"Qian Wei, are you free tonight? If you're free, let's go to the Great Hall together," Qian Chuan came looking for Qian Wei while she was immersed in studying for her jurisprudence paper. "What are we going to the Great Hall for?" Qian Wei glanced up at the tall and sturdy Qian Chuan. "Stand to the side, you're blocking my light."
Qian Chuan smiled and said, "The campus Top Ten Singers competition is being held in the Great Hall tonight. One of my bros' girlfriend is participating in it, and he wants me to help gather more people to cheer her on. Wanna come along after you're done? My bro will treat us to dinner afterwards - you know him too, it's Zhang Liqiang from our basketball team."
The campus Top Ten Singers competition!!! Qian Wei's heart skipped a beat as she snapped to attention. Excitedly, she said, "No, I can't go, and you can't go either!"
The Top Ten Singers competition was one of the major events organized annually by the student union's arts and culture department. In her previous life, this was where Qian Chuan first met Mo Zixing, who was working as an event staff for the arts department. Dressed beautifully as the emcee that night, Mo Zixin naturally attracted much attention on stage. From then on, Qian Chuan fell head over heels for Mo Zixin, constantly longing and pining for her day and night. Eventually, unable to bear his lovesick agony, Qian Wei stepped up at his urgent pleas to lend a hand - on one side, she provided Qian Chuan with all kinds of tips and tricks to pursue Mo Zixin; on the other, she secretly interfered and prevented any chance of Lu Xun and Mo Zixin from being alone together, adamantly insisting on being the electric light bulb of this new era. With this two-pronged approach, she successfully helped Qian Chuan steal Mo Zixin from Lu Xun, and started her journey of offending Lu Xun from then on.
In this new life, no matter what, Qian Wei must not let history repeat itself. She must nip the tragedy in the bud - this time, she must stop Qian Chuan from meeting Mo Zixin tonight and getting infatuated!
Confused by Qian Wei's extreme reaction, Qian Chuan asked, "Why? If you're busy then don't go, but why can't I go?"
Qian Wei put on a tragic expression and shamelessly lied, "To tell the truth, Zhang Liqiang is actually the one I have a secret crush on. When I heard he had a girlfriend, I was already heartbroken and devastated. How could you still bear to make me go cheer on his girlfriend, watching them be all lovey-dovey kissing and hugging each other?" As Qian Wei spoke, she clutched her chest, "Just thinking about it makes my heart ache again. Qian Chuan, support me, I can't breathe..."
Qian Chuan was shocked, "What the heck? You actually have a secret crush on Zhang Liqiang? Since when? Although he's not bad, he doesn't shower in summer and smells like a mix of sweat and stinky feet..."
Qian Wei kept a straight face. "That's called manly musk. I just happen to like men with that kind of smell."
"..."
"Anyway, I can't accept my brother actually going to cheer on my love rival. This is the last bit of stubbornness I have as your older sister."
Qian Chuan frowned, then finally revealed a helpless expression. "Alright alright, then I won't go either. Keeping you company should be fine, right?"
"At least show some care, I'm heartbroken here you know. Tell you what, just give me a chance tonight and treat me to hotpot at Wang's, that new place at Xinguang Square."
"Fine."
Without further delay, Qian Wei dragged Qian Chuan along and the two of them rushed towards Wang's Hotpot. The newly opened Wang's Hotpot was extremely popular, with an estimated wait time of a few hours. Qian Wei took a number, and there were still fifteen tables ahead of them. Rather than just sitting around waiting, they decided to stroll around Xinguang Square first.
A University was located in the university town of City A. Despite its name, it was really just a suburb of City A. The largest integrated shopping and leisure destination here was Xinguang Square, so its crowds mostly consisted of students from nearby campuses, especially couples. As Qian Wei and Qian Chuan walked around, they attracted quite a few glances too. Qian Wei wasn't being biased, but her brother was tall with long legs. Although his facial features weren't as refined as Lu Xun's, he had thick brows, big eyes, a straight nose bridge - overall a very sunny and vigorous handsome guy. And while they were twins, Qian Wei and Qian Chuan didn't actually look very alike. Together, they looked at first glance like a couple with great chemistry and visuals.
Under the pretext of nursing her broken heart, Qian Wei was determined to take Qian Chuan for a ride. First she'd buy a pair of shoes, then a skirt, and after purchasing she'd get Qian Chuan to foot the bill while also acting as her bag carrier, loaded with all her shopping bags big and small.
After walking around for a bit, they arrived at the candied chestnuts stand. Qian Wei felt a little hungry again, and was just about to turn and call Qian Chuan over to line up when she caught sight of two familiar figures in her peripheral vision.
It was Lu Xun and Mo Zixing!
