When Shen Qingyue ran back to the dormitory crying, Su Qing was lying on her bed looking at her phone.
The door was pushed open. Shen Qingyue rushed in, collapsed onto the bed, and buried her face in the pillow. Her shoulders were heaving as she sobbed, unable to speak.
Su Qing put down her phone and looked at her.
‘Crying like this? It seems Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo did a good job.’
She sat up, walked over to Shen Qingyue’s bedside, sat down, and reached out to pat her back.
“Qingyue, what’s wrong? Who bullied you?”
Her voice was very gentle, her expression very worried. But in her heart, she thought: ‘Cry. Cry it all out. When you’re done, you’ll hate them.’
Shen Qingyue didn’t lift her head. Her voice was muffled in the pillow. “No… nothing. I just… feel a little awful.”
Su Qing continued patting her back. “Was it Li Tingting and the others again? Did they say something?”
Shen Qingyue didn’t speak. But her shoulders shook even harder.
Su Qing sighed. “Qingyue, you can’t keep being like this. The more you hide, the more they’ll bully you.”
Shen Qingyue lifted her head, her eyes red. “Then what should I do… I didn’t do anything… Why do they…”
Su Qing looked at her. ‘This girl. She’s really naive. You didn’t do anything, but you like Lin Mo. That is the original sin.’
“Qingyue,” she began. “Do you know why they’re targeting you?”
Shen Qingyue shook her head.
Su Qing looked at her. “Because of Lin Mo.”
Shen Qingyue was stunned. “Lin Mo?”
“Right,” Su Qing said. “They like Lin Mo, and Lin Mo treats you the best. So they’re jealous of you.”
Shen Qingyue lowered her head. “But… Lin Mo and I aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Su Qing sneered inwardly. ‘Not boyfriend and girlfriend? When you wrote that poem, you definitely didn’t see yourself as just a friend.’ But on the surface, she remained gentle.
“I know. But they don’t. They just feel like you stole something of theirs.”
Shen Qingyue didn’t speak.
Su Qing continued. “Qingyue, you can’t keep hiding. The more you hide, the more they think they can bully you.”
Shen Qingyue lifted her head. “Then what should I do?”
Su Qing looked at her. “What should you do? Go to class when you have class. Eat when you eat. Don’t pay attention to what they say. The more you react, the more they’ll keep at it.”
Shen Qingyue hesitated. “But… what they say… it’s really nasty.”
Su Qing smiled. “If it’s nasty, don’t listen. Are you living for them or for yourself?”
Shen Qingyue didn’t speak.
Su Qing patted her shoulder. “Alright, stop crying. I’ll go to class with you tomorrow. If they dare say anything again, I’ll help you shut them up.”
Shen Qingyue looked at her. “Qianqian… thank you.”
Su Qing smiled. “What’s there to thank? We’re best friends.”
She stood up, walked back to her own bed, lay down, and picked up her phone.
On the screen was a message from Alice: “I heard Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo cornered Shen Qingyue in the library?”
Su Qing typed: “Yeah. She cried really hard.”
Alice: “You don’t feel sorry for her?”
Su Qing looked at the message. ‘Feel sorry for her? I wish she’d get bullied even worse. The harder she cries, the more Lin Mo will care. The more he cares, the more he’ll come looking for me. And then I can be by his side without any problem.’
She typed: “I do. But there’s nothing I can do.”
Alice didn’t reply. Su Qing put down her phone and closed her eyes. The corner of her mouth curled up.
The next day. Teaching building.
When Shen Qingyue walked into the classroom, everyone was looking at her. She kept her head down and walked to her seat. Su Qing sat beside her.
“It’s okay,” Su Qing whispered.
Shen Qingyue nodded.
The bell rang. The teacher walked in and began the lecture. Shen Qingyue didn’t absorb a single word. She kept thinking about yesterday. Li Tingting’s words, Zhou Duoduo’s words, Wang Xue’s words. And that sentence—”He doesn’t like you. He never will.”
…
She shook her head, trying to shake those words out. But they wouldn’t leave.
The bell rang for the end of class. She packed her things, ready to leave.
“Shen Qingyue.”
She looked up. Li Tingting stood at the door. Zhou Duoduo stood beside her. Both were smiling.
Shen Qingyue’s expression changed. “What do you want?”
Li Tingting smiled. “Nothing. Just want to say a few words to you.”
Su Qing stood up. “You two—”
“Qianqian.” Shen Qingyue grabbed her arm. “It’s okay.”
She walked to the door and looked at Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo. “What do you want to say?”
Li Tingting smiled. “Nothing. Just reminding you to stay away from Lin Mo.”
Shen Qingyue’s expression changed. “What?”
