Chapter Eighteen: Words of Experience

Qi Leyu boasted away, while "Unreliable" sounded unconvinced.
"Don't doubt me. I told you before, your skills are lacking. My master brought me up to King rank, while you can barely help me earn a single star," Qi Leyu said.
"Go to hell! After all the games we've played together, I know exactly how good you are! Carry you? I'd rather just die! You must've paid someone to play your King rank for you."
"Tsk, tsk, look at your jealous face—how ugly!" Qi Leyu replied.
"With that mouth of yours, you really found a good master?" "Unreliable" shook his head. "When are you free, let me see for myself? You promised last time, but you kept dodging me—definitely hiding something!"
"Well, there was a reason last time. But next time we meet, I can introduce you." Qi Leyu recalled when her real gender was exposed; her master had said it didn't matter, but she couldn't help but feel there must be a touch of displeasure.
"See! Still refusing to let me meet them. Liar."
"What do you know! My master said now that I've reached King, I'm officially graduated."
"Unreliable" let out a long "oh": "So, you don't have a master now."
"Nonsense! Once a master, always a master—you wouldn't understand," Qi Leyu said.
After showing off to "Unreliable," Qi Leyu felt even more cheerful, inspiration struck, and she wrote nearly ten thousand words in one burst. By the time she rubbed her sore neck and looked up, it was almost midnight and the city was silent.
She thought back to the last two games—her master teaching and encouraging her with patience. Qi Leyu felt a warm glow in her heart. Although her master had a sharp tongue, she never blamed her for any mistake in the game.
Of course, she herself was obedient and well-behaved—aside from being bad at the game, she was good at everything else.
Give it a few more days, until her master had truly cooled off, then she'd go find her again. Qi Leyu made up her mind: she'd log on often to wait for her master.
For several days, Qi Leyu logged in at the usual time, but "Original Gold Worth a Thousand" was nowhere to be found. She tried different times, waiting in vain.
Hmm? Deliberately avoiding me? Surely not—maybe something's going on?
After some thought, Qi Leyu left a message: Master, I have a friend, a game streamer, who needs some help from a pro—could you lend a hand?
She didn't know if her master would agree, but waiting around wasn't working; she had to find some reason, raise the odds.
These days, Yuan Zhong had indeed been preoccupied. She sensed something had changed in the dormitory, something she didn't know about.
She'd asked Zhang Cheng before, but she refused to say. This time, Yuan Zhong tried to get it out of Feng Duoduo.
Feng Duoduo was doing a face mask, mumbling, "Nothing's going on, what could possibly be happening?"
"No, something's up. I can tell you haven't spoken to Lin Hui these past days," Yuan Zhong pressed. "Really, what is it?"
"What's strange about not talking to her? I just can't stand her, that's all. It's not like it's a new thing. My relationship with Lin Hui has always been complicated. How should I put it? It's like that saying: why did Zhuge Liang have to be born after Zhou Yu?"
"If you can't stand her, why eat late-night snacks together?" Yuan Zhong didn't buy it. Their relationship was ordinary, but not bad. Feng Duoduo was exaggerating.
"It's precisely because I can't stand her that I let her eat late-night snacks. If she gains weight, she'll be less pretty than me. Heroes appreciate heroes, but beauties don't appreciate other beauties—women just like to make things hard for each other, especially if both are beautiful," Feng Duoduo said.
Yuan Zhong wasn't pleased.
Feng Duoduo turned to comfort her: "Just mind your own business and stop worrying about us. How are things going with your beloved?"
Yuan Zhong knew Feng Duoduo was trying to change the subject and didn't press further.
Feng Duoduo was always slippery, unlike Zhang Cheng, who was straightforward. She had all sorts of twists and turns; if she didn't want to talk, there was no way to make her.
Yuan Zhong thought about trying Zhang Cheng again, but she had started her internship, was busy, sometimes didn't even stay in the dorm, and when she did, she came and went in a rush—already half a working woman's routine.
Yuan Zhong couldn't help but sigh—four years of university were really coming to an end, and then everyone would go their separate ways. At least, for the next two or three years, they'd all still be in this city.
Lin Hui had been preoccupied and stopped playing games at night, so Yuan Zhong wanted to keep her company.
At first, Lin Hui was listless, but suddenly, at lunch, she perked up, pulled Yuan Zhong to eat, and then insisted on going to the library.

