After spending a peaceful hour at the café, Zhou Qi dropped Lu Sheng off at the nearest station and headed home. His apartment was quiet, warm, and filled with the scent of his favorite instant noodles. As the broth bubbled in the pot, his phone lit up with a call.
He glanced at the screen and smiled faintly.
"Babe calling," he murmured, picking it up.
"Hey," came a sweet voice from the other end. "I'm bored. Let's go shopping?"
Zhou Qi chuckled. "Now? I was about to eat."
"Eat later! I'll wait for you at the mall."
"Alright, alright. I'm coming."
Before leaving, he tapped out a quick message to Lu Sheng.
> Going shopping. Come with us if you're free—it'll be good for your mood.
---
Lu Sheng stared at the message for a long time.
His chest felt a little warmer reading Zhou's invitation. Maybe... maybe today could be different.
So he pulled on a clean hoodie, fixed his hair quickly, and made his way to the mall.
The moment he arrived, the place overwhelmed him with noise and lights. But it wasn't the crowd that made his heart drop—it was the sight just a few steps ahead.
Jiayi.
She was walking beside Zhou Qi, laughing softly, linking her arm with his. Her head tilted playfully as she whispered something that made Zhou smirk.
Lu Sheng's breath caught.
What is she doing with Zhou Qi?
He ducked behind a nearby pillar, watching for a few more seconds before quickly pulling out his phone.
> Sorry. Can't make it today. Something came up.
Zhou Qi saw the message just as he was helping Jiayi pick out a pair of sunglasses.
> All good. Next time then.
---
The next day at campus, Lu Sheng met Zhou Qi at the corner table in the cafeteria.
He sipped his drink, avoiding eye contact, then casually asked, "Hey... Do you have a girlfriend?"
Zhou Qi raised a brow, slightly surprised. "Yeah, I do. Why?"
Lu Sheng hesitated. "Just curious."
Zhou Qi smiled and pulled out his phone. "She's a little complicated, but I like her."
He turned the screen toward Lu Sheng.
And there she was.
Jiayi.
Posing with Zhou Qi, her smile fake as ever, clinging to him like she hadn't just wrecked someone else's life.
Something inside Lu Sheng snapped—but he kept his face neutral. He couldn't afford to act out without proof. Not yet.
His grip tightened around his cup, knuckles white.
So this is what she's been doing... two-faced snake.
But he said nothing.
He just smiled faintly and nodded.
"Pretty," he said. "You two look good together."
Zhou Qi beamed, completely unaware of the storm brewing in Lu Sheng's heart.
And in that moment, Lu Sheng made a silent promise:
I'll expose her.