There was no sun, and it wasn’t raining either. Holding an umbrella like this was just… weird.
But Su Yun had no choice. She had to bite the bullet and head toward the Science and Technology Building, umbrella in hand. On the way, she grabbed a bottle of milk and a few packs of bread.
After getting to the classroom, she sat in the back corner and pulled out her food.
Su Yun picked up the meat floss bun she usually liked.
“Awoo.”
One bite.
No taste. Like chewing on cotton.
Still, Su Yun didn’t complain. After all, even if it tasted like nothing, at least it could fill her stomach.
What happened last night had made her too scared to go out for dinner. Now she was starving.
Class would start in a few dozen minutes—better eat some “cotton” to pad her stomach first.
……
Su Yun’s luck was pretty good this morning. The teacher didn’t call on her, and the two classes just switched floors in the same building. All in all, it was a smooth morning.
“Su Yun, why are you dressed so thickly lately? Is it really that cold?” Her roommate’s voice chimed in as she was packing up to leave at noon.
“Very cold.” Su Yun’s hand, which was organizing her books, trembled slightly as she quickly replied.
“By the way, when did you buy that hat? I don’t remember seeing you wear it before.”
Pushing through the crowd, her roommate quickly reached her side and reached out, looking like he wanted to take off the hat Su Yun always wore on her head.
“Don’t touch it.” Su Yun immediately slapped the reaching hand away, her tone colder than usual with her roommate.
If it got pulled off right here, her long, white hair would cascade down her back in an instant.
Most of the class was still here—there was no doubt it’d be social death on the spot.
“Sorry, sorry. Someone must’ve gifted it to you, huh? You’re guarding it so closely,” her roommate laughed awkwardly, then quickly followed the crowd out of the classroom.
Su Yun finally let out a breath once most of the people had left the room.
“Hey, you’re Su Yun, right? Could you help me vote for something?” Just as she was about to leave, a soft girl’s voice called out to her.
She turned around and saw a girl bundled up in a thick winter jacket—yet she wore a skirt underneath, paired with knee-high black boots and a pink scarf around her neck. The whole person looked delicate and petite.
Chen Tingting.
Su Yun knew her. Her roommate had been screwed over because of this girl.
“Sure, but vote for what?”
“Thank you~”
Then Chen Tingting sat down beside her and helped Su Yun find a mini-program and opened it up.
Freshman ‘Goddess’ Ranking.
What the hell?
Su Yun stared blankly as Chen Tingting cast a vote for her—currently ranked 15th.
Just then, a message popped up at the top of the screen.
(Qin Xue: Good afternoon. Have you eaten? Want to eat together?)
Chen Tingting stared at the name for a moment but quickly brushed it off, thinking it couldn’t be what she was imagining.
“Thanks, Su Yun. Here’s your phone.”
Chen Tingting gave Su Yun a wink full of meaning, then quickly walked out of the classroom.
Su Yun looked at the message on the screen.
(Me: Sorry… already ordered takeout. Thanks for the kind offer, Senior.)
If she could avoid drawing attention, then she would.
That was Su Yun’s current mindset.
If you asked whether she wanted to eat with that “Campus Belle” sister?
The answer was: she wanted to.
But not that much.
Compared to looks, Su Yun now valued being gentle and caring more. Her own mom was the best example.
But with how she was now, she’d probably just be a burden to the other party.
Better off alone.
……
After trudging along for more than ten minutes, Su Yun arrived at a quiet little shop.
‘Beijing Mixed Noodles.’
Even at lunchtime, this place was nearly empty.
There was a reason for that—aside from the Mixed Noodles, everything else on the menu was below average. Pricey, too. Might as well eat at the cafeteria.
But Su Yun just happened to like the mixed noodles here.
“Boss, one small mixed noodles. Oh, do you have duck blood here?” Su Yun didn’t bother lowering her voice this time, just asked the question in her natural, feminine tone.
“Duck blood? Yeah, we can cook it with noodles.” An elderly man with a slight hunch came out to answer.
“How much extra is that? I’m not eating noodles—I just want a few pieces in the mixed noodles.”
“Then little girl, I’ll give you three pieces. Just charge you two yuan extra. Total eight yuan.”