Zhou Duoduo took a step forward. “You didn’t understand? Lin Mo doesn’t like you. It’s useless clinging to him.”
Shen Qingyue’s face paled. “I’m not clinging to him.”
“No?” Li Tingting laughed. “Then why did you make him walk you back to the dorm before? Why did you make him fetch water for you? Why do you eat with him every day?”
Shen Qingyue couldn’t speak.
Li Tingting leaned in closer. “Shen Qingyue, wake up. He doesn’t like you. He’s nice to you because he’s kind. Not because he likes you.”
Shen Qingyue’s tears fell. “I didn’t…”
“You did.” Zhou Duoduo looked at her. “You’re just pretending. Pretending to be innocent, pretending to be naive, pretending to be pitiful. You make Lin Mo think you’re pathetic so he’ll take care of you.”
Shen Qingyue shook her head. “I didn’t… I really didn’t…”
“Then why are you crying?” Li Tingting asked.
Shen Qingyue couldn’t speak. She just stood there, tears falling.
Su Qing walked over and stood beside her. “Haven’t you two had enough?”
Li Tingting looked at her. “Classmate Su Qianqian, what did we say? We were just reminding her.”
Zhou Duoduo also smiled. “Right. We’re doing this for her own good. So she doesn’t fall deeper.”
Su Qing looked at them. ‘These two. They really know how to act. But I’m better at it than they are.’
“Qingyue,” she turned to Shen Qingyue, “let’s go.”
Shen Qingyue nodded. The two walked out.
Behind them came Li Tingting’s voice: “Shen Qingyue, remember what we said. Stay away from Lin Mo.”
Shen Qingyue paused for a moment. Then she kept walking.
Su Qing walked beside her. In her heart, she thought: ‘Cry. The harder you cry, the better. When Lin Mo sees it, he’ll care.’
Cafeteria.
Shen Qingyue carried her tray and sat down in a corner. Su Qing sat beside her.
“Qingyue, are you okay?” Su Qing asked.
Shen Qingyue shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Su Qing looked at her. “Don’t take what they said to heart.”
Shen Qingyue nodded. “I know.”
But she knew she couldn’t. Those words were like needles stuck in her heart. She couldn’t pull them out.
“Qingyue.”
A voice came from beside her. She looked up. Lin Mo stood there, carrying a tray.
Shen Qingyue was stunned. “Lin Mo…”
“Can I sit here?” Lin Mo asked.
Shen Qingyue opened her mouth. She wanted to say “Yes.” But she remembered Li Tingting’s words—”Stay away from Lin Mo.” She lowered her head. “You… you should sit somewhere else.”
Lin Mo was taken aback. “Why?”
Shen Qingyue didn’t speak.
Su Qing watched the scene. ‘Perfect. Shen Qingyue is avoiding Lin Mo. This is exactly what I wanted.’
“Lin Mo,” she said. “Qingyue isn’t in a good mood today. Let her be alone for a while.”
Lin Mo looked at Shen Qingyue. “Are you okay?”
Shen Qingyue shook her head. “I’m fine… just… a little tired.”
Lin Mo was silent for a moment. “Then get some good rest.”
He turned and walked away. Shen Qingyue watched his back, and the tears fell again.
Su Qing patted her shoulder. “It’s okay. In a few days, it’ll be fine.”
Shen Qingyue nodded. But she knew it wouldn’t be fine. It would never be fine.
Night. Third floor of the girls’ dormitory.
Shen Qingyue lay on her bed. Su Qing sat beside her.
“Qingyue, are you going to class tomorrow?” Su Qing asked.
Shen Qingyue shook her head. “No… I want to rest for a few days.”
Su Qing looked at her. ‘Rest? Perfect. The longer you rest, the more Lin Mo will worry. The more Lin Mo worries, the more he’ll come looking for me.’
“Alright. Get some good rest. I’ll ask for leave for you.”
Shen Qingyue nodded. “Thank you, Qianqian.”
Su Qing smiled. “What’s there to thank? We’re best friends.”
She stood up, walked back to her own bed, lay down, and picked up her phone.
On the screen was the chat with Lin Mo. She typed: “Qingyue isn’t in a good mood today. She’s not going to class tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll stay with her.”
Sent.
Lin Mo replied immediately: “What’s wrong with her?”
Su Qing looked at those three words. ‘What’s wrong? She got bullied. Bullied by Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo.’ But she wouldn’t say that.
She typed: “Nothing major. Just a little tired. She’ll be fine after a few days of rest.”
Lin Mo: “When will she come back to class?”
Su Qing: “I don’t know. Depends on her mood.”
Lin Mo didn’t reply. Su Qing put down her phone and closed her eyes. The corner of her mouth curved upward.
Tomorrow, she could appear in front of Lin Mo without any excuse needed.