In mid-October, the weather was unexpectedly hot, with the sun hanging high in the sky. Fortunately, a tall plane tree outside the lecture hall shaded most of the light, though so patches of sunlight still filtered through the leaves and into the room.
The wind occasionally rustled the leaves, causing the light inside the classroom to shift as well. By the afternoon, most of the students were listless, lying over their desks and fanning themselves with textbooks.
Zheng Yanyan kept glancing at her phone, hoping Zhou Yuwen would reach out to her.
Next to her sat Lu Lin, wearing a sleeveless black T-shirt and dark blue jeans. She seed in good spirits; after all, she had spent the previous night with Zhou Yuwen. Aside from the initial discomfort, Lu Lin had gradually started to enjoy the experience, especially Zhou Yuwen’s skillful touch, which seed to have a unique charm that put her completely at ease. Just thinking about it made her unconsciously cross her legs under the desk.
That morning, she had woken up next to Zhou Yuwen, both of them bare under the sheets. Zhou Yuwen's hand had slipped under her arm, his familiar technique making her shiver. She had clung to him, writhing slightly, discovering that she was increasingly drawn to these monts.
Watching Zheng Yanyan look absentminded, Lu Lin asked with a bit of boredom, “What’s up? Did you and Zhou Yuwen argue again?”
“Not exactly,” Zheng Yanyan muttered evasively.
“Then why ask
to call him? Why don’t you call him yourself?”
“No, he’s just jealous. It started with Su Qing, but then Chang Hao decided to confront Zhou Yuwen, accusing him of bullying . So now Zhou Yuwen thinks Chang Hao and I are close, and he’s ignoring . But you know that’s not true, right, Lu Lin?” Zheng Yanyan explained.
“Well, who knows.” Lu Lin rested her chin on her hand and teased, “I rember when school started, you and Chang Hao were pretty close. I even thought you two were dating.”
Zheng Yanyan imdiately protested, “Don’t talk nonsense. I only t him in the alumni group before college. I didn’t even know what he looked like!”
“Well, you already have a boyfriend, but you’re close with another guy. If I were Zhou Yuwen, I wouldn’t talk to you either,” Lu Lin chuckled, not caring much about Zheng Yanyan’s feelings and enjoying the chance to poke fun.
“But Zhou Yuwen and Su Qing aren’t exactly clear-cut either!”
“Are they? From what I’ve seen, Zhou Yuwen has been very clear with Su Qing.”
Lu Lin continued, “Even if sothing happened between them before, it’s settled now.”
“If Zhou Yuwen hadn’t been clear, why would Su Qing kneel to him?”
Hearing this, Zheng Yanyan began to see so sense in it.
Lu Lin added, “See? The issue is that you’re too sensitive. You even got jealous of
before.”
“That was a long ti ago,” Zheng Yanyan didn’t want to discuss the past, but Lu Lin’s words were making sense. Su Qing, proud as she was, would never have kneeled unless Zhou Yuwen had completely dismissed her.
“So, does this an I was wrong?” Zheng Yanyan murmured, then asked, “Should I go and apologize to Zhou Yuwen?”
“I wouldn’t know—I’ve never been in a relationship. How would I know?” Lu Lin chuckled.
Zheng Yanyan thought it over and said, “But if I’m always the one apologizing, isn’t that just humiliating? Last ti, Zhou Yuwen tried to get close to , but when I got upset, he ignored , and I ended up apologizing. Now it’s happening again.”
“Why is it always
taking the first step? Doesn’t that make
lose my dignity?” Zheng Yanyan seed to be talking to Lu Lin, though it was almost like she was questioning herself.
Lu Lin found this version of Zheng Yanyan rather amusing.
“I don’t know. They say even a judge has trouble settling dostic issues. You should think it through,” Lu Lin advised.
After a while, Zheng Yanyan dismissed it, deciding not to contact him.
“Even if I was wrong, I’m still a girl. Isn’t it his job to co and comfort ?”
