Chapter 75: Temporary Truce

Li Tingting had been having a terrible few days.

Really terrible.

So bad she wanted to lock herself in the dormitory and never come out.

(；´Д`A)

It started when Zhou Duoduo launched her revenge. Ever since Zhou Duoduo used that damn ability, her life had become a living hell.

Walking on the street, people confessed to her. Eating at the cafeteria, people gave her flowers. Going back to the dormitory, someone was squatting downstairs waiting for her. Even going to the restroom, someone followed.

“Li Tingting! I like you! Please go out with me!”

“Li Tingting! I wrote this poem for you!”

“Li Tingting! You look so cute when you eat!”

She was going crazy.

Really going crazy.

And the culprit behind all this was Zhou Duoduo.

That damn ability—Charm Aura. Actively released, causing others, especially those with weak mental fortitude, to be attracted to Li Tingting, their affection points skyrocketing. Of course, this affection was only temporary and would return to normal later. But with so many students, there were different girls surrounding her every day.

She had become the “dream lover” of all the girls in the school. But she didn’t want to be anyone’s dream lover!

She just wanted to quietly chase after Lin Mo!

(；´Д`A)

She sat back on her bed.

Her phone vibrated again.

Another confession message—she’d lost count.

She didn’t even look at it; she just turned it off.

Her roommate asked cautiously, “Tingting… are you okay?”

“No.” Li Tingting’s voice was muffled. “Really not okay.”

Her roommate didn’t know what to say, so she silently handed her a pack of tissues.

Li Tingting didn’t take it.

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

There was only one thought in her mind—

Zhou Duoduo, just you wait.

At the same time.

Fourth floor of the girls’ dormitory.

Zhou Duoduo lay in bed, her mood complicated. Wang Xue sat beside her, holding her phone, her expression grim too.

“Duoduo…” Wang Xue began. “When will that ability’s effect… wear off?”

Zhou Duoduo looked at her. “A week.”

Wang Xue was silent for a moment. “Then Li Tingting… has to endure being pursued for a week?”

Zhou Duoduo didn’t speak.

Wang Xue said softly, “She… is pretty pitiful…”

Zhou Duoduo turned her head to look at her. “When she was spreading rumors about me, did you say I was pitiful?”

Wang Xue lowered her head. “I didn’t mean it like that…”

Zhou Duoduo ignored her.

Of course, she knew Li Tingting was suffering now.

Confessions, flowers, stalking from all the girls in school.

Who wouldn’t go crazy?

But she didn’t regret it.

Li Tingting started it.

She was just… retaliating.

(；´Д`A)

She turned over. Her mind was on something else—

Lin Mo.

•••

She’d been so busy fighting with Li Tingting these past few days that she hadn’t paid much attention to Lin Mo.

•••

What was he doing now?

Who was he with?

Did he think of her?

•••

She picked up her phone and opened Lin Mo’s WeChat.

•••

In the chat window, there was still the “WANAN” she had sent a few days ago.

•••

No reply.

(;´Д`)

She sighed.

•••

Just as she was about to put down her phone, she suddenly saw someone post a message in the group chat.

«Did you see? Lin Mo and Shen Qingyue are in the library, sitting together. They look really close.»

Below was a picture.

In the photo, Lin Mo and Shen Qingyue sat across from each other.

Shen Qingyue was saying something, and Lin Mo was listening.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on both of them. It looked…

Warm.

Harmonious.

Very…

Dazzling.

(°皿°)

Zhou Duoduo stared at the picture, gripping her phone tightly.

Wang Xue saw it too, her expression changing. “Duoduo…”

Zhou Duoduo didn’t speak. She just stared at the picture for a long time.

Then she smiled.

It was the kind of smile that clearly wasn’t happy—a little scary.

Wang Xue took a step back. “Duoduo…”

“Put Li Tingting on hold for now.” Zhou Duoduo stood up and walked to the window. “Let’s deal with Shen Qingyue first.”

Wang Xue was stunned. “What?”

Zhou Duoduo turned back to look at her. “Didn’t you see? We’re over here fighting tooth and nail, and she’s over there enjoying a peaceful moment with Lin Mo.”

