Lin Mo had just finished class. As he walked to the entrance of the teaching building, he saw Su Qianqian standing there. She was leaning against the wall, holding two cups of milk tea. When she saw him come out, she smiled at him.
“Lin Mo.”
Lin Mo walked over. “Su Qianqian? What are you—”
“Qingyue asked me to give these to you.” Su Qianqian handed him the milk tea. “She said thank you for walking her back to the dormitory a few days ago.”
Lin Mo took the milk tea. “Is she doing okay?”
Su Qianqian shook her head. “Not really.”
Lin Mo was taken aback. “What happened?”
Su Qianqian sighed but didn’t say anything. She turned and started walking toward the playground. Lin Mo hesitated, then followed.
The two of them walked side by side across campus. The sunlight was nice, but Su Qianqian’s expression wasn’t right. She walked for a while before finally speaking.
“Lin Mo, do you know why Qingyue hasn’t been coming to class these past few days?”
Lin Mo shook his head.
“Because people have been spreading rumors about her.” Su Qianqian’s voice was very soft. “Saying she’s clinging to you. Saying she faked being sick so you’d take care of her. Saying she’s seducing you.”
Lin Mo’s steps faltered. “What seduction?”
“That acrostic poem from before.” She looked at him. “My Heart Pleases You. Didn’t you know?”
He knew about that poem.
Su Qianqian continued. “Those words were ugly. Qingyue has always been thin-skinned. Having so many people point fingers at her… she couldn’t take it.”
Lin Mo frowned. “Who spread them?”
Su Qianqian shook her head. “I don’t know. But you saw how people in the cafeteria talked about her. And that time in the library…”
“The library?” Lin Mo stopped and looked at her.
Su Qianqian hesitated. “That day, Qingyue went to the library. Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo cornered her there and said a lot of nasty things. She came back and cried the whole night.”
Lin Mo’s expression hardened. “Li Tingting? Zhou Duoduo?”
Su Qianqian nodded. “And Wang Xue. She was there too. Even though she seemed innocent, the things she said hurt the most.”
Lin Mo didn’t say anything. But his hand tightened around the milk tea cup.
Su Qianqian watched him. ‘She laughed inwardly.’ But on the surface, she still wore that worried expression.
“Lin Mo, I’m telling you this not because I want you to go settle scores with them. I just think… Qingyue is too pitiful. She didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just because… because she likes you that so many people are bullying her.”
She paused, her voice even softer.
“You know, she asked me a question yesterday. She asked me—does Lin Mo really not like me?”
She looked at him, her eyes bright.
“I said I didn’t know. But in my heart, I was thinking—if he really didn’t like you, why would he be so good to you?”
Lin Mo opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
Su Qianqian didn’t give him a chance to speak. She lowered her head, her voice muffled.
“Lin Mo, can you do me a favor?”
“What favor?”
“Don’t go after them.” Su Qianqian looked up. “The more you go after them, the more they’ll think Qingyue ratted them out to you. And then they’ll hate her even more.”
Lin Mo grew anxious. “Then what do I do?”
Su Qianqian thought for a moment. “Just pretend you don’t know. Act like everything’s normal. But…” She paused. “Could you not mention them in front of Qingyue? Just hearing their names makes her uncomfortable.”
Lin Mo nodded. “Okay.”
Su Qianqian smiled. “Thank you.”
She turned, took a few steps, then looked back.
“Oh, and don’t tell Qingyue I told you. She doesn’t want anyone to know.”
Lin Mo was confused. “Why?”
Su Qianqian blinked. “Because she doesn’t want you to think she’s pitiful.”
Su Qianqian walked away. Lin Mo stood there, watching her back. His mind was a mess.
Li Tingting. Zhou Duoduo. Wang Xue. And Shen Qingyue.
He pulled out his phone, wanting to send a message to Shen Qingyue. He typed a few words, then deleted them. Finally, he put his phone away and headed toward the dormitory.
—
Once Su Qianqian was far enough away, she looked back. Lin Mo was already gone. The corner of her mouth curled up.
Step one was complete. Lin Mo knew, but he wouldn’t go after Li Tingting and the others. He would only feel more sorry for Shen Qingyue. And Shen Qingyue would become even more dependent on her, her “best friend.”
Perfect.