"You've caught a bit of a cold; wouldn't it be better to just take some medicine and sleep?" Yuan Zhong didn't understand.
"I need to look up some information," Lin Hui rubbed her nose. "There's a lot. I'll give you a list, and you can help me find some."
"Sure, you go back first, I'll bring them to you when I find them," Yuan Zhong agreed without thinking much.
In the library, following the index, Yuan Zhong unexpectedly ran into Zhang Shun. Her mind went blank, and she stood there stunned.
Zhang Shun noticed her, walked over, and greeted her. "Hello."
"Hi, hello," Yuan Zhong replied dumbly, raising her right hand to wave, then realizing it was awkward, quickly put it down.
"What a coincidence, are you looking for books here too?" Zhang Shun asked.
Yuan Zhong nodded, then explained, "I'm helping someone else find books, not for myself."
Zhang Shun glanced around and asked, "Is it for Lin Hui?"
Yuan Zhong stared, surprised. "How did you know?"
"I know her research direction. Ours are pretty close, so we've talked before," Zhang Shun said.
"Oh, yes, that's right." Yuan Zhong nodded repeatedly.
"Lin Hui didn't come herself?" Zhang Shun asked.
"She caught a cold, isn't feeling well, went back to the dorm first. I'm bringing the books to her," Yuan Zhong replied.
"Really? The list is quite long—let me help you find them," he offered.
"Really? That would be great." Yuan Zhong could hardly believe her luck—getting a chance to be alone with her crush!
The two of them searched for books together. Zhang Shun would check the list from time to time, or hand over the books he found. Later, worried Yuan Zhong couldn't carry them all, he just took them himself.
All the while, Yuan Zhong racked her brains thinking: What should I say? Should I try to chat? Isn't it awkward not to talk?
Before she could decide, they found all the books.
Zhang Shun checked the list again and said, "Alright, got them all."
"Ah, oh." Yuan Zhong wanted to say: Why did it end so quickly?
She looked at Zhang Shun, thinking: Should I ask him for tea? Or invite him to dinner?
Before she could speak, Zhang Shun said, "Shall I walk you back to your dorm?"
"Yes, yes," Yuan Zhong nodded quickly. This way, she'd have more time to think about how to invite him.
On the way, she still couldn't find a topic. After a while, Zhang Shun broke the silence: "Do you have cold medicine in your dorm? Should we stop by the pharmacy?"
Yuan Zhong nodded eagerly—any excuse to spend more time together.
So the two of them went to the pharmacy, picked both Chinese and Western cold remedies. At the counter, Zhang Shun paid for everything himself.
"I shouldn't let you—let me transfer you the money on WeChat?" Yuan Zhong thought, perfect! A chance to add his contact.
But Zhang Shun shook his head. "No need, just hurry and get the medicine back."
Yuan Zhong didn't think much, nodded obediently.
Zhang Shun walked her all the way to her dorm. Yuan Zhong went upstairs, glanced out the window, and saw he hadn't gone far—he'd waited a bit downstairs. Was he watching her leave?
"What's up?" Lin Hui's voice was stuffy with congestion.
"Here are your books," Yuan Zhong said excitedly. "Guess who I ran into at the library?"

"Your beloved."
"You're no fun."
Lin Hui laughed. "So, did it go well?"
Yuan Zhong was a bit disappointed, shook her head. "I didn't even know what to talk about. Oh, but he was really thoughtful, even went with me to buy cold medicine—here you go."
Lin Hui took the medicine without a word.
"It really was such a coincidence today," Yuan Zhong sighed, humming as she took her shower.
Lin Hui's phone lit up—WeChat.
It was Zhang Shun: Is your cold serious?
Lin Hui didn't reply.
That night, facing Feng Duoduo, Lin Hui felt a bit awkward.
Feng Duoduo crossed her arms, looking indifferent. "There are plenty of girls who steal their best friend's boyfriend. Are you one of them? Think carefully."
"Nonsense!" Lin Hui frowned. So that was what this was about.
"Oh? I wish I were making it up. But ask yourself—haven't you been spending time with Zhang Shun lately?"
Lin Hui was silent.
"See? Hmph! You know full well Yuan Zhong likes him—do you have to do this?" Feng Duoduo glared.
"None of your business!"
"There are plenty of green teas in the world, and normally I don't care, but if you go after Yuan Zhong's guy, then it's my business."
"You care too much—they're not even together," Lin Hui snapped, unwilling to let Feng Duoduo have the last word.
"Say that again!" Feng Duoduo put her hands on her hips. "Don't think I won't do anything. If you dare say it again, I'll tell Yuan Zhong and see how you face her."
Lin Hui had always disliked Feng Duoduo—she thought she was mean, always catching others' faults and holding them over them. With a cold snort, she said, "You don't really want to help Yuan Zhong—you just want to make me uncomfortable."
"That's right, if you're uncomfortable, I'm happy," Feng Duoduo bluntly admitted. "But I do want to help Yuan Zhong—help her see you clearly."
"Enough! My business and Yuan Zhong's are none of your concern," Lin Hui turned to leave.
Feng Duoduo followed, unconcerned. "You'd better make up your mind soon—friendship or love. And don't tell me you don't like Zhang Shun."
"You—!" Lin Hui wanted to shut her up.
"I'm just helping you decide early—better to cut it off now than struggle with the choice later," Feng Duoduo said as she passed Lin Hui, heading back to the dorm.
That was what Lin Hui hated about Feng Duoduo—she saw things too clearly, especially matters of the heart. "What—speaking from experience?" Lin Hui retorted.
"Yes, that's experience for you—take it, no thanks necessary."
Lin Hui looked at Feng Duoduo, a little envious of how freely she could live.
So, Yuan Zhong's encounter with Zhang Shun at the library had not been a coincidence. Earlier, when discussing papers, Lin Hui had casually mentioned needing to look for books that afternoon, then sent Yuan Zhong instead.
Her choice was simple—she chose Yuan Zhong. It wasn't that she was so noble, just that love, in the end, didn't seem to fit her.