Chapter 33: Fu Qingyue
A Hurried Lunch Break
During the lunch break, Fu Qingyue hurried along, carrying two cups of milk tea. Though her expression remained cool, a closer look revealed a faint smile tugging at her lips, betraying her excitement.
Once, she had trailed behind Ye Sheng like a shadow, always at his heels, but he never reciprocated, causing their relationship to drift apart. Now, things were different. Since that day, Ye Sheng had stopped chasing Lan Yi and returned to Fu Qingyue’s side. Today, he had even taken the initiative to message her, asking to meet.
“If I remember correctly… Ye-ge likes grape flavor…”
Ignoring the rekindled gossip about Ye Sheng and Lan Yi, the white-haired girl focused on whether Ye Sheng’s taste had changed, carefully inspecting the milk tea in her hands.
She shook her head lightly, then quickened her pace, eager to reach him. To save time, Fu Qingyue took a secluded path rarely used by others.
An Unexpected Encounter
The supposedly empty path wasn’t deserted. A small figure caught Fu Qingyue’s eye—a delicate, black-haired girl curled up under a tree, trembling. Her lifeless eyes glistened with tears, like a flower on the verge of wilting.
Instinctively, Fu Qingyue stopped in her tracks.
The girl looked up, noticing Fu Qingyue’s presence. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, and un wiped tears slid down her cheeks.
In a panic, she sprang up, ready to flee like a startled rabbit.
Though it should have been none of Fu Qingyue’s business, an inexplicable feeling stirred within her. She couldn’t let this girl escape.
Acting on impulse, Fu Qingyue reached out and grabbed the girl’s arm.
“Eh?”
The girl let out a trembling, confused sound, clearly unprepared for this.
Yet Fu Qingyue didn’t let go. Her expression remained unreadable, making it hard to discern her intentions.
“What’s wrong?”
Fu Qingyue’s cool, clear voice reached the girl’s ears. Today, she was determined to meddle.
“Nothing’s wrong… Let me go!”
The girl turned, her eyes red and tear-streaked, but she stubbornly insisted.
Seeing her reaction, Fu Qingyue fell silent. Never one for words, she was at a loss in this situation. Instead, she decided to handle it her own way.
Tightening her grip, Fu Qingyue pulled the girl back toward the path.
“What are you doing?! Let go!”
The girl struggled fiercely, but her resistance was futile. Silently, Fu Qingyue dragged her along, showing no intention of releasing her.
“Hey, you, you—!”
“Fu Qingyue. My name is… Fu Qingyue.”
Finally stopping, Fu Qingyue pulled the girl in front of her, introducing herself softly before staring at her expressionlessly.
“I… you…”
“Sit.” Fu Qingyue pointed to a bench behind the girl, her tone flat.
“Um, Miss… Fu Qingyue?”
“Sit.” Fu Qingyue repeated, her voice still cold.
“Eek, okay, okay!”
Perhaps intimidated by Fu Qingyue’s icy demeanor, the girl complied, sitting down with her head lowered, as if awaiting judgment.
“Wait here. Don’t run.”
Fu Qingyue’s expression was serious, her tone leaving no room for refusal.
“Okay…”
Seeing the girl agree, Fu Qingyue pulled out her phone and began typing.
Ye Sheng’s Frustration
Meanwhile, Ye Sheng was in a foul mood. In just a few days of neglecting school matters, public opinion had turned against him.
He clearly remembered having won Lan Yi over, yet some nobody had stepped in and taken the blame for her.
Irritated, he had ordered his family’s subordinates to investigate the previous day. The results confirmed that everything Lin Mu had said was true, contradicting Ye Sheng’s understanding.
Even more frustrating, the system’s campus reputation task was nearly ruined. His once-soaring reputation had plummeted, and the system had revoked his previous rewards, lowering his ability’s precision by a level.
“I don’t care who’s scheming behind my back. If I catch you… you’re done…”
A glint of killing intent flashed in Ye Sheng’s eyes. He refused to be outmaneuvered after being reborn.
In his sour mood, Ye Sheng had arranged to meet Fu Qingyue today, hoping her devotion would lift his spirits. After all, a girl who adored him wholeheartedly was always a comfort.
Yet, Fu Qingyue, of all people, kept him waiting far too long, making him frown instinctively.
Ding—
His phone chimed, and Ye Sheng checked it, his disbelief growing. This was unprecedented.
The message was from Fu Qingyue, containing a single line:
“Sorry, Ye-ge, something came up. I can’t make it today.”
A Gentle Offer
Having sent the message, Fu Qingyue pocketed her phone and looked at the girl sitting stiffly before her.
“What happened?”
Though she tried to soften her tone, Fu Qingyue’s voice still carried its usual chill, making the girl flinch.
“N-nothing… I wasn’t crying earlier. It was just acting! I’m… I’m from the drama club, practicing…”
The girl stammered, then looked up, only to meet Fu Qingyue’s stern expression. Clearly, Fu Qingyue wasn’t buying her excuse—why run if it was just practice?
Realizing she couldn’t fool Fu Qingyue, the girl lowered her head, muttering softly:
“It’s… none of your business.”
“Maybe not, but I saw you. You’re upset, aren’t you?”
Fu Qingyue’s tone remained flat, almost detached, yet her actions contradicted her cold demeanor.
“Want a drink?”
She extended the grape-flavored milk tea meant for Ye Sheng to the girl.
Surprised, the girl looked up at Fu Qingyue, clearly not expecting a stranger to show her concern.
She stared, as if trying to see through Fu Qingyue.
After a moment of silence, she took the milk tea and spoke softly:
“Don’t… don’t call me dramatic, and don’t laugh at me!”
“Okay.”
Seeing the girl finally open up, Fu Qingyue’s lips curved into a barely noticeable smile. She nodded lightly, adopting a serious listening posture.
To the girl, though, it didn’t seem much different from before.
“I just… feel lonely sometimes…”
A breeze stirred, lifting the girl’s beautiful black hair, revealing her silver eyes filled with confusion.
“Why… did I become an ability user?”