“You’re not wrong,” Lu Lin agreed.
“Ugh, can’t you give
any advice?”
“I don’t know!”
“Fine, just send him a ssage for , asking what he’s up to.”
“No way, that’s boring.”
“Linlin! Aren’t you supposed to be my friend!?”
In frustration, Zheng Yanyan reached out to pinch Lu Lin’s arm, making her burst into laughter.
The two made enough noise to attract the attention of their teacher and classmates in the front, prompting them to quiet down.
Over the following days, Zheng Yanyan couldn’t help but check Zhou Yuwen’s WeChat profile picture, refreshing to see if he’d changed their couple’s photo. She spent several classes daydreaming.
Seeing her like this, Lu Lin would casually say, “If you miss him so much, why don’t you just go talk to him?”
But Zheng Yanyan always replied, “No way. If he doesn’t co to , I won’t go to him. I’ll wait and see how long he lasts.”
“n aren’t reliable; sisters are better. Co with
to the supermarket tonight, Linlin?”
“I can’t. I’m heading to the internet café.”
“Why are you, a girl, always going to the internet café?”
“What can I do? I can’t afford a computer. Where else can I go?” Lu Lin shrugged.
“Hmph, what’s so fun about the internet café?” Zheng Yanyan asked.
“More fun than thinking about so guy all day,” Lu Lin replied, lying on her desk.
Back in the dorm, things remained unchanged. Zheng Yanyan and Su Qing had stopped speaking entirely since their last confrontation. Even when they saw each other, neither would break the silence, although they occasionally exchanged glances. But with both refusing to budge, the tension lingered.
Curious about what had passed between Zhou Yuwen and Su Qing, Zheng Yanyan asked Lu Lin to find out. To her surprise, Lu Lin imdiately replied, “It’s not a big secret, actually. That day, after you slapped Su Qing, she went to Zhou Yuwen and demanded he break up with you. Zhou Yuwen told her that whatever they’d had was in the past, and that you were his girlfriend now. Su Qing got so upset that she knelt down to him.”
Zheng Yanyan was taken aback. “How do you know all this?”
“Zhou Yuwen told ,” Lu Lin said casually.
“???” Zheng Yanyan was dumbfounded. “When did you see Zhou Yuwen?”
“I see him all the ti,” Lu Lin replied.
“???” Zheng Yanyan was even more bewildered.
Lu Lin explained that she often ran into Zhou Yuwen when she’d go to the alley for late-night snacks after her gaming sessions. Occasionally, they’d chat, and they’d also t at a recent lecture.
“Why didn’t you tell
any of this?”
“You never asked!”
“Linlin!” Furious, Zheng Yanyan demanded, “When do you usually go to that alley?”
“After gaming, around 9 p.m.”
“Next ti, I’m coming with you!”
Zheng Yanyan was fuming. She’d been wandering around Zhou Yuwen’s usual spots without any luck, while carefree Lu Lin just kept running into him. It was infuriating!
As for what Lu Lin told Zheng Yanyan, it was only partially true. Lu Lin genuinely enjoyed gaming, but instead of going to an internet café, she would often end up at Zhou Yuwen's apartnt to play. And, of course, it wasn’t just about gaming.
Initially, her relationship with Zhou Yuwen was straightforward. She even tried to maintain a distant, aloof deanor, occasionally smoking to give herself an edgy look. But, at only eighteen, she couldn’t compete with Zhou Yuwen’s maturity. After spending a few days together, her “cool girl” mask started to slip.
In reality, though Lu Lin was more mature than most of her peers, she had her monts of innocence, enjoying sweets and even stopping to watch claw machines when they passed by one at the mall. She was a peculiar mix of maturity and girlishness.