She pulled out her phone and sent a message to Shen Qingyue: Qingyue, Lin Mo asked about you. He seemed really worried.
Shen Qingyue replied instantly: Really?
Su Qianqian: Really. I said you were fine, just a little tired.
Shen Qingyue: That’s good…
Su Qianqian stared at those three words. ‘She sneered inwardly.’ Good? The worse you are, the more Lin Mo will care. But if Lin Mo cares too much about Shen Qingyue, that’s also a problem. Maybe I should disguise myself later, pretend to be Shen Qingyue and then…
Su Qianqian had countless follow-up plans swirling in her mind, but she hadn’t decided on a specific one yet. She’d take it one step at a time. For now, everything was going according to her plan.
She typed: He also said he wanted to come see you. But I said no. I told him to let you rest.
Shen Qingyue: Oh…
Su Qianqian stared at that “Oh.” This girl was definitely disappointed. But the more disappointed she was, the more she’d want to see Lin Mo. And the more she wanted to see him, the more she’d come asking for help.
She put down her phone. Closed her eyes. The corner of her mouth was still curled up.
Tomorrow, she would go to class. She’d go with Shen Qingyue. Then, in the cafeteria, they would “accidentally” run into Lin Mo. And then…
She turned over. Her mind was spinning.
No. She couldn’t let Lin Mo and Shen Qingyue be alone together. She had to be there. She had to make sure Lin Mo saw how much she “took care” of Shen Qingyue. She had to make Lin Mo think she was a good best friend. She had to make Lin Mo… trust her.
—
The next day. Noon. The cafeteria.
Shen Qingyue was carrying her tray. Su Qianqian walked beside her. The two of them found a seat and sat down.
“Qingyue, are you nervous?” Su Qianqian asked.
Shen Qingyue shook her head. “No.” But her hand was trembling as she held her chopsticks.
Su Qianqian saw it. She didn’t say anything. She was waiting. Waiting for Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo to come. Waiting for Lin Mo to come. Waiting for a good show.
After a while, Lin Mo walked over with his tray.
“Qingyue, can I sit here?”
Shen Qingyue was startled. Then she nodded.
Su Qianqian’s heart tightened. But she kept smiling.
“Lin Mo, why are you alone today? Where’s Zhang Yang and the others?”
“They went out to eat,” Lin Mo said.
The three of them began to eat. The atmosphere was a little tense.
Su Qianqian deliberately tried to make conversation. “Qingyue, didn’t you say yesterday you wanted to eat sweet and sour pork ribs? They have it today.”
Shen Qingyue was confused. “I… I said that yesterday?”
“Yeah.” Su Qianqian blinked. “Did you forget?”
Shen Qingyue blushed. “Oh… I must have forgotten…”
Lin Mo looked at her. “You like sweet and sour pork ribs?”
Shen Qingyue nodded. “Mm. It’s okay…”
“I’ll get you a serving.” Lin Mo stood up.
Su Qianqian’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Lin Mo to offer to get the food himself. No, she couldn’t let him go.
“No need, no need.” She quickly said. “I’ll get it. You stay and keep Qingyue company.”
She stood up and walked away before Lin Mo could.
Lin Mo was stunned for a moment. Su Qianqian was already far away.
She stood at the serving window, holding her tray, cursing herself. How did I let him sit down? How did I let Shen Qingyue be alone with him?
She glanced back. Lin Mo and Shen Qingyue were sitting there, neither of them speaking. Shen Qingyue had her head down. Lin Mo was looking out the window.
Good. They hadn’t said anything.
She breathed a sigh of relief. She got the ribs and walked back.
“Here, eat them while they’re hot.” She placed the ribs in front of Shen Qingyue.
Shen Qingyue whispered, “Thank you…”
Su Qianqian sat down next to her, effectively separating Lin Mo and Shen Qingyue.
The three of them continued eating.
Just then, Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo walked over with their trays.
Su Qianqian’s eyes lit up. Here they come.
“Oh, Shen Qingyue, you’re in the cafeteria today? Feeling better?” Li Tingting asked with a smile.
Shen Qingyue looked up. “I’m… I’m better…”
Zhou Duoduo also smiled. “That’s good. We thought you were going to hide in the dormitory forever.”