“Oh, okay, thanks.” After thanking him, Su Yun picked a seat and sat down.
She took off her mask and breathed in the fresh air.
Good thing she’d always been on the skinny side—wearing a hat and mask could still help her blend in.
But if she went home looking like this, she was sure her parents would never let her through the door.
Because this just wasn’t their child anymore.
Parents knew every inch of their child’s body. Even if Su Yun had just scraped her leg and it turned red, her mom would notice and frantically apply ointment for her.
Sitting there, Su Yun’s thoughts started to wander again.
“Little girl, your mixed noodles’s ready. Duck blood’s on top.” The slightly hoarse voice of the old man came as he placed the full bowl of noodles in front of her.
“Thank you.”
Little girl...
Sigh.
Su Yun let out a long breath, then lowered her head to start eating.
She wanted to test—could duck blood count as real blood?
Because apparently, if she didn’t drink blood, she’d get weaker and weaker.
“What’re you sighing for?”
“?” Su Yun had just picked up a slice of duck blood when a voice beside her startled her.
She turned her head and saw Qin Xue, her beautiful face cold and unreadable.
Today, Qin Xue was wearing long sleeves and long pants—none of yesterday’s jaw-dropping style, but it gave her a homely, comfortable vibe.
“Staring at me, huh? Sister Xiaoyun?”
“No, no, sorry…”
“You should apologize. Said you ordered takeout. But this isn’t takeout, is it?”
“You’d rather eat alone than invite me?” Qin Xue leaned heavily on the table with both hands, eyes sharp like she was ready to murder.
This was her first time getting stood up.
“They said it was out of stock… Fine, I lied. Sorry.” Su Yun figured there was no point hiding it and just confessed, head hanging low.
“You hate me?”
“No…”
“Oh.” Qin Xue responded flatly.
Then she pulled out the chair beside Su Yun and sat down.
“Boss, one mixed noodles.”
“Alright.”
After ordering, Qin Xue shifted her gaze to the girl beside her, who was silently wolfing down her food.
She had spotted the familiar coat on the street and followed. The moment the girl took off her mask at the shop’s entrance, she’d recognize her.
But seriously—white hair that pretty, why hide it all and pretend to be a guy?
“Wearing a mask—are you sick?”
“No, just cold.”
“What about the hat?”
“Also cold.”
“…”
Qin Xue was momentarily speechless.
But she figured one thing out—this girl didn’t trust her at all.
“Girl, here’s your order.” The mixed noodles came quickly. The old man handed Qin Xue her bowl.
“Do you have anything you like?”
This time, Su Yun didn’t answer right away like before. She hesitated.
“No.”
“Oh?” Qin Xue’s interest was instantly piqued by her reaction.
“If you don’t like anything, why go to college?”
“To get a job.”
“Then do you like money?”
“No.”
“Then why are you in college?”
“…”
Su Yun was getting a little annoyed.
What was this, a kindergartener playing 20 Questions?
Keep it up and I’ll suck your blood.
“After we eat, can we take a picture together?”
“Okay.” Su Yun thought about it and agreed.
……
Ten minutes later, they paid and stood outside the shop. People were passing by now and then.
Right next door was a bustling Sha County diner, its outdoor seating packed with customers.
Normally, Su Yun would never agree to take photos in such a place. Way too embarrassing.
But she’d lied, after all—this was her way of making up for it.
“Sister Xiaoyun, can you take off your hat?”
Su Yun glanced around from the corner of her eye.
Didn’t seem like any classmates were nearby.
So she lifted her hat, and the white hair that had been stuffed in there all day came spilling out like a waterfall, completely covering her vision.
Qin Xue looked at Su Yun’s “blossoming head” and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Sister Xiaoyun is so beautiful.”
“…”
Can you not talk like that?
Su Yun helplessly gathered her hair behind her and even posed with a peace sign, as requested.
Click.
Qin Xue looked at her phone and nodded in satisfaction.
After the photo, Su Yun tried to tuck her hair back in, but it was too much of a hassle—she gave up.
She’d find a restroom later.
“Well then, bye-bye?”
“Sister Xiaoyun, do you want to be the Campus Belle?”
Su Yun, who had just turned to leave, froze on the spot.
“?”
(End of Chapter)