After hanging up the video call, $2in Wanning hummed a cheerful tune as she rummaged through her wardrobe, searching for an outfit.
She crouched down and pulled out a pair of stockings from a box, slowly sliding them up her slender legs.
Sitting on the bed, she kicked her long, tightly wrapped black-stockinged legs playfully. Even now, Lin Wanning couldn’t understand why her brother had such a fascination with tearing stockings.
Luckily, she had plenty of spares.
Today, her sister mentioned she had a long lecture. Taking a deep breath, Lin Wanning flopped onto her bed.
......
At noon in University A’s cafeteria, $2i Qingxue placed her tray in front of Hu Yuying, her smile never fading.
Lin Wanning’s slap earlier had finally given her a chance to vent her frustration.
Hu Yuying affectionately pinched Li Qingxue’s cheeks. "Qingxue, how can you be this adorable?"
Having known each other for so long, they had gone from being reserved to casually tickling each other, even showering together and playfully teasing one another. Such intimate gestures had long become second nature to them."I’m just happy," Li Qingxue said, sitting beside Hu Yuying with a grin.
"You have no idea—when I heard Wanning slapped Ye Liangchen across the face, I wished it had been me!"
She clenched her fist and mimed a slap in the air.
"Alright, if you keep this up, I’m afraid you’ll turn into a little violent demon," Hu Yuying teased. "When we get home, I’ll have to talk to Wanning. Luckily, this time she ran right after hitting him and didn’t get hurt. If she had, I’d have been worried sick."
The strength gap between boys and girls was huge. Just like how Brother Long could easily lift her—this time, they got away with it, but Wanning shouldn’t do something like this again.
Li Qingxue gave Hu Yuying a suspicious look. Lately, she had noticed how obedient Wanning could be around Yuying.
When Wanning was leading her and Yuying astray, it was a different story.
But now, that aloof girl called Yuying "sister" so naturally.
"Why does Wanning call you ‘dear sister’?" Li Qingxue asked.
"Tell me—I want her to call me that too."
Hu Yuying shrugged with a soft laugh. "Sorry, but being her sister is a title only I can have."
Watching Hu Yuying’s radiant smile, Li Qingxue sighed inwardly.
Wanning, Wanning… look how good Yuying is to you. How could you betray her trust? Luckily, I found out—let me set things right again.
With that thought, Li Qingxue suddenly asked, "Yuying, you have a long lecture this afternoon, right?"
"Yeah, until 8 PM." Hu Yuying exhaled, her energy visibly draining.
College life might seem carefree, but it all came down to self-discipline.
If you could control yourself, it was both joyful and painful.
If you couldn’t, the fun came with the agony of failing exams.
Li Qingxue nodded subtly. Last time, during Yuying’s long lecture, she had discovered Wanning’s little secret.
Would she catch them this time?
"What are you thinking about so deeply?" Hu Yuying waved a hand in front of Li Qingxue’s dazed face, chuckling.
Li Qingxue quickly shook her head. "Nothing. After we eat, come take a walk with me on the field?"
"Alright, but you better eat quickly. I'm almost finished already."
Gently wrapping an arm around Hu Yuying's slender waist, she teased, "You always eat more than me, yet somehow you never gain weight. How is your waist still this tiny?"
Hu Yuying picked up a bite of meat with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth, grinning smugly. "Yuying is just amazing—no matter how much I eat, I never get fat."
Li Qingxue's expression twisted in mock despair. "Ugh... so unfair! I wish I could eat without gaining weight too..."
Hu Yuying chuckled and placed a piece of spare rib into Li Qingxue's mouth. "You have no idea how much Wanning and I envy your figure. It's practically the perfect golden ratio—you should be grateful!"
Chewing on the rib, Li Qingxue gestured proudly from head to toe. "Well, of course. I make sure to exercise and run every single day."
But with the cold weather and thick layers of clothing, no matter how much she tried to show off, all anyone could see was her bundled-up silhouette.
After strolling around the track to walk off their meal, the two prepared to part ways.
Suddenly, Li Qingxue called out to Hu Yuying just as she was about to leave. She placed a solemn hand on Hu Yuying's shoulder. "Don’t worry!"
Hu Yuying blinked in confusion. "About what?"
Li Qingxue shook her head mysteriously. "Nothing." Then, silently in her heart, she added, If everything goes well today, things will finally go back to normal!
Having said her piece, Li Qingxue jogged off with a wave. "I’m heading out now!"
Watching her retreating figure, Hu Yuying couldn’t help but giggle behind her hand. "Slow down!"
Just as she turned to leave, it dawned on her—Li Qingxue had run in the wrong direction. That wasn’t the way to her lecture hall.
She spun around to call after her, but Li Qingxue had already vanished from sight.
Back in her dorm, Li Qingxue changed into a fresh outfit, tied up her short hair, and pulled on a knit cap. She wrapped a scarf around her face, leaving only her eyes visible. After checking herself in the mirror to ensure she wouldn’t be recognized, she finally stepped out.
"Wanning, even though you helped me get revenge, I can’t let you two keep going down this wrong path. I’ll be the one to end this!"
Hopping onto her bike, she pedaled toward the music college.
She’d come early today, afraid she might miss them.
As she wandered through the shopping street, Li Qingxue kept an eye on the small hotel where she’d last seen Lin Wanning and Long Aotian.
In one hand, she held a steaming cup of milk tea; in the other, a piping-hot roasted sweet potato.
She had no idea if Lin Wanning and Long Aotian would show up today, but Li Qingxue was perfectly content enjoying her snacks and people-watching. She was naturally restless, thriving on laughter and lively energy.
Just as she was about to buy some fried skewers, she spotted Lin Wanning.
A mischievous grin spread across her face. Abandoning the skewers, she watched as Lin Wanning entered the hotel.
Adjusting her scarf to cover everything but her eyes, Li Qingxue hurried after her.
Seeing Lin Wanning head upstairs, Li Qingxue approached the front desk. "I’d like a room next to the person who just checked in."
"The adjacent single room is already booked," the receptionist replied after checking. "But there’s another room nearby. Will that work?"
"Sure."
Key in hand, Li Qingxue dashed upstairs.
The moment she reached the second floor, she saw Lin Wanning glancing around the hallway before slipping into the very last room.
Seeing Lin Wanning enter the room, Li Qingxue wore an expression that said, "Now I've caught you red-handed." Following the room key, she made her way to the corresponding room: "The label was crooked, no wonder it took so long to find."
She opened the door, closed it behind her, and immediately flopped onto the bed, lazily wriggling under the covers. "Full and satisfied... so comfortable..."
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