lose her balance, Lou Qing quickly wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Sister?” Lu Huan looked up, confused and flustered.
Light spilled from behind Lou Qing. One looking down, the other looking up their eyes met, and the world around them seemed to fall silent, as if only the two of them existed in that moment.
“Lu Huan!” A voice suddenly cut through the intimate atmosphere.
Both turned toward the sound. When she saw who it was, Lou Qing clicked her tongue in annoyance. “You really are everywhere, aren’t you?”
Jiang Wenshu eyed the two of them, her tone displeased. “What are you two doing?”
Jiang Wenshu was accompanied by two other girls, who had been the ones to spot Lu Huan, leading to this interruption.
Lou Qing’s height gave her a somewhat condescending air when she looked at others. “Why does it sound like you’re accusing someone of cheating?”
Jiang Wenshu faltered, her earlier confidence turning to guilt. She couldn’t even bring herself to meet Lu Huan’s eyes.
The incident with An Ke being caught had made her realize that Lu Huan had actually been lenient when she broke up with her.
“Lu Huan, I’d like to speak with you alone,” Jiang Wenshu said.
“There’s nothing left to say,” Lu Huan replied. Everything that needed to be said had already been said back then, and they were truly in the past now. No amount of talking would change anything.
As Jiang Wenshu urgently tried to grab her, Lou Qing pulled Lu Huan behind her and said to Jiang Wenshu, “Little one, it’s time to move forward.” Then she turned to Lu Huan and asked, “Shall we go?”
Lu Huan nodded.
She didn’t look back even once until they left the sports field.
Jiang Wenshu watched the two walk away laughing and chatting, her hands clenched tightly at her sides, standing motionless for a long time.
No one knew what was going through Jiang Wenshu’s mind at that moment. Her two friends exchanged glances, shook their heads, and remained silent.
Lu Huan figured Jiang Wenshu had gotten too immersed in the act, a straight girl mourning this absurd romance was honestly somewhat ridiculous.
“Let’s head upstairs,” Lou Qing said, having walked her to the dormitory building.
Though there weren’t many people coming and going near the dorms, those who passed couldn’t help but glance at the two of them, especially since one of them was quite well-known on campus.
Lu Huan didn’t feel awkward under their gaze. Right now, she was reluctant to part, wanting to spend every possible second with the other.
Lou Qing, of course, noticed her little hesitation and smiled, gently ruffling her hair. “Hurry up and go inside. I’ll video call you in a bit.”
Hearing this, Lu Huan nodded happily and emphatically.
“Huanhuan, you’re back!” As the dorm door opened, Wei Jia spotted her and joyfully rushed over.
Wu Xinyu asked, “Where did you two go?”
“We had hotpot,” Lu Huan replied, her face beaming.
That expression made Wei Jia and Wu Xinyu exchange a look before they asked in unison, “Are you dating someone?”
Lu Huan nodded openly. “Yes.”
“Did that older sister confess to you?” Wei Jia asked, full of curiosity. If she guessed correctly, Lu Huan and that sister named Lou Qing had only known each other for about a month.
Lu Huan shook her head.
Wei Jia blinked in confusion. Just as Wu Xinyu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Lu Huan added, “I confessed to her.”
“What?!” Wei Jia was utterly shocked. “You confessed? How is that possible?”
Even Wu Xinyu found it hard to believe.
After all, Lu Huan was simply too outstanding, the unattainable crush for most people. Many didn’t even dare approach her, let alone speak to her or show affection.
And now, this campus goddess had confessed to someone else, and to someone older than her at that…
“How many years older is that sister than you?” Wei Jia thought of a question.
“Ten years.”
“Ten years!” Wei Jia could hardly believe it. “You have a ten-year age gap, and you were the one who confessed? Huanhuan, are you okay?”
Wu Xinyu wanted to ask the same thing.
But Lu Huan didn’t see it as a problem at all. “She’s only twenty-eight, and she’s even more impressive than you can imagine.”
“No, no, no.” Wei Jia looked utterly dismayed, refusing to believe anything Lu Huan said. “You must be seeing her through rose-colored glasses, that’s why you think she’s more outstanding than you.”
