Lu Xun finished speaking, casually wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth. He glanced at Qian Wei again, who was still holding a cactus, then left as he'd said he would. The commotion finally died down, the onlookers dispersed, and Qian Wei breathed a sigh of relief. It was around lunchtime, and she was getting hungry herself, so she headed straight for the cafeteria.
"Qian Wei!" Just then, Qian Chuan finally reacted. He caught up to Qian Wei aggressively and blocked her path at the table, demanding, "Tell me, are you interested in that pretty boy Lu Xun too?"
While eating a sweet and sour rib, Qian Wei rolled her eyes. "You have no idea what kind of embarrassing scene you just narrowly avoided."
"What's so embarrassing? You think I can't take down a pretty boy like Lu Xun?"
"You definitely can't." Qian Wei said disdainfully. "Don't assume you're stronger just because you're a phys ed student. Lu Xun is the skinny but toned type, got it?" In her past life, when Qian Chuan provoked Lu Xun, not only did he fail to get the upper hand, he nearly got beaten to a pulp. Despite his mild-mannered appearance, Lu Xun had a vicious streak. When he fought, he specifically targeted the face and body - painful but not lethal areas. His approach was nothing like Qian Chuan's undisciplined flailing. Afterwards, Qian Chuan's face was black and blue for a month before he dared show himself in public again. Naturally, this spawned an irreconcilable grudge against Lu Xun.
"You saw it happen?" Qian Chuan asked angrily.
"I didn't see it, but I can imagine it," Qian Wei retorted.
"So you do have designs on that pretty boy." Qian Chuan let out an ominous chuckle. "I knew something was off about how enthusiastic you were towards Lu Xun today. Turns out you're trying to seduce him. All that stuff about him being a role model student? I've known you for 19 years and never once saw you show any interest in studying seriously. You're late to every class, you can't even get up early, yet suddenly you have a study idol?"
"Your mind is filthy. Lu Xun isn't my type at all!" Qian Wei put down her chopsticks as the 28-year-old refined-yet-lecherous Lu Xun came to mind. "I like innocent, unaffected men. I couldn't handle a slutty creature like Lu Xun."
"Slutty?" The modern term was unfamiliar to Qian Chuan. "I don't like him either, but you can't just slander someone groundlessly. What's so slutty about Lu Xun? He dresses neatly and his face is clean. Even as another guy, I admit he does look quite good..."
"You're clueless," Qian Wei rapped her tray with her chopsticks. "Lu Xun has an intrinsically slutty aura. You have to look past superficial appearances. He already attracts enough bees and butterflies now, but in a few years he'll fully evolve. That intrinsic sluttiness will show through on his face."
"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"
"What are you coughing for? You haven't eaten anything, how can you choke on your own spit? What's with the rapid blinking, got a tic?" Qian Wei looked strangely at Qian Chuan, who had suddenly broken into loud coughs and spasmodic blinking.
Clearly she missed his meaningful signals, because it wasn't until Lu Xun appeared before her with a stony expression that Qian Wei realized she was in trouble.
"I can explain..." She was out of luck, running into Lu Xun again just while eating. "Lu Xun...I spoke inappropriately. Let me treat you to a meal and explain slowly..."
But Lu Xun's expression did not soften. "I just thought of what compensation I want from you." His tone was icy as he continued, "You offered to treat me to a meal, right? Fine, go ahead, for one month."
Qian Wei relaxed slightly and was about to nod in agreement when she heard Lu Xun's demonic voice continue.
"One month of breakfast."
"..." Clearly Lu Xun was being deliberately difficult. He must have heard what Qian Chuan said and knew she was absolutely incapable of getting up early when she was habitually late to class. Yet he wanted her to get him breakfast every day for a month. A University's cafeteria breakfasts were very substantial, but consequently breakfast was also a battleground. Without getting up early to line up, there was no chance of getting anything good.
Qian Wei struggled to negotiate. "It's so hard to get the good stuff recently, could we shorten the time to half a month? A whole month really is too much..."
"No." Lu Xun's tone was matter-of-fact. "After all, I'm a slutty creature. We slutty creatures just love being unreasonable."
"..."
"Your phone number?"
"We don't really need to exchange numbers, right?"
Lu Xun glanced at Qian Wei. "What are you imagining? That this is some romance idol drama, 'Woman, you've successfully attracted my attention'? Rest assured, my eyesight and taste are both excellent, I don't need to go to the optometrist. Without your number, how can I tell you what I want to eat tomorrow morning in advance?"
You're just as infuriating at 19 as at 28, Lu Xun! But for the sake of currying favor with her future boss, Qian Wei dared not speak out, only docilely handed over her phone number.
"So I'll buy breakfast first, then wait for you in the cafeteria?"
"Why wait for me?" Lu Xun's tone was matter-of-fact. "Just bring it directly to me wherever I am."
Damn you, Lu Xun! Not only did she have to painstakingly get up early and buy him breakfast, but delivery service too? Screw you!