The two of them, a handsome gentleman and beautiful lady, were standing at the back of the candied chestnuts queue, looking every bit like a picturesque couple. Mo Zixing's face was shy with flushed red cheeks. She would glance down at the ground, then up at Lu Xun, while Lu Xun still had that lofty and elegant demeanor, standing tall and looking straight ahead as if nothing could catch his eye - even with such a pretty girl by his side, it was as if he didn't see her at all.
In her heart, Qian Wei cursed what a hypocrite. Just look at this guy, saying one thing but his body being very honest. Claiming to Mo Zixing that he didn't harbor any feelings for her, yet secretly going on a date with her. Even if they were on a date, did he have to put on such an uninterested and proper appearance, seemingly afraid of being struck by lightning for pretending to be someone he's not?
"Qian Wei, why did you turn back? Weren't you clamoring for candied chestnuts? It's right in front of us, want me to help you line up?"
Qian Wei dragged Qian Chuan back with her. "Don't want it anymore, I suddenly have a stomachache and need the restroom."
Although puzzled why Mo Zixing wasn't at the singers competition, the fact that she was even more beautifully dressed up today than during the competition in their last life meant that Qian Wei had still managed to successfully avoid the fateful meeting between Qian Chuan and Mo Zixing through her quick wits.
What Qian Wei didn't expect was that in her new life where she had made different choices, everything else seemed to also have unpredictable variables she couldn't foresee. Some encounters, it seemed, were still inevitable despite her attempts to block them.
After seeing Mo Zixing and Lu Xun, Qian Wei lost her appetite for browsing anymore. She pulled Qian Chuan along straight back to the Wang's Hotpot queue, but right after she had just walked up to the hotpot restaurant entrance, who should she bump into but Lu Xun and Mo Zixing...
Although she kept jumping in front of Qian Chuan, trying to block his line of sight, their huge height difference meant her efforts were futile...
Qian Chuan brushed Qian Wei aside. "What are you doing? Jumping around in front of me and making me dizzy..." He was about to say more when he caught sight of Lu Xun not far away. "Oh, if it isn't our little white face..."
He didn't get to finish saying "little white face" before stopping himself. Qian Wei knew he was originally trying to mock Lu Xun, but now, his eyes had completely bypassed Lu Xun and were fixed on Mo Zixing behind him. A hint of bashfulness slowly spread across his tanned cheeks, as he completely forgot what he was saying just now.
Qian Wei only felt her vision go black. A single thought flashed through her mind: The six-pointed star of fate has started spinning, concealing mysterious machinations within... Oh life, no matter how you try to prevent some things, what is destined to happen will still happen eventually.
Before Qian Wei could react, Qian Chuan took action faster than her. He adjusted his expression, and sincerely greeted in an enthusiastic tone, "Lu Xun! Good bro! What a coincidence seeing you here! Long time no see!"
"..." Qian Wei was stunned speechless. How come Qian Chuan could be so slick and eloquent when chasing girls, yet not apply the same vigor in his studies? If he had this kind of spirit towards learning, he would have been in the gifted program long ago.
The corners of Lu Xun's mouth raised in an amused cold smile.
But Qian Chuan didn't seem bothered at all by that smile. Completely shameless, he continued, "You guys are here for Wang's Hotpot too, right?" He went up and familiarly slung an arm over Lu Xun's shoulder, like a long-lost buddy. With a friendly and gentle gaze, he casually glanced at the number in Lu Xun's hand, "Hey, you still have 16 tables to wait. Why don't you guys join us? I'm here with Qian Wei and our number's almost up. We're all friends after all." After speaking, he sneakily snuck a glance at Mo Zixing behind Lu Xun. "And this is...?"
"Mo Zixing, our classmate." Lu Xun smiled. "But when did we become friends? If I remember correctly, didn't you say the next time you saw me you'd definitely punch me first?"
Qian Chuan gave an awkward laugh. "We're a classic case of sworn brothers after a fight. That punch I mentioned is just my unique way of greeting people. Don't get me wrong, although we had some misunderstandings before, after Qian Wei explained things to me, I've long had a new understanding of you. Qian Wei said you're upright, handsome, smart, skinny when dressed but ripped with an 8-pack underneath - simply the manliest of men..."
Qian Wei wanted to jump up and strangle Qian Chuan to death. Shut up, just to get acquainted with Mo Zixing he was shamelessly singing Lu Xun's praises, and even pinning all these exaggerated compliments on her head.
The more nonsense Qian Chuan sprouted, the quieter Lu Xun remained, simply watching on with the same inscrutable faint expression. Qian Wei secretly glanced at him, and he lazily met her eyes.
"Qian Chuan, Lu Xun and Mo Zixing are the elites of our Law faculty. They must be out eating to discuss some proper business, we shouldn't bother them or disrupt their conversation. We should give them our number instead." Qian Wei tugged Qian Chuan's sleeve, preparing to offer their number to Lu Xun.
But before Qian Wei could continue, Lu Xun slowly drawled, "No disruption."