Wang Xue opened her mouth. “But… Li Tingting…”

“Let her have a few days off.” Zhou Duoduo cut her off. “Anyway, her ability effect lasts a week. We’ll talk after that.”

Wang Xue hesitated. “Then… what are you planning to do?”

Zhou Duoduo thought for a moment. “First, I’ll talk to Li Tingting.”

Wang Xue was stunned again. “Talk to her? She won’t see you.”

Zhou Duoduo smiled. “She will.”

The next afternoon.

School rooftop.

The wind was strong, making everyone’s hair fly wildly.

Li Tingting stood by the railing, looking down at the school.

She hadn’t wanted to come.

But Zhou Duoduo had sent a message:

«If you also like Lin Mo, come to the rooftop.»

(;´Д`)

She came.

Not because she wanted to cooperate with Zhou Duoduo.

But because she wanted to see what this crazy woman was up to now.

Footsteps came from behind.

Li Tingting didn’t turn around. Zhou Duoduo walked up beside her and also looked down.

The two were silent for a moment.

Down below, Lin Mo came out of the library, followed by Shen Qingyue.

The two walked side by side.

Shen Qingyue said something, and Lin Mo smiled.

The sunlight fell on his face.

He looked handsome.

But both of them found the sight irritating.

(；´Д`A)

“See that?” Zhou Duoduo spoke.

“I see it,” Li Tingting said.

Another moment of silence.

Li Tingting spoke: “We’re here fighting each other, and she’s over there being all sweet with Lin Mo.”

Zhou Duoduo didn’t respond.

Li Tingting turned to look at her. “Aren’t you angry?”

Zhou Duoduo turned too. “I am. So what?”

Li Tingting laughed. “So, let’s have a temporary truce.”

Zhou Duoduo looked at her. “A truce?”

“Yes,” Li Tingting said. “We take down Shen Qingyue first. Once she’s dealt with, then we settle our score.”

Zhou Duoduo was silent for a moment. “Why should I?”

Li Tingting blinked. “Because you can see it too—Lin Mo treats her differently.”

Zhou Duoduo didn’t speak.

Li Tingting continued: “Think about it. We’ve been fighting for so long, has Lin Mo ever given us a second look? No. In his heart, there’s only Shen Qingyue.”

She paused.

“But if we join forces, it’ll be different. You have your connections, your intel. I have my intel and abilities too. Taking down Shen Qingyue will be more than enough.”

Zhou Duoduo looked at her. “And then?”

Li Tingting smiled. “Then we each rely on our own skills.”

Zhou Duoduo was silent for a long time.

The wind was strong, blowing the two girls’ skirts up, occasionally exposing them. Luckily, no one else was there.

“Fine,” Zhou Duoduo said. “Temporary truce.”

She held out her hand.

Li Tingting was stunned for a second, then took it.

“Pleasure working together.” “Pleasure working together.”

Neither said anything else.

But both were thinking the same thing—

Li Tingting (Zhou Duoduo): ‘You little fox, you think you can compete with me? Lin Mo is mine. My real opponent is Shen Qingyue. Just wait until I deal with her, then I’ll come for you.’

In the distance, at the corner near the library entrance.

Lin Xian’er leaned against the wall, holding her phone.

On the screen was a photo of Zhou Duoduo and Li Tingting shaking hands on the rooftop.

The angle was good. It was clear.

Who took it?

That wasn’t important.

(￣▽￣)

She put away her phone and turned to leave.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

That night.

Fifth floor of the girls’ dormitory, Room 510.

Lin Xian’er lay in bed. Cheng Xue was lying on her lap, and Ye Ling was leaning against the wall.

“Xian’er, why did you take that picture today?” Cheng Xue asked.

Lin Xian’er smiled. “For the record.”

Ye Ling frowned. “Record? What kind of record?”

Lin Xian’er blinked. “It’ll be useful later.”

Cheng Xue and Ye Ling exchanged a glance, not understanding.

Lin Xian’er didn’t explain.

She just looked at the two girls, the corners of her mouth curling up.

Zhou Duoduo and Li Tingting had joined forces.

Who was their target?

Shen Qingyue?

