Chapter 18: The Sacred Son of Miao Territory’s White Moonlight, Part 2

[Rich but Unhappy: I want, I want, I want! I want a bowl of hot and sour noodles!]

[HuaHua the Painter Just Wants to Die: Thanks, but I have no appetite.]

[Tang An’an, the Gentle Little Fairy: Weiwei, you finally came out! We’re discussing where to go for summer vacation. Want to join us?]

[Studying Brings Peace of Mind: @HuaHua the Painter Just Wants to Die, it’s on me.]

[Studying Brings Peace of Mind: You decide on the trip, I’m fine either way.]

[HuaHua the Painter Just Wants to Die: Weiwei, I love you to death! Then I want the mango mousse cake from the northwest corner of the third floor!]

[Rich but Unhappy: Still eating? Song Yuehua, you might as well just get fat.]

[HuaHua the Painter Just Wants to Die: Zhu Yilin, why wouldn’t I enjoy the perks I earned? As for you, are you jealous?]

...

The chat group erupted into another battle, and Lu Ningshi immediately locked her phone, seeking some peace.

“Yiwei?”

On the third floor of the cafeteria.

Lu Ningshi was standing at the ordering counter. Hearing her name, she turned around and saw Xie Ninghuai accompanied by a girl. She nodded lightly. “Your girlfriend?”

The girl blushed and quickly lowered her head in embarrassment.

“No, this is a freshman I met during orientation. Her name is Ren Yixin; she studies art,” Xie Ninghuai briefly introduced, then asked her, “Have you gotten used to school in these six months? I heard you’re living in the dorm. If you have any difficulties, you can come to the Physics Department to find me.”

“Everything’s fine,” Lu Ningshi replied indifferently, taking the small cake and saying to them, “I have something to do. I’m leaving now.”

Ren Yixin watched her leave, the blush fading from her cheeks, then quietly inquired, “Senior, do you know the campus beauty, Lu?”

“He’s my neighbor,” Xie Ninghuai said, then added appreciatively, “She was admitted to the Philosophy Department with the highest score. She’s more outstanding than most girls I know. Quite impressive.”

“Someone that excellent must have many admirers. Senior, you grew up with her; don’t you have any feelings?”

Ren Yixin teased with a smile, but a flicker of hostility shone in her eyes.

Xie Ninghuai chuckled, “You’re overthinking. I only see her as a little sister.”

After Lu Ningshi walked away, she frowned with annoyance.

Even when buying something, she ran into those two—what bad luck.

Back in the dorm, Lu Ningshi was warmly welcomed by three roommates.

“Weiwei, thanks for bringing the food.”

“Weiwei, you’re literally my angel. I love you so much.”

Lu Ningshi rolled her eyes, stuffing the food into their arms. “Enough already. Even eating can’t shut you up.”

“By the way, about that trip you mentioned earlier, have you decided where to go?” she asked again.

She hadn’t followed the original path of attending a school near Xie Ninghuai; instead, she had worked hard and got into University A.

After enrolling, she didn’t seek any special treatment and, like countless ordinary students, chose a four-person dorm.

Though her parents were uneasy, and she lived on campus, they still bought her a small apartment nearby.

Her three roommates had pleasant personalities, and there was no friction. She spent about half her time living with them and got along well.

She also participated in all the dorm’s group activities.

Tang An picked up a tablet from the table and showed it to her.

“We’ve picked two places: Norway and Iceland. Which one do you want to go to?”

“Do you have any domestic options? My visa is about to expire, so I probably won’t have enough time abroad.”

“Ah?”

Tang An looked a little disappointed. “I haven’t looked into domestic places yet.”

“How about we go to the Miao ethnic region?” Zhu Yilin pointed at a travel promo video she had accidentally come across, excitedly suggesting, “Traditional culture is really popular now. Our vacation coincides with the tail end of their Dragon Boat Festival. Why not go see it together?”

“That sounds good. I can do a Chinese painting themed on ethnic minorities,” Song Yuehua eagerly agreed, rubbing her hands.

“Miao ethnic group?”

Lu Ningshi raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you afraid that once you go, you won’t come back?”

Tang An found Zhu Yilin’s idea good and, turning to Lu Ningshi, was shocked to hear her say that. “Weiwei, this isn’t the Middle Ages. You don’t actually think the Miao people use witchcraft, do you?”

“Weiwei, witchcraft is just a myth from novels. It doesn’t exist in reality,” Song Yuehua chuckled.

“Hahaha... didn’t expect you to be such a coward.”

Zhu Yilin laughed the loudest and most shamelessly.

Wiping tears from her eyes, she explained haltingly, “Since it’s promoted publicly, safety must be assured. Besides, even if some practice sorcery, they live deep in the mountains, haha... and aren’t allowed to go out without permission.”

“Enough laughing,” Lu Ningshi said expressionlessly, her gaze darkening as she looked at the three.

The three immediately shivered and zipped their lips, looking up at her with expectant eyes.

Lu Ningshi’s thoughts drifted a little. The place she visited as a child was near the mountains, quite remote.

“Weiwei~”

Zhu Yilin’s tone turned coquettish as she tugged on her sleeve.

“Act normal!”

Lu Ningshi snapped back to the present and slapped her outstretched arm. “I have no objections. You decide.”

“Yay!”

The other three cheered and high-fived happily.

Lu Ningshi couldn’t help but shake her head and smile.

Once the intense exam week was over, students hurriedly packed their suitcases and rushed off to all corners of the country.

“Weiwei, my brother’s company has an urgent matter and might not make it in time to pick you up. How about riding with Ninghuai?”

Lu Ningshi frowned upon receiving the call. “No need. I can go back by myself.”

“I’m worried about you going alone. I’ve already told Ninghuai. He should be downstairs at your building now.”

Sitting at her desk, Lu Ningshi rubbed her temples helplessly.

She had explained more than once that she didn’t like Xie Ninghuai and had no feelings for him, but her family thought the Xie family was simple and that Xie Ninghuai was reliable and trustworthy.

Lu Ningshi understood her family’s thoughts; a partner who was outstanding and disciplined was hard to find. If they didn’t secure someone early, all that would be left were undesirable options.

But she couldn’t just openly tell them that the future Xie Ninghuai would bring ruin to the Lu family.

Her phone vibrated—it was a message from Xie Ninghuai. She sighed and said, “Fine, I get it.”

After tidying up her dorm belongings, she grabbed her small suitcase and went downstairs.

“Here,” Xie Ninghuai took it with considerate timing and slowly explained, “Qingyu isn’t available. He asked me to pick you up.”

“Thank you,” Lu Ningshi responded with a faint smile.

Xie Ninghuai was a man of few words, and Lu Ningshi didn’t want to chat with him. After getting in the car, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. The two traveled quietly all the way home.

“Ninghuai, Yiwei, you’re back.”

Hearing the door, Xie’s mother masked her fatigue with a smile and warmly greeted them. “Yiwei, your parents aren’t here. Would you like to come to Auntie’s for dinner this summer vacation?”

“Thank you, Auntie, but no,” Lu Ningshi smiled politely. “I’m going on a trip with friends in a few days, so I won’t trouble you.”