In these days apart from Zhou Yuwen, Zheng Yanyan couldn’t eat or sleep properly. A saying ca to mind, *“A woman who has been with a lion can never settle for a house dog.”* Though exaggerated, it resonated with her. After all, Zhou Yuwen had been her first love, they drove around in his convertible, and she wasn’t shy about showing off. Wherever she went, people would ask, “Hey Yanyan, where’s your boyfriend today?”
“By the way, Yanyan, our departnt’s going on a trip tomorrow. Could your boyfriend give us a lift? I’d love to ride in his convertible!”
Even in class, when they discussed interior design, soone would raise their hand and say, “Professor, Yanyan’s boyfriend’s place is designed in a modern style; she’s even posted it on her social dia!”
The entire class would laugh, and seeing an opportunity for an example, the professor would say, “Oh, really? Do you have any photos we can use?”
Zhou Yuwen had bought a pre-owned apartnt that was a bit cheaper than market price, yet the previous owner’s upscale, foreign-inspired design choices gave it significant appeal. The professor projected Yanyan’s social dia photos on the screen, pointing out various features, such as the project’s high-end Lanyuan developnt in Jinling.
As the professor discussed the apartnt’s lighting and layout, Yanyan realized how prestigious Zhou Yuwen’s property was in Jinling.
In these days of silence from Zhou Yuwen, his presence still lingered in every corner of Yanyan’s life. Whether in class or at the Arts Departnt, people constantly asked, *Where’s your boyfriend?* How could she not miss him?
If they really broke up, would all of Zhou Yuwen’s aura and everything they shared be lost? Just imagining it, she felt unwilling to let go.
While Yanyan was caught in her feelings, Zhou Yuwen seed unaffected by their days apart. He even suspected they’d unofficially broken up.
In those three days, Zhou Yuwen had spent his ti leisurely. He had initially invested over 10,000 yuan in a high-end computer setup for gaming, which unexpectedly attracted Lu Lin’s attention. She started coming over to ga frequently after learning about the setup. Noticing her interest, Zhou Yuwen bought an additional computer to play together.
At first, Lu Lin looked down on his skills. “Hah, I don’t want to waste my ti beating you.”
“Oh, really?” Zhou Yuwen was skeptical. In his previous life, he’d played gas for four years in the dorm and another two post-graduation. Reborn, he felt he’d only improved—his reflexes were quicker, and his control sharper.
Now, he played each match with incredible finesse, often turning the tide for his team.
After several matches, Lu Lin was dumbfounded by his skill.
“Still think you can beat ?” Zhou Yuwen chuckled.
Without a word, Lu Lin found herself blushing. Zhou Yuwen walked over, lifted her onto the computer desk, and teased, “Didn’t you say you’d beat ?”
Embarrassed, she mumbled, “Why are you so good at this ga?”
“Then, shouldn’t you fulfill your end of the deal?”
“What deal?”
“Rember?” Zhou Yuwen leaned in and kissed her.
Earlier, Lu Lin, overconfident in her skills, had agreed to a playful bet where she’d win 1,000 yuan for each kill she scored on him. However, if she lost, she’d remove a piece of clothing.
Predictably, Zhou Yuwen won each ti. She was wearing a sleeveless black T-shirt and jeans that day, and after each round, Zhou Yuwen’s teasing grew bolder. He lifted her onto the desk, removed her T-shirt, and kissed her deeply.
In these days of silence with Yanyan, Zhou Yuwen spent ti with Lu Lin, balancing gaming and als. Their relationship grew more intimate, and she began to cling to him. After a victorious match, she’d wrap her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. In those monts, she felt a flicker of true happiness and even entertained the thought that things could stay this way forever.
But lurking beneath this bliss was a faint fear—what if Zhou Yuwen eventually tired of her?
One late-night gaming session stretched to eleven o'clock, and Lu Lin, caught up in excitent from their narrow victory, gave Zhou Yuwen a celebratory peck on the cheek. She blushed afterward, trying to maintain her previous aloofness.
“It’s eleven already. I… I should head back to the dorm.”
Zhou Yuwen caught her hand and said, “Stay tonight.”
