Under the moonlight, Luo Xue’s eyes were rimmed with red, as if she had just been crying. Tang Qi took out a handkerchief and offered it to her. “Wipe your tears.”
Luo Xue bit her lip and accepted the handkerchief. Her earlier hasty explanation now made her look guilty. “I…” In the end, she said nothing more.
“Luo Xue’s mind is clouded by infatuation!” The System exclaimed, frustrated. It was clear it had switched from the “Male Lead Faction” to the “Female Supporting Role Faction.”
Under the influence of the World Line, the main plot characters have a general path to follow. But the World Line doesn’t dictate the Male Lead’s personality. This was clearly Li Chengyu being a jerk and a petty man.
“How does the World Line even choose its Male Leads?” the System grumbled.
The next day, Tang Qi finished her tutoring session at ten at night. By that time, the bus back to the school had already stopped running. The family she tutored for generously offered her a vacant property they owned for her to stay in.
Tang Qi hesitated, then refused.
Even though it was October, the nights in Yu City were still extremely hot. Tang Qi walked through the crowd, enjoying the thousands of lights and the strong sense of everyday life.
The System sniffled in her mind. “Host, that snack stall over there looks like it has really delicious food.”
Tang Qi bought a cup of shaved ice. The moment the icy, sweet crystals slid down her throat, she felt much lighter. Even though the System couldn’t eat, it didn’t stop it from being happy.
“I want to see what other good things are around here.” The System expanded its search. Moments later, the previously excited System suddenly clamored angrily, “Host, walk forward. Do you see that movie theater up ahead? Go to the second floor.”
Tang Qi didn’t move. The System fumed, “I’m seriously furious! Luo Xue is crying in the theater. Go check on her.” Compared to her emotionally charged System, Tang Qi was much calmer.
But knowing a girl was crying, she couldn’t just pretend not to see.
Tang Qi entered the movie theater’s second floor. Most of the movies had already started. There were few people in the waiting area, and she immediately spotted Luo Xue sitting in a corner.
Luo Xue’s eyes were brimming with tears. Tang Qi walked up to her in a few steps. “What’s wrong?”
Hearing Tang Qi’s voice, Luo Xue hurriedly wiped her tears, but they came faster and faster. Finally, she simply gave up. Tang Qi pulled a fresh handkerchief from her pocket. Luo Xue didn’t take it. “I haven’t even washed the one you gave me last night to return to you yet!”
“It’s fine. It’s just a handkerchief.” Tang Qi placed it in her hand.
Perhaps it was the presence of someone familiar, but Luo Xue’s emotions gradually improved. Tang Qi didn’t pester her with questions. Instead, it was Luo Xue who seemed to want someone to confide in. “Chengyu came to pick me up from work today. I was really happy. On the way to the cinema, I asked him… I asked him, since he’s a junior now, shouldn’t he also look for a part-time job.”
“I wasn’t forcing him to work. It’s just… his parents aren’t in good health, and their annual medical bills cost a lot. My previous allowance money has all gone to his family’s medical expenses. Earlier, he asked me for money for his parents’ check-up, and I didn’t have any. That’s when I suggested he find work.” As if afraid Tang Qi would also misunderstand her as being materialistic, Luo Xue hurriedly explained, “I don’t look down on him for being poor.”
“How much did you give him?” The System was curious. Tang Qi also wanted to know, so she voiced the question.
“I don’t know, probably a few hundred thousand! My parents divorced when I was young. Neither of them really pays attention to me; they just deposit money regularly. I never spent much before, so I saved it all.” Luo Xue’s voice grew quieter as she spoke.
“Usually when I call, my parents mostly don’t answer. I can’t ask them for more money.” Luo Xue felt wronged. Her tears dripped down steadily. “He got angry, saying I wasn’t willing to help him. When we got to the cinema and he saw I hadn’t bought tickets, he got even angrier. He even said he’d treated me to water, and my refusal to buy a movie ticket showed I looked down on him and didn’t want to watch a movie with him.”