“She really is exceptional,” Lu Huan insisted. Just then, her phone rang from her pocket. Pulling it out, she answered happily, “Sis.”
“I’m home.” The video was a bit shaky, but the background showed the familiar interior of the other’s apartment.
“I’m back at the dorm too.” Lu Huan could no longer recall the discussion with Wei Jia and the others about what constituted excellence her eyes were now completely filled with Lou Qing.
She sat at her desk, picked up her phone stand, and began chatting with the other person just like that.
They had been talking outside earlier, and now they continued in the dorm, as if they could never get enough of each other.
Wei Jia was so overwhelmed by the sweet atmosphere surrounding Lu Huan that she shuddered and immediately climbed into bed.
Wu Xinyu, however, remained seated at her desk, unmoving for a long time.
Dong Sisi didn’t return that night, and the dorm supervisor noted her absence during room checks.
The next day was a holiday. Lu Huan slept in naturally, and when she opened her eyes, sunlight streamed through the window onto the balcony, reflecting off the tiled floor and casting light onto her upper bunk and the ceiling.
She fished her phone out from under her pillow and saw that it was already past eight o’clock.
The class group chat was buzzing with activity, with messages already piling up to 99+. She tapped to take a look and realized the topic of discussion was actually her.
[No way, did Lu Huan really get drugged by that An Ke?]
[Wow, that can’t be right. Who’s spreading rumors? The police haven’t even released any information about this.]
[Someone must be jealous of our goddess, that’s why they’re stirring up trouble here.]
[Lu Huan said it herself, how could it be fake?]
Everyone was posting anonymously, so it was impossible to tell who was who. But when she read the last message, Lu Huan didn’t need to know the identity behind the anonymous account, she could already guess.
Lu Huan immediately muted the group and didn’t engage in the conversation.
At that moment, she was the only one in the dorm. Wei Jia and Wu Xinyu had left early in the morning, and she had no idea where they had gone.
She got out of bed to wash up and sent Lou Qing a “Good morning” sticker.
Just as she set her phone down, a sticker came through from the other side.
Lu Huan grinned and sent a voice message: “Sis, I miss you so much.”
On Lou Qing’s end, she was having breakfast with her apprentice, Xiao Mu. The client scheduled for a tattoo had already arrived and was waiting on the corner sofa.
Seeing the girl’s message, Lou Qing casually played the voice note. As soon as it started, the girl’s soft, sweet voice echoed through the studio. Startled, Lou Qing gasped, and the soup-filled bun she had just taken a bite of made her choke. She coughed for a while before finally catching her breath.
When she looked up, she noticed everyone in the studio staring at her, their faces wearing teasing, gossipy smiles.
Lou Qing remained composed. She pressed the voice message button and said, “Good girl, I miss you too.” With a whoosh, the message was sent.
Xiao Mu chuckled. “Boss, you’re dating.”
Lou Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. Facing her apprentice’s teasing, she calmly raised an eyebrow and retorted, “What, can’t I date?”
“Qing-jie, when did you get a girlfriend? How come there was no hint of it?” a regular client chimed in.
“My girlfriend is too outstanding, I can’t let you all know,” Lou Qing replied, taking a sip of soy milk.
Everyone let out a collective “Eww,” clearly affected by her show of affection.
Meanwhile, after washing up, Lu Huan headed to the cafeteria and ran into some classmates who were also there for breakfast. When they saw her, they looked awkward, unsure whether to greet her. Their expressions made it clear they had also seen the messages in the class group chat.
Lu Huan, as usual, greeted them briefly, bought some steamed buns and soy milk, found an empty seat, and began eating unhurriedly.
“Let’s go too,” the girls said, nudging each other as they went to buy breakfast, though their eyes kept subtly glancing in Lu Huan’s direction.
Just then, a few more people entered the cafeteria, one of whom was Dong Sisi, who hadn’t returned all night.
She had been telling the others how Lu Huan had been bullied by An Ke, but as soon as she looked up and spotted Lu Huan sitting in the cafeteria, her words trailed off. The rest of the group froze awkwardly in place.