Being with Lu Lin was easy; she had none of Yanyan’s temper, and she’d readily do whatever he asked. After long gaming sessions, she’d even give him shoulder massages and leg rubs.
Lu Lin’s feelings had deepened to the point where she began to idolize him.
anwhile, Yanyan spent those sa days restlessly questioning herself, “It’s been three days already. Why hasn’t Zhou Yuwen co looking for ?”
Seeing her internal struggle, Lu Lin comnted offhandedly, “You’re drawn to Zhou Yuwen because he brings you new experiences, but what are you offering him in return? Why should he co looking for you?”
Her words struck Yanyan like a bolt of lightning.
In her ti apart from Zhou Yuwen, however, he hadn’t just been idling around with Lu Lin. He still had to think about earning money.
On his last trip to Macau, he’d won quite a bit, though he spent most of it there. After coming back, he had around 30,000 yuan, which quickly dwindled with computer upgrades, Su Qing’s 7,000 yuan allowance, and expenses for transferring his courier business.
Right now, Zhou Yuwen was technically in debt. Though everyone envied him for living in a luxurious high-rise, few knew he hadn’t yet fully paid for it.
Fortunately, Bitcoin hadn’t disappointed. In just a week, his investnt had tripled, turning 2 million yuan into 6 million. As quickly as he spent, he needed to make it back.
Aside from spending ti with Lu Lin, Zhou Yuwen devoted himself to writing. In three days, he’d written 100,000 words. His novel, which had gained imnse popularity in his past life, was once again topping the charts after a month, bolstered by so promotional boosts.
By mid-October, the story had already gained a substantial following across the university, bringing in tens of thousands in royalties.
The novel featured two female leads: one, a "first love" from his university days, and the other, a "childhood sweetheart" from high school. He even added an extra twist—an alluring side character he’d wanted to develop more in his past life.
Despite the unrestrained writing style, readers couldn’t get enough of it.
The novel quickly spread through the dorms, with readers like Li Qiang and Chang Hao becoming enthusiastic fans, debating plot points late into the night. Li Qiang, smiling, would say, “Man, if only I could be like Chen Yingjun with girls on each arm.”
Chang Hao, however, held a more serious view. “Chen Yingjun doesn’t know what true love is. Real love doesn’t hurt the one you care about.”
After being scolded by Yanyan in class, Chang Hao had beco more reserved, often gazing thoughtfully from the balcony.
As for Zhou Yuwen, his earnings from royalties wouldn’t arrive until November, and he still had a 150,000-yuan shortfall.
At this point, Manager Zhao from the labor company called about an upcoming event where Zhou Yuwen had arranged six part-ti hosts and twenty security guards, potentially earning him a nice profit if he charged a premium. However, he wasn’t one to exploit people, so he left the pricing as usual.
When Zhao ntioned the event's success, Zhou Yuwen cut him off, saying, “You can coordinate with Liu Shuo on future gigs. No need to call .”
“Hey, I actually have another favor to ask,” Zhao quickly added as Zhou Yuwen was about to hang up.
“What is it?”
“Our boss wants to take you out for a al this weekend.”
Zhou Yuwen paused, then agreed, thinking it’d be a good idea to keep an eye on the part-tirs in case anything went wrong.
“Alright, Zhao. I’ll be there to supervise.”
“Great, brother! I’ll have a big red envelope waiting for you!”
After they hung up, Zhao sent him 888 yuan, essentially making him the lead for the day. Zhou Yuwen accepted the paynt—it was his rightful wage.
Later, he called Tao Tian.
“Hey, Zhou
Yuwen?” Tao Tian answered.
“Yeah, how are you getting there tomorrow?” he asked directly.
Tao Tian, assuming he was just worried she might lose her way, explained, “We’re taking the subway.”
“Oh, how many of you are coming?”
“There are three of us from my dorm and three from another dorm.”
“Got it. I’ll co pick you all up.”
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