Shen Qingyue’s face turned pale.
Su Qianqian watched her. ‘She laughed inwardly.’ But on the surface, she frowned.
“You guys—”
“Qianqian.” Shen Qingyue grabbed her arm. “It’s okay.”
Su Qianqian didn’t say anything. She waited. She waited for Lin Mo to speak.
Lin Mo put down his chopsticks and looked at Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo. “Do you have something to say?”
Li Tingting was taken aback. “No. Just saying hello to Qingyue.”
“Saying hello?” Lin Mo stared at her. “Is that your way of saying hello? With sarcasm?”
Li Tingting’s expression changed. “Lin Mo, what do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.” Lin Mo stood up. “Qingyue is my friend. If you have a problem, you can say it to me.”
The cafeteria went quiet. Everyone was looking at them.
Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo’s faces were ashen.
Su Qianqian watched from the side. ‘Her heart felt strange.’ Lin Mo had stood up for Shen Qingyue. He had defended her. This should have been exactly what she planned. She should have been happy. So why did she feel so uncomfortable?
Zhou Duoduo forced a smile. “Lin Mo, you’ve misunderstood. We were just concerned about Qingyue.”
“Concerned?” Lin Mo looked at her. “You show concern by saying she’s been hiding in the dormitory to her face? By spreading rumors about her everywhere?”
Zhou Duoduo was speechless.
Li Tingting gritted her teeth. “Lin Mo, are you being tricked? Shen Qingyue, she—”
“She what?” Lin Mo interrupted. “What did she do that made you hate her so much?”
Li Tingting opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words.
Lin Mo looked at her. “Li Tingting, Zhou Duoduo. I don’t care what misunderstanding happened before. But from today on, don’t talk about Qingyue anymore.” He sat back down and continued eating.
The cafeteria was silent for a moment. Then came the sound of people whispering. Li Tingting and Zhou Duoduo stood there, their faces pale. Finally, they turned and left.
Su Qianqian watched them go. ‘She laughed inwardly.’ But on the surface, she still wore that worried expression.
“Lin Mo, thank you.” She said softly.
Lin Mo shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
Shen Qingyue kept her head down, not saying a word. But her eyes were red.
Su Qianqian watched her. ‘Her feelings were complicated.’ This girl. She was going to cry again. Go ahead, cry. The more pitiful you look, the better. When Lin Mo sees it, he’ll only care more.
“Qingyue, are you okay?” She asked.
Shen Qingyue shook her head. “I’m fine…”
She looked up at Lin Mo. “Thank you…”
Lin Mo smiled. “Don’t mention it. You’re my friend.”
Friend.
Shen Qingyue lowered her head. Su Qianqian watched Lin Mo. Friend. Just a friend. ‘She breathed a sigh of relief.’
—
After they finished eating, the three of them walked out. Su Qianqian walked in the middle, with Shen Qingyue on her left and Lin Mo on her right.
“Qingyue, do you have any classes this afternoon?” Su Qianqian asked.
Shen Qingyue shook her head. “No.”
“Then I’ll walk you back to the dormitory.”
Shen Qingyue nodded.
Su Qianqian turned to Lin Mo. “Lin Mo, you go ahead and do what you need to do. I’ll take Qingyue back.”
Lin Mo looked at Shen Qingyue. “Get some rest.”
Shen Qingyue nodded.
Lin Mo left. Su Qianqian watched his back. ‘She calculated in her mind.’ She had won this round. Lin Mo had stood up for Shen Qingyue, but Shen Qingyue hadn’t been alone with him. Su Qianqian had been there the entire time.
Perfect.
“Qianqian.” Shen Qingyue suddenly spoke.
“Huh?”
“Did you… go get the ribs on purpose just now?”
Su Qianqian’s heart tightened. “What?”
Shen Qingyue didn’t say anything. She just lowered her head.
Su Qianqian watched her, a little panicked. Could she have figured something out?
“Qingyue, you…”
“I know you were doing it for my own good.” Shen Qingyue cut her off. “Thank you.”
Su Qianqian breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank me for what? We’re best friends.”
The two of them walked toward the dormitory. Shen Qingyue didn’t speak again. Su Qianqian didn’t speak either. But her mind was turning.
This girl was smarter than she had thought. She needed to be careful.
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