The incessant ringing of her phone was grating, but Tao Tian was in no mood to answer. She glanced at the screen—it was Min Min calling. Without a second thought, she declined the call.
Her gaze darted back to Lu Lin, and she desperately clutched Lu Lin’s hand, her eyes filled with hope. “Lu Lin, do you know where Zhou Yuwen is? Please tell , I’m begging you!”
Lu Lin frowned, annoyed by Tao Tian’s persistence. “How would I know where he is? I’m not his girlfriend.”
“You’re lying!” Tao Tian snapped, her voice trembling as her bloodshot eyes stared at Lu Lin. “I’ve seen your chats with him. I know there’s more to your relationship!”
“What are you implying?” Lu Lin’s frown deepened, her expression darkening with disgust. “Are you trying to threaten ?”
“No, no, that’s not what I ant!” Tao Tian quickly waved her hands in denial. “I swear, I’m not going to say anything to anyone! Please, Lu Lin, I just need your help.”
Her voice cracked as she continued, “Zhou Yuwen deleted . He even blocked my number. I can’t reach him anymore...”
Tears welled up in her eyes again. She played the pitiful card, hoping to move Lu Lin. “Can you please call him for ? Tell him I wasn’t trying to sabotage the part-ti jobs, it was all Min Min’s idea. I wasn’t behind it! I don’t even want to be his girlfriend anymore. I just want to stay by his side. Please, Lu Lin, just one call. I’m begging you!”
Tao Tian’s voice broke as she sobbed, her desperation evident.
For a third-year girl to lower herself this much, pleading with a first-year junior, showed just how much Zhou Yuwen ant to her.
People often magnify the virtues of soone they can no longer have, and Tao Tian was no exception.
At that mont, her phone rang again, the persistent sound cutting through her sobs. Tao Tian ignored it, her red-rimd eyes fixed on Lu Lin.
Lu Lin sighed, exasperated by the sight of Tao Tian’s pitiful state. “Fine. Stop crying. Wipe your tears, and I’ll call Zhou Yuwen to see where he is. But honestly, why didn’t you listen to
before? I told you—no matter how flawed Yanyan is, she’s still Zhou Yuwen’s girlfriend.”
Tao Tian nodded furiously, now realizing the wisdom in Lu Lin’s words. It’s all my fault! I should have listened!
Lu Lin added, “Answer your phone. Soone’s obviously trying to reach you for sothing important.”
Tao Tian, eager to obey, answered Min Min’s call.
“Hello?” Tao Tian’s voice was soft and shaky as she wiped her tears.
“Where are you, Tao Tian?! Sothing big has happened!” Min Min’s voice was frantic, tinged with anger.
“I’m outside. What’s wrong?” Tao Tian asked, her emotions settling slightly.
“Get back to the dorm imdiately! We’ve been duped by Qu Jing!” Min Min exclaid, her fury barely contained.
---
Earlier that morning, the Arts Departnt girls, regulars in the part-ti job scene, had started their day as usual, gossiping in the group chat.
“I bet Zhou Yuwen’s panicking right now,” one said, chuckling.
“He deserves it for ssing with Tao Tian. We’ll teach him a lesson!”
“Exactly! Bullying Tao Tian is like bullying all of us. We’ll make him pay.”
“He signed contracts with the labor company for five exhibitions, right? With no girls showing up, he’s definitely going to lose money. ????♂??”
“Sweet revenge. He’ll probably co crawling back to Tao Tian soon ??”
The chat was lively with such banter until soone suddenly posted a photo from an exhibition.
The image showed Zhou Yuwen, dashing in a silver suit, standing next to Qu Jing, who wore a sleek off-the-shoulder dress and high heels.
“Wait... what? He’s at the exhibition? It’s already started?”
The chat exploded with questions.
“What’s going on?! Who posted this?”
The answer ca quickly: “Saw it on soone’s social dia. Zhou Yuwen found people to replace us!”
Further details erged: Zhou Yuwen had recruited girls from South Arts University, and Qu Jing had secretly contacted several of their own group mbers the night before. Not only were these girls now participating, but they’d also been made team leaders, earning 500 yuan each.
“@Qu Jing! Is this true?!”
“@Sun Qian, explain yourself!”
Panic swept through the chat. Those who had been the most vocal about boycotting Zhou Yuwen now demanded answers.
But Qu Jing and the other eight girls were too busy with their new roles to respond.
Under Zhou Yuwen’s leadership, the exhibitions were running smoothly. Qu Jing, in particular, had proven herself indispensable, efficiently managing the girls and addressing any issues.
When so South Arts girls struggled with their tasks, Qu Jing personally stepped in to guide them, demonstrating her dedication.
Her commitnt didn’t go unnoticed by Su Qing, who couldn’t help but tease Zhou Yuwen. “How did you rope Qu Jing in? Wasn’t she Tao Tian’s bestie?”
Zhou Yuwen smirked. “I have my ways.”
As word spread about their betrayal, Qu Jing and the others decided to leave the group chat altogether.
“Why stay? Let’s cut ties completely,” Qu Jing suggested.
One by one, they exited the chat, leaving the remaining mbers stunned.
The backlash was imdiate.
“@Tao Tian, @Min Min, explain yourselves! What’s going on?!”
“You dragged us into this, and now we’re abandoned. What are we supposed to do?”
Panicked ssages flooded the chat as the reality of their situation sank in.
So girls, desperate for damage control, started calling Zhou Yuwen directly.
“Zhou Yuwen, I didn’t an to! It was all Tao Tian’s idea. Please, let
co back!”
Others called Liu Shuo, trying to plead their case, but his responses were far less forgiving.
“Oh, weren’t you the one saying you’d break away from us? What happened to your big plans?” Liu Shuo sneered.
anwhile, Zhou Yuwen, traveling between exhibitions, took call after call from tearful girls trying to sweet-talk their way back into his good graces.
“Zhou Yuwen, I’m so sorry! I’ve always supported you. Please don’t leave
out next ti!”
“Let’s talk this Friday. I’ll treat you to dinner—punish
however you like!” one girl cooed, her voice dripping with sweetness.
Zhou Yuwen chuckled. “We’ll see.”
As the chaos unfolded, Min Min sat in the dorm, seething with frustration.
She realized too late that Qu Jing had outplayed them all. Worse, she suspected Qu Jing had leveraged her newfound position to grow closer to Zhou Yuwen—perhaps even crossing a line.
Fueled by jealousy and desperation, Min Min picked up her phone and called Zhou Yuwen. If Qu Jing could offer sothing, so could she.
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