Chapter 10: The Gathering

Zhang Tingting watched his retreating back for a long time before she could pull herself away.

“Really nice, sisters, I think I’ve fallen in love, I want to chase him.”

Qin Muxue was drinking a beverage, and at these words, she subconsciously bit her straw, a strange emotion spreading in her heart, unsure of why she felt that way.

“Then you should go for it, he’s very popular.”

Zhang Tingting keenly sensed something off in her tone and suddenly said with a mischievous smile, “Oh, little Xue, you like him too?”

“Who… who said that?”

Qin Muxue turned her head away in panic, but to Zhang Tingting, that was a tacit admission.

There was a time when her best friend was phobic of men, having no other friends besides herself. Others thought her aloof, but only she knew that wasn’t aloofness, just not being good with words, and that face avoided a lot of trouble.

And now, that she could have feelings for a boy, her best friend naturally wanted to support her.

“Ah, so you like him. Then I won’t compete with you.”

“Tingting.”

Qin Muxue glared at her, saying coldly, “Keep talking nonsense and see if I don’t beat you up.”

Zhang Tingting shivered, thinking of something frightening, and raised her hands in defense, “Okay, okay, I won’t say it, happy now?”

“Why do you always have to be so cold, it’s really scary.”

“You’ll scare away the handsome guys like that.”

After saying this, Zhang Tingting slightly moved her chair back, ready to flee, but seeing that Qin Muxue had no intention of hitting her, she sheepishly sat back down.

Qin Muxue caught a glimpse of Lin Beixiu; he was busy making milk tea. On the counter, two girls were waiting for their orders, their eyes sparkling with little stars, yet Lin Beixiu remained professional, expressionless as he handed them their milk tea.

For some reason, seeing this scene made Qin Muxue feel a bit sour, yet somewhat relieved.

It seemed he was indeed popular, and wasn’t it his good looks that devilishly convinced her to agree to be his roommate? After all, looks are justice.

If it weren’t for the depressive aura around him, making him seem cold, if he were a bit more sunny, perhaps he’d be even more popular.

Having these thoughts, Qin Muxue startled herself. When did she start paying him so much attention?

Then she saw her sister’s teasing look, and Qin Muxue’s face flushed red instantly.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Sister, I didn’t realize you’ve been staring at him for so long.”

“Tingting.”

Qin Muxue glared at her annoyed, “Let’s go.”

“Hehe, don’t want to take another look?”

Qin Muxue glared at her, took her lime and grapefruit tea, and walked out, with Zhang Tingting following behind.

“Ah, are you angry?”

…

After saying goodbye to Zhang Tingting, Qin Muxue looked at the empty room, feeling a mix of emotions, recalling that she had added Lin Beixiu on WeChat. Somehow, she found herself taking out her phone, tapping on the screen.

Meanwhile, after Lin Beixiu had worked for a while, the store manager returned, and he clocked out, ready to head back, when his phone chimed with a new message notification.

He looked, it was from Qin Muxue.

Qin Muxue: Will you come back to cook tonight?

Lin Beixiu: Yeah.

Seeing the words on the screen, Qin Muxue felt a flicker of joy, excited like a child who had just received candy, eventually rolling on the bed, then started browsing short videos again.

After some time, the sound of the door opening was heard, and Qin Muxue immediately got up, and upon exiting her room, saw Lin Beixiu carrying a bunch of groceries.

Lin Beixiu glanced at her, then went to the kitchen to start preparing.

Qin Muxue followed him and tentatively said, “Let me help you wash the vegetables.”

“No need, just sit.”

It’s not right to let a girl do the work.

Qin Muxue could only stand at the kitchen doorway, watching him busy.

“I’m sorry, will this interfere with your plans?”

“No.”

Lin Beixiu was indifferent, “Just that some colleagues wanted me to go out for dinner, so I won’t be eating at home.”

“Oh.”

Qin Muxue responded, then went back to the living room to wait.

Soon, Lin Beixiu came out with two dishes, placed them on the table, and covered them to keep warm, telling her,

“You can eat once it’s ready.”

Lin Beixiu sat on the sofa, and Qin Muxue, looking at him, asked,

“Was that a part-time job you were doing this afternoon?”

“Yeah.”

Qin Muxue hesitated for a while before asking, “Do they still need people there?”

She didn’t even know why she asked that.

Lin Beixiu looked at her incredulously, “You want to work part-time too?”

Qin Muxue nodded, then lowered her head, “If it’s too much to ask, then never mind.”

“I can ask for you.”

“Thanks.”

Lin Beixiu had many questions, but he held back.

Then his phone vibrated, a recent add, Hu Feng.

Hu Feng: The address is the food street at school, xx BBQ, come over quick.

Lin Beixiu stood up, “I’ll be going.”

“Yeah.”

Lin Beixiu left alone, and Qin Muxue, pressing her lips together, watched the door close, feeling a wave of emptiness…

At the BBQ restaurant, following Hu Feng’s address, Lin Beixiu found them sitting outside, easily noticeable, as eating BBQ outside added to the atmosphere.

Lively.

“Class president, over here.”

Lin Beixiu walked over, and Hu Feng pulled out a stool for him to sit. Looking around, there were four of them, including himself, making five.

“We’re just having a dorm gathering. Technically, you should’ve been part of our dorm,” Hu Feng chuckled, introducing the guy to Lin Beixiu.

“He’s Wang Hanjie, from the acting department, and the only one among us with a girlfriend, making us all envious.”

Hu Feng’s tone was somewhat begrudging.

Lin Beixiu looked at him, and the two nodded at each other, acknowledging the introduction.

As for the other three, they were from his class, all familiar faces.

“What do you guys want to eat? I’ll go ask the boss.”

Everyone voiced their preferences, and when it was Lin Beixiu’s turn, he simply smiled and said, “Anything.”

Soon, they had ordered, and drinks were served. They ate and chatted, the atmosphere lively.

This is how boys are; there’s nothing that can’t be solved with a BBQ. If there is, then two BBQs.

“Eat up, I’ve been starving these past few days, lost weight.”

While eating, Hu Feng suddenly looked around mysteriously, “Remember our class beauty, Qin?.”

“How could we forget, spit it out, Crazy Hu.”

Wang Hanjie, being from another class, listened along with Lin Beixiu, who was more of a listener in the conversation.

Hu Feng grinned, “You all know Qin Muxue was a sophomore, right? But I’ve got some insider news you don’t.”

“You know, when Qin Muxue took a year off, there was actually another story behind it.”

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