The next day at noon. The school cafeteria again.
Su Qianqian and Shen Qingyue, carrying their trays, had just sat down.
Shen Qingyue’s gaze immediately began searching around.
At Lin Mo’s table.
Zhou Duoduo was already sitting in her usual spot.
But today was different.
Today, two other people were sitting next to her.
Su Qianqian followed her line of sight.
Shen Qingyue whispered:
“Do you know who those people are? I see them always hanging around Lin Mo too.”
Su Qianqian thought for a moment before speaking.
“The one with long hair is Wang Xue. The one with short hair is Lin Xian’er.”
Lin Xian’er?
That name… like from The Romantic Swordsman?
“Ah, so she’s Lin Xian’er? The one from that day…” Shen Qingyue’s face flushed slightly. “In the elevator… the one Lin Mo saw.”
Shen Qingyue remembered. Lin Mo had told her. The day he first came to the dormitory, when he was getting off the elevator, a girl wearing a particularly daring outfit happened to be coming down from the seventh floor to collect her laundry. He later found out that girl’s name was Lin Xian’er.
The lingerie outfit.
Wow.
She’s here too.
“Saw what?” Su Qianqian pressed.
Shen Qingyue recounted the events of that day to Su Qing—oh, no, to Su Qianqian.
“What’s their relationship with Zhou Duoduo?” Su Qianqian asked.
Shen Qingyue shook her head.
“I don’t know… seems like there’s no special relationship.”
Su Qianqian stared over there.
Wang Xue was quite pretty, with an oval face, light makeup, and a gentle smile.
Lin Xian’er was completely different.
Short hair, a somewhat lazy look in her eyes, sitting there without saying much, only occasionally glancing up at Lin Mo. Her gaze held three parts disdain and seven parts seduction.
Sending a look like that…
Su Qianqian narrowed her eyes.
That look was not simple.
Over there, Zhou Duoduo was handing fruit to Lin Mo.
“Lin Mo, I brought mango today. Would you like to try some?”
Lin Mo waved his hand.
“No, no, I’m full.”
“Come on, just one bite. I cut it specially.” Zhang Yang chimed in from the side:
“Lin Mo, just take a bite. It’s Senior Zhou’s kind gesture.”
Lin Mo helplessly took the fork and speared a piece.
Zhou Duoduo’s smile grew even sweeter.
Wang Xue, watching from the side, also smiled.
“Duoduo is so good to Lin Mo.”
Lin Xian’er didn’t speak.
She just leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and twirled her phone in her hand.
Occasionally glancing up at Lin Mo.
Then withdrawing her gaze.
Su Qianqian watched this scene.
Interesting.
Zhou Duoduo was being overt.
Wang Xue was subtly supporting her.
Lin Xian’er…
She hadn’t figured her out yet.
But she was definitely not someone to be trifled with.
“Qingyue.” She lowered her voice.
Shen Qingyue snapped back to attention.
“Hmm?”
“Do you see that Lin Xian’er?”
Shen Qingyue nodded.
“She… after Lin Mo saw her like that that day… I… today is actually the first time I’ve seen her in person. Why is she actively seeking out Lin Mo today?”
Su Qianqian smiled.
“Her showing up here is definitely not simple. Think about it. Last time, Lin Mo saw her in that private, explosive outfit. This time, she’s dressed conservatively, sitting there motionless, but look at the way she looks at Lin Mo.”
Shen Qingyue was taken aback. “What kind of look?”
“The look of a hunter watching its prey,” Su Qianqian said.
Shen Qingyue’s expression changed.
Su Qianqian continued:
“This type of girl is the most terrifying. Not proactive, not rejecting, not taking responsibility. She just sits there waiting, waiting for everyone else to swarm around him, then she slowly picks her moment.”
Shen Qingyue opened her mouth.
“That… then she…”
“She definitely has feelings for Lin Mo,” Su Qianqian said. “Otherwise, why would she come? She could eat anywhere. Why sit next to him?”
Shen Qingyue fell silent.
Just as they were talking, another person arrived over there.
Li Tingting.
Carrying her tray, she walked over with a beaming smile.
“Lin Mo! What a coincidence! You’re eating here too?”
Zhou Duoduo’s smile stiffened for a moment.
But it quickly recovered.
“Tingting’s here? Sit, sit, sit.” Li Tingting sat down on Lin Mo’s other side.
Forming a pincer movement with Zhou Duoduo on his left and right.
Shen Qingyue’s chopsticks were about to snap.
Su Qianqian watched from the side.
Mentally counting:
Zhou Duoduo, Wang Xue, Lin Xian’er, Li Tingting.
Four.
Plus Shen Qingyue, five.
Lin Mo, oh Lin Mo.
Are you trying to build a harem?
Over there, the girls had already begun their scheming.
As soon as Li Tingting sat down, she pulled a thermos from her bag.
“Lin Mo, I made some silver ear soup this morning. Would you like to try some?” Zhou Duoduo smiled.
“Tingting is so thoughtful. But Lin Mo just had mango. Won’t he be too full if he drinks soup now?” Li Tingting’s smile didn’t waver.
“It’s fine. Silver ear soup is good for the stomach. He can drink it slowly.”
