Chapter 19: Success Is Within Reach

After walking into the living room, Yu Qing’s gaze swept quickly and imperceptibly.

Pretty tidy.

She had seen on videos before that they say girls’ apartments are always messy, but now it seemed the junior wasn’t that kind of person.

“Yiyi, what do you want to drink? Water? Juice? Or should I make you a cup of flower tea?”

Seeing Yu Qing come over, Lin Wei lifted herself from the sofa, made space beside her, and looked up to ask.

“Mm~, water is fine, thank you, Weiwei!”

Yu Qing thought for a moment, deciding water was the safest choice.

She sat naturally on the other end of the sofa, far from Lin Wei, and pretended to recline casually against the back, doing her best to act like the owner here.

“I’ll do it.”

Picking up the water kettle, Zhou Min saw this scene and felt it was a bit cute.

She poured a cup of warm water and handed it over, taking the opportunity while Lin Wei was distracted by the TV to sit quietly next to Yu Qing.

Softly, she asked, “How do you feel after a whole day out? More lively than being alone, right?”

Her gaze fell on Yu Qing’s distinct style of dress, with a hint of meaning.

Yu Qing took the water cup, her cool fingertips resting on the warm cup, bringing a touch of warmth to her heart.

“Still… alright, I guess.”

Social anxiety was acting up again.

She sipped the water, trying to moisten her dry throat and calm herself so she wouldn’t stutter.

“Just a bit tired.”

“Of course, it’s tiring! We walked almost twenty thousand steps!”

Lin Wei answered quickly, rolled over, hugged a throw pillow to her chest, and took a deep breath.

“But Yiyi, you were amazing today! You actually let me hug you all day! My Yiyi energy is overflowing!”

“If it’s overflowing, then don’t hug next time.”

Yu Qing smiled, perked up, and replied.

Then she heard Lin Wei’s wail, watching her roll around the sofa with the throw pillow.

If Zhou Min hadn’t been blocking, she might have rolled onto Yu Qing in no time.

“Alright, Yiyi was just joking with you.”

“Oh, right.”

Zhou Min suddenly stood up, walked into a room, and soon came back with a crossbody bag, sitting down again beside Yu Qing.

She took out a power charger from the bag to charge her phone and, as if remembering suddenly, asked naturally, “Yiyi, didn’t you say last week you had some lecture notes you wanted me to copy? I happened to bring them today. Want me to give them to you now?”

Lecture notes?

What is that?

Sister Min, spare the child.

Yu Qing’s heart leapt, then she remembered Zhou Min had already seen through her, so she relaxed again.

It’s already a ruin, can’t get any worse.

Still, she had to play along.

Yu Qing’s mind raced, but on the surface, she tried to remain calm, even showing the perfect hint of confusion.

“Notes? Did I?”

She pretended to think, her pretty brows knitting slightly, slim index finger tapping her lower lip.

After a while, she seemed to realize.

“So that’s what you meant. Well, in that case, thank you, Minmin!”

After speaking, Yu Qing gave Zhou Min a fawning hug, and out of Lin Wei’s sight, stared at Zhou Min with pitiful eyes, looking like she might cry if bullied.

Zhou Min’s movements paused, and her mind took a moment to process.

Finally, she turned her head, suppressing a laugh and looking at Yu Qing with rare gentleness.

She spoke, “It’s fine. After all, you’re our most adorable Yiyi!”

She naturally continued, adding emphasis to the word ‘Yiyi.’

Yu Qing breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed choosing to use her gaze to seek a temporary truce with Zhou Min was correct.

But if Zhou Min knew she wasn’t Fu Yi, why mention something only the two of them understood?

Was she hinting at something?

“What notes are you two talking about! I’m exhausted, don’t torture my brain too!”

Lin Wei didn’t notice the teasing between the two. Having just decided to skip dinner for dieting, she soon couldn’t handle the hunger and shouted for food.

“Minmin! I want your pasta! I’m starving!”

Zhou Min’s attention was successfully diverted.

She gave Lin Wei a helpless look.

“All you think about is eating.”

She put down her phone, walked to the refrigerator, and muttered, “I think there are still tomatoes and ground meat at home…”

“Yay! Minmin, you’re the best!”

Lin Wei cheered.

For her stomach’s sake, she decided not to argue with Minmin about sitting so close to Yiyi for now!

Yu Qing glanced at Lin Wei.

Back when she was still a man, she had thought Lin Wei was a steady and elegant girl, but in private, she was so different.

She thought of the junior, too.

If being lively and outgoing was just the surface, then beneath that disguise, was there another side?

Unconsciously, memories of time spent with the junior surfaced—watching that energetic figure running wild in her mind.

Yu Qing’s lips curved slightly, then flattened, her mood dimming a little.

She cradled the water cup, sipping slowly, her gaze shifting from Lin Wei to Zhou Min, who was cooking.

Thinking it over, Yu Qing stood up, planning to use the excuse of helping to test just how much Zhou Min knew.

And maybe earn some goodwill, so Zhou Min might cover for her if needed.

She had just taken two steps when a small hand tugged her skirt.

“Yiyi, you’re not thinking of going into the kitchen again, are you!”

Lin Wei squinted suspiciously at Yu Qing.

Seeing her hesitate and nod, Lin Wei’s expression turned dire.

“Yiyi, please, stay with me here. I promise I’ll be good!”

Something’s fishy.

“I’m going to help out. Minmin can’t handle everything alone.”

Suppressing her doubts, Yu Qing chose to refuse Lin Wei’s plea.

She didn’t know when there’d be another chance for the two to be alone, so she had to seize the opportunity.

Ignoring Lin Wei’s despairing gaze, Yu Qing headed for the kitchen.

Inside, Zhou Min was busy—washing, chopping, frying, boiling—with practiced skill.

Watching made Yu Qing itch to try.

Though she hadn’t learned to cook, she could handle cutting vegetables and meat just fine.

With that thought, Yu Qing stepped into the kitchen.

She hadn’t expected Zhou Min to glance at her, then immediately come over, push Yu Qing out, and lock the door behind her.

“Click.”

Did you think you were just closing a door?

No.

You’ve severed the bridge between us.

Now, there’s a wall between us!

Yu Qing silently returned to the sofa, sitting quietly like a forgotten flower vase.

Lin Wei saw her looking down and wanted to comfort her, but soon the laughter from a TV variety show caught her attention.

She forgot about ‘Yiyi’ in no time.

Seeing this, Yu Qing couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

Not that she needed comfort.

Now, sitting here alone, she had no one to talk to, didn’t like TV, and her only interest—the phone—couldn’t be used for fear of exposure…

Wait! Phone!

Yu Qing suddenly remembered that Zhou Min hadn’t locked her phone when she left, and she had been watching short videos at the time.

Logically, if it wasn’t turned off, the screen would still be on!

Sure enough, after a secret search, Yu Qing found the phone under the pillow, still playing short videos!