Chapter 11: I’ve obviously gotten better

A Hasty Retreat

“It’s just filming, no big deal.
Let’s find a table to eat.”
Yi Dian Dian pushed Lin Lu’s back with all her might toward an empty spot.

Lin Lu found it a bit coincidental, since Su Keke had mentioned she’d be shooting a movie this afternoon.

But what puzzled him was Yi Dian Dian’s lack of reaction.

Back then, Su Keke and Yi Dian Dian bonded over their shared “enemy,” Lin Lu, becoming confidantes who vented together.
Now, with her best friend so close, Yi Dian Dian showed no excitement at reuniting with her ally?

Had their bond faded after he left their lives, their common ground gone, leading to drifted distance and forgotten faces?

Unseen by him, Yi Dian Dian’s face betrayed slight panic.
She hurried Lin Lu away from Su Keke’s line of sight, desperate to avoid detection.

She probably hadn’t noticed, right?
Too busy filming to glance their way…

Settling at a farther table, Yi Dian Dian finally relaxed.

A Lack of Appetite

“You’re not getting food?”

Lin Lu was back with three plates of meat, eyeing her stillness.
To him, her lack of enthusiasm for food was a problem.

“Huh? Oh, I’m going now…”

Yi Dian Dian followed him to the food area, her eyes darting warily, dreading Su Keke’s sudden appearance.

A Surprise Encounter

“Hey? Is that ‘Little Snack Dot’?”

Yi Dian Dian jumped, thinking Su Keke had spotted her.
But it was two unfamiliar girls, recognizing her nickname from her Bilibili account.

Lin Lu, busy fishing out a drowning king crab for the chef to “operate” on, paused at “Little Snack Dot.”
A familiar, long-forgotten name.

The girls, thrilled to meet their favorite vlogger, asked for a photo.
Yi Dian Dian warmly obliged.

After they left, Lin Lu, watching the chef handle the crab, casually asked, “Still using that account?”

Yi Dian Dian nodded.

A Digital Legacy

Lin Lu had created it, forcing her to post life vlogs to break her reclusive habits.
Sharing her world helped ease her social anxiety.

Over the years, it evolved from a forced task to a joy, shaping her vibrant self.
“Little Snack Dot” was a cornerstone of her transformation.

“You’re running into fans now? How many followers?”

“Three million!”

Her tone brimmed with pride, as if she’d wildly exceeded his old assignment.
She showed him her Bilibili profile.

Lin Lu gasped at the number.
Man, he should’ve started his own account back then.

A Glimpse of Fame

He scrolled her videos—not just vlogs, but anime edits, collectible showcases, game guides, cosplay, and dance covers.

Clicking a dance video, Yi Dian Dian flushed, snatching her phone back.

“Don’t look! And don’t sneak a peek later!”

“Not interested,” Lin Lu shrugged.

His indifference irked her.
She was only shy about him watching her dance in front of her.

“See, I was right.
Plenty of people adore petite girls like you.
If you’re cute enough, no one cares about height.
I never got why you were so insecure…”

Grabbing a plate of crab legs, he headed back.
Yi Dian Dian froze, muttering softly.

“If that’s true, why aren’t you as attentive as before?
I’ve gotten better…”

Setting Boundaries

At the table, Lin Lu tossed ingredients into the pot, speaking up.
“Let’s be clear—I might not have time to organize the gala.
I can brainstorm, but you’ve got experience.
I saw your freshman talent show video.
This should be easy for you, right?”

“I can’t do it alone! You’re the coordinator!”

“That’s just Yue Yue shoving it on me.
You know I’m useless at planning events.”

Yi Dian Dian nearly forgot—her ex was once a reckless playboy, skilled only at fighting, spending, and chasing girls.

“You’re the student council president.
You’ve got connections—people will jump at your orders.”

Instinctively, she snapped, “No, you have to help!”

“Threatening me now?”

His twist made her falter, but she doubled down.
“Yes, I’m threatening you!
You’ll work with me daily, or this president’s methods are brutal!”

Even gentle Yi Dian Dian had turned fierce.
No surprise there.

A Precarious Future

Just starting college, Lin Lu had already crossed the counselor and student council president.
His university life would be a tightrope walk.

If he only wanted a diploma, no one could touch him.

But he aimed higher—outstanding graduate status, no disciplinary marks, top grades for awards, and student council experience for a standout resume.
In a sea of graduates, a bland CV meant unemployment.

Yi Dian Dian, as president, could block his council aspirations.
Worse, if she and Zhuang Yan Yue teamed up, his goals were doomed.

Karma, plain and simple.

A Chilling Arrival

“Let’s sit here.”

A familiar voice broke the tension.
Lin Lu and Yi Dian Dian turned to see Su Keke, fresh from filming, sitting at the next table with a middle-aged woman.

Fans swarmed, eager for autographs and photos, now that the filming barriers were gone.

Su Keke signed with a professional smile, but her icy gaze sliced toward Lin Lu and Yi Dian Dian’s table.
Unlike her warm facade, her stare pierced like a blade, cracking the crab leg shells in Lin Lu’s bowl.

She was furious.