Chapter 14 Teasing

Rewind to the fifth working day after the start of the semester, when Ling Wei's process of changing her major was officially completed.

Clutching a stack of new textbooks she had just received from the directing department, she pushed open the dormitory door and unexpectedly found her roommate Qi Mo, who had been missing for several days, making faces at herself in the mirror, as if rehearsing some kind of tragic play.

"Oh, what a rare guest." Ling Wei raised an eyebrow and placed the heavy textbooks on her desk. "I thought you were planning to apply for distance learning this semester."

Three days ago, Ling Wei called Qi Mo, who exclaimed sleepily on the other end of the phone, "What?! School has already started?!", clearly having no concept of the passage of time.

"Oh! Weiwei, you're back!" Qi Mo saw her in the mirror and immediately put on his dramatic act. He turned around, covered his chest with one hand, and stretched out the other towards Ling Wei, saying in an exaggerated, aria-like tone, "Do you know how much I couldn't eat or sleep these past few days while you were gone..."

Before she could finish speaking, she broke down in laughter, but then couldn't help but gag.

Ling Wei put the textbook on the table, raised an eyebrow at her, and said, "What kind of act are you putting on now? 'Pregnancy Reaction: I Really Didn't Eat'?"

"Get lost!" Qi Mo picked up the water glass on the table, took a swig, caught her breath, and then her gossipy and concerned expression returned to normal. "Seriously, is your family matter... really resolved? Do you have enough money? I have a card here, although there isn't much money in it, but you can use it to tide you over!" As she spoke, she really went to rummage through her wallet.

When Qi Mo learned why Ling Wei was working so hard, he immediately gave her all his savings and a card containing her allowance and earnings from her extra work, saying generously, "Take this! You'll pay me back double when you become a big star!"

A warm feeling washed over Ling Wei, and she held her hand: "It's really resolved. All the debts are paid off. Thank you, Boss Mo Mo."

"That's good!" Qi Mo breathed a sigh of relief, then turned her attention to Ling Wei's pile of new textbooks. She picked up the top one, "Film Directing," flipped through a couple of pages, and her eyes widened: "Wait! This textbook is different from mine? Weiwei, don't tell me you..."

“I’ve changed my major,” Ling Wei announced calmly, “to directing.”

"What—?!" Qi Mo's exclamation was earth-shattering, and she almost dropped the book in her hand. "Directing Department?! You, you, you... You gave up the perfectly good Acting Department and ran to the Directing Department, which is full of twists and turns?! My God! Are you possessed by some strange thing? Let me see!" As she spoke, she reached out to touch Ling Wei's forehead.

Ling Wei chuckled and brushed her hand away: "It's a personal choice. I think working behind the scenes suits me better."

“Behind the scenes…” Qi Mo murmured, as if she had been greatly shocked. She took two unsteady steps back and slumped into a chair, her face looking even paler. “This news is too shocking… I need to process this… I feel like my low blood sugar is about to flare up… and I feel a little nauseous…”

Seeing her acting so dramatic and weak, Ling Wei assumed it was just another relapse of her old ailment.

Qi Mo often skips meals to maintain her figure, so low blood sugar is a common occurrence. In addition, her emotions are always fluctuating, so it's normal for her to have some physiological reactions.

"That's why you didn't eat breakfast properly." Ling Wei took a piece of chocolate from her cupboard and handed it to him. "Here, have some to tide you over."

Qi Mo took the chocolate, unwrapped it, and took a small bite. The sweet taste masked some of the nausea.

She watched as Ling Wei sat down, her fingers sliding across the mouse, clearly ready to dive into online learning.

Qi Mo took a small bite of chocolate, then, as if suddenly remembering something, mumbled something indistinctly:

"By the way, Weiwei, what about your...boyfriend? You're just going to leave him alone?"

Boyfriend?

Ling Wei stopped moving the mouse, turned her head to look at Qi Mo, and looked at him with confusion in her eyes.

Qi Mo, completely oblivious, pointed a finger out the window at the building below, his tone tinged with the excitement of watching a spectacle unfold: "Look, I saw him downstairs when I came back. Didn't you see him when you came back? But... did something happen to him? He got a new hairstyle and looks much more rebellious than before. I almost didn't recognize him!"

Ling Wei followed the direction she pointed and looked downstairs.

Under the camphor tree in front of the dormitory building, a person leaned against the trunk, hands in pockets. The afternoon sun shone through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled and dancing light spots on him. His signature spiky short hair still stood stubbornly upright, with a few strands of dyed gold particularly eye-catching in the light.

He turned his face slightly to the side, giving off an unapproachable vibe, yet he still managed to attract the attention of passersby.

A hint of surprise flashed in Ling Wei's eyes.

The person who arrived was Lu Zhao.

"I'm sorry about what happened last time." He lowered his head in front of her, his voice muffled, and handed her a paper bag. "This is for you."

"Oh." Ling Wei nodded, not taking the paper bag. "I'm leaving."

Lu Zhao was taken aback, and quickly stopped her: "I'm here to apologize!"

“Yes,” Ling Wei stopped and said matter-of-factly, “I heard it.”

“Then you…” Lu Zhao was speechless, his expression clearly saying, “This is not what I expected.”

He pushed the paper bag forward again, saying, "Then you can take this, and we'll be even."

"don't want."

Ling Wei was about to walk past him when Lu Zhao hurriedly caught up with her: "If you don't accept it, it means you haven't forgiven me!"

“Yes,” Ling Wei crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him, “Is there a problem? Comrade, it’s not like I have to accept an apology. You caused me serious emotional harm, and I received your apology, which I deserve. But forgiveness is not something you deserve.”

Lu Zhao was speechless after hearing her words, his handsome face turning red, but he stubbornly held onto her wrist and refused to let go.

Ling Wei stumbled as he pulled her, and sighed helplessly, "What exactly do you want to do?"

“You…you’re my brother’s girlfriend,” Lu Zhao said softly, “I don’t want him to…”

“Oh, not anymore,” Ling Wei interrupted him lightly.

Lu Zhao's eyes widened in shock, his voice trembling: "Is it because of me?"

Seeing his expression, Ling Wei's playful side emerged: "Yeah, that's right. My boyfriend's younger brother's attitude towards me is terrifying; I wouldn't dare join that family. So—"

She deliberately dragged out her words, pleased to see his face gradually turn pale, "I broke up with him."

Lu Zhao froze on the spot.

No wonder he's felt uneasy these past two days, like there's a string buzzing in his chest.

As twins, he and Lu Yan occasionally had this inexplicable connection.

However, Lu Yan's emotions were always as stable as an ancient well, and he rarely caught such obvious fluctuations.

The last time I perceived it so clearly was when Grandma Lu Yan was seriously ill.

So this feeling of unease... is it because of the breakup?

How deeply must Lu Yan, a calm and composed person, be hurt to have such strong emotions that even Lu Yan can sense them?

Thinking about the hardships he endured in the previous twenty years, and how he finally met someone he liked, only to have it all ruined because of him...

Lu Zhao gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, his knuckles white, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: "I'm sorry...it's all my fault. What can I do...for you to forgive me?"