Tang Qi looked at Luo Xue, who was crying with snot and tears, and sighed helplessly. She reached out and gently patted her back. “Stop crying.” If it were someone else, they might have spouted a bunch of righteous reasons. But Tang Qi didn’t see this as something worth crying over.
All of this was Luo Xue’s choice. Although the World Line interfered, the main characters weren’t incapable of resisting it. She chose Li Chengyu. Since she made her choice, she either gave it up or stuck with it.
“I really don’t think of him like that, but he always says I’m materialistic and worldly. When I brought up working, he said I looked down on him.” Luo Xue wasn’t distressed about the money; she was baffled by why Li Chengyu had to twist her meaning so much.
“Sometimes I wonder if it really is my fault.” Luo Xue said dejectedly. “But my parents said they won’t support me after graduation. What will I do if he doesn’t work?”
“He’s just petty. He’s a total scumbag.” The System howled, “Host, quickly tell Luo Xue it’s not her problem, it’s that jerk’s problem.”
In the System’s vocabulary, Li Chengyu’s label had changed again.
Tang Qi was silent for a moment. “How about this? I’ll treat you to a movie. Do you want to watch one?”
The crying Luo Xue looked up. Her eyes were so swollen from crying they were hard to open. Tang Qi said, “Wait for me a moment.”
Tang Qi went downstairs and bought an ice pop. Thinking Luo Xue probably hadn’t eaten, she also bought some bread and water. When she returned upstairs, Luo Xue was still sitting in the same spot, curled up and looking pitiful, like an abandoned puppy.
She suddenly remembered the first world she entered when she became a Tasker, and the puppy she raised there. Even though it was a requirement of the main plotline, she had really loved that dog.
Later—the puppy died. She knew all along it would die, but couldn’t save it.
Luo Xue’s eyes lit up when she saw Tang Qi. Tang Qi silently affirmed to herself once more: She really does look like that puppy. She walked over and handed her the ice pop. “Hold this against your eyes to reduce the swelling.” She also gave her a bottle of soda water. “Drink some to rehydrate.”
Just like she used to take care of that little dog.
Luo Xue obediently took the ice pop and applied it as a cold compress, then docilely drank the water and ate a few bites of bread. Tang Qi said, “I’ll treat you to a movie, and you stop crying. How’s that?”
She glanced at the movie listings on the display screen. “Which one do you want to watch?”
“It’s that animated one. I saw Luo Xue searching for reviews online a few days ago.” The System chimed in. Tang Qi didn’t follow the System’s suggestion, instead still waiting for Luo Xue’s answer.
Luo Xue named the animated film. Then she lowered her voice. “But if we watch a movie, we won’t be able to get back to the dormitory.”
“It’s fine, we can just stay somewhere outside.” Tang Qi didn’t mind. Taking care of a small creature required coaxing. Being able to cheer her up with just a movie ticket was an absolute bargain.
There was still some time before the movie started. Luo Xue finished the bread and watched as Tang Qi tidied up the snack wrappers and threw them in the trash. Under the dim theater lights, Tang Qi’s features were rendered exceptionally beautiful.
Luo Xue watched her bustling about, doing everything with a calm composure. She suddenly felt incredibly reassured, even though Tang Qi had witnessed her embarrassment several times. “Tang Qi, has anyone ever told you that you’re a very good person?”
Tang Qi shook her head. Luo Xue found that hard to believe. Fortunately, the movie was about to start, so she didn’t press the question.
The animated movie was very interesting. Tang Qi watched intently. Even though Luo Xue’s mood was low, it made her laugh a few times. The movie ended well past midnight. Outside, the crowd had thinned significantly, with only a few late-night snack shops still open.
“Let’s get something to eat. I’ll book a hotel online.” Tang Qi took out her phone, and just as she opened it, she heard someone calling her name. Luo Xue looked up to see a family of three.