Or Lin Mo?

Whoever it was,

This show was getting more interesting by the minute.

(♥ω♥*)

She closed her eyes.

Her mind was already planning the next move.

Downstairs, at the library entrance.

Lin Mo had just walked out when a figure suddenly appeared beside him.

“Lin Mo.”

Lin Mo looked up.

Su Qianqian stood in front of him, holding two cups of milk tea.

“Su Qianqian? What are you…”

“Qingyue asked me to give you this.” Su Qianqian handed him the milk tea. “She said she’s been a bit busy lately and might not be able to study with you. I’m alone too, so let’s go read together.”

Lin Mo took the milk tea. “What’s wrong with her?”

Su Qianqian shook her head. “Nothing major. Just… she’s been under a lot of pressure lately.”

Lin Mo was taken aback. “Pressure?”

“Mm.” Su Qianqian looked at him. “You know, with all the rumors going around school lately… they’ve been affecting her quite a bit.”

Lin Mo fell silent.

Of course, he knew those rumors.

The incidents with Zhou Duoduo and Li Tingting had dragged Shen Qingyue into the mess.

And those photos…

“Is she okay?” he asked.

Su Qianqian shook her head. “Not really. So she wants some time alone.” She looked at Lin Mo.

“Don’t go see her either. Let her rest for a few days.”

Lin Mo nodded. “Alright.”

Su Qianqian smiled. “I’ll get going then.”

She turned and walked a few steps.

Then looked back.

“Oh, by the way, Qingyue said to tell you not to worry. She’s fine.”

Lin Mo nodded.

Su Qianqian left.

Lin Mo stood there, looking at the milk tea in his hand.

Shen Qingyue…

What was going on with her?

(；´Д`A)

That night.

Third floor of the girls’ dormitory.

Su Qing pushed open the dormitory door.

Shen Qingyue sat on her bed, hugging her knees, staring out the window.

“Qianqian?” She turned her head. “Where did you go?”

Su Qing smiled. “I went out to buy a cup of milk tea. Do you want one?”

•••

Shen Qingyue shook her head.

Su Qing sat down beside her.

•••

“Qingyue, have you been… feeling down lately?”

Shen Qingyue was silent for a moment.

“Qianqian, do you think I did something wrong?”

•••

Su Qing looked at her. “Why do you ask that?”

Shen Qingyue lowered her head. “Those rumors… and those photos… Is it because I offended someone? Is someone targeting me on purpose?”

Su Qing didn’t speak.

Shen Qingyue continued: “I just… treat him as a friend. Nothing else. But why do they have to talk about me like that?”

Her voice grew softer and softer.

•••

Su Qing looked at her, feeling a little complicated inside.

This girl…

She really did like Lin Mo.

But the more she liked him, the more she stepped on her own taboo.

•••

“Qingyue.” She spoke. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s their problem.”

•••

Shen Qingyue didn’t respond.

Su Qing patted her shoulder. “You’ve been too tired lately. Take a few days off. Don’t go to class; I’ll ask for leave for you.”

Shen Qingyue looked up. “But…”

“No buts.” Su Qing cut her off. “Your health comes first. Just stay in the dormitory. Read if you want, sleep if you want. I’ll handle everything outside.”

Shen Qingyue looked at her.

“Qianqian… thank you.”

Su Qing smiled. “What’s there to thank? We’re best friends.”

She stood up.

“Get some rest. I’m going out for a bit.”

Shen Qingyue nodded.

Su Qing walked out and gently closed the door.

Standing in the corridor, her smile slowly faded.

Shen Qingyue was resting in the dormitory.

Lin Mo thought she was “under pressure.”

Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo were busy dealing with her.

And she herself…

Could legitimately appear by Lin Mo’s side. Perfect.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Lin Mo:

«Lin Mo, Qingyue asked me to tell you she needs to rest for a few days. Don’t worry. If anything comes up, you can contact me, and I’ll pass it on.»

Sent.

Waited half a minute.

Lin Mo replied:

«Okay. Thank you.»

Su Qing looked at those three words.

“Thank you.”

(￣▽￣)

You’re welcome.

She put away her phone and walked downstairs.

Her steps were light.