Chapter 16: The Forum’s Lists

The forum was filled with various comments expressing envy and admiration, especially from older students in their second and third years showing respect for Lin Beixiu with phrases like “awesome.” Unlike the freshmen who were just watching the fun, these older students knew about past events and had witnessed Qin Muxue’s fierce side, so their admiration for Lin Beixiu was even greater.

The fact that there was a male student who could get close to Qin Muxue without getting beaten was something they were curious to see for themselves.

Qin Muxue glared fiercely at her so-called bestie, Zhang Tingting, who felt the killing intent and immediately stepped back.

“Sister, even if you kill me, you can’t cover up the truth.”

Qin Muxue clenched her fists, about to say something, when her phone rang inside her bag. Frowning, she saw it was a WeChat call from Lin Beixiu.

Glancing at Zhang Tingting, Qin Muxue walked away without further attention, while Zhang Tingting, curious and wanting to follow, was met with Qin Muxue’s deadly glare and sheepishly backed off, guessing that Lin Beixiu must be the cause of her nervousness.

Qin Muxue answered the call, and Lin Beixiu’s voice came through first.

“Why did it take you so long to answer?”

“What do you want?”

Hearing the unfriendly tone on the other end, Lin Beixiu paused, wondering if Qin Muxue was on her period, given her irritability.

“We’re out of vegetables at home. Aren’t you out? Buy some on your way back.”

“Okay.”

“What should I buy?”

“Whatever you feel like eating.”

Qin Muxue agreed and headed towards the market.

…….

Soon, the sound of the door opening was heard. Qin Muxue entered, carrying a bunch of groceries.

“This should last us two or three days, right?”

Lin Beixiu checked and nodded but then noticed something and said helplessly, “You really like fish, huh?”

Qin Muxue turned away, “Isn’t that what you said? Buy whatever I want to eat.”

“It’s fine, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Lin Beixiu took the groceries to the kitchen, stored what wouldn’t be used immediately in the fridge, and started preparing the rest.

“I want to have fish soup later.”

“Okay.”

As Lin Beixiu busied himself in the kitchen, Qin Muxue took out her phone to browse the campus forum, finding the post Zhang Tingting showed her. There were quite a few stealthily taken photos of them walking on the street and entering the campus.

Reading the comments below, Qin Muxue’s face grew colder, wishing she could find and beat up those commenters.

While only a small portion believed they were a couple, they were merely classmates and roommates; the baseless speculations annoyed her.

However, recalling the past half-month’s interactions, she couldn’t help but feel… it did seem a bit like they were dating.

Blushing at the thought, Qin Muxue was startled by her own ideas, now feeling too embarrassed.

“Dinner’s ready.”

“Ah.”

Startled, Qin Muxue quickly composed herself and went to the table.

“Coming.”

Seeing the milky white fish soup, Qin Muxue paused again.

“It smells good.”

“Don’t just stand there, serve the rice.”

As they ate, Qin Muxue hesitated before asking, “Did you see the forum?”

The forum?

“No.”

Lin Beixiu, curious, logged into the school’s forum on his phone, his eyes widening in surprise.

Qin Muxue, seeing his reaction, tensely gripped her chopsticks, wondering what he thought.

Lin Beixiu looked at her oddly and said, “The campus belle and beau lists are up. Vote for your favorite.”

Qin Muxue: !!

Lin Beixiu, smiling, “Do you want me to vote for you? It’s all good.”

“Not that!” Qin Muxue was frantic.

She felt like hitting someone…

Lin Beixiu wanted to laugh at her frantic expression but held back.

“So, what were you trying to say?”

Following Qin Muxue’s lead, he finally saw those posts and then put down his phone.

“So?”

“So?”

Qin Muxue didn’t understand his calm reaction.

“It’s just rumors. You know our relationship is nothing but roommates, clean and clear. Why bother about them?”

Qin Muxue was surprised by his calmness and looked at him strangely.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?”

“No.”

Lin Beixiu teased suddenly, “Sure you don’t want me to vote for you?”

“Go away.”

……

Back in his room, Lin Beixiu reopened the forum, checking the votes on the lists. Qin Muxue was rightfully in the lead, given her beauty.

Glancing through, Lin Beixiu noted every beauty listed, including Zhang Tingting, who had visited his milk tea shop. He didn’t bother with the male beauty list, focusing instead back on the original post and its comments. Remembering what Hu Feng had said, he shook his head, not taking it to heart.

Reflecting on their time living together, from their banter to Qin Muxue’s absentmindedness while listening to music, to the first time she cried over the fish, he couldn’t reconcile that with the image of her fighting.

Meanwhile, Qin Muxue lay on her bed, pondering Lin Beixiu’s words, punching her pillow.

This guy… seemed so carefree.

Then she browsed the forum again, curiously checking the belle and beau vote, easily finding Lin Beixiu’s photo at the top of the male list.

The event had been going on for days, but they hadn’t paid much attention to the forum until now.

Seeing Lin Beixiu’s photo, Qin Muxue scoffed and exited the interface, wrapping herself in her blanket to nap.

Unbeknownst to her, her emotions had been stirred by Lin Beixiu, perhaps without even realizing how much her personality had changed.

…….

After the weekend, they continued with their classes.

Before class, Li Yuwei mentioned that due to previous rain and the upcoming National Day holiday, the school planned to combine the freshman welcome party with the National Day parade and invited those interested in performing to sign up with Lin Beixiu.

Li Yuwei then started her lecture.

Lin Beixiu looked at Qin Muxue, who noticed his gaze and asked.

“What?”

“How about I sign you up?”

“You dare?”

Qin Muxue almost instinctively shouted out, her voice a bit loud. The students in the back rows turned their heads, thinking something had happened between them, and looked on curiously.

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