A young boy came over respectfully and greeted, “Hello, Teacher.”
“Little Tang, why didn’t you go back to the school?” the middle-aged man asked with a smile. Luo Xue was not very good at interacting with strangers and hid behind Tang Qi. Tang Qi made the introductions. “Sister Zhou, Brother Xu, this is my roommate, Luo Xue. Luo Xue, these are the parents of my tutoring student, Sister Zhou and Brother Xu.”
Luo Xue was a bit stunned. When she went out with Li Chengyu, he never introduced her to anyone. She had grown accustomed to it. But she never expected Tang Qi would introduce her.
For a moment, she was bewildered and could only nod blankly. “Hello, Sister Zhou. Hello, Brother Xu.”
Tang Qi waited until she had finished her greetings before speaking. “The two of us went to watch a movie and missed the dormitory curfew.”
“Do you two have a place to stay? I was just saying you should stay in the place next door to ours.” Sister Zhou generously pulled out a set of keys and removed one, handing it to Tang Qi. “It’s right next door to us. It’s all clean, you can just go and stay. Give the key back to me after tomorrow’s tutoring session.”
“Don’t bother giving it back. This apartment is yours to use from now on, Little Tang,” Brother Xu waved his hand dismissively.
“You’re right. I meticulously renovated this apartment, and I’d be uneasy renting it out. Little Tang, it’s a hassle for you to commute every day, so just stay here.” Sister Zhou placed the key in Tang Qi’s hand. “I heard you two talking about eating. Let’s go together.”
Tang Qi wanted to refuse, but Brother Xu’s family was so enthusiastic. She and Luo Xue were practically dragged to an outdoor food stall. Brother Xu ordered crawfish and various seafood.
Luo Xue recognized the brand of clothes this family wore; they were the brands her parents favored. They were clearly from a very well-off family. Yet Tang Qi approached them without fawning sycophancy or flattery, nor did she keep her distance out of cynical resentment.
She suddenly thought of Li Chengyu, who always muttered sarcastically whenever he saw such people, claiming their money was ill-gotten or that they were arrogant snobs. If she tried to refute him, he said she looked down on him or was a vulgar materialist.
But this family didn’t look down on Tang Qi; instead, they respected her immensely.
It had been a long time since Luo Xue had eaten seafood. She rarely went out during winter and summer breaks back in her hometown, and Li Chengyu would never come to an outdoor food stall. She ate heartily and happily, almost forgetting all of today’s unpleasantness.
She didn’t have to worry about what to say next, or if her table manners would cause dissatisfaction.
After the late-night snack, the family of three went for a walk to digest. Tang Qi went to a nearby shop to buy a few things, then led Luo Xue to the apartment next to Sister Zhou’s place.
Entering the apartment, Luo Xue was astonished. It was a three-bedroom apartment over a hundred square meters, exquisitely and luxuriously decorated, even nicer than her parents’ house.
“They just lent you such a beautiful apartment?” Luo Xue was amazed. Tang Qi took out newly bought slippers for Luo Xue and put on a pair herself. She replied calmly, “Last monthly exam, the child’s score improved by a hundred points. They were very happy.”
“Knowledge really is power,” Luo Xue murmured to herself. Tang Qi pulled out the new underwear she’d bought and handed it to Luo Xue. “Take a shower and get some sleep. You still have work tomorrow.”
Luo Xue looked at the brand-new underwear and pajamas in Tang Qi’s hand and blushed. “Y-You went to buy these just now?”
“Mhm. Otherwise, what would you wear tonight?” Tang Qi had already started unbuttoning, revealing her long, elegant neck. She took off her glasses, her refined features fully visible to Luo Xue, her eyes holding a faint hint of puzzlement.
Luo Xue quickly turned her head. “I’m going to shower,” she said, fleeing into the bathroom as if escaping.