Wang Xue chimed in from the side:
“Tingting’s cooking is really good. I’ve tried it before. It’s delicious.” Lin Xian’er finally spoke.
She said lazily:
“So many people bringing you things. Can you even eat it all, Lin Mo?” Zhang Yang chuckled beside them.
“Lin Mo, we’re all so jealous of your treatment.”
Lin Mo scratched his head.
“Stop messing around…”
Lin Mo was somewhat at a loss.
He just looked at the pile of things in front of him.
A little confused. What the hell? He felt a chill down his back.
Su Qianqian watched this scene.
She sneered inwardly. These women, each one an actress.
Zhou Duoduo giving openly, Li Tingting coming subtly, Wang Xue providing assists… but who knows if she and Zhou Duoduo are in an alliance? After all, Zhou Duoduo is bisexual, could Wang Xue be too? The most troublesome one is this Lin Xian’er… just hearing the name tells you she’s not simple.
She was still observing.
But she knew this Lin Xian’er was absolutely not simple.
Evening.
In the dormitory.
Shen Qingyue sat on her chair, lost in thought.
Su Qianqian pushed the door open and entered.
“Qingyue.”
Shen Qingyue looked up. Her eyes were a little red.
Su Qianqian asked with concern.
“Qingyue, what’s wrong? Have you been crying?” Shen Qingyue shook her head.
“It’s nothing… Qianqian, tell me, am I, am I very…”
Su Qianqian sat down beside her.
“Is it because of what happened during the day?” Shen Qingyue didn’t speak.
But tears fell.
Su Qianqian looked at her.
This girl…
She really does like Lin Mo. But sorry, Lin Mo is mine. However, compared to those vixens, you, this little bunny, are easier to control.
At this stage, I’ll temporarily let you be my proxy, and I’ll temporarily help you. The strategy of pacifying internal affairs before resisting external threats. As for between the two of us, a silly girl who only knows how to cry like you dares to compete with me?
She handed over a tissue.
Shen Qingyue took it and wiped her eyes.
“Qianqian… am I very useless?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Look at them… Zhou Duoduo brings fruit, Li Tingting makes soup, Wang Xue knows how to talk, Lin Xian’er… Lin Xian’er is so beautiful and has such presence…”
Su Qianqian was silent for a moment.
Then she said:
“Qingyue, listen to me.” Shen Qingyue looked at her.
Su Qianqian said seriously:
“None of those women truly like Lin Mo.”
Shen Qingyue stopped crying.
“What?”
“Zhou Duoduo likes the feeling of being surrounded by guys. Li Tingting likes the competition. Wang Xue likes to follow the trend; she likes Zhou Duoduo, and whoever Zhou Duoduo likes, she follows. Lin Xian’er…” She paused. “What Lin Xian’er likes, I don’t know yet. But she’s definitely not in it for genuine feelings.”
Shen Qingyue looked at her.
“What about you?”
Su Qianqian’s heart raced.
“Me, what about me?”
“You…” Shen Qingyue hesitated. “Why are you helping me so much?”
Su Qianqian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and replied with a smile.
“Because we’re good friends. The first time I met you, I knew you were that kind of gentle, kind-hearted girl. But kind-hearted girls can’t protect what’s theirs. They get bullied by outsiders.”
Shen Qingyue stared blankly at Su Qianqian.
Then lowered her head. “Thank you… Qianqian.”
Su Qianqian patted her shoulder.
“Alright, don’t overthink it. Tomorrow we continue. I’ll think of something for you.”
She stood up.
Walked to the door.
Turned back.
“Oh, right. Tomorrow, Zhou Duoduo will definitely come again. Remember to bring something. Something better than hers.” Shen Qingyue nodded.
The door closed.
Su Qianqian stood in the corridor, the smile on her face slowly fading.
Five now.
Zhou Duoduo, Wang Xue, Lin Xian’er, Li Tingting, Shen Qingyue.
Plus those watching covetously from the shadows.
Lin Mo, oh Lin Mo.
Your peach blossom luck…
Is really blooming. But it’s fine.
The more, the better.
The messier, the better.
If there was only one, it would be hard for me to deal with. The more people there are, the easier it is for me to maneuver.
Wait until they’ve fought enough…
Then I can make my move.
She turned to go back to her room.
Looked up.
And froze.
Someone was standing at the end of the corridor.
Lin Xian’er.
Leaning against the wall, twirling her phone in her hand.
Seeing Su Qianqian, she smiled.
“Su Qianqian, right?”
Su Qianqian’s heart tightened.
“You know me?”
Lin Xian’er walked over. Stopped in front of her.
Looked her up and down.
“I heard you’re a student from another province. You’re very close with Shen Qingyue.” Su Qianqian didn’t speak.
Lin Xian’er smiled.
“Interesting.”
She leaned in a little closer.
Lowered her voice:
“That Zhou Duoduo is no good. Stay away from her.”
Su Qianqian was stunned for a moment.
“Why are you telling me this?”
Lin Xian’er shrugged.
“Just saying.”
She turned and left.
After a few steps, she turned back again.
“Oh, right. Lin Mo… he’s quite interesting. Don’t you think?” Su Qianqian stood in place. Watched her disappear down the stairwell.
This woman…
What does she want?