“Master Su, you were so hardcore just now!”
Pan’s voice echoed by her ear, followed by the kind of exaggerated laughter and applause you’d expect from Let the Bullets Fly. Su Qingqing pressed a hand to her forehead. This little gremlin—who knows if she was an angel or a devil—was really off the rails today.
“Should I send you a little tip, hmm?”
Though she had never seen Pan’s face, Su Qingqing could easily imagine her winking mischievously. But she didn’t mind. She just quickened her pace to catch up to Ming Xue ahead.
Summer heat at noon was a special kind of torment—it baked every inch of skin and muscle from the inside out, making one feel like a fish roasting on a grill. Even her clothes had grown damp, and as the sweat started to pour, all her motivation was hammered into useless shards.
Ming Xue clearly noticed her frustration and told her to wait downstairs while she took the two new students to finish their registration. She promised to come find her afterward.
Su Qingqing nodded and walked to the roadside campus store to buy a popsicle. After tearing off the wrapper, she squatted down right by the steps to eat it.
Whether it was the former Su Qin or the current Su Qingqing, once she let down her mask, she always wore a look that screamed stranger danger. Especially with the way she squatted—not delicately, but in a posture more like a boy’s.
Her mind replayed the conversation from earlier over and over again. A wave of frustration crashed through her chest again and again. Suddenly, she scrunched her delicate face and muttered, “So impulsive… impulsiveness really is the devil.”
She stared at the companion gaming app on her phone. Since she’d sent that last message, Yu Zhongmeng hadn’t replied. With her proud personality, she probably blocked Su Qingqing the moment she read it.
“My money…!”
Why are my eyes always brimming with tears? Isn't it obvious? Because I’m broke.
Su Qingqing sighed. Looked like her life was back to the boring grind of taking random orders. Who knew how long it would take to pay off her debts this way?
Just then, a fellow student handing out flyers walked up. “Hey, want to take a look? Our school’s e-sports club made it to the city semifinals last year. We’ve got a real shot at the championship this year! If you know anyone who’s into games, maybe introduce them? Want to add me on WeChat?”
Truthfully, someone like Su Qingqing—who looked sweet and cute—wasn’t the type of girl the e-sports club typically targeted. But she was too pretty, and the contrast between her squatting pose and her baby-faced features made her look adorably fierce. The guy couldn’t help adding a little personal motive behind his approach.
He didn’t care about promoting the club—he just wanted her WeChat.
Such a lame way to hit on someone.
But his luck was unbelievably good.
Su Qingqing’s eyes lit up. “Is there prize money for the competition?”
The guy hadn’t expected that response. He blinked blankly. “Uh… yeah…”
“I’m in. I can play every role.” Su Qingqing raised a tiny fist. Finally, a lead. Even if the prize wasn’t much, it was still money.
“Uh?”
God, so slow—was this how boys functioned?
Su Qingqing scoffed and snatched the flyer and a pen from his hands. She scribbled down her game ID without hesitation. “Add me if you want. Whether I’m good or not, you’ll find out in-game.”
“I’ve got things to do. Bye.”
In the distance, Ming Xue had already stepped into the sunlight. Su Qingqing waved briefly at the stunned boy and walked away.
What she didn’t know was that Ming Xue had no idea Su Qingqing had been waiting for her the whole time. Just as Su Qingqing approached, Ming Xue turned and headed back toward the dorm.
“Ming…”
“Forget it.”
Su Qingqing opened her mouth but cut herself off mid-call. Her face remained calm as she turned and walked in the opposite direction.
Time to go back and take some orders. That was what normal life looked like, wasn’t it?
“Sigh, the sun’s setting again~” Pan chirped in her ear.
“Last time it set, you got hit by a truck. What are you going for this time? Make it a pricey one, so I can burn some luxury offerings for you.”
“You’re seriously nuts.”
“Hey, you should be grateful someone’s even burning offerings for you. Why so rude?”
“…”
Su Qingqing bought a can of cola and finished it before she even reached the dorm. Upstairs she went.
When she opened the door, the dorm remained dim as it was when she left—except this time, her desk lamp had been switched on.
That lamp was supposed to be on Yu Zhongmeng’s desk.
Su Qingqing looked up at the AC whirring softly above. It was set to 24°C—a reasonable, healthy temperature.
She boiled a kettle of water, grabbed fresh clothes, and headed into the bathroom.
Summer showers were the best. Cool water splashed across her skin as Su Qingqing tilted her head up. The showerhead dumped water directly over her, soaking her black hair and plastering it to her back like strands of dark gems against white jade.
But as she returned to the air-conditioned room, she still shivered from the temperature difference. At that moment, the dorm lights finally came on.
Yu Zhongmeng sat half-reclined on her bed in a black sheer nightdress. Her hair was messy, and the corners of her eyes were tinged red.
Su Qingqing sighed inwardly. What happened to you?
It was as if Yu Zhongmeng had seen her lifeline. She looked up sharply, but the moment she saw Su Qingqing, she suppressed whatever emotion had risen and gave a faint smile. “It’s nothing. I just woke up. Still a bit groggy.”
So stubborn.
Su Qingqing responded with a simple “Oh,” and sat down at her desk. The hairdryer whirred to life, blowing warm air as she dried her hair.
Over the noise, she vaguely heard Yu Zhongmeng speak again.
“Su Qingqing, let’s add each other on WeChat.”
She paused, then turned off the dryer. “Okay.”
Long hair shouldn’t be blown completely dry—it damages the strands. She left her hair semi-dry, laid a towel on the back of her chair, and got ready to start work.
But sitting there, she felt a persistent chill on her back… like a ghost had locked its eyes on her. With a bitter smile, she turned around.
Sure enough, Yu Zhongmeng was still in that same half-reclined position, staring at her with vacant eyes.
“Su Qingqing… if we add each other, you can’t block me.”
“Did your boyfriend dump you?” Su Qingqing asked in a teasing tone.
Yu Zhongmeng snorted instinctively. “I’ve never dated anyone. It’s just… one of my friends went missing. No matter how I try, I can’t get in touch.”
Su Qingqing blinked. “Ghosted you?”
“Not exactly. I told him to leave. I just… didn’t think he’d actually go.”
A flicker of joy passed across Su Qingqing’s face. “Oh, cheer up. At least he wasn’t hit by a truck. Going missing isn’t the worst outcome.”
“I lost a puppy once too. Those little guys have a great sense of direction—they always find their way home.”
Yu Zhongmeng frowned. Su Qingqing’s logic confused her. “People aren’t dogs.”
“Sometimes they are,” Su Qingqing said with a mischievous grin.
“Let’s not talk about that anymore. I heard there’s a music event on the lawn tonight. You should go. Might help you clear your head.” Su Qingqing slipped on her headset. “I’ve got work. We’ll chat later.”
(End of Chapter)