***
After lunch, Qian Wei bought another meal to-go, then dropped by a roadside stall off-campus for a new cactus before returning to her dorm.
As expected, Liu Shi Yun was still asleep. Only when Qian Wei opened up the takeout did she rise like a zombie roused by the scent of human flesh.
"Is that soy braised chicken? Smells so good..."
After eating, Liu Shi Yun finally remembered her precious cactus. She took a look and grew suspicious. "Is this really my cactus? How come the color isn't yellow anymore, the needles aren't soft, it's full of moisture, and it even looks a little bigger?"
Qian Wei kept a straight face. "All things grow with sunlight. You've seen Qian Chuan, how do you think he got to 185cm? He grew tall by sunbathing. It's not strange your cactus would get bigger after some sun too!"
Liu Shi Yun was enlightened. "Then I'll stop using sunscreen from now on. It'll save money and help me grow taller!"
Qian Wei winked awkwardly at Liu Shi Yun and was about to take a nap when her phone screen dinged with a reminder.
"Makeup Exam for Chinese Legal History!"
These seven words sent a chill through Qian Wei's body as the terror of Chinese Legal History gripped her once more. The teacher, Mr. Qiang Li, nicknamed "Brother Qiang", was notorious for his tricky exam questions, earning the moniker "Where Brother Qiang goes, no grass grows". Nearly 80% of the class had failed, even many top students had not escaped unscathed. In her past life, Qian Wei had stumbled in Chinese Legal History, barely squeaking by the makeup exam after a final week of intensive cramming. But now...Qian Wei only wanted to howl - she hadn't reviewed at all! As far as she was concerned, she had already returned Chinese Legal History to the teacher! Failing again would mean having to retake the course, potentially affecting graduation. That absolutely could not happen!
Luckily, Qian Wei racked her brains and vaguely recalled what the two essay questions had been on the previous makeup exam. Unfortunately, there were too many details to memorize before the exam. Qian Wei made up her mind to gamble recklessly - she closed her books and hurried to the exam classroom.
A University's makeup exams were relatively relaxed. Students could enter an hour early and sit wherever, just alternating seats.
As soon as Qian Wei entered, she chose a seat towards the back and began hastily jotting down the answers to the two essay questions she remembered on the desktop, preparing to cheat.
"What are you doing?"
Just as Qian Wei was busily copying, an clean, icy male voice sounded over her head.
Qian Wei looked up, very surprised. "Lu Xun? Even you failed?" For a top student like him to fail Brother Qiang's exam, Qian Wei felt sympathetic, and also rather relieved that she wasn't alone.
Since she was set on currying favor with her future boss, Qian Wei smiled warmly at Lu Xun and pointed surreptitiously at her desktop. "I'm making a crib sheet. The last two essay questions for today's makeup exam. I definitely wouldn't tell anyone else."
Lu Xun glanced at the densely packed crib sheet. "The exam papers are strictly confidential this time. How do you know what the last two questions are?"
"I have incredibly accurate premonitions," Qian Wei arched her eyebrows arrogantly. "Whatever, you probably won't believe me no matter what I say now. You'll know I was right when you get the exam paper. You should hurry up and copy down the answers too. You've got nothing to lose anyway."
Lu Xun was clearly unmoved. As Qian Wei tried to persuade him, she saw Lu Xun stand up and walk towards the lectern.
"There are ten minutes until the exam starts. Please put all your books, review materials and phones up here."
Qian Wei: ???
"Because Professor Qiang cannot make it today, I will be proctoring this makeup exam for Chinese Legal History." Lu Xun spoke slowly and methodically. Each word felt like flaying torture to Qian Wei.
Of course, how could Qian Wei forget? A person like Lu Xun could never fail a class! Even if the teacher was a tyrant, Lu Xun was more of a tyrant!
Qian Wei's heart was pounding, but Lu Xun had already started unsealing the exam papers. He also flipped to the essay questions at the end and glanced at them before lifting his head to look at Qian Wei.
"Everyone please stand up now and change seats."
This bastard!!!
With that, the fate of Qian Wei's crib sheet plan was sealed.
Cheating wasn't honorable, but directly ratting out classmates was considered even more reprehensible. The informer was usually ostracized in the end, and even an idol like Lu Xun would take a huge reputation hit and be reviled. Qian Wei assumed Lu Xun wouldn't openly expose her cheating, but she never expected him to be so sinister! He must have seen that she correctly guessed the last two essay questions, which was why he wanted everyone to change seats! And she had painstakingly copied a whole desktop of notes! Now her efforts were for naught!
Qian Wei only felt her heart bleeding. She regretted not successfully cheating, right? Wrong! What she regretted most was that a chance to cheat had been laid before her, but she had killed it herself!
In her mind, Qian Wei flipped Lu Xun off countless times, but out loud she could only force out three docile words.
"No problem."
So mad, but must